Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences
http://bbs.utdallas.edu/psy_sciences/
Faculty
Professors: Hervé Abdi, Peter Assmann, James C. Bartlett, T.G.R. Bower, Thomas Campbell,
Sandra Bond Chapman, Christine A. Dollaghan,
W. Jay Dowling, Richard M. Golden, John Hart, Susan W. Jerger,
Bert S. Moore, Alice O’Toole, Margaret T. Owen, Denise C. Park, Karen J. Prager, John W. Santrock, Melanie
J. Spence, Robert D. Stillman, Hanna K. Ulatowska,
Marion K. Underwood, Anne E. Van Kleeck, Deborah Wiebe
Associate Professors: Pamela
R. Rollins, Bart Rypma, L. Tres
Thompson
Assistant Professors: Cindy de Frias, Shayla C. Holub, Mandy J.
Maguire, Christa McIntyre, Candice M. Mills, Noah Sasson
Objectives
The
Master of Science (M.S.) 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. Students also have the opportunity to gain additional
applied experiences through the Internship Program in the School of Behavioral
and Brain Sciences. 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
Masters Program in Psychological Sciences include faculty labs located on the
Richardson Campus and the Callier Center for
Communication Disorders. Students also will be exposed to research and applied
experiences at vibrant centers within the School of Behavior and Brain
Sciences: the Callier Center for Communication
Disorders, the Center for BrainHealth, the joint
Center for Brain Imaging with UT Southwestern, and the Center for Children and
Families. These centers provide access to brain imaging laboratories and
speech, hearing, and language laboratories.
Admission Requirements
The University’s general admission requirements are discussed
here.
Admission
to the Master of Science Program in Psychological Sciences is based on a review
of the applicant’s GPA, 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
here.
The
M.S. 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. Students will also have the opportunity to gain applied experience
by participating in the internship program offered by the School of Behavioral
and Brain Sciences.
All
students in the program are required to regularly review their degree plans
with their research mentor. The program requires a minimum of 36 credit hours
distributed as follows. Students are required to complete 6 credit hours of
major field core courses (two selected from one of the following fields:
Developmental, Cognitive, Social and Personality, Neuroscience) , 6 credit
hours of additional core courses (two courses from a different area than the
major core), 6 credit hours of Research Methods (a two course sequence in
statistics and research methods), 12 credit hours of approved advanced elective
courses, and 6 credit hours of Independent Study/Research or Practical
Internship courses. Independent
Study/Research or Practical Internship coursework must be taken pass/fail.
Required Core Courses (18 hours)
Major
Field Core Courses (12 SCH 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.
1. Developmental Psychology
2.
Cognition
3. Social/Personality Psychology
4. Neuroscience
Research
Methods (6 SCH minimum)
·
PSYC 6312 Research Methods in HCS – Part I
·
PSYC 6313 Research Methods in HCS – Part II
Advanced
Electives (12 SCH minimum)
Students will elect 4 courses from master’s
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.
Independent
Study/Research or Practical Internship (6 SCH)
Students will complete either a Research Project or a Practical
Internship to fulfill this requirement. The research requirement will be
fulfilled by completion of a focused research project to be submitted and
presented in poster format. The Internship requirement will be fulfilled by
participating in applied placements through the currently existing School of
Behavioral and Brain Sciences internship program for undergraduates.