Master of Science in General/Experimental Psychology

The program is designed to prepare students for doctoral level training in various specialty areas of psychology (Experimental/Thesis option) or for direct employment in a variety of settings that require a broad knowledge of behavior combined with behavioral research skills (General/Non-Thesis option). Thesis research specialty areas include cognitive, developmental, learning, perception, physiological, psychopharmacology, and social/personality.

Experimental Psychology - Thesis Option

	Sem. Hrs.
Required Core	12
PSY 612 - Advanced Experimental Design and Analysis I	3
PSY 613 - Advanced Experimental Design and Analysis II	3
PSY 699 - Thesis	6
Area Electives	21
600 level courses approved by advisor and department chair with no more than nine credit hours in PSY 670, 676, and/or 690
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED	33

General Psychology - Non-Thesis Option

Required Core	9
PSY 612 - Advanced Experimental Design and Analysis I	3
PSY 613 - Advanced Experimental Design and Analysis II	3
PSY 690 - Psychological Research	3
Area Requirements	18

Select six courses from the following:

PSY 677 - Seminar in Developmental Research	3
PSY 684 - Sensation & Perception	3
PSY 621 - Advanced Physiological Psychology	3
PSY 633 - Personality Theory	3
PSY 634 - Learning Theory	3
PSY 636 - Seminar in Cognitive Psychology	3
PSY 654 - Seminar in Social Psychology	3
Electives	6

(600 level courses approved by advisor and department chair)

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED

Special Admission Requirements

General admission to graduate study.
Completion of an undergraduate major or minor in psychology or an equivalent course of study which includes course work in experimental design and analysis.
A preferred undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
Preferred GRE score of 1000, verbal plus quantitative, minimum GRE score of 800.
Three letters of recommendation.
Personal statement of career goals.

Students who lack prerequisite courses may be conditionally admitted into the program. Students who do not have a satisfactory GRE score or less than a 3.0 GPA may be admitted if there is sufficient evidence for probability of success in the program.

Accreditation

The American Psychology Association has not established course or program requirements for M.A. level graduate programs. However, this program does satisfy the requirements of the Council of Applied Master's Programs in Psychology (CAMPP).

Program Competencies

Students must:

Be competent in the design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of psychological research.
Be competent in written and oral communication skills necessary for presentation of scientific research.
Be competent in the use of computer software packages necessary for data analysis, figure and table production, paper and poster presentations, and written reports.
Understand the complexity of human and animal behavior and the influence of psychological, biological, and social factors on behavior.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in a specialized research area of scientific psychology (Experimental Psychology - Thesis option students).
Demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and methods of core content areas of scientific psychology (General Psychology - Non-Thesis option).

Assessment Procedures

Required course work will provide training necessary for achievement of competencies 1, 2, and 3, and achievement will be measured through comprehensive final examinations, skill utilization in core content courses, directed research, and through written/oral comprehensive exit examinations.
Competencies 4 and 6 will be assessed in individual courses selected and in the written/oral comprehensive exit examinations.
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA with no more than two grades of "C" or below.
Achievement of competency 5 will be assessed through the production and defense of the thesis.
Achievement of program goals will be determined by graduate school acceptance rates and professional employment placement.

Up one level:

Department of Psychology