Psychology, M.S.

Admission Requirements

Comply with the regular Admission Requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0,
have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology, or an appropriate equivalent, and
has completed a course in Introductory Psychology and a course in Statistics.

Candidates with other majors will be considered but may be required to complete certain undergraduate course work in psychology prior to being advanced to candidacy for the MS degree.

All Applicants must submit:

Graduate admission application and fee. (Applications closed for Fall 2024)
Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
A personal statement outlining their interest in the program, expectations for the program, and career goals.
A curriculum vitae.
Two letters of reference from individuals who know the candidate personally.

The graduate admissions committee of the Department of Psychological Science will review all applications and will consult with potential capstone supervisors of suitable candidates. Dossiers are evaluated in their entirety. The committee will offer full or conditional admission to the MS degree program, depending upon the candidate’s comparative strengths and weaknesses, to a limited number of acceptable applicants each year.

Application Due Dates

Review of applications for the next academic year will begin after February 1. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants will be selected by the department faculty based on the merit of the overall application, and the number of applicants accepted will depend upon the program’s current capacity. The program does not accept applications for the Winter or Summer term. (Applications closed for Fall 2024)

MS in Psychology Curriculum

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Psychology department page.

Total Credits Required 32 Credits

Research Design and Analysis 8 Credits

PSY 505 - Advanced Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences Credits: 3
PSY 506 - Advanced Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences Credits: 3
AIS 535 - Using Scholarly Library Resources in Support of Graduate Research Credits: 2

Electives 18-21 Credits

Choose 18-21 credits of graduate level courses with the PSY or ABA prefix. No more than 8 credits can be at the 400-level.

Capstone 3-6 Credits

Project Option (3)

PSY 590 - Applied Research Credits: 3

Thesis Option (6)

PSY 593 - Research Development Credits: 3
PSY 599 - Thesis Credits: 3 *

Graduation Requirements

Graduates must meet the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin in addition to the following:

Complete the minimum number of credits for the degree
Maintain a 3.0 GPA
Successfully complete capstone project or thesis

*A thesis research proposal will be evaluated by the student’s thesis committee before thesis research may formally begin and before the student is advanced to candidacy. The thesis committee includes the student’s adviser (chair of the committee), one other member of the Psychological Science Department, and an appropriately qualified member from outside the department. A faculty member in another department may substitute for the department member, with approval of both the thesis adviser and the department. An open thesis oral defense is required. The thesis will demonstrate the student’s capacity for independent work of acceptable scientific caliber. It must be completed within three years of completion of all course requirements.