The Master of Arts (M. A.) Program offers advanced coursework and research experience in several specialized areas of psychology, including cognitive, developmental, evolutionary, social, legal, personality, industrial, clinical/community, quantitative, gerontology, perception, and biological/physiological. Our program provides excellent preparation for Ph.D. work by offering advanced statistical and methodological courses and research experience. Our graduate education also prepares students for a variety of careers in industry, education, and mental health. Students who are committed to the field of psychology, but are undecided on a specialty, have an opportunity to explore options.

The Department of Psychology is recognized for its outstanding research program and it was ranked eighth nationally among comparable institutions for research productivity in master's-level psychology programs in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, February 1990. Our faculty have authored several books and hundreds of journal articles, serve on many advisory and editorial boards, and receive substantial support from national granting agencies. The department support several research centers, and our faculty members sponsor and mentor several students as research assistants. Opportunities are also available for graduate students to work as graduate assistants for psychology faculty and in other departments.

Our students successfully compete for a variety of national, university, and departmental awards and grants, including APA, APS, and WPA Travel Grants, Psi Chi Honor Society Awards for Research Excellence, CSU Research Competition, DAC Research Awards, Department of Psychology Travel Awards, and the Professor Ed Stearns Exemplary Statistics and Research Design Award.

The program requires 30 units of coursework, including three or six units of thesis research; all classes are scheduled during daytime hours. Our students successfully compete for a variety of national, university, and departmental awards and grants, including Psi Chi Honor Society Awards for Research Excellence, CSU Research Competition, CSU Graduate Student Research Awards, DAC Research Awards, the Department of Psychology Travel Awards, and the Professor Ed Stearns Exemplary Statistics and Research Design Award.

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Faculty Mentor Program   

 The Department of Psychology Graduate Mentor Program facilitates students' early involvement in research, provides academic and career counseling, and helps students develop their thesis topic. New students, in consultation with the graduate Coordinator,select a faculty mentor prior to their second semester. The faculty mentor serves as adviser of the Independent Graduate Research Course (Psych 599). It is anticipated that students’ mentors will serve as their thesis adviser in the second year. However, students are free to select a different person for their advisor.

Although the Study Plan program is 30 units, many Master of Arts students take additional elective coursework beyond the 30 units, including additional courses in psychology, research methods, data analysis and related areas.  

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Career Opportunities

 Graduates of the program choose either to continue their studies in a doctoral program or begin their career by taking a job in a wide variety of settings. Cal State Fullerton graduates have been accepted into several highly respected Ph.D. programs at universities across the country such as Yale, University of Illinois, Northeastern, Perdue, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Duke University, Texas, Auburn, Alberta, University of Michigan, and others. Many graduates choose to continue their studies closer to home at Stanford, UCB, UCLS, UCSB, UCI, and USC. Those choosing to begin their career following graduation attain positions in settings such as industry, mental health facilities, and education. Our graduates enjoy successful careers in consulting, program evaluation, research, human resources, education, counseling, community services, health, and teaching.

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Admission Requirements

 Admission to the Master of Arts Program is competitive. Decisions are based information provided in the university and departmental applications, statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, transcripts of all previous college course work, and GRE scores for the general (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) and advanced subject (psychology) tests. Applicants must meet Cal State Fullerton and Department of Psychology requirements, including an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or completed equivalent academic preparation. Grade-point average requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA in psychology course work, 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester units, and an overall minimum GPA of 2.5. Some research experience is required.

Application forms are available from the Psychology Graduate Office, by contacting the graduate secretary, and on this web site. There is a fee for the university application, but no fee for the departmental application. Forms are available from the Psychology Graduate Office or contact the Graduate Secretary. The deadline for applications is March 1 for fall admissions. All incoming students begin in the fall semester.

Applicants for the Master of Arts Program should have completed the following coursework (or equivalents) before being considered for acceptance.The department gives consideration to all prospective student.:

• Approved lower-division (or equivalent) psychology coursework

• Approved upper division (or equivalent) psychology coursework

• Four additional upper division approved courses from four of the six areas listed below; including one lab class:

Program Requirements

The program requires 30 units of course work, as specified below:

• Core courses (15 units)

PSYC 500     Issues and Perspectives in Psychological Research (3)

PSYC 510      Experimental Design (3)

PSYC 599     Independent Graduate Research (3)
  (Note: Psych 500 must be completed in the first semester of the program. Psych 599 is recommended in the second semester.)

Two seminars from Psych 520T Advanced Topics in Psychological Research (6; topics vary)

• 400- and 500- level Content Courses (9-12 units): (Three psychology courses must be completed from three of the following categories)

• Thesis (3-6 units)

A Study Plan is developed in consultation with the M. A. graduate program coordinator and must be filed in the University Office of Academic Programs. Once students have met all university and department requirements for admission into the program, classified standing is granted. To be advanced to candidacy for the M. A. degree, students must file a graduation check and have received a grade of "B-" or better on all study-plan classes.

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Special Programs

The Psychology Department supports the following research facilities where students gain invaluable experience in the research process. Student participation is extensive and encouraged.

Decision Research Center – (H 532) Behavioral decision making is the focus for this center. Research currently underway includes experimental and theoretical studies of basic psychological laws of judgment and decision making under various conditions.

Developmental Research Center – (H519E) The Fullerton Longitudinal Study is the primary research project at this center. Areas of interest in clude demographics, aptitude, achievement, leadership, giftedness, intrinsic motivation, temperament, behavior, parent-child relationships, parental employment, family change, and home environment.

Twin Studies Center – (H521) The Center was established to conduct research projects specific to the study of twins in order to contribute to our understanding of human development,and to provide information to the public concerning psychological and biological aspects of twinship.

Social Interaction Laboratory – (H611) Research focuses on video-taped interactions and examines such topics as perceptions of emotional style, communication and detection of anxiety and anger, mock jury trials, and clinical interviews.

The Department of Psychology is also closely affiliated with the Social Sciences Research Center and the Ruby Gerontology Center

Professional Development Opportunities– These include graduate assistantships, serving as a student representative on the Graduate Studies Committee, peer mentors, undergraduate advisers, and receiving a teaching preparedness certificate from the Faculty Development Center.

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Scholarships and Awards

Each year, the Department recognizes one or more outstanding M. A. students from the graduating class to receive the Outstanding M. A. Graduate Award. This award is presented at the annual celebration in May. The Professor Ed Stearns Exemplary Statistics and Research Design Award is presented to a student (graduate or undergraduate) who demonstrates extraordinary talent in statistics or research methodology. The Department offers Travel-Grant Awards for students presenting at professional conferences, typically for reimbursement of conference registration expense.

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Student Activities

The Psychology Department supports three student organizations for graduate students. All psychology majors are automatically members of the Psychology Department Student Association (PDSA). This organization holds social events and functions for student and faculty, raises funds for group activities, and sponsors Psychology Day, held annually. The Cal State Fullerton Chapter of the American Psychological Society Student Caucus (APSSC) is the student organization of the American Psychological Society. Their main interest is in promoting student involvement in research. The chapter of Psi Chi, a national honor society for psychology, at Cal State Fullerton promotes excellence and leadership in the field of psychology.

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Academic Advisement

A graduate student's primary adviser is his or her faculty mentor, chosen prior to the second semester in the program. In addition, students are encouraged to seek advice from other sources including the program coordinator, department faculty, peer mentors, and the graduate secretary.

After admission into the program, a handbook is distributed, which details much of the information that graduate students will need to successfully complete the program. The Graduate Secretary provides information about scheduling, deadlines, and procedures. Prospective applicants should contact the Psychology Department Graduate Secretary for information about the program and are invited to make an appointment with the Graduate Coordinator for additional information

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For Additional Information Contact:

Kay Karlson, Graduate Secretary
(657) 278-3589 or e-mail: kkarlson@fullerton.edu  

Department of Psychology-Graduate Office
California State University, Fullerton
P.O. Box 6846
Fullerton, CA 92834-6846

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