APPLYING FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE

MASTER OF ARTS - PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
MASTER OF SCIENCE - HUMAN FACTORS
MASTER OF SCIENCE - INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL OPTION

DEGREE PROGRAMS IN PSYCHOLOGY

    An applicant for the M.A. degree in Psychology-Psychological Research (MA-PR), or the M.S. degree in either the Human Factors Option (MSHF) or Psychology - Industrial/Organizational Option (MSIO), must be accepted for admission by both the Department of Psychology and the Enrollment Services Office of the University.  These programs accept students for the Fall only. 
***There will be a Special Spring 2009 Application for both the MAR and MSHF programs (there is NO Spring entry for the MSIO program)!***
    The deadlines for submitting application, transcripts and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores to the Psychology Department for the Master's programs are listed below, based upon the particular program (target deadlines are recommended to allow for notification of missing items).  University deadlines vary each semester -- please check with the Office of Enrollment Services for the appropriate university application deadline.
 

Steps for Acceptance to the Psychology Department

1.  The GRE
    Take the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing ("General" test) sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have the scores sent directly to the Psychology Graduate Coordinator, using the appropriate GRE codes.  (The Subject test is not required; however, the score will be reported if taken.)  Sign up for the GRE early; reservations must be made for the test at least three to four weeks before the test date and your scores are not sent to you or the department for approximately two to five weeks after you have taken the test.  For dates of GRE tests given in your geographical area visit the GRE web site at: http://www.gre.org.  The CSULB GRE codes are: institution 4389, department 2016.  (Please note: you must designate the institution recipient as a graduate program for the codes.)

2.  Department and University Applications
    Apply to the Psychology Department Graduate Advisor for admission.  Application forms are available on-line in a print-only format.  The department application/information packet is also available in person from the Psychology Department receptionist, Room 100, CSULB Psychology Building.  You may have it mailed by writing the Psychology Graduate Office, CSULB, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA  90840-0901.  (Please write your request, including the address where you would like it mailed to, on a 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of paper.)  Or email a request to: droe@csulb.edu (again, please be sure to include the full address where you would like the packet to be mailed to, and provide your email address if different from that from where your request is originating).  Please Note: you must also apply to the University itself (www.csumentor.edu).
    MA-PR: You are eligible to apply if you have completed an undergraduate major in Psychology that includes four specific prerequisite courses, or a major in another field with 24 units of upper division psychology that includes four specific prerequisite courses (listed in the application/information packet, on the MA-PR Program information web page, and as one of the on-line application forms).  Three CSULB Psychology MAPR faculty members who have agreed to considering mentoring incoming MAPR students as lab space allows must be listed on the department application, section D.
    MSHF: You are eligible to apply if you have completed an undergraduate major in Psychology that includes three specific and one or more suggested prerequisite courses, or a major in another field with 24 units of upper division psychology that includes three specific and one or more suggested prerequisite courses (listed in the application/information packet, on the MSHF Program information web pages, and as one of the on-line application forms).   
    MSIO: You are eligible to apply if you have a bachelor's degree in psychology or equivalent and have completed at least four of the five prerequisite courses (listed in the application/information packet, on the MSIO Program information web pages, and as one of the on-line application forms).  If your degree is in another area and you do not have 24 units of upper division psychology, you must complete 15 of the 24 units before becoming eligible to apply to the department.  If accepted, you would be required to complete the remaining 9 units the first year in the program.
    University Application: Must be filed online via the www.csumentor.edu web site at least a month prior to the deadline of the above graduate program to which you are applying, as this is the only way for us to receive your GRE scores (ETS no longer sends paper reports to CSULB).

3.  Official Transcripts
    Have official transcripts of all your college-level work sent directly to the Graduate Coordinator.  You will have to send a second set of these transcripts to the Office of Enrollment Services in order to be admitted to the University (see MA/MS Department Application Check Sheet for full addresses).
    Please note: your two sets of transcripts must be sent separately, one set to Enrollment Services and one to the department.  (Do not have two sets sent to the Psychology Department -- the Office of Enrollment Services will not accept transcripts once the envelope is opened.)  It is required that you apply for admission to the University at the same time you apply to the department.  Separate applications are required.  There is an application fee for the University.  There is no fee for application to the department.  Consult the Office of Enrollment Services to learn application deadlines for the University.  You may apply to the University via the following web site: www.csumentor.edu (please be sure to use the CSU Graduate application for the correct academic year).  International Students: please be sure to contact the Center for International Education for university application procedures (web site www.csulb.edu/centers/cie/; email via the site).

4.  Letters of Recommendation
    Submit three letters of recommendation from faculty members who are familiar with your academic work to the Psychology Department (materials submitted to the Office of Enrollment Services will not be released to the department).  Letters

5.  Statement of Purpose
    Submit a statement of academic and professional goals to the Psychology Department (materials submitted to the Office of Enrollment Services will not be released to the department).  Statement 1; Statement 2.
 

Selection Criteria

    Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for both verbal and quantitative portions of the aptitude test is expected.  In recent years the average combined total for the entering class has been about 1100, with individual scores ranging from 850 to 1400.
    A GPA of approximately 3.4 for the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) as well as for all psychology units completed is considered minimum to be competitive.
            (GPA Calculator; list of additional GPA calculators)
    Applicants are advised to take the GRE by December for fall admission.  Admissions are on a competitive basis and students who are not selected may be advised to take courses in the department as a conditionally classified graduate student in order to make up deficiencies in key areas or to demonstrate competency in work at the graduate level.
    The department encourages minority students, out-of-state students and foreign students to apply.  The selection committee carefully weighs qualitative as well as quantitative factors in making its admission decisions.  Particular attention is directed at selecting students with the motivation, as well as the intellectual skills, to pursue a career in academic psychology.

Application forms