The Master of Arts in Psychology program prepares students for professional roles in public service, business, and industry or to advance into a doctoral program. In addition to developing extensive knowledge in the theory, research, and applications of the science of psychology, students select a focused plan of study in one of the concentration areas listed below:

• Applied Cognitive Psychology: User Experience
• Applied Social Psychology
• Organizational Behavior and Evaluation
• Positive Developmental Psychology and Evaluation 
• Positive Organizational Psychology and Evaluation

Graduates of these programs hold major leadership, research, consulting, and evaluation positions in private corporations, non-profit organizations, government, health care, public heath, community organizations, research institutes, and higher education think tanks around the world.

University Policies

Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

 

Degree Requirements

Coursework.  The degree requires 48 units of coursework, comprised as follows (dependent on the concentration):

• Research Methods (PSYCH 302; 4 units). Students who have taken a comparable graduate-level course should consult with the instructor about a waiver examination. Students are required to be dually enrolled in the associated lab PSYCH 302al for zero units.Statistics Sequence (PSYCH 308A, 308B, 308C & 308D; 2 units each). Students who have taken comparable statistics courses may consider taking the waiver examination given at the beginning of each module. Courses from other institutions cannot be considered for transfer credit unless the waiver examination is passed and grades in the comparable course(s) were B- or better.
• Evaluation Sequence (PSYCH 326, 315Z, 315EE; 2-4 units each). These courses are a requirement in the Applied Social Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Positive Developmental Psychology, and Positive Organizational Psychology master’s programs. In addition, Organizational Behavior and Evaluation students are required to take an additional 2-unit evaluation elective. All courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher, although in some cases, the elective course may be taken for a grade of Satisfactory.
• Elective courses. All students are encouraged to take advanced methodology courses as electives or additional courses in their area of concentration. All course enrollments should be discussed with and approved by the student’s advisor.

Minimum Grade Requirements.  The University’s policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress applies. The Psychology, MA program requires students to pass the following courses with a grade of B- or better:

• Concentration core courses
• Research Methods (PSYCH 302a)
• Statistics sequence (PSYCH 308a,b,c,d)
• Evaluation sequence (PSYCH 326, 315z, 315ee)

Thesis.  A thesis is not required but may be completed with the consent of the student’s advisor.