M.A. Psychology

The graduate psychology program has four outcome-specific emphases. The Pre-doctoral General Psychology training emphasis prepares students for doctoral training in various subdisciplines of psychology. The Pre-doctoral Clinical Health Psychology training emphasis prepares students for doctoral training in health psychology.  the Clinical Health Psychology emphasis prepares students to practice clinical health psychology at the master's level. The Teaching of Psychology emphasis provides breadth of knowledge and teaching experience in preparation for a teaching career at the community college level.

Select from one of the following M.A. Psychology emphases:

Pre-Doctoral training in General Psychology Research Emphasis:

Our pre-doctoral general psychology training program, which involves study of the theoretical and methodological foundations of general psychology, is appropriate if you plan to pursue a doctoral degree or to conduct master's level research and data management in a variety of settings.

For this 36-unit plan, you take:   

• PSY 625, 673, and 725 (9 units)

• 21 - 27 units from PSY 599, 601, 610, 620, 621, 633, 635, 636, 640, 650, 653, 655, 665, 670, 675, 678, 683, and 685, including any graduate courses offered by our department (except for courses reserved for the clinical health students) and up to 6 units of approved cognates from outside the department.

Please note that PSY 561 can be taken as a prerequisite, however it does not count toward the degree requirements.

• 6 units of PSY 699, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis (Please note that you can only count 6 units of thesis credit toward your degree.  However, you may end up taking more units because you must enroll for PSY 699 each term while you are working on your thesis.)

• Up to 6 units of PSY 645 or PSY 646

Pre-Doctoral training in Clinical Health Psychology Emphasis:

Our pre-doctoral clinical health psychology training program, which involves study of the theoretical and methodological foundations of health psychology, is appropriate if you plan to pursue a doctoral degree or to conduct master's level research and data management in a variety of settings.

For this 43-unit plan, you take

• PSY 625, 673, and 725 (9 units)

• PSY 601, 636, 640, 650, 681, 683, and 690 (22 units)

• 6 units of PSY 699, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis (Please note that you can only count 6 units of thesis credit toward your degree.  However, you may end up taking more units because you must enroll for PSY 699 each term while you are working on your thesis.)

• Up to 6 units of PSY 645 or PSY 646

Clinical Health Psychology Emphasis (non-thesis):

Our clinical health psychology program is appropriate if you plan to work in a master's level position using skills related to the promotion of health and wellness and the prevention and treatment of illness.

For this 47-unit plan, you take:

• PSY 575, 601, 636, 640, 650, 681, 683, and 690 (23 units)

• PSY 625 and 673 (6 units)

• EPS 601, 670, and 690 (9 units)

• 3-6 units of PSY 645

• 3-6 units of PSY 646

• 1-3 units of PSY 608

Teaching of Psychology Emphasis (non-thesis):

Our teaching of psychology graduate program provides extensive training in the theoretical and methodological foundations of psychology and affords students a variety of teaching experiences and skills in face-to-face, web, and hybrid settings.  This program prepares students to pursue a master's level teaching career.

For this 36-unit plan, you take:

• PSY 625 and 673 (6 units)

• 21-24 from PSY 610, 620, 621, 633, 635, 650, 653, 655, 675, and 683

• Up to 3 units of Psychology electives (graduate courses offered by our department)

• PSY 665 Teaching Practicum (3 units)

• PSY 608 Teaching Fieldwork (3 units)

Please note that many of our graduate courses have prerequisites and must follow a specified sequence.

Please be aware that if you earn more than 6 units with a grade of C or lower, you will automatically be terminated from the program.  

Click here for more information about Psychology graduate courses and faculty.