School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences Program
Faculty
Professors: Hervé Abdi, Peter F. Assmann, James C. Bartlett, W. Jay Dowling, Richard M. Golden, Bert S. Moore, Alice J. O'Toole, Margaret Tresch Owen, Karen J. Prager, John W. Santrock, Melanie J. Spence, Marion K. Underwood
Professor Emeritus: Susan W. Jerger
Associate Professors: Francesca Filbey, Shayla C. Holub, Daniel Krawczyk, Mandy J. Maguire, Christa K. McIntyre, Candice M. Mills, Amy Pinkham, Bart Rypma
Assistant Professors: Robert Ackerman, Chandramallika Basak, Cindy M. De Frias, Heidi S. Kane, Kristen Kennedy, Jinkyung Na, Jackie Nelson, Karen Rodrigue, Noah J. Sasson
Objectives
The Master of Science (MS) in Psychological Sciences program provides advanced training in psychological sciences. The program is designed for full-time student scholars who wish 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. 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 Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences include faculty labs located on the Richardson campus and at vibrant centers within the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences: the Center for Children and Families, the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, the Center for BrainHealth, the joint Center for Brain Imaging with UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the Center for Vital Longevity. These centers provide access to brain imaging laboratories and speech, hearing, and language laboratories.
Admission Requirements
The university's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page (catalog.utdallas.edu/2014/graduate/admission).
The application deadline is February 15th each year. Applicants are selected once a year to begin the program in the fall semester.
Admission to the Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences is based on a review of the applicant's GPA (grade point average), 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 on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page (catalog.utdallas.edu/2014/graduate/policies/policy).
The MS 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.
All students in the program are required to regularly review their degree plans with their research mentor. The program requires a minimum of 36 semester credit hours distributed as follows. Students are required to complete 6 semester credit hours of major field core courses (two selected from one of the following fields: Developmental, Cognitive, Social and Personality, and Neuroscience), 6 semester credit hours of additional core courses (two courses from a different area than the major core), 6 semester credit hours of Research Methods (a two course sequence in statistics and research methods), 12 semester credit hours of approved advanced elective courses, and 6 semester credit hours of Independent Study/Research.
Master of Science in Psychological Sciences
36 semester credit hours minimum
Major Field Core Courses: 12 semester credit hours 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.
Developmental Psychology
PSYC 6331 Cognitive Development
PSYC 6350 Social Development
PSYC 6368 Language Development
Cognition
PSYC 6330 Cognitive Science
PSYC 6333 Memory
PSYC 6395 Cognitive Psychology
Social/Personality Psychology
PSYC 6327 Personality
PSYC 6376 Social Psychology
Neuroscience
PSYC 6338 Functional Neuroanatomy
PSYC 6346 Systems Neuroscience
Research Methods: 6 semester credit hours minimum
Students will complete two 3-semester credit hour courses in research methods and design that are approved by the program head and faculty coordinator.
Research Methods I
PSYC 6312 Research Methods in Behavioral and Brain Sciences - Part I
Research Methods II
PSYC 6313 Research Methods in Behavioral and Brain Sciences - Part II
Advanced Electives: 12 semester credit hours 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.
As an elective course, interested students may participate in a Teaching Internship. Teaching internships will be arranged by the Program Head in consultation with the teaching faculty. Teaching internships will be for course credit and not for pay.
Independent Study/Research: 6 semester credit hours
Students will complete a Research Project fulfill this requirement. The research requirement will be fulfilled by completion of a focused research project to be submitted and presented in poster format.