MA in Psychology
Please view the Psychology Graduate Student Handbook for more detailed information about the Master's program.
Admission to the Program
In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must earn a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General examination. Admission is based on academic record, test scores, and two letters of recommendation.
Completion of the degree does not necessarily lead to admission to the Ph.D. program; students who wish to be considered for the Ph.D. program must apply. Applicants with a B.A. who wish to obtain a Ph.D. in Psychology from American University should apply directly to the Ph.D. program. If they do not have an M.A., students will earn one as part of the Ph.D. program. See the description of the Ph.D. program for more information.
Up to 6 credit hours of graduate course work 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 M.A. program.
Tracks
General, Personality/Social, or Experimental/Biological
Degree Requirements
- 33 credit hours of approved graduate work
- Written general comprehensive examination
- Thesis option: The master’s thesis involves an original research project. Students must prepare a thesis proposal, collect and analyze data, submit a written thesis, and give an oral defense. The thesis must be accepted by the thesis committee, the department chair, and the university.
Nonthesis option: available only in the General Psychology track (see course requirements below).
All course work for the thesis or nonthesis option must be completed with grades of B or better.
Course Requirements
General Psychology
- Two courses from the following:
PSYC-505 Advanced Personality Psychology (3)
PSYC-514 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
PSYC-533 Cognitive Behavior Therapy (3)
PSYC-540 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
PSYC-545 Psychology of Sex Similarities and Differences (3)
PSYC-551 Psychopathology: Theory and Research (3)
PSYC-560 Advanced Child Psychology (3)
PSYC-597 Topics in Psychology (3) (personality/social psychology)
PSYC-633 Psychological Assessment I (3)
PSYC-670 Behavioral Medicine (3)
- Two courses from the following:
PSYC-501 Physiological Psychology (3)
PSYC-513 Neuropharmacology: The Biochemistry of Behavior (3)
PSYC-518 Advanced Human Neuropsychology (3)
PSYC-530 Conditioning and Learning (3)
PSYC-575 Advanced Memory and Cognition (3)
PSYC-597 Topics in Psychology (3) (experimental/biological psychology)
PSYC-618 Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment (3)
graduate seminar in experimental psychology or neuroscience (3)
- Graduate statistics course (3)
Nonthesis Option (General Psychology track only):
- 6 credit hours from the following:
PSYC-550 Psychological Research (3)
PSYC-698 Directed Research (3–6)
- 12 credit hours of graduate elective courses with at least 6 credit hours from the Department of Psychology
Thesis Option:
- PSYC-550 Psychological Research (3)
- 6 credit hours from the following:
PSYC-796 Master’s Thesis Seminar (3)
PSYC-797 Master’s Thesis Research (1–3)
- 9 credit hours of graduate elective courses with at least 6 credit hours from the Department of Psychology
Personality/Social Psychology
- Four courses from the following:
PSYC-505 Advanced Personality Psychology (3)
PSYC-514 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
PSYC-533 Cognitive Behavior Therapy (3)
PSYC-540 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
PSYC-545 Psychology of Sex Similarities and Differences (3)
PSYC-551 Psychopathology: Theory and Research (3)
PSYC-560 Advanced Child Psychology (3)
PSYC-597 Topics in Psychology (3) (personality/social psychology)
PSYC-633 Psychological Assessment I (3)
PSYC-670 Behavioral Medicine (3)
graduate seminar in clinical, personality, or social psychology (3)
- Two courses from the following:
PSYC-501 Physiological Psychology (3)
PSYC-513 Neuropharmacology: The Biochemistry of Behavior (3)
PSYC-518 Advanced Human Neuropsychology (3)
PSYC-530 Conditioning and Learning (3)
PSYC-575 Advanced Memory and Cognition (3)
PSYC-597 Topics in Psychology (3) (experimental/biological psychology)
PSYC-618 Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment (3)
graduate seminar in experimental psychology or neuroscience (3)
- PSYC-550 Psychological Research (3)
- 6 credit hours from the following:
PSYC-796 Master’s Thesis Seminar (3)
PSYC-797 Master’s Thesis Research (1–3)
- Graduate statistics course (3)
- Graduate elective course (3)
Experimental/Biological Psychology
- Four courses from the following:
PSYC-501 Physiological Psychology (3)
PSYC-513 Neuropharmacology: The Biochemistry of Behavior (3)
PSYC-518 Advanced Human Neuropsychology (3)
PSYC-530 Conditioning and Learning (3)
PSYC-575 Advanced Memory and Cognition (3)
PSYC-597 Topics in Psychology (3) (experimental/biological psychology)
PSYC-618 Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment (3)
PSYC-690 Independent Study Project (3) in a recognized area of experimental/biological psychology
graduate seminar in experimental psychology or neuroscience
- Two courses from the following:
PSYC-505 Advanced Personality Psychology (3)
PSYC-514 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
PSYC-533 Cognitive Behavior Therapy (3)
PSYC-540 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
PSYC-545 Psychology of Sex Similarities and Differences (3)
PSYC-551 Psychopathology: Theory and Research (3)
PSYC-560 Advanced Child Psychology (3)
PSYC-597 Topics in Psychology (3) (personality/social psychology)
PSYC-633 Psychological Assessment I (3)
PSYC-670 Behavioral Medicine (3)
graduate seminar in clinical, personality, or social psychology (3)
- PSYC-550 Psychological Research (3)
- 6 credit hours from the following:
PSYC-796 Master’s Thesis Seminar (3)
PSYC-797 Master’s Thesis Research (1–3)
- Graduate statistics course (3)
- Graduate elective course (3)
