Psychology (MA)

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Offered by the Department of Psychology , College of Arts and Sciences .

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.

Degree Requirements

33 credit hours of approved graduate work
Capstone Experience: Fulfillment of the research requirement through the completion of one of the following:
- Nonthesis: 6 credit hours with grades of B or better
- Thesis: 6 credit hours of thesis credit and submission of the thesis
Specializations: Clinical Science; Cognition, Learning and Neuroscience; General Psychology

Course Requirements

Psychological Research (3 credit hours)

PSYC-650 Psychological Research (3)

Statistics (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Capstone (6 credit hours)

Complete one of the following options:

Nonthesis Option

Required (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours with grades of B or better from one of the following:

Elective (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours, with grades of B or better, from the following if not taken to fulfill Statistics:

Thesis Option

Required (6 credit hours)

PSYC-685 Seminar in Psychological Research (3)
PSYC-797 Master’s Thesis Research (1-3) (3 credit hours required)

Specializations (21 credit hours)

Complete one of the following specializations:

Clinical Science

Required (9 credit hours)

Electives (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Statistics:

Cognition, Learning, and Neuroscience

Required (9 credit hours)

Electives (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Statistics:

General Psychology

Social Science Cluster (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Natural Science Cluster (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Social Science Cluster:

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

Electives (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Statistics: