Psychology, MA

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Purposes

The purposes of offering graduate study in the Department of Psychology are:

To prepare the student for a Ph.D. program in Psychology through a Master of Arts degree program providing knowledge and research skills.
To provide students not intending to pursue a Ph.D. degree with a variety of courses that will help prepare them for paraprofessional positions.

Requirements for Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Psychology degree program, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

Complete the university graduate application and meet all University admission requirements.
Have taken at least 18 semester hours of undergraduate credit in psychology and/or educational psychology, including at least three semester hours each in a statistics course and in a general experimental (laboratory) course.
An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher in all psychology and/or educational psychology courses attempted is expected to be considered for regular admission and a minimum 2.50 is expected to be considered for provisional admission.
Submit a personal statement and at least three appropriate, satisfactory letters of reference.
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission to the program. However, GRE scores are recommended for students intending to pursue a doctoral degree.
Applicants are reviewed in a comprehensive manner and admission to the program is selective and limited in order to guarantee progression through the program. Application materials such as the personal statement, letters of recommendation and relevant research experience are given serious consideration in addition to grades and (if submitted) GRE scores. To guarantee review, application materials should be received by March 15 for Fall admission and by October 15 for Spring admission.

Requirements for Degree

To receive the Master of Arts degree in Psychology, the student must:

Pass 38 hours of graduate courses, including 6 hours of thesis approved by student’s thesis committee or 6 hours of non-thesis project approved by the non-thesis graduate faculty advisory committee. PSYC 6490 Independent Skills Augmentation for Research may not be counted toward the required 38 hours. Hours completed in thesis (PSYC 7700 ) will not count toward the required hours for non-thesis project (PSYC 7710 ) and completed non-thesis project hours (PSYC 7710 ) will not be counted toward the completion of the thesis (PSYC 7700 ).
Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA with no more than two grades of “C” for the entire program. A grade of at least “B” is required for satisfactory completion of PSYC 6350 and PSYC 6360 .
Pass comprehensive examinations administered by the Department. This requirement is satisfied by a grade of “B” or better on the final exam in PSYC 6350 , PSYC 6360 , PSYC 6120 , PSYC 6130 , and PSYC 6140 .

Course Requirements

Required Courses (26 hours)

Elective Courses (12 hours)

Thesis Plan

Thesis Requirements

A complete description of the thesis requirements (as well as other departmental policies) can be found in the Guide to Graduate Study in Psychology at Southeastern Louisiana University given to all students when they first enter the program.

Thesis Committee

The student will be supervised by a thesis committee consisting of the major professor and a minimum of two other members from the Psychology faculty. Committees may include one member from outside the Department in addition to the required three members from the department. The committee should be chosen by the student in consultation with the major professor. Faculty chosen for the committee should not be asked to serve until the student and major professor have agreed on the exact topic for the thesis as well as the methodology to be used.

Major Professor

The major professor who directs the thesis project must be a member of the Psychology Department faculty and a member of the Graduate Faculty. A faculty member is limited to chairing three thesis committees at a time, with no more than two in the pre-proposal stage.

After 2 semesters, if the thesis proposal has not been accepted, the major professor’s commitment to the project ends. In addition, if the entire thesis project has not been completed in 2 years, the major professor’s commitment to the project ends. In the event that a student goes past one of the thesis deadlines, it may be necessary to change major professors and possibly thesis topic (this applies even to students who have thesis proposals approved).

Progression

Students who have not successfully proposed the thesis within 2 regular semesters of eligibility will be required to enroll in PSYC 6490 Independent Skills Augmentation for Research each semester concurrently with thesis (PSYC 7700 ) until the student has successfully proposed. Students who have not successfully defended the thesis within 2 regular semesters of proposing will be required to enroll in PSYC 6490 Independent Skills Augmentation for Research each semester concurrently with thesis (PSYC 7700 ) until the student has completed all requirements for the defense, including those outlined in the University’s Thesis and Dissertation Standards.

Non-Thesis Plan

Practical Project Requirements

The non-thesis plan is designed for students specifically interested in paraprofessional positions, and not for students hoping to pursue Ph.D. program placement. Faculty will not write letters of recommendation for non-thesis plan students who apply to Ph.D. programs. The non-thesis plan requires completion of a practical project. A complete description of the practical project requirements (as well as other departmental policies) can be found in the Guide to Graduate Study in Psychology at Southeastern Louisiana University given to all students when they first enter the program and posted online. The project should be developed to reflect the student’s long-term career goals in a paraprofessional position and must be approved by the graduate faculty advisory committee.

Graduate Faculty Advisory Committee

Students who opt to complete a practical project must also select a major professor to supervise the project. Students must submit a project proposal during a departmental seminar that must be approved by the graduate faculty advisory committee the semester prior to its completion. All non-thesis students must also present a practical project defense during a departmental seminar describing the practical project the semester of its completion. This must at a minimum include a review paper on the area of study and a presentation before the graduate faculty advisory committee. Students have one opportunity to repeat the seminar in the event of unsatisfactory performance. Departmental seminar dates will be made available at the beginning of each semester (see graduate guide or graduate coordinator).

Major Professor

The major professor who directs the practical project must be a member of the Psychology Department faculty and a member of the Graduate Faculty. After 2 semesters, if the practical project proposal has not been accepted, the major professor’s commitment to the project ends. In addition, if the entire practical project has not been completed in 2 years, the major professor’s commitment to the project ends. In the event that a student goes past one of the project deadlines, it may be necessary to change major professors and possibly project topics (this applies even to students who have practical proposals approved).

Progression

Students who have not successfully proposed the practical project within 2 regular semesters of eligibility will be required to enroll in PSYC 6490 INDEPENDENT SKILLS AUGMENTATION FOR RESEARCH each semester concurrently with PSYC 7710 PRACTICAL PROJECT until the student has successfully proposed. Students who have not successfully defended the practical project within 2 regular semesters of proposing will be required to enroll in PSYC 6490 INDEPENDENT SKILLS AUGMENTATION FOR RESEARCH each semester concurrently with PSYC 7710 PRACTICAL PROJECT until the student has completed all requirements for the defense.