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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2019-2020 
    
American University Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology (MA)


Admission to the Program


In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must submit a completed graduate application form, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the General examination (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic), two letters of recommendation, and copies of all college transcripts. Admission is based on academic record, test scores, and two letters of recommendation.

Up to 6 credit hours of graduate coursework in psychology from another university or up to 12 credit hours of graduate course credit taken at American University may be transferred, provided that these credits were not counted toward another degree. These transfers of credit are subject to approval by the director of the MA program.

Completion of the degree does not necessarily lead to admission to the Clinical Psychology (PhD) ; students who wish to be considered for the PhD program must apply. Applicants with a BA who wish to obtain a Clinical Psychology (PhD)  from American University should apply directly to the PhD program. If they do not have an MA, students will earn one as part of the PhD program. See the description of the PhD program for more information.

Degree Requirements


  • 33 credit hours of approved graduate work
  • Capstone Experience: Completion of the thesis or substantial research project. 
    • Thesis option: The master’s thesis involves an original research project. Students must prepare a thesis proposal, collect and analyze data, submit a written thesis, and give an oral defense. The thesis must be accepted by the thesis committee, the department chair, and the university
    • Nonthesis option: available only in the General Psychology specialization (see course requirements below). Students must complete a substantial research project.
      • All coursework for the thesis and nonthesis options for fulfilling the research requirement must be completed with grades of B or better
  • Specializations: General, Personality/Social, or Experimental/Biological

Course Requirements


Complete one of the following specializations:

General Psychology (33 credit hours)


Experimental/Biological Psychology


Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Note: Students may substitute 3 credit hours with graduate seminar in experimental psychology or neuroscience.

Statistics


  • 3 credit hours of graduate statistics

Thesis or Nonthesis Option


Complete one of the following options:

Thesis Option:

Electives

Nonthesis Option:

Electives

Personality/Social Psychology (33 credit hours)


Experimental/Biological Psychology


Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Note: Students may substitute 3 credit hours with graduate seminar in experimental psychology or neuroscience.

Statistics


  • 3 credit hours of graduate statistics

Elective


  • 3 credit hours of graduate electives

Experimental/Biological Psychology (33 credit hours)


Experimental/Biological Psychology


Complete 12 credit hours from the following: 

Note: Students may substitute 3 credit hours with graduate seminar in experimental psychology or neuroscience.

Statistics


  • 3 credit hours of graduate statistics

Elective


  • 3 credit hours of graduate electives