The Master of Arts in Psychology with Options in Psychological Science and Applied Psychology

Course Requirements for the Master's Degree: 30 units

Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 semester units of transfer and/or CSU Chico Open University course work may be applied toward the degree.

Graduate Time Limit:

All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See "Graduate Education" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

Application Procedures:

The Department of Psychology admits applicants to its MA program only in the fall semester each year. In addition to the Office of Graduate Studies' admission prerequisites and application procedures (please see the University Catalog, Graduate Education: Application Procedures), the Department of Psychology requires the completion of its own Admissions Application, including a Statement of Purpose, and three letters of recommendation. These application materials are available online at www.csuchico.edu/psy/ and are to be submitted along with transcripts and test scores, by March 1 for consideration for fall admission.

Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:

1. Satisfactory grade point average as specified in "Admission to Master's Degree Programs" in the University Catalog.

2. Approval by the department and the Office of Graduate Studies.

3. An acceptable baccalaureate from an accredited institution.

4. Completion of either the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test or the Miller Analogies Test. The Graduate Record Examination Advanced Test in Psychology is not required but will be considered if available.

Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:

In addition to any requirements listed above:

Students must have completed the following four course prerequisites within the last ten years: one course in the psychology of learning; one course in developmental or child psychology; one course in statistics for psychology; one course in either the psychology of personality, abnormal psychology, or social psychology. Students intending to pursue enrollment in the School Psychology Credential/Pupil Personnel Services specialization have the additional undergraduate prerequisite of one course in psychometrics (psychological measurement).

Advancement to Candidacy:

In addition to any requirements listed above:

1. Classified graduate standing and completion of at least 12 units of the proposed program, including 9 units selected from PSYC 560 (for Psychological Science Option) or PSYC 660 (for Applied Psychology Option), PSYC 600, PSYC 603 or PSYC 605, with at least a B average in these courses.

2. Student must pass the writing proficiency requirement in order to be advanced to candidacy.

3. All "Incomplete" grades in courses included in the approved program must be completed before a student will be advanced to candidacy.

4. Formation of the graduate advisory committee.

5. Development of an approved program in consultation with the graduate advisory committee and approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

6. Approval of the graduate committee in the Department of Psychology.

Requirements for the MA Degree in Psychology: Option in Psychological Science

Completion of all requirements as established by the department graduate committee, the graduate advisory committee, and the Office of Graduate Studies, to include:

1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 30 units of 500/600-level courses as follows:

(a) Course Requirements:

PSYC 560 Principles of Psychological Measurement 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: A course in statistics including research design.
PSYC 600 Research and Evaluation Methods 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 364 or equivalent, faculty permission.
PSYC 603 Advanced Developmental Psychology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 355, faculty permission.
PSYC 605 Advanced Human Learning 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 466 or PSYC 362, faculty permission.
PSYC 610 Advanced General Psychology 3.0 FA
PSYC 611 Advanced Statistical Methods in Psychology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 600 or faculty permission.
PSYC 615 Seminar in Contemporary Issues of General Psychology 3.0 SP
PSYC 628B Issues in Teaching College Psychology 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in psychology, completion of appropriate graduate-level course work, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 629B, faculty permission.
PSYC 629B Supervised Teaching of College Psychology 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in psychology, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 628B, faculty permission.
PSYC 694 Research Assistantship 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 364 or equivalent and at least conditionally classified status, faculty permission. This course must be repeated twice, but may be repeated four times.

Note: Students may complete 4 units of PSYC 694 in lieu of PSYC 628B and PSYC 629B.

PSYC 699T Master's Thesis 1.0 -6.0 FS
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, faculty permission.

(b) At least 24 of the units required for the degree must be in 600-level courses. The student's graduate advisory committee and the graduate committee may grant exceptions to this.

(c) Not more than 9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses and U.C. extension course work are not acceptable).

(d) Not more than 15 units taken before admission to classified status.

(e) At least 9 units completed after advancement to candidacy.

(f) Not more than a total of 10 units of Independent Study (697) and Master's Thesis (699T); not more than 6 units of Master's Thesis (699T). (Enrollment in PSYC 699T is restricted to students who have been advanced to candidacy; students may not enroll in 699T for more than three semesters.) Not more than 4 units of Research Assistantship (PSYC 694). Not more than 2 units of supervised college teaching (PSYC 628, PSYC 629).

(g) With the exceptions of Research Assistantship (694) and Master's Thesis (699T), all course work included in the approved program must be taken for a letter grade.

2. Completion and final approval of a thesis as specified by the student's graduate advisory committee.

3. Satisfactory completion of an oral examination in the field of study.

4. Approval by the departmental graduate committee and the Graduate Coordinators Committee on behalf of the faculty of the University.

Requirements for the MA Degree in Psychology: Option in Applied Psychology

Completion of all requirements as established by the department graduate committee, the graduate advisory committee, and the Office of Graduate Studies, to include:

1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 30 units of 500/600-level courses as follows:

(a) Course Requirements:

PSYC 600 Research and Evaluation Methods 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 364 or equivalent, faculty permission.
PSYC 603 Advanced Developmental Psychology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 355, faculty permission.
PSYC 605 Advanced Human Learning 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 466 or PSYC 362, faculty permission.
PSYC 696 School Psychology: Comprehensive Examination 3.0 Inq
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, faculty permission.

OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)

PSYC 697R Analytical Review 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, faculty permission.

OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)

PSYC 699T Master's Thesis 1.0 -6.0 FS
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, faculty permission.

Note: Students pursuing the School Psychology Credential must complete Master's Thesis (699T) or School Psychology: Comprehensive Exam (696).

(b) At least three courses chosen from:

PSYC 494 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 3.0 Inq
PSYC 560 Principles of Psychological Measurement 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: A course in statistics including research design.
PSYC 573 Counseling Psychology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 381 or PSYC 382, senior or graduate standing, faculty permission.
PSYC 648 Life Cycles and Careers: Seminar in Career Counseling and Development 3.0 Inq
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.
PSYC 660 Instructionally Focused Assessment in the Schools 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 560, classified status, faculty permission.
PSYC 670 Seminar in Group Counseling 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 573 (with a grade of B or better), faculty permission.
PSYC 672 Cross-Cultural Issues in Counseling and Research 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSY 573, faculty permission.

(c) Two or three elective courses.

(d) At least 24 of the units required for the degree must be in 600-level courses. The student's graduate advisory committee and the graduate committee may grant exceptions to this.

(e) Not more than 9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses and U.C. extension course work are not acceptable).

(f) Not more than 15 units taken before admission to classified status.

(g) At least 9 units completed after advancement to candidacy.

(h) Not more than a total of 10 units of School Psychology: Comprehensive Exam (696), Independent Study (697), and Master's Thesis (699T) combined; not more than 3 units of School Psychology: Comprehensive Exam (696) or 6 units of Master's Thesis (699T). (Enrollment in 696, 697R, or 699T is restricted to students who have been advanced to candidacy; students may not enroll in 699T for more than three semesters.) Not more than 4 units of supervised college teaching (PSYC 628B, PSYC 629B).

(i) With the exception of School Psychology: Comprehensive Exam (696) and Master's Thesis (699T), all course work included in the approved program must be taken for a letter grade.

2. Completion and final approval of a thesis, comprehensive examination, or analytical review as specified by the student's graduate advisory committee.

3. Satisfactory completion of an oral examination for the thesis option or a written examination for the analytical review.

4. Approval by the departmental graduate committee and the Graduate Coordinators Committee on behalf of the faculty of the University.

School Psychology Credential/Pupil Personnel Services Course Work:

Work leading to the School Psychology Credential is offered in conjunction with the MA in Psychology with an Option in Applied Psychology. This is a 66-71 unit program (including the 30 units for the MA). This program meets the State of California's requirements for the School Psychology Credential, and is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists. Application for this program is made one year after the student has been admitted to the MA program and taken the required first-year course work to prepare for the program. Further information on recommended course sequences and application procedures for this program are available from the School Psychology/PPS Program Coordinator.

School Psychology Credential/PPS Program Requirements

PSYC 573 Counseling Psychology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 381 or PSYC 382, senior or graduate standing, faculty permission.
PSYC 600 Research and Evaluation Methods 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 364 or equivalent, faculty permission.
PSYC 603 Advanced Developmental Psychology 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 355, faculty permission.
PSYC 605 Advanced Human Learning 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 466 or PSYC 362, faculty permission.
PSYC 634 Practicum in School Counseling Interventions 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 670, PSYC 673A, PSYC 680, all with grades of B or better.
PSYC 636 Practicum in Behavioral Consultation in Schools 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 605, PSYC 660, admission to PPS Program, faculty permission.
PSYC 639 Practicum in Academic Intervention 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 605, PSYC 636, PSYC 660. Corequisites: PSYC 689A.
PSYC 660 Instructionally Focused Assessment in the Schools 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 560, classified status, faculty permission.
PSYC 661 Assessment of Intelligence and Cognition 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 660, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 661P, faculty permission.
PSYC 661P Practicum in Assessment of Intelligence and Cognition 1.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 660, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 661, faculty permission.
PSYC 662 Social and Emotional Assessment 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 660, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 662P, faculty permission.
PSYC 662P Practicum in Social and Emotional Assessment 1.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 660, concurrent enrollment in PSYC 662, faculty permission.
PSYC 663 Advanced Supervision in Psychological Assessment 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSYC 661, PSYC 661P, PSYC 662, PSYC 662P, faculty permission.
PSYC 670 Seminar in Group Counseling 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 573 (with a grade of B or better), faculty permission.
PSYC 672 Cross-Cultural Issues in Counseling and Research 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: PSY 573, faculty permission.
PSYC 673A Practicum in Individual Counseling 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: PSYC 573 (with grade of B or higher), classified status in MA or MS Psychology program, faculty permission.
PSYC 680 School Psychology: Introduction to the Profession, the Education System, and Prevention 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.
PSYC 681 School Psychology: Study of Childhood Exceptionalities 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 680, faculty permission.
PSYC 682 School Psychology: Legal and Ethical Principles and Preventive Service Delivery 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: PSYC 680, PSYC 681, faculty permission.
PSYC 688 Practicum in School Psychology 5.0 SP
Prerequisites: Open only to students admitted to the School Psychology Program.
PSYC 689A Internship in School Psychology I 5.0 FA
Prerequisites: Open only to approved candidates for School Psychology.
PSYC 689B Internship in School Psychology II 5.0 SP
Prerequisites: Open only to approved candidates for School Psychology.
PSYC 696 School Psychology: Comprehensive Examination 3.0 Inq
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, faculty permission.

OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)

PSYC 699T Master's Thesis 1.0 -6.0 FS
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy, faculty permission.

School Psychology Credentialing Exam

The School Psychology Program requires satisfactory completion of the national school psychology credentialing exam.

Graduate Requirement in Writing Proficiency:

Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.

Psychology MA students will demonstrate their writing competence through an essay examination offered once a semester by the Department of Psychology's graduate committee. This requirement must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy.

Graduate Grading Requirements:

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Research Assistantship - 694, School Psychology: Comprehensive Exam - 696, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 694, 696, 699T, and courses outside the major).

All courses on the student's program, with the exception of Research Assistantship (694), School Psychology: Comprehensive Exam (696), and Master's Thesis (699T) must be taken for a letter grade.

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all course work taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all course work taken at CSU, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program. Students admitted to the School Psychology Credential Program must maintain a 3.4 grade point average in required courses.

Graduate Advising Requirement:

MA Psychological Science students should consult the Psychological Science Coordinator in planning their program.

MA School Psychology students should consult the School Psychology Credential/Pupil Personnel Services Coordinator in planning their program.

Research with Human Participants or Animals:

All research projects which involve human participants must be reviewed for adherence to ethical guidelines as outlined in departmental and University policies (EM 84-03). No project may proceed without prior approval by the department's Ethical Treatment in Human Investigations Committee. All research with animals must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the University Animal Welfare Policy.