Psychology, M.A.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions  section in this catalog for complete information. In addition, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. a 3.0 average in psychology coursework;
2. approved lower-division equivalent courses in psychology;

• Introductory Psychology (e.g., PSYC 101 )
• Elementary Statistics (e.g., PSYC 201 )
• Research Methods in Psychology (e.g., PSYC 202 )

3. approved upper-division equivalent coursework, including classes in history of psychology (e.g., PSYC 408 ) with a “B-” (2.7) or better (if history of psychology is not completed prior to entering the program it may be completed during the program); and advanced statistics (e.g., PSYC 465 ) with a “B-” (2.7) or better, completed prior to entering or within the first semester. Also, four additional psychology classes completed from the areas below; classes must be from four different areas and one must be a lab class;

• Learning and Memory
• Cognition/Information Processing
• Sensation and Perception/Physiological/Biological
• Social/Personality
• Abnormal/Clinical
• Developmental

4. satisfactory performance in the General (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical) and Advanced Subject/Psychology tests of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
5. three satisfactory letters of recommendation. One must be from a psychology professor;
6. meet the University’s Writing Proficiency Requirement; and
7. empirical research (outside of coursework) supervised by a professor. This may include independent study, honors thesis, etc.

Admission to the program is based on competitive evaluation of qualifications and is at the sole discretion of the Psychology Department’s Graduate Studies Committee. New students are admitted to the Master of Arts program in the fall only. Both the university and department applications must be completed on time for full consideration. The university application must be submitted online.

Departmental application forms may be obtained from hss.fullerton.edu/psychology/masterofarts.asp. The deadline for submitting applications and all supporting materials is March 1.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

It may be possible for an applicant with minimal deficiencies in prerequisite requirements, but who is otherwise highly qualified, to be admitted conditionally to the program. Provisions for the removal of these deficiencies would be outlined as part of the conditional acceptance. Deficiencies must be removed prior to granting classified standing. For further information, consult the graduate program adviser.

Study Plan

The Master of Arts in Psychology requires approved graduate work, including the completion and acceptance by the department of a written thesis that has been defended orally.

Each student, in consultation with the graduate coordinator, will develop a program of study. This program will be outlined on an official university study plan form and submitted to the department’s Graduate Studies Committee for review and approval. To be advanced to candidacy, students must receive a grade of “B-” (2.7) or better on all study plan courses and maintain a 3.0 grade point average overall.

Requirements for the M.A. in Psychology include the following:

Additional Information

Students must complete PSYC 500  within their first semester in the program.

Following university regulations, a maximum of five years is normally allowed for completing degree requirements.

Total (30 units)