MS IN PSYCHOLOGY

PSY 8000 - Seminar

Description: Basic issues of experimental design, methodology, ethics, procedures, and philosophy in general-experimental psychology.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8050 - Biopsychology

Description: Basic principles of neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and endocrinology and their application in the experimental analysis of behavioral processes.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8100 - Stat & Experimental Des

Description: Basic principles in experimental design; foundations and applications of analysis of variance, covariance, and multiple regression.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8150 - Cognitive Psychology

Description: Theory and research in human learning, memory, and cognitive processes.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8175 - Animal Learning & Cognition

Description: Seminar exploring contemporary views of learning and simple cognitive processes as developed from laboratory studies of non-human animals.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2017

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8200 - Perception

Description: Survey of sensation and perception, primarily human, emphasizing the relevance of sensory processing to our daily lives.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2018, Spring 2015, Spring 2001, Spring 2000

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8225 - Psychopathology

Description: Examination of contemporary theories and research on classification, etiology, and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2020, Fall 2018, Fall 2016

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8275 - Approaches to Psychotherapy

Description: Examination of the major theoretical positions within contemporary psychotherapy and their clinical applications to human behavior.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2019, Spring 2017, Spring 2015

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8300 - Developmental Psychology

Description: An investigation of the development of the principal psychological processes of learning, perception, and motivation with emphasis on phylogenetic comparisons and the effects of early experiences on these processes in the nature organism.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 2006, Spring 2004, Spring 2002, Spring 2000

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8325 - Psychological Testing

Description: Psychometric principles underlying the development and validation of psychological tests, and techniques for administration and interpretation of selected tests.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2019, Fall 2017, Fall 2016

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8350 - History & Systems

Description: Overview of major concepts and theories of psychology presented in a historical context.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 2003

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8400 - Personality: Empirical Res

Description: Seminar in design, conduct, and evaluation of personality research.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2013, Spring 2012, Fall 2009

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8425 - Organizational Behavior

Description: Understand individual, group, and organizational behavior at work as it relates to well-being and performance. Individual group, and environmental factors will be explored as to how they independently and interactively shape employees' job attitudes, motivation, behavior, and performance in organizations. Pre-requisites: Introduction to HR in the Business World (may be waived based on HR experience). Critical evaluation and research writing (may be waived based on writing assessment).

Prerequisites: HRD 8101 and HRD 8102

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021

CRSE Attributes: Human Resource Development
 

PSY 8450 - Psychologic Measurement

Description: Theoretical issues in the measurement of psychological dimensions, with special consideration of approaches to the quantification of both sensory and non-sensory continua.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered:

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8475 - Training & Development

Description: Organizations that link learning strategies to business strategies report better financial performance. Training has changed from a classroom event to learning experiences that can occur through a variety of methods: online learning, developmental assignments, team collaboration or a blend. Pre-requisites: Introduction to HR in the Business World (may be waived based on HR experience). Critical evaluation and research writing (may be waived based on writing assessment).

Prerequisites: HRD 8101 and HRD 8102 (concurrency)

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021

CRSE Attributes: Human Resource Development
 

PSY 8500 - Psychopharmacology

Description: Effects of drugs on the neurochemistry of brain systems which control instinctive and learned behavior patterns.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2016, Spring 2006, Spring 2003

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8550 - Social Psychology

Description: Contemporary social psychological theory and research.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2006, Fall 2004, Fall 2002, Fall 2000

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8625 - Psychopathology of Child

Description: A survey of the behavioral and emotional disorders of childhood.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2018, Spring 2016

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8650 - Psychology of Child Adolescent Development

Description: A description and explanation of the courses of psychological development from infancy to adulthood.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered:

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8750 - Behavioral Modification in Counsel

Description: Cognitive-behavioral techniques applied to programs in school, institutional, family, and institutional settings.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered:

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8800 - Psychology Personal Adjustment

Description: Examination of the nature and variety of healthy and disturbed personalities from the framework of the counseling profession.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered:

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8850 - Personality Theories

Description: Selected major theories of personality and their applications in counseling and psychotherapy.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Spring 1997, Fall 1995

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 8875 - Organization Development

Description: Planned, system-wide effort with the goal to increase organization effectiveness and health through diagnosis and interventions in the organization's processes using behavioral science knowledge. Focus on developing organization capability through alignment of strategy, structure, management processes, and people. Pre-requisites: Introduction to HR in the Business World (may be waived based on HR experience). Critical evaluation and research writing (may be waived based on writing assessment).

Prerequisites: HRD 8101 and HRD 8102

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021

CRSE Attributes: Human Resource Development
 

PSY 8900 - Special Topics

Description: An intensive examination of selected individual topical areas within psychology.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 9031 - Individual Research

Description: Individual research project conducted under the direction of a Psychology faculty member.

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 9032 - Thesis Direction I

Description:

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 9033 - Thesis Direction II

Description:

Credit Hours: 3

Last Offered: Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Summer 2021, Spring 2021

CRSE Attributes: NONE
 

PSY 9080 - Thesis Continuation

Description:

Credit Hours: 0

Last Offered: Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021

CRSE Attributes: NONE

What are the academic characteristics of incoming students?

• Number of completed applications received: 103 (5-year average, rounded to the nearest whole number)
•  Number of students entering program: 18 (5-year average, rounded to the nearest whole number)
•  Mean undergraduate GPA for most recent incoming class: 3.81 (3.85 for Psychology courses)
• Number of students supported by institutional graduate assistantship: 9
  
  

What should I include in the Statement of Goals?

In a cohesive statement, please describe: (a) your "immediate" and "long-term" career goals, (b) how your prior experiences (e.g., academic, research, professional, leadership) have helped prepare you for graduate education, and how those experiences may have shaped your current interests, (c) why you think our program is a good fit for you, and (d) why you think you are a good fit for our program. If there are specific faculty members whose research resonate with your interests, by all means, tell us about that, too. Please note that you are not required to identify specific faculty members in your application material. Many students come to our MS program (rather than directly to PhD program) because their interests are not yet focused on a specific research area, and our program can help them refine those interests. Finally, we invite you to briefly discuss lived experiences and other relevant details that might have impacted your academic performance.  Please include a brief paragraph at the end of your statement to describe those factors.  In sum, your statement will help us determine the fit between your interests and our program and also the fit between our program’s strengths and your eventual goals. There is no specific length requirement, but we strongly recommend keeping your statement to no more than three pages.
 

Will GRE scores be accepted?  What about the Psychology Subject Test?

GRE scores will not be accepted.
 

Am I accepted to a specific lab if I am offered admission?

Students are accepted to the program generally, not to a specific lab. Once students join the program, they are encouraged to learn more about our faculty’s research interests and identify potential labs to join.
 

How is thesis mentorship determined?

As students begin our program, we encourage them to explore/refine their interests by volunteering in faculty members’ labs. That is usually a great way to get to know the faculty members, their interests, and the culture of their labs. At some point during the student’s first year (usually towards the end of the Fall semester), they would approach potential thesis mentors and gauge mutual interests. Every faculty member has a slightly different timeline in terms of committing to a thesis student. To help with that process, each faculty member has a document that outlines their preferences and expectations, and these documents are available to all students to peruse.  Related to that, faculty members will present their work in one of the required classes during the first semester.  This is another opportunity for you to hear about active projects in the labs.

Do you review every application?  Or do you use some kind of a triage process?

The admissions committee reviews all applications holistically—that means we consider your GPA, prior research/teaching experience, statement of goals, letters of recommendation, and fit with our program. We do not use cut-off scores, and we review all applications that we receive. 
 

Are graduate assistantships available?

Graduate assistantships are merit-based, and our evaluation includes your entire application portfolio.  Funding decisions are made separately from admission decisions and are made on a rolling basis. Those who complete their applications by March 1 will receive priority consideration, and the first round of funding decisions are typically made near the end of March.

The university also offers graduate assistantships in other offices. We encourage you to explore the “Funding Opportunities section on the Financing Your Education page.

When will I receive an admission decision?

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.  In a typical year, we begin application review in mid-January.  Completed applications are typically reviewed within a few weeks of submission.
 

Can I include a resume or CV?  How about a writing sample?

Yes!  The online application system will allow you to include additional materials that are not required.  Resumes and writing samples are among the items that can be helpful for evaluating your application.
 

Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?

We would recommend submitting letters from professors or research supervisors who can speak to your academic aptitude and/or research abilities.  While letters from Psychology professors will be the most directly relevant, letters from professors in other disciplines are often appropriate.

What if I don’t have all the pre-requisites by the time of application?

In general, we only consider applicants who have fulfilled all the application requirements. Under rare circumstances, we would consider special requests.
 

Are there special requirements for international students?

Yes, there are. Please learn more about applying as an international student.
 

What are the kinds of research opportunities available to graduate students?

All of our students volunteer in research labs. In some cases, some students volunteer in multiple labs. See additional information about specific labs.
 

Do you interview candidates for admission?

On-campus interviews are not a necessary or typical part of our admission process. We invite all candidates accepted for admission to visit our department and meet with faculty members as well as current students. We also encourage you to consider attending the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduate Open House, where one of us will be available to chat, or a Virtual Information Session offered by Graduate Studies. In addition to learning more about the university, attendees of either event will receive an application fee waiver.
 

I have been placed on the Wait List.  What does that mean?

Generally speaking, this means that although your credentials and aptitude make you a suitable candidate for admission to our program, we are unable to admit you at this time. This is because we typically receive a significantly higher number of applications from qualified candidates than we have available spots.  All Wait List candidates’ credentials will be re-evaluated at a later point in the admissions cycle. Although it varies from year to year, we generally begin this reconsideration process in early May.