Psychology M.A. - Psychological Science

Degree: Master of Arts
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/psychology/grad/psychology/experimental/

Program Director: Maria Fracasso
Phone: 410-704-3449
Email: fracasso@towson.edu

The Psychological Science Concentration of the Master of Arts program in Psychology at Towson University is designed for students interested in a wide range of psychological research areas, including clinical, cognitive, developmental, neuroscience, and social psychology. The program prepares students for admission to doctoral programs as well as for research positions in both the public and private sectors.

This concentration is intended for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology, as well as those from other academic backgrounds who wish to pursue training in psychological research. Graduates are well prepared to continue to doctoral study in psychology across various specialty areas or to enter roles such as research analyst, research coordinator, or data analyst.

Students in this concentration receive extensive training in research design and statistical analysis and benefit from access to a large and diverse faculty. Students also receive close, individualized attention, including faculty mentorship aligned with their research interests. Most classes have fewer than 16 students, fostering a supportive and focused learning environment. As a result, graduates have been highly successful in gaining admission to doctoral programs or securing employment in research design and analysis roles.

Students may complete the degree on either a full-time or part-time basis. Courses are offered in the afternoons and evenings.

Admission Requirements

Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.

Prerequisites for Admission

Prerequisite courses with grades of “B” or higher in the following areas:

  • Statistics
  • Research Methods in Psychology or a comparable course

Degree Requirements

Required Courses
PSYC 611DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY3
PSYC 672PROSEMINAR3
PSYC 674ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (This course is currently in GCC, awaiting approval of the change in units from 4 to 3.)3
PSYC 680ADVANCED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (This course is currently in GCC, awaiting approval of the change in units from 4 to 3.)3
PSYC 682ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY3
PSYC 687ADVANCED EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN I3
PSYC 688ADVANCED EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN II3
PSYC 897PSYCHOLOGY THESIS6
or PSYC 898 PSYCHOLOGY THESIS
Electives
Select at least 9 units of graduate electives at the 500-700 level with permission from the program director. The following are recommended electives:9
SPECIAL TOPICS SEMINAR
COLLEGE TEACHING PRACTICUM
MULTIVARIATE METHODS
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION IN PSYCHOLOGY
Total Units36
  1. Employ research methods appropriate to the discipline;
  2. Demonstrate basic discipline-specific skills and competencies;
  3. Demonstrate competency in acquiring and processing information in the search for understanding.