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Psychology

Graduate Programs

Master of Arts in Psychology

Option in Psychological Research (code PSY_MA01)

This is a 30-unit degree program.

Prerequisites

All students fulfill the requirements in Item #1 and choose either Item #2 or Item #3.

1. Take 6 units of college level work in chemistry, physics, biology or mathematics as approved by the graduate advisor. No more than 3 of the 6 units may be in approved mathematics courses.

2. A bachelor's degree with a major in psychology that includes:

  • A. Take two courses from different groups:
    • 1. PSY 331, 332, 333
    • 2. PSY 336
    • 3. PSY 340, 341, 342
  • B. Take one course of the following:
    • PSY 351, 356, 361, 365
  • C. PSY 310

3. A bachelor's degree with a major other than psychology and 24 units of upper division psychology substantially equivalent to those required for the baccalaureate degree at this university, including:

  • A. Take two courses from different groups:
    • 1. PSY 331, 332, 333
    • 2. PSY 336
    • 3. PSY 340, 341, 342
  • B. Take one of the following : PSY 351, 356, 361, 365
  • C. Take the following course: PSY 310

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to Candidacy is the next step after achieving classified status and confers catalog rights to graduate students. It also signifies approval of a plan of study by the graduate student's major, department, and college. Advancement requirements are:

  • 1. Application for Advancement to Candidacy must be completed prior to or concurrent with enrollment in PSY 698 (Thesis).
  • 2. Classified status.
  • 3. An approved program of studies for the Master of Arts, Research option degree.
  • 4. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
  • 5. A minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in all units undertaken for the program (at least 6 graduate units).
  • 6. Enrollment in regular session.

Requirements

  • 1. The student must complete, as a graduate student, 30 units of graduate coursework (501-698), 24 of which must be in Psychology (not including PSY 697) including:
    • A. Take one of the following:
      • PSY 511 Statistical Design & Analysis of Experiments (3)
      • PSY 512 Multivariate Statistical Analysis (3)
      • (if 411 or 412 or equivalent not taken as undergraduate);
    • B. Take one course chosen from the following:
      • PSY 518, 527, 533, 541, 556, or 582, if corresponding 400-level course or equivalent not taken as an undergraduate;
    • C. Take PSY 696 Research Methods (3)
      • (comprehensive exam required);
    • D. Take three courses chosen from the following:
      • PSY 631, 632, 633, 634, 637, 651, 656, 661 or 678 (with comprehensive exams in two of the three courses); PSY 698 (6 units).
  • 2. With graduate advisor's approval a maximum of 6 units from related areas may be used for 6 of the 30 units.
  • 3. Attendance at 6 Department Colloquia, four of which must be completed prior to preliminary oral examination, all 6 must be completed prior to final oral examination.
  • 4. Completion of all requirements as established by the M.A. Psychological Research Committee.
  • 5. Comprehensive examinations taken in three of the four required graduate seminars, as outlined in 1C and 1D above.
  • 6. A preliminary oral examination on the thesis proposal and a final oral examination in defense of the completed thesis.