Requirements

Entrance Requirements
Applicants must:

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree.
  • Satisfy the department that his/her undergraduate preparation is adequate for advanced study.
  • Submit transcripts of undergraduate and prior graduate work.
  • Have completed a minimum of 24 credits in psychology including Introductory Psychology, Statistics and a laboratory course.
  • Submit three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an individual who will address the matter of the applicant's research potential.
  • Submit two papers from psychology courses, one a laboratory paper and the second a term paper.
  • Provide a clearly written statement of educational or professional goals.

For those with an M.S. in School Psychology, applicants must submit acceptable scores from the Graduate Record Exam (General and Subject). Applications for admission must be completed by March 15.

Although it is recommended that any deficiencies be made up prior to starting the program, it is possible to make up certain deficiencies within the first year of graduate work. Credit toward the degree will not be awarded for any courses used to remove deficiencies.

Although full-time attendance is preferred, the programs may be undertaken on a part-time basis with a minimum of 6 credits per semester. There are spring admissions to the General-Experimental program but those admitted in the spring semester are limited to 6 credits for that semester because most subject areas are covered in one year course sequences.

Program Requirements
The M.A. program requires the satisfactory completion of 42 credits. Students choosing the  thesis option must complete two semesters of master's research (PSY 900) and successfully defend their proposed and completed thesis research before a faculty committee. Students choosing the non-thesis option must pass a comprehensive examination which is offered in the spring semester of the second year. Non-Thesis students are given two opportunities to pass the comprehensive examination. All students must maintain a B average in all course work. The required course sequence is given below.