AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT
Department of Psychology
The Masters Graduate Program in Psychology
(2012-2013)
About the Program:
The Department of Psychology offers a Masters degree in general psychology,
with an emphasis on clinical psychology. A regular candidate for the MA degree in
psychology is required to complete 21 graduate credit hours plus a thesis. S/he has to
complete PSYC 301 and PSYC 302 plus at least four graduate courses in the field of
specialization. The rest of the requirements can be chosen from other graduate-level
offerings in the department or in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, following the consent
of the adviser and the interest of the graduate student.
The Faculty:
Chairperson: Harb, C.
Full Professors: Kazarian, S., Dietrich, A
Assistant professors: Al-Jamil, T., Najjar, N., Slobodenyuk, N.
Admission:
Admission to Master’s Programs
Graduate study is offered on a selective basis only to students who have shown
distinct academic ability. Applicants for graduate study may be considered for admission
in one of the following three categories:
1-Graduate
A candidate qualifies for this category if s/he holds a bachelor’s degree from AUB or an
equivalent degree from another recognized institution with a cumulative undergraduate
average of at least 80 or its equivalent in the major field of study.
2-Graduate on Probation
A candidate qualifies for this category if s/he holds a bachelor’s degree from AUB or an
equivalent degree from a recognized institution with a cumulative undergraduate average
of at least 75 in the major field of study or its equivalent. In addition, the University
recognizes that relevant work experience or outstanding performance in the GRE or an
equivalent professional exam, where applicable, may be an important consideration
regarding a candidate’s qualifications for admission.
3-Prospective Graduate
A candidate qualifies for this category if s/he has an undergraduate degree from AUB
with a cumulative average of at least 75, or an equivalent performance from another
recognized institution, and applies for a major different from that of his/her
undergraduate specialization. The faculty graduate committee shall act on the admission
of prospective graduate students upon the recommendation of the department or program
of the intended major. The department or program of the intended major recommends to
the faculty graduate committee the supplementary undergraduate courses the applicant
must take before consideration for admission to graduate work. Upon the completion of
the supplementary undergraduate courses with an average of at least 80, the department
or the academic unit may recommend to the faculty graduate committee the admission of
the applicant to the graduate program. The supplementary courses must be completed
within four successive semesters.
For more information on how to apply to the graduate program, please contact the
Admission Office, College hall, Ground Floor, ext 2590/1, email admit@aub.edu.lb. You can
also check the “Graduate Studies” section in the AUB catalogue.
What if I’m Transferring?
Transfer of Credits
Graduate courses taken beyond the requirements for the bachelor’s degree at
AUB or at other recognized institutions are not transferable for credit towards the
requirements for the master’s degree, unless the applicant attains a cumulative average of
at least 80 in the undergraduate courses taken in the major field of study. Only courses in
which the applicant has earned a grade of 80 or above may be transferred.
Not more than six credits (nine credits for non-thesis programs) are transferable.
Approval of the Graduate Committee of the concerned faculty or school is required for all
transfers.
Transfer of Credits from One Master’s Degree to Another
Graduate courses taken beyond the courses required for a master’s degree at AUB
or at other recognized institutions, and in which the applicant earns a grade of 80 or
above, may be transferred to another master’s degree at AUB. No more than six credits
(nine credits for non-thesis programs) are transferable.
Approval of the department or the academic unit concerned and the Graduate
Committee of the concerned faculty or school is required for all transfers.
Advising
Each graduate student has an academic adviser who must approve the student’s
schedule each semester. Names of the advisers will be available through the Student
Information System (SIS). It’s important to note that the adviser is different from the
student’s supervisor. The latter is chosen by the student according to his/her research
interest.
Course Requirements:
A regular candidate for the MA degree in psychology is required to complete 21
graduate credit hours plus a thesis. S/he has to complete PSYC 301 and PSYC 302 plus at
least four graduate courses in the field of specialization.
The rest of the requirements can be chosen from other graduate-level offerings in the
department or in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, following the consent of the adviser
and the interest of the graduate student.
PSYC 301 Research Methods and Statistical Analyses I; 3 cr.
An advanced course in research design for the psychological sciences. The course covers
experimental and non-experimental designs, as well as issues in cross cultural
psychological research. Prerequisites: PSYC 213, PSYC 223, PSYC 243, and a
course in statistics. Annually.
PSYC 302 Research Methods and Statistical Analyses II; 3 cr.
An advanced course in statistical analyses for the social sciences. The course explores
bivariate, multivariate and structural statistical analyses using SPSS. The course
combines both lecture and lab based sessions. Prerequisite: PSYC 301. Annually.
PSYC 303 Advanced Psychopathology 3.0; 3 cr.
A critical appraisal of western and indigenous approaches to abnormal behaviors
including anxiety disorders, culture-bound syndromes, mood disorders,
personality disorders, eating disorders, sexual disorders, cognitive disorders (e.g.,
Alzheimer’s), schizophrenia, and substance-related disorders. Prerequisite: PSYC
217.
PSYC 304 Advanced Psychopathology II, 3 cr.
A critical examination of childhood disorders including the disruptive behavioral
disorders, the various mood and anxiety disorders, and the pervasive
developmental disorders. Focus is placed on diagnosis and etiology including
environmental and neurobiological influences of childhood psychopathology.
Annually.
PSYC 305 Advanced Social Psychology 3.0; 3 cr.
A critical survey of social-psychological theory and research, with special emphasis on
attitude measurement, attitude change, intragroup and intergroup relations, social
perception, and group conformity processes. Prerequisite: PSYC 211. Alternate
years.
PSYC 307 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 3.0; 3 cr.
A course on the history and method of assessment, and specific diagnostic techniques.
Prerequisite: PSYC 217. Annually.
PSYC 309 Clinical Interventions I 3.0; 3 cr.
A course on the theories and practices of individual psychotherapy. Students will be
exposed t the various empirically validated approaches to psychotherapy
including cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches.
Alternate years.
PSYC 310 Ethical and Professional Issues 3.0, 3cr.
The purpose of this course is to provide and in depth exploration of the ethical and
professional issues in scientific and professional psychology generally, and
clinical psychology in particular. Topics include confidentiality, informed
consent, competence, integrity and social responsibility.
PSYC 312 Clinical Interventions II 3.0, 3cr.
A course on the theories and practice of psychotherapy with families, couples and
children. Students will gain a broad theoretical understanding of the various
approaches to conducting family and couples therapy, including Bowenian,
family systems, structural, strategic, solution focused, behavioral and
psychodynamic approaches. Annually.
PSYC 311 Special Topics in Social Psychology 3.0; 3 cr.
The topic varies from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit. Annually.
PSYC 313 Special Topics in Clinical Psychology 3.0; 3 cr.
The topic varies from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite:
consent of instructor. Alternate years.
PSYC 315/317 Special Topics in General Psychology 3.0; 3 cr.
The topic varies from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite:
consent of instructor. Annually.
PSYC 319 Graduate Tutorial in Psychology 3.0; 3 cr.
May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: graduate standing and consent of instructor.
Annually.
PSYC 321 Environmental Psychology 3.0; 3 cr.
A course that examines relationships between humans and the physical environment. This
course studies three broad issues: environmental perception, the effect of the
environment on behavior and experiences, and the effect of behavior on the
environment.
PSYC 399 MA Thesis Annually.
Probation and Dismissal
A student working for a master’s degree may be placed on academic probation by
the faculty graduate committee.
A graduate student is placed on academic probation if s/he
• is admitted to graduate study on probation,
• fails in any course taken for graduate credit, and
• does not maintain the cumulative average of 80%
The department or program in which the student is enrolled may recommend
probation even though the student may have attained an adequate cumulative average.
The probation of a master’s student may be removed through action of the
appropriate faculty committee and, if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
• The student has completed a minimum of nine credits of graduate level courses
within the two consecutive semesters after being placed on probation, has passed all
courses, and has obtained the 80% cumulative average. If the student fails to meet any of
these conditions, s/he will be dropped from the program.
• The department or program in which the student is studying recommends
removal of probation.
The faculty graduate committee may discontinue a master’s student graduate
study if
• Probation status is not removed within a period of two semesters in which the
courses that are taken are for credit, or
• In the opinion of the department or program, and irrespective of the grades
obtained, the work of the student is deemed unsatisfactory, or
• The student fails the comprehensive examination twice, or fails the thesis
defense twice.
Financing and Graduate Assistantship:
Graduate Assistantships
Fellowships covering tuition and partial living expenses are available for students
at the graduate level in return for a specified number of hours each week of work for an
academic department. Assistantships are made on the dual basis of academic record and
departmental needs. Application forms for new students are within the admissions
application package. Continuing students may obtain application forms from the Office
of the Dean of the faculty in which they are enrolled. Applications should be submitted
early in the semester preceding the semester for which one is applying.
Work Study Program
As part of its financial aid program, the University provides full-time
undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in the Work Study
Program. Students contribute toward their educational expenses while developing job
skills in various campus offices and the Medical Center. Application forms are available
at the Office for Students Affairs and should be made early in the semester. Placement is
made on the basis of capability, need and job availability. Students may work a maximum
of twenty hours per week; the hourly rate is based on the type of work performed.
Clinical Practicum:
Graduate students are encouraged to apply for internship in an institution that
offers their field of interest. Graduates who are interested in clinical psychology can
apply to different clinical institutions and/or hospitals (e.g. AUBMC, St. Georges
Hospital and other institutions).
Departmental Services:
Computer labs; experimental labs; study rooms; library access.
Thesis Proposal and Defense:
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master’s degree, a student must
submit a thesis based on results of original, independent, empirical research. Except in
departments or programs in which the medium of instruction is not English, the thesis
must be in English.
An abstract not exceeding 350 words must be submitted with the thesis. As soon
as approval for writing a thesis is granted, a student should get from the library a copy of
the Thesis Manual, which provides instructions on the preparation of theses. Its
application is mandatory, and theses not conforming to its requirements will not be
accepted.
For all matters not discussed in the manual, theses must follow the form and style
described in the latest edition of K.L. Turabian, Manual for Writers of Term Papers,
Theses and Dissertations (University of Chicago Press), or any other form specified by
the department or program provided this conforms to the manual.
Copies of the thesis, unbound but ready for binding, should be submitted by the
student to the members of the thesis committee at least two weeks before the thesis
defense. Copies may be obtained by any legible and durable form of reproduction.
Additional copies may be required, as specified by the department or program concerned.
Thesis Committee
The master's thesis committee should be composed of at least three members
recommended by the department or program and approved by the faculty graduate
committee (see Catalogue).
The committee will be made up of the student’s thesis advisor and two other
committee members. The thesis advisor and one of the remaining two committee
members must be psychologists. The committee members may not be part-time AUB
faculty (FAS policies and procedures). Committee members from outside the university
must be full time faculty of professorial rank. A committee member from outside the
university will be required to submit their professional vitae before the committee is
approved. Members of the committee must have expertise in the student’s research.
Students are advised to seek the second committee member from within or outside the
department that will contribute to the development and depth of their research, regardless
of the members’ disciplinary specialization.
The proposal of the thesis topic and the selection of the adviser and the members
of the thesis committee for candidates for the master’s degree should be approved by the
faculty or school graduate committee at least four months before the student defends the
thesis. Thesis proposal defense should be completed by the Fall semester of the
second year.
Thesis Proposal Guidelines
There are several general guidelines: (1) The thesis proposal consists of a written
proposal and an oral presentation. The oral defense is open to the public. (2) The student
must pass the combined written proposal and oral defense, the method comps, and obtain
approval (or exemption) from the IRB before the proposed research can be undertaken.
(3) The written proposal must first be approved by the thesis supervisor before a date for
the oral defense can be set. Copies of the proposal should be submitted by the student to
the members of the thesis committee at least two weeks before the oral defense. (4)
“Pass” or “fail” is reported for the combined proposal and proposal defense. If “fail” is
reported, the student may resubmit the proposal if changes suggested by the thesis
proposal committee have been made. (5) Failure on the second attempt results in
discontinuation from graduate work. More detailed information on guidelines and
procedures is contained in the AUB catalogue.
Regarding the proposal structure, the written proposal must follow proper APA
style and is to contain the following. (1) Front pages (cover page, table of content, and,
if appropriate, figure page, etc.). Samples of how front pages should be formatted can be
found in the APA manual. Both formats (figures embedded or figures attached to the end)
are acceptable. (2) Abstract not exceeding 120 words. (3) Introduction, containing the
following main components: (a) introduction to the research topic, (b) a concise review of
the relevant literature (both regional and international) that places the topic into a larger
context, (c) literature guiding the rationale for the hypothesis, including clear conceptual
definitions of the variables of interest, and (d) the specific hypothesis. As a general
guideline, introduction sections should run about 10 pages in length. (3) Methods. This
section is the most important part of a proposal. It must contain, in detail, the
methodology the student plans to use in the proposed research (e.g., sample description,
research design, instruments used, their validity with respect to the sample, procedure of
data collection, ethical considerations, etc.). It must also provide the rationale for the type
of statistical analysis that will be performed on the data. (4) Expected Results and
Discussion. This section can be relatively brief and should contain the expected
outcomes of the research and their significance to the field. If appropriate it might also
contain a discussion of possible limitations or alternative outcomes. (5) References.
Altogether, a full proposal should probably not exceed 25 pages in length.
Thesis Defense
The thesis defense is open to the public and must be carried out no later than
October 30, March 1, or June 10, for students who wish to graduate at the end of the
summer session, fall, or the spring semester respectively.
“Pass” or “fail” is reported for the combined thesis and thesis defense. If “fail” is
reported, the student may resubmit the thesis and defend it after a period of at least three
months. Failure on the second attempt results in discontinuation from graduate work.
Students must be registered for the thesis or at least one course in the session in which
they expect to graduate in order to present their defense.
Deposit of the Thesis in the Library
After passing the thesis defense examination, the student is required to deposit
two copies of the MA thesis at the Jafet Memorial Library. A library receipt of these
copies must be delivered to the Office of the Registrar before the student is awarded the
degree. The student should sign a release form indicating whether or not the library is
authorized to supply copies of the thesis to other libraries or to individuals. The nonauthorization option is valid for a period of two years only, after which copies of the
thesis will be supplied on request. The following deadlines are university-wide deadlines
for all graduate programs at AUB.
For graduation in:
Summer Fall
Spring
(October) (February) (June)
Deadline for approval of thesis topic and
committee
First Monday
of the
Summer
term
June 18,
2012
First Monday
of
the Fall term
September 17,
2012
Last Monday
of
the preceding
Fall term
January 14,
2013
Deadline for thesis defense
Fourth
Monday
of the
following
Fall term
October 8,
2012
Ten days
after
the deadline
of the thesis
defense
October 17,
2012
One week
after
the end of Fall
term
January 25,
2013
One week
before the
end
of Spring
term
May 17, 2013
Ten days after
the deadline
of the thesis
defense
February 4,
2013
Ten days
after
the deadline
of the thesis
defense
May 27, 2013
Deadline for deposit of thesis at library
Comprehensive Exam:
The Methodology Part
This first part of the comprehensive exam will take place after completion of
research design and statistics courses, PSYC 301 and PSYC 302 in the first year:. It is a
common exam for all students and will be taken at the end of the first year of the
program. Passing the methods comprehensive exam will require a grade of 75. Students
who do not get a grade of 75 on the final cumulative exam will be allowed ONE rewrite
(For further details see Graduate student coordinator or instructors of the above courses).
The Specialization Part
The specialized exam is what is called the “comprehensive exam” in the AUB
catalogue (see the section on Graduate Studies). It is a combination of the written thesis
proposal and its oral defense. Students will present their thesis proposal in a public
meeting within the department, and examined by the thesis supervisor and thesis
committee members. As per the AUB catalogue, “A student who does not pass the
comprehensive examination may take it a second time after a period of at least three
months” (page 514).
Contact Numbers:
Graduate Program Coordinator
Tima Al-Jamil, Ph.D.
Jesup Hall, 101
Ext. 4372
Email address: fa25@aub.edu.lb