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    Dec 04, 2024  
American University Catalog 2023-2024 
    
American University Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology (MA)


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; Psychological Science

Course Requirements


Psychological Research (3 credit hours)


Capstone (6 credit hours)


Complete one of the following options:

Nonthesis Option


Required (3 credit hours)

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

Elective (3 credit hours)

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

Thesis Option


Specializations (21 credit hours)


Complete one of the following specializations:

Clinical Science


Psychological Science


Electives (9 credit hours)

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