Department of Psychology Graduate Study

The Department of Psychology

INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Department of Psychology offers the Master of Arts in general psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, General/Experimental Psychology, Medical Psychology or Social Psychology. The department also offers the Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, and in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling.

I. ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY

    Persons applying for entry into the graduate program in psychology must first be admitted to the University. Application forms for the University may be obtained from a major library, community college or another California State University.

    The Psychology Department application forms should be returned to King Hall, C3104 with transcripts of all previous academic work. CSLA graduates do not need to file transcripts with the department. Applicants to the Applied Behavior Analysis program must also complete an interview for fieldwork eligibility.

    Entering students must have an undergradute degree in Psychology or its equivalent from an accredited institution and have achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above in the last 90 units of under-graduate work at an accredited institution.

    Students who do not have a bachelor's degree in Psychology at the time of admission must complete 31-35 units with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Specificially, the following prerequisite (or their equivalents) must be complete before beginning the Masters program. Whenever possible, credit will be given for equivalent course work taken elsewhere.

(1) Each of the following:
Psy 202 - Descriptive Statistics in Psychology (5)
Psy 302 - Statistical Methods (5)
Psy 304A - Experimental Psychology (6)
Psy 308 - Theories & Systems (4)

(2) Two of the following:
Psy 401 - Physiological Psychology (4)
Psy 408 - Comparative Psychology (4)
Psy 421 - Learning, Basic Processes (4)
Psy 423 - Motivation & Emotion (4)
Psy 424 - Learning, Complex Processes (4)
Psy 425 - Sensation & Perception (4)
Psy 433 - Cognitive Development (4)

(3) Two of the following:
Psy 410A - Abnormal Psychology (4)
Psy 410B - Abnormal Psychology (4)
Psy 412A - Human Development, Childhood (4)
Psy 412B - Human Development, Adolescence(4)
Psy 418A - Personality (4)
Psy 422 - Social Psy (4)

II. TO BECOME A CLASSIFIED GRADUATE STUDENT:

  1. Satisfy the Writing Proficiency Requirement. Students must pass the Writing Proficiency Examination during the first two quarters of their Masters Program. The examination is listed as UNIV 400 in the current Schedule of Classes. Those who do not pass this examination by the end of the second quarter in residence will be suspended from further work on their programs until they have passed the examination.

  2. Establish an official Masters Program. The steps for accomplishing this are as follows:
    • After receiving a letter of acceptance from the university, make an appointment with a Graduate Advisor to review your application status.
    • Complete the first page of the worksheet (copy attached) for the Masters degree in Psychology with the assistance of the Graduate Advisor.
    • Complete the second page of the worksheet in consultation with a program adviser within your area of interest. For Marrige, Family and Child Counseling see Dr. Anson. Levine; for Applied Behavior Analysis see Dr. Barry. Lowenkron.
    • Return the completed worksheet to the Graduate Secretary (KHC3104). Students will be notified by mail when to return to the office to sign their official program.
    • Within one quarter students will receive a letter from the Coordinator of Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences confirming their classification.
    • Graduate programs can be changed however, the application (GS-5) forachangemustbe madebeforethe courseto be substituted is completed. Students are permitted to take additional courses not on their programs.
    • No more than 13 units of graduate credit, completed at another unviersity, may be applied to a Masters program.

III. GRADUATE CORE REQUIREMENTS:

Graduate core courses must be completed within the first 16 units in order to be eligible to advance to candidacy. A grade of "B" must be attained in graduate core courses to continue in the graduate program.

  1. Research Methodology (one course). All students except those must choose one course from among PSY 411 Research Methodology in Psychology, PSY 414 Analysis of Variance, or PSY 429 Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis. Students enrolled in the Applied Behavior Analysis program must complete PSY 417 Single Case Design. Students who have completed the equivalent of these courses as an undergraduate with a grade of "B" or better, need not repeat these courses as graduate courses. The requirement must be met within the first 16 units of course work taken or within the first two quarters.
  2. Introduction to Graduate Study (PSY 555). This course must be completed within the first 16 units of course work taken or within the first two quarters in attendance. This course may be waived for students satisfying one of the following conditions:

    • Undergraduate psychology majors who have attained a 3.4 gpa in their last 90 units and non-majors who have attained a 3.4 gpa in the 31-35 units of undergraduate prerequisities forgraduate study in Psychology.
    • Undergraduate Psychology majors with a 3.0 gpa in their last 90 units or non-majors with a 3.0 gpa in the 31-35 units of the undergraduate prerequisities who earn a score of at least 550 on the Advanced Psychology test of the GRE.

    • Students who fall in either of the above categories must substitute another 500-level course chosen with approval of a departmental adviser, to be taken within the first 16 units of their graduate program.

IV. ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY

1. Students should submit an Application for Advancement to Candidacy (GS-10 form) upon completing 16 units. These may be obtained from the Graduate Secretary. The 16 units of course work completed must include the graduate core courses. In order to continue in the graduate program the student must have passed the Writing Proficiency Exam and have achieved a grade of 3.0 or better in the core courses.