The MS in Psychological Science offers three tracks: Research Track, Applied Track, General/Reading Track.

Location:

Shippensburg, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Psychology

Program Overview

Program Description:

The graduate program in psychological science emphasizes the development of psychological knowledge and research skills. It combines a sequence of required courses in psychology, selected courses in psychology relevant to your interest area, and depending on the track, a thesis, field research, or a comprehensive examination. A total of 30 semester hour credits of graduate work is required for the master of science degree.

The Master of Science in Psychological Science offers a Research, Applied, or General/Reading track. The Research Track is appropriate for those seeking degrees beyond the master’s level. This track allows students to specialize in a subarea of psychology via elective selection and completion of a thesis (Thesis I and II). The thesis requirement will increase students’ potentials for acceptance into doctoral level programs and is required for the degree. The Applied Track is appropriate for graduates who are trying to secure employment in industry, government, or non-profit upon graduate with the master’s degree. Students have opportunities to take courses with more applied emphases (e.g., Human Factors, Cognitive Science, Statistics). Students are required to successfully complete two semesters of Field Experience (Field Experience I and II) for the degree. Field Experience includes on-site meetings as well as real-world experience in industrial settings. The General/Reading Track is designed to meet the needs of those seeking credentials or advancement in their current place of employment. Students will take basic required scientific courses, fulfill cluster requirements, and take additional coursework to broaden their scope. Their competence will be demonstrated by passing a comprehensive exam. Passing the comprehensive exam is required for the degree.

This program does not provide training or accreditation for those interested in employment in counseling or clinical psychology upon completion of a master’s degree.

 

REQUIRED COURSES (6 credits)

PSY500 Advanced Research Design & Statistics I

PSY501 Advanced Research Design & Statistics II

CORE COURSES (12 credits)

(Choose 1 from each of the following 4 cluster areas)

CLUSTER 1:  Learning and Motivation:

PSY512 Theories of Learning

PSY516 Psychology of Motivation

PSY540 History of Psychology

CLUSTER 2:  Developmental and Social:

PSY519 Life Span Psychology

PSY527 Studies in the Psychology of Adolescence

PSY529 Psychology of Successful Aging

PSY533 Advanced Social Psychology

PSY590  Introduction to Group Dynamics

CLUSTER 3:  Personality and Abnormal:

PSY515 Theories of Personality

PSY518  Introduction to Behavior Analysis

PSY530  Studies in the Psychology of the Exceptional Child

PSY534  Survey of Research in Abnormal Behavior

CLUSTER 4:  Biological and Cognitive:

PSY5XX  An Advanced Biological Psychology course

PSY531  Advanced Cognitive Psychology

PSY565  Human Factors

PSY570  Seminar in Cognitive Science

ELECTIVES (6 credits)

PSY594, PSY595, PSY596   Selected Topics

Additional Cluster Courses (up to 4)

 

ADDITIONAL TRACK REQUIREMENTS

Declare Track (before 3rd semester)

Research Track (6 credits)

PSY612  Thesis I

PSY613  Thesis II

Applied Track (6 credits)

PSY621  Field Experience I

PSY622  Field Experience II

General/Reading Track (6 credits)

6 credits of electives

Comprehensive Exam

 

SPECIAL RESOURCES

The psychology laboratories are housed in Franklin Science Center. The facilities include a computer room for statistical analysis, observation rooms, individual laboratory testing rooms, and animal colony facilities. Other equipment includes video taping facilities, operant conditioning chambers, and psychophysiological research equipment. The Ezra Lehman Memorial Library has a carefully selected collection of psychology books, journals, and periodicals.

This program offers a diversity of courses, flexibility of program formulation, and strong advisement support. A large number of classes are discussion classes or seminars that encourage debate, while others emphasize the development and implementation of analytical and expository skills.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Shippensburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, AACSB International, ABET Inc., Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC), American Chemical Society, Council on Social Work Education, Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, International Association of Counseling Services, Council for Exceptional Children and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Financial Aid:

No

Requirements:

To be considered for admission to the master of science in psychological science, you must: Have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university; present an official transcript showing at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average for your undergraduate studies; have completed at least 9 semester hours of undergraduate work in psychology; have completed an undergraduate statistics course; submit a completed application, including the Supplemental Form and a personal goals statement.

International Requirements:

The recommended score for the TOEFL is 68 for the internet-based test or 500 for the paper-based test. (Shippensburg University's test code for the TOEFL is 2657). The recommended score for IELTS is 6.0. International applicants from a country where English is the native/official language may be exempted from the TOEFL or IELTS requirement, however the GRE or GMAT is required.