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The University of Texas at Dallas
Graduate Admissions

Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences

http://bbs.utdallas.edu/

Faculty

Professors: Hervé Abdi, Peter Assmann, James C. Bartlett, T.G.R. Bower, Duane P. Buhrmester, Thomas Campbell, Sandra Bond Chapman, Christine A. Dollaghan, W. Jay Dowling,., Richard M. Golden, John Hart, Susan W. Jerger, Bert S. Moore, Alice O’Toole, Margaret T. Owen, Denise C. Park, Karen J. Prager, John W. Santrock, Melanie J. Spence, Robert D. Stillman, Hanna K. Ulatowska, Marion K. Underwood, Anne E. Van Kleeck, Deborah Wiebe
Associate Professors:Pamela R. Rollins, Bart Rypma, L. Tres Thompson
Assistant Professors: Shayla C. Holub,  Mandy J. Maguire, Christa McIntyre, Candice M. Mills

Objectives

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychological Sciences program provides advanced training in psychological sciences. The program is designed for the student scholar who wishes to expand their knowledge of psychology by engaging in advanced coursework, additional research training, and/or applied experience in psychological sciences. The program also offers students the opportunity to gain additional psychology training in preparation for applying to nationally prominent doctoral programs in Clinical and Experimental Psychology. This research-focused program requires students to work with a research mentor from the beginning and to be actively involved in at least one research laboratory throughout training. Students also have the opportunity to gain additional applied experiences through the Internship Program in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. The Master of Psychological Sciences degree does not provide clinical training or lead to licensure as a counselor or psychologist.

Facilities

The principal sites for the academic, applied, and research activities of the Masters Program in Psychological Sciences include faculty labs located on the Richardson Campus and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. Students also will be exposed to research and applied experiences at vibrant centers within the School of Behavior and Brain Sciences: the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, the Center for BrainHealth, the joint Center for Brain Imaging with UT Southwestern, and the Center for Children and Families. These centers provide access to brain imaging laboratories and speech, hearing, and language laboratories.

Admission Requirements

The University’s general admission requirements are discussed here.

Admission to the Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences is based on a review of the applicant’s GPA, three letters of recommendation, and narrative description of interests and career goals. Both GRE math and verbal scores are required to be considered for admission.

Degree Requirements

The University’s general degree requirements are discussed here.

The M.S. in Psychological Sciences curriculum is designed to offer opportunities for specialization in a chosen core field, breadth of training, selection of electives that serve students’ individual goals, and research experience. Each student will be assigned to a research mentor at the start of the program and will maintain involvement in a research laboratory throughout the two-year program.  Students will also have the opportunity to gain applied experience by participating in the internship program offered by the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

All students in the program are required to regularly review their degree plans with their research mentor. The program requires a minimum of 36 credit hours distributed as follows. Students are required to complete 6 credit hours of major field core courses (two selected from one of the following fields: Developmental, Cognitive, Social and Personality, Neuroscience) , 6 credit hours of additional core courses (two courses from a different area than the major core), 6 credit hours of Research Methods (a two course sequence in statistics and research methods), 12 credit hours of approved advanced elective courses, and 6 credit hours of Independent Study/Research or Practical Internship courses. A grade of "B" is the required passing grade for coursework used to fulfill the core course and research methods course requirements of the degree. Independent Study/Research or Practical Internship coursework must be taken pass/fail.

Required Core Courses (18 hours)

Major Field Core Courses (12 SCH minimum).  Students will declare a major in one of these areas and take two courses from the major area and two courses from a different area than the major core.

1. Developmental Psychology

2. Cognition

3. Social/Personality Psychology

4. Neuroscience

Research Methods (6 SCH minimum)

Advanced Electives (12 SCH minimum)

Students will elect 4 courses from masters and doctoral offerings. Any core course (listed above) may count as an advanced elective, though it cannot count both as a core course and as an elective. 

Independent Study/Research or Practical Internship (6 SCH)

Students will complete either a Research Project or a Practical Internship to fulfill this requirement. The research requirement will be fulfilled by completion of a focused research project to be submitted and presented in poster format. The Internship requirement will be fulfilled by participating in applied placements through the currently existing School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences internship program for undergraduates.

 

Last Updated: August 10, 2010