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CAROLINA
UNIVERSITY

Mental Retardation/
Developmental
Disabilities
Concentration

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Overview

The MR/DD concentration trains students to work with
ersons who have mental retardation/ developmental
disabilities. It is a minimum 36 semester-hour program
that prepares students primarily to become psychologists
who are familiar with the major theories and principles of
sychology and with research design and statistical
analysis.

In addition, students will gain expertise in the area of ap-
lied behavior analysis, particularly as it relates to assess-
ment and intervention with persons who have mental _
retardation or other developmental disabilities. One or
more internships will provide students with the opportu-
nity to apply skills learned through course work; to ac-
quire new skills in real-world settings; and to serve as
rofessionals working with professionals from other dis-
ciplines with the same population.

One unique aspect of the MR/DD concentration is that
ersons who are working full time can complete this pro-
gram at night on a part-time basis over a six-year period.
Many part-time students complete the program more
rapidly by taking at least one semester to attend school
full time.

The MR/DD concentration is one of three within the gen-
eral program, the other two being academic/experimen-
tal and industrial/ organizational.

Employment/Advancement
Opportunities

Employment opportunities for MR/DD masterTs-level
sychologists are readily available and quite varied in
eastern North Carolina and throughout the United States
in large state-supported institutions for individuals with
mental retardation, as well as in privately owned residen-
tial facilities. With the trend toward deinstitutional-
ization, normalization, and integration of individuals
with mental retardation and other developmental dis-
abilities into the mainstream of society, child develop-
ment centers, mental health centers, group homes, em-
loyment agencies, and community colleges frequently
hire persons with expertise in applied behavior analysis
and MR/DD.

MasterTs-level psychologists with a concentration in
MR/DD must pass a state examination to become li-
censed as a psychological associate to practice psychology
in the state of North Carolina. Once licensed, they can
work for an agency or have their own private practice,
rovided that they obtain ongoing licensure supervision
from a PhD-level licensed psychologist with expertise in
MR/DD.

Upon completion of the masterTs degree, students may elect
to continue in a PhD-level program in applied behavior
analysis and/or MR/DD.

Course Work

The required and recommended courses and semester
credit hours are as follows. The semester credit hours will
total a minimum of 36.

SYC

6430 Statistics and Research Design (3)

6427 Advanced Principles of Learning (3)

6412 Advanced Physiological Psychology (3)

6426 Motivation (3)

6333 Applied Behavior Analysis (3)

5336 Introduction to Programming in Mental
Retardation (3)

6960 Internship in MR/DD 1 (2);

Select one course from the following:

SYC

5380 Psychology of the Exceptional Child (3)
6401 Advanced Child Psychology (3)

6405 Advanced Educational Psychology (3)
6452 Emotional Problems of Childhood (3)

Electives (5)

or

Assessment Sequence (8)
SYC 6510 MR/DD Assessment I (3)
SYC 6511 MR/DD Assessment II (3)
SYC 6961 Internship in MR/DDII (2)

SYC 6995 Thesis (3)
SYC 6996 Thesis (3)
Electives to complete requirements for graduation

Internships

Internships give students the opportunity to perform under
the supervision of a masterTs- or PhD-level psychologist in
an agency serving persons with mental retardation or other
developmental disabilities. Internships may also provide
students with the opportunity to develop theses projects
and collect data. Internship placements are generally sched-
uled for the fall and/or spring semesters of the second year
of the program.

There are two separate internships in the MR/DD concen-
tration, each involving twenty hours a week for one semes-
ter. The first is a programming internship. As interns, stu-
dents will be assigned duties that may include activities
such as meeting with other professionals on an interdiscipli-
nary team and writing behavioral programs for clients.

The second is an assessment internship that is designed
for students who choose the assessment sequence option.
The assessment internship allows students to participate
in several activities related to diagnosis and evaluation.

Many students who are working full-time may be able to
complete their first internship at the facility in which they
work if the agency and the program director formally
agree. Most of the available internship placements pro-
vide a salary, and many are located in eastern North
Carolina. Several other exciting paid internship place-
ments in MR/DD are located throughout the country.
More information concerning the variety of internship
lacements available can be obtained directly from the
director of the MR/DD concentration.

Thesis

A thesis is required in the MR/DD concentration. It is a
rofessional research paper in which students will be re-
quired to exhibit their research skills and ability to write
an organized research report in the area of MR/DD.

Many students elect to conduct single subject or small
group research utilizing behavioral research designs
rather than more traditional experimental or quasi-experi-
mental designs. Students present the completed thesis at
an oral examination conducted by the thesis committee as
the last stage in the process.

Other Requirements

Comprehensive examinations covering the core course
areas as well as the MR/DD specialty are required of all
students in the MR/DD concentration. These examina-
tions are normally taken in the second year.

A research skill requirement of not less than 3 semester
hours from certain areas determined by the department
or from a foreign language must be met. Additional work
in statistics or computer science is recommended if it has
not already been taken as an elective. These semester
credit hours do not count toward the semester hours re-
quired for the masterTs degree.

Application and Admission

Admission to the general psychology program is contin-
gent on meeting all requirements of the ECU Graduate
School and being recommended by the graduate admis-
sions committee of the Department of Psychology. A
completed application will include a Graduate School
application; a Department of Psychology basic informa-
tion sheet; GRE verbal, quantitative, and advanced test

scores; complete college transcripts; and a minimum of
two letters of recommendation (at least one from a psy-
chologist). Interviews are occasionally requested.

A combination of GRE scores, grade point average, and
references is used in making recommendations for admis-
sion. Applicants should score above the fiftieth percentile
on the GRE and have above a 3.0 GPA, both overall and
in their major.

The department requires that all graduate students have a
common core of undergraduate psychology courses in
sychological statistics, experimental psychology, learn-
ing, personality, physiological psychology, and tests and
measurements. Applicants are admitted with deficiencies,
but those must be met by appropriate undergraduate
course work. These courses will not count toward the
masterTs degree. An undergraduate course in computer
science is also highly recommended.

The admissions screening procedure begins March 15. All
application materials should be submitted prior to this
date. Final decisions generally are sent out in April. The
general program will accept applications after the March
15 deadline, but spaces may be limited.

For course sequencing, it is recommended that students
begin graduate work in the fall semester, but mid-year
admissions are generally acceptable. Admissions for en-
trance at other times should be discussed with the pro-
gram chair.

Financial Support

In addition to the paid internship, research assistantships
are available for applicants. A letter accompanying the
application materials indicating the desire and basis for
needing financial assistance is considered an application
for an assistantship.

Additional Information

Additional information, including appointments for further
discussion, can be obtained by contacting:

William F. Grossnickle, PhD

rofessor and Director, Graduate General Program
Department of Psychology

East Carolina University

Raw] Building

Greenville, NC 27858-4353

Telephone: 919-757-6634

or

Jeannie Golden, PhD

Assistant Professor

Director of Specialty Area in MR/DD
Department of Psychology

East Carolina University

Raw Building

Greenville, NC 27858-4353
Telephone: 919-757-6800

East Carolina University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and
does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, age, or handicap. Moreover, East Carolina University is
open to people of all races and actively seeks to promote racial integration by recruit-
ing and enrolling a larger number of minority students. An equal opportunity /affir-
mative action university, which accommodates the needs of individuals with disabili-
ties.

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