Psychology M.S.

View information for the Department of Psychology .

The primary purpose of the Master of Science program in Psychology is to develop mastery of a substantial body of knowledge and skills for students planning careers in counseling or behavior analysis. Students completing the Counseling concentration or the Behavior Analysis concentration meet the educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) License. The Behavior Analysis concentration is also accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis and meets the course requirements for the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BCBA certification). The Behavior Analysis concentration emphasizes applied behavior analysis and trains students for positions in a wide range of applied and counseling settings. The Counseling concentration emphasizes a variety of counseling theories and skills in training students for positions in counseling settings. Admission to the program is competitive.

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available from program coordinator.

Minimum Prerequisites for Admission

1. A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and completion of the concentration prerequisites, with a grade of B or better or completion of a course in Introductory Psychology, completion of the concentration prerequisites with a minimum of 16 upper-division semester units in Psychology with a grade of B or better with course content acceptable to the Psychology Graduate Committee.

Behavior Analysis concentration prerequisites:

• One upper-division course in Experimental Psychology
  (
  PSYC 3000
    or equivalent)
• One upper-division introductory course on Learning Theory
  (
  PSYC 3700
    or
  4720
   )
• One upper-division introductory course in Abnormal Psychology
  (
  PSYC 3350
    or equivalent)
• One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Theory
  (
  PSYC 3790
    or equivalent)
• One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Techniques
  (
  PSYC 4770
    or equivalent)

Counseling concentration prerequisites:

• One upper-division course in Experimental Psychology
  (
  PSYC 3000
    or equivalent)
• One upper-division introductory course in Abnormal Psychology
  (
  PSYC 3350
    or equivalent)
• One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Theory
  (
  PSYC 3790
    or equivalent)
• One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Techniques
  (
  PSYC 4770
    or equivalent)

2. A minimum 3.0 overall grade point average.
3. Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test, which includes the GRE Analytical Writing Section.
4. Completion of a set of examinations or other requirements by the Psychology Department to determine or rectify those areas in which further preparation is required.
5. Related work or volunteer experience is strongly recommended.
6. Three letters of recommendation.
7. Approval by the Psychology Department.

Minimum Requirements for Continuation

1. Maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average in all courses attempted.
2. Satisfactory progress toward the degree, which includes successful completion of coursework and thesis.
3. A classified graduate student in Psychology will be dropped from classified standing upon receiving more than three units of graduate study graded less than B-. However, any graduate student may retake a course graded less than B for a higher grade, and a classified student must remove such grade deficits (in excess of three units) in the next semester or petition the Graduate Committee for a time extension if it is impossible to make up the deficit. In no case will more than three units of graduate study graded less than B be counted towards a Master’s degree.
4. Other requirements may be stated in University and Departmental Guidelines for Academic Probation and Termination. The student is responsible for obtaining current copies of these regulations and complying with the criteria listed.

Requirements

(60 units minimum)

1. Complete the appropriate 60 or more units or their equivalent.
2. Complete the 36 core units listed in the Basic Requirements Section as well as the requirements listed for the concentration to which they have been admitted.

 Note:  Some modification to the following stated requirements may be made to accommodate California educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist License, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and other program changes.