Faculty members monitor student progress through an advisement system, regular faculty meetings, program reviews of students, and committee direction of theses, general examinations, and dissertations. At the masters level, students acquire an understanding of basic psychological processes and methods primarily by taking core courses and working with faculty and other students. The selection of core courses, electives, apprenticeships, and practica, research projects, thesis topic, and extracurricular activities within the department and the Atlanta professional community all lay the groundwork for later specialization. In order to qualify for the Master of Arts degree, students must pass a general examination and complete an acceptable thesis. Depending on the program and area, concentration is accomplished by the completion of required courses and practica, the election of further courses and practica, teaching, research, and the choice of general examination topics, dissertation topics, extracurricular activities, and internships.
Students take a general examination in the area of specialization and complete a dissertation.
Some areas require additional internships or practica. In addition to its regular faculty, the department has approximately 30 adjunct faculty members chosen from professionals in the community. These adjunct faculty members provide research opportunities and clinical supervision in a wide variety of settings. They may also serve on thesis, dissertation, and examination committees. Within these programs and the scope of faculty expertise, students may pursue a broad range of scholarly and research interests and develop practical skills.