DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

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and program and admission requirements

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The 30 unit program provides students with general background in experimental psychology and opportunities to specialize within interest areas. MA course-work is augmented by the Mentor Program and participation in research. Although the Study Plan program is 30 units, many MA students take additional elective coursework beyond the 30 units, including additional courses in Psychology or related areas (e.g., sociology, management, gerontology). Students are expected to be engaged in research work throughout the program and may take additional units in Independent Research (Psychology 599) beyond the 3 units required in the Study Plan.

COURSE-WORK

• A. Core Classes--Students are required to take the following three unit classes:
• Psychology 500--Issues in Psychological Research
• Psychology 510--Research Design
• Psychology 599--Independent Research with Faculty Mentor
  
• B. Graduate Seminars--Students must complete two of the following seminars:
• Psychology 520--Seminar in Experimehtal Psychology
• Psychology 521--Seminar in Personality
• Psychology 522--Seminar in Developmental Psychology
• Psychology 523--Seminar in Social Psychology
• Psychology 525--Seminar in Community Psychology
  
• C. Content Classes--Students are required to complete nine units from three different areas in order to fulfill the Content Class Requirement. The classes listed below qualify as Content Classes.
  
  *Graduate seminar requirement (see B.) must be satisfied first.
  **Subject to MA Graduate Advisor approval.
  
• Experimental/Cognitive
• 415--Cognitive Processes
• 416--Everyday Cognition
• 417--Psycholinguistics
• 520--Experimental Seminar*
  
• Developmental
• 464--Adv Developmental Psychology
• 476--Developmental Psychopathology & Assessment
• 522--Developmental Seminar*
• 543--Advanced Lifespan Development
• 575--Applied Developmental Psychology
  
• Quantitative
• 466--Social Science Computer Applications**
• 467--Multivariate Statistics
• 520--Experimental Seminar*
  
• Social/Personality/Industrial
• 431--Theories of Learning
• 454--Social Cognition
• 521--Personality Seminar*
• 523--Social Seminar*
  
• Clinical/Community
• 472--Community Psychology
• 545--Advanced Psychopathology
• 525--CommiLinity Seminar*
  
• Sensory/Physiological
• 413--Perception
• 474--Medical Psychology
• 475--Psychopharmacology
• 520--Experimental Seminar*
  
• D. Elective Classes--Students may enroll in appropriate 400 or 506 level classes for electives.
  
• E. Thesis Research--Students must enroll for three units of Psychology 598. Students may elect to enroll in a second three-units of Psychology 598.

Scheduling your MA Classes

Presented below is a typical schedule for completion of course-work for the MA. Psychology 500, 599, & 510 are designated for specific semesters. In contrast, the Content Classes and Graduate Seminars (Psychology 520, 521, 522, 523, & 525) may be taken at any time.

First Year

• Fall (nine units)
• Psychology 500: Issues in Psychological Research
• Psychology 520, 521, 522, 523 or 525
• Content Class
• Spring (nine units)
• Psychology 599: Independent Research with Faculty Mentor
• Psychology 520, 521, 522, 523 or 525
• Content Class
  

Second Year

• Fall (nine units)
• Psychology 51O: Research Design
• Psychology 598: Thesis Research
• Content Class
• Spring (nine units)
• Psychology 598: Thesis Research
• Elective Classes

The specific classes you will complete for your MA will be listed on your Study Plan which is developed in consultation with the MA Coordinator. Please refer to the Graduate catalog to find a copy of a Study Plan form (found on page 18.)