Professor Unqualified to Teach Course?

[HistoryNerd37]

Psych master's students - has anyone ever encountered the issue of unqualified professors and unresponsive administrators?

My story: I am in a general psych master's program. The academic rigor of my program is lacking, and I knew this when I entered. I'm nearly done with the program now, but last semester I came up against a class-wide altercation with a professor (who displayed associated inappropriate bxs on numerous occasions). Letters were written and submitted to the assistant dean, yet no action was taken. Now, I believe a different professor who has been selected to teach the program's pilot I/O into course this summer is woefully unqualified to do so (meaning teach any I/O course whatsoever in a graduate environment). On the basis of her CV and the quality of her education, several students do not believe her to be qualified (or competent, actually). The assistant dean to whom I reached out does not appear receptive and is defending their selection of this professor. Furthermore, he is "making me no promises" that someone other than this person is going to be teaching the course in the fall, which is when I am set to graduate. Therefore, I am either running the risk of waiting for the course to be taught by somebody qualified and then having to delay my graduation if they do not choose to select somebody else in the fall, or I am being forced to take the course with this person this summer.

Does anyone know if it's worth reaching out to Division 14/SIOP to inquire as to their standards in this case? Do they even have set standards for master's programs? Is there any way for me to trigger an independent review? Do I have any recourse whatsoever? Pardon my complete and total ignorance on this subject. 

PS. The majority students in my clinical-focused program are sadly plagued by apathy. Is this common too? How are you going to advocate for patients when you can't even advocate for yourself?

-- Desperate grad student

Edited March 19, 2019 by HistoryNerd37
hadn't added tags

[psychology_student_]

In my master's program I for sure had one (imo) unqualified professor (earned her doctorate online...) for a research methods class. I wasn't as proactive and organized as you are, so I never really contacted administrators.  I essentially just got through the semester and found that while she may not have been the most top notch canidate to teach high level statistics, she taught out of a book that I could use as an effective tool for learning various methods.

So, I don't think it'd be worth it to contact Division 14, master's programs are of course held to some kinds of standards but there's nothing in all master's programs as wide sweeping as being simply an "APA-Accredited" program. This may sound defeatist, but if the assistant dean is defending their selection then I would sort of try to listen to that decision. I know if I was a dean and had a student telling me the hiring I made/approved was wrong or questionable I probably wouldn't be super receptive to making any kinds of promises about changing such a person.

Unfortunate as may sound to you, my advice would be to just muster through the semester, gleaning as much trustworthy info as you can from the "unqualified" instructor, and supplementing whatever material you feel is lacking with the wealth of information available online. Learn what you can, pass the class, graduate in a timely manner, and move ahead.