Department of
Psychology

Master of Arts in Psychology
Master of Science in Psychology
with a concentration in
Behavior Analysis
or Counseling
Teaching Credentials


Psychology students interested in obtaining a single subject teaching credential are directed to the Social Sciences Subject Matter Preparation Program in the Social Sciences section of the Undergraduate catalog. Also refer to the College of Education section of this catalog for other requirements to be completed in obtaining a single subject credential.

Master of Arts in Psychology

The Master of Arts program in Psychology is designed (1) to prepare students for advanced graduate work, or (2) for those students who desire a research-oriented program. Admission to the program is competitive.

Minimum Prerequisites for Admission

1. A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology or completion of a course in Introductory Psychology and 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, as outlined below:
   One upper-division course in experimental psychology
   (PSYC 3000)
   One upper-division general psychology course
   Two upper-division laboratory courses or research seminars in Psychology
   Three courses, one for each breadth area (C, D & E) as defined
   in the requirements for CSU Stanislaus undergraduate degree in
   Psychology.
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. The student chooses an area of interest and a faculty member with whom the student would like to work. After consultation with the faculty member prior to applying, the student submits:
   1. A brief description of a sample problem the student might choose as a thesis,
   2. A letter of support from the faculty member stating that he or she agrees to serve as chair of the student’s Master’s committee and will direct the research for the student’s chosen project,
   3. A list of all coursework needed for completion of the student’s degree.
5. Three letters of recommendation.
6. Approval by the Psychology Department.

Minimum Prerequisites 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 (30 units)

1. Complete the Master of Arts program, as outlined below:
   1. Complete the following courses (9-14 units):
      PSYC 5010 Advanced Methods for Psychological Research, 2 units
      PSYC 5020 Advanced Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data, 3 units
      PSYC 5940 Fieldwork, 1-6 units
      PSYC 5990 Master’s Thesis, 3 units
   2. Select the remaining 16-21 units from the available 4000- and
      5000-level catalog courses. These courses are to be selected with prior approval of the student’s thesis chair (PSYC 5780, 5790, 5910, and 5930 are not open to Master of Arts students.)
   3. At least 50 percent of all M.A. coursework must be at the 5000
      level. There are also restrictions as to the amount of coursework that can be graded “Credit/No-Credit.”
2. Complete Master of Arts research including a public thesis defense.

Note: No more than 9 units of graduate credit can be transferred from work taken while in unclassified status. The 9-unit limit may also apply to any graduate work transferred from other institutions. Once students start the thesis process they must be continuously enrolled in thesis units.

Master of Science in 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. 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.

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)
   - One upper-division course in Human Development
   (PSYC 3140)
   - One upper-division introductory course on Learning Theory
   (PSYC 3700 or 4720)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Abnormal Psychology
   (PSYC 3350)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Theory
   (PSYC 3790)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Techniques (PSYC 4770)
   
   Counseling concentration prerequisites:
   - One upper-division course in Experimental Psychology
   (PSYC 3000)
   - One upper-division course in Human Development
   (PSYC 3140)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Psychological Testing
   (PSYC 3160)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Abnormal Psychology
   (PSYC 3350)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Theory
   (PSYC 3790)
   - One upper-division introductory course in Counseling Techniques
   (PSYC 4770)
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 Prerequisites for Continuation

The prerequisites for continuation of the Master of Science program are the same as those for the Master of Arts program. Please see previous section detailing these prerequisites.

Requirements (49 units minimum)

1. Complete the appropriate 49 or more units or their equivalent.
2. Complete the 20 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 and other program changes.

Basic Requirements (20 units)
PSYC 5010 Advanced Methods for Psychological Research, 2 units
PSYC 5020 Advanced Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data, 3 units
PSYC 5080 Legal and Ethical Issues in Psychology and Counseling, 3 units
PSYC 5130 Advanced Human Development, 3 units
PSYC 5360 Seminar in Clinical Psychopathology, 3 units
PSYC 5650 Child Clinical Interventions, 3 units
PSYC 5990 Master’s Thesis, 3 units
Note: Once students start the thesis process they must be continuously enrolled in thesis units.

Concentration in Behavior Analysis
(29 units)

PSYC 4550 Practicum with Exceptional Children, 3 units
PSYC 4720 Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 3 units
PSYC 4750 Applied Behavior Analysis in the Classroom, 3 units
PSYC 5070 Practicum in Child Diagnostics and Intervention, 3 units
PSYC 5090 Behavioral Assessment, 3 units
PSYC 5150 Seminar in Solution-Focused Therapy, 3 units
PSYC 5640 Conceptual Issues in Behavior Analysis, 3 units
PSYC 5680 Sexuality Counseling, 1 unit
PSYC 5760 Chemical Abuse Counseling, 1 unit
PSYC 5920 Psychology Research Apprentice, 1 unit
PSYC 5925 Psychology Teaching Apprentice, 1 unit
PSYC 5930 Practicum in Behavior Analysis, 3 units
PSYC 5940 Fieldwork, 1 unit

Concentration in Counseling
(30 units)

PSYC 5030 Psychodiagnostics I, 3 units
PSYC 5690 Relationship and Sexuality Counseling, 3 units
PSYC 5850 Seminar in Multicultural Family Counseling, 3 units
PSYC 5770 Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency Counseling, 3 units
PSYC 5780 Advanced Counseling, 3 units
PSYC 5790 Family Counseling Theory and Practice, 3 units
PSYC 5810 Seminar in Group Counseling and Psychotherapy, 3 units
PSYC 5830 Seminar in Close Relationships, 3 units
PSYC 5910 Practicum in Counseling and Diagnostics, 3 units (Must be repeated for a total of 6 units.)

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