Psychology, M.S.

Location(s): Statesboro, Armstrong-Savannah

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Degree Requirements: 36-54 Credit Hours

Admission Requirements

New students are admitted to the program in Fall semester only. The program in Experimental Psychology is limited to 12 new students and the Concentration in Behavior Analysis is limited to 10-15 new students.

Regular Admission

The applicant must have:

Completed requirements for the Bachelor’s degree at a college or university accredited by an appropriate institutional accreditor.
Taken Introduction to Psychology, a statistics course, a research methods course, and at least two additional courses in psychology.
A 3.0 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average or higher on undergraduate work.
The GRE is optional for applications applying for admission. You may still provide GRE scores but you are not required to do so.
Submitted:
1. A personal statement that includes a description of career goals, reasons for applying for graduate study at Georgia Southern University, a list of academic achievements, non-academic achievements, relevant work experience, a self-evaluation of maturity level and character. We strongly encourage students to obtain research experience as an undergraduate.
2. Recommendations from three individuals who can speak of the applicant’s undergraduate academic performance, potential for graduate study, and maturity level and character. At least one letter must be from a faculty member.

Provisional Admission

For applicants who meet two out of three of the following criteria for regular admission (GRE-V, GRE-Q, GPA), provisional admission may be granted by the departmental graduate faculty based on their consideration of the materials submitted by the applicant.

Program of Study: Experimental Psychology

Statistics and Research Design Credit Hours: 6

Content courses Credit Hours: 15

Applied research courses and electives Credit Hours: 15

PSYC 7390 - Development of Original Research (1-6 Credit Hours)
PSYC 7999 - Thesis (1-6 Credit Hours)
Elective (6000-8000 level course)

Total Credit Hours: 36

Other Program Requirements

All students in the MS program must complete an acceptable thesis, including a successful oral defense.
The program offers an optional Teaching Emphasis, which prepares students to potentially serve as University-level Teaching Assistants. In choosing this option, students will complete Seminar in Teaching Psychology (PSYC 7631 ) as well as meet other criteria.

Program of Study: Behavior Analysis

Philosophical Underpinnings, Concepts, and Principles of Behavior Analysis

Ethics, Professionalism, and Disciplinary Systems

PSYC 6450 - Ethics for the Behavior Analyst (3 Credit Hours)

Assessment and Behavior Change

Research Methods in Behavior Analysis

Designing and Supervising Behavioral Programming

Electives Credit Hours: 0-3

Total Credit Hours: 31

Other Program Requirements

Students who are interested in accruing supervised experience hours toward their Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential can opt to take Practicum in Behavior Analysis (PSYC 5700G ) and an elective course. Prior approval by program supervisor required.
Students interested in pursuing doctoral training can opt to take Independent Research in Behavior Analysis (PSYC 6500 ) to gain research experience in behavior analysis. Prior approval by program supervisor required as well as a behavior analysis faculty member who will supervise the research.
The topic area of Seminar in Behavior Analysis Research (PSYC 6600 ) will rotate on an on-going basis. Students may petition to take the course a second time if the content area is different from the topic offered when they took the course.

Program of Study: Psy.D. Track

Degree Requirements: 54 Credit Hours

Additional Admission Requirements for Psy.D. Track

As this is a degree that is part of the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program, only students enrolled in the Psy.D. program are eligible.

Other Program Requirements

All students must have completed the first two years (54 credits) of the Psy.D. program through the Spring semester of the second year and must have successfully completed the Clinical Qualifying Examination.

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.
Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu