Master of Arts - Psychology - Psychological Science

The master's programs in psychology provide both an Master of Arts and an Master of Science which contain different emphases. The Master of Arts in Psychology includes options in Psychological Science and Applied Psychology. The Master of Arts Option in Psychological Sciences provides coursework for students planning to enter doctoral programs or to teach at community colleges. The Master of Arts Option in Applied Psychology includes coursework in preparation for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential for school psychologist authorization. The Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy meets the course content requirements for California Marriage and Family Therapists licensure eligibility.

This program prepares students for doctoral work in psychology and/or for teaching at the community college level. Content course work is broad and encompasses major areas of academic psychology. Graduate content courses and seminars include human development, human learning, advanced general psychology, and contemporary issues. Methodology courses are required in psychometrics, research methods, and advanced statistics. A broad psychology background is a preparation most desired by doctoral programs. A broad psychology background is also the best preparation for teaching a variety of academic courses at the community college level. Research experience is emphasized in the research assistantship and in the required thesis or empirical research manuscript. Students acquire research experience with a selected faculty member, becoming part of their ongoing research activities. Teaching experience, including supervised teaching in the classroom, is invaluable for a teaching career, and most doctoral programs expect students to serve as teaching assistants. The research emphases and teaching interests of the faculty are diverse, encompassing both experimental and nonexperimental orientations, and representing areas such as biopsychology, cognition and learning, developmental, cross-cultural, perception, and social and personality psychology.