Master of Science Program in Psychology 

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The Department of Psychology offers the Master of Science degree with concentrations in the following areas: (1) general psychology and (2) clinical psychology. Students interested in becoming community college teachers, researchers, or in pursuing further study toward the doctorate are advised to select the concentration in general psychology. 

If students' vocational goals include working in therapy or assessment services, they should pursue the clinical concentration. Outstanding performance in either area may lead to college teaching. Advisors are appointed to aid students in selecting and developing a program in terms of their interests. 

Admission Requirements

1. Students are admitted during the Fall semester only.
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required as part of the application packet and prior to receiving an offer of admission for students applying to the Masters of Psychology program, Clinical Psychology Concentration. The GRE is not required for the Master’s of Psychology program, General Psychology Concentration.
3. All students are required to complete a supplemental application along with the admissions application. ONLY completed applications will be screened.  

Unconditional Admission 

In additional to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the Department of Psychology requires:

1. a minimum of 15 semester hours in psychology, including at least one course in each of the following:
   1. social, personality, cognitive, or developmental psychology
   2. research methods, quantitative methods, or experimental psychology, and
   3. physiological psychology;
2. a 3.00 grade point average (on a scale of 4.00 points) in psychology or major area; and
3. an overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.8.

Students who are most competitive for unconditional admission will have: 

1. a minimum grade point average of 2.8 in the undergraduate major,
2. a 3.00 grade point average during last two years of undergraduate course work,
3. a minimum verbal GRE score of score of 153 and quantitative GRE score of 144 is required for students applying to the Clinical concentration.

Conditional Admission

Applicants can be granted conditional admission under the general provisions of the Graduate School whenever the requirements in 1, 2, and/or 3 above are not met, if additional program slots are available.   

Change of Status

In order to achieve unconditional status, students must

1. complete all undergraduate prerequisites listed on the Program Card by the major advisor including experimental or physiological psychology;
2. earn a B average in the first 15 graduate-level hours of their planned program of study; and
3. successful completion of PSYC 528. 

Continuing Status

Continuing status is dependent upon maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, with no more than two grades of C, as well as a favorable review by the departmental graduate faculty committee. For anyone with a grade below C, continuing status is subject to further departmental review. 

Program Requirements

In the general area, a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of acceptable course work including the writing of a thesis is required for the master's degree. The clinical program requires 45 semester hours including practical (9 semester hours) and thesis (3 semester hours).

With normal progress, the master's degree in psychology requires two years of full-time study in a planned program. The general concentration is frequently completed in less time, while the clinical concentration may take longer.