UL Lafayette: Psychology: Curriculum Guide: Graduate

Curriculum Guide (Graduate)

Master of Science
The graduate program in psychology offers a Master of Science degree within 3 tracks: the general-experimental track, the applied track with a thesis option, and the applied track without a thesis option. Coursework in the general-experimental track prepares students for further doctoral work. This track is suited for students who are interested in an academic career that will involve teaching and/or research. Students in the general-experimental track are required to conduct research in collaboration with psychology faculty. The end product of their research is a thesis presented to a committee comprised of graduate faculty members. Coursework in the applied track with a thesis option prepares students who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in an applied area of psychology at another university. Like the general-experimental track, students in the applied track with a thesis option are required to conduct research in collaboration with psychology faculty and defend a thesis. However, in addition, these students also receive academic knowledge, technical skills and experience under professional supervision that will enable them to begin their career. Finally, the applied track without a thesis option provides students with the same training for entry into the psychological profession, but does not include the research or thesis requirement mentioned. Coursework in the applied track without a thesis option is appropriate for students seeking professional employment in community service agencies or in educational settings.

Prerequisites
Students who enter the program are normally expected to have completed at least 18 semester hours in psychology, which must include at least one course each in general psychology, statistics, experimental psychology, and human development. Acceptance by the Department of Psychology's Committee on Acceptance and Retention is required. To be admitted in regular status, an applicant ought to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0, a satisfactory score on the GRE, and three letters of recommendation from undergraduate instructors.

Course Requirements
General-experimental students will complete 33 semester hours. Required courses include: PSYC 511 and PSYC 515, plus three of the following: PSYC 425G (or PSYC 426G), PSYC 512, PSYC 513, PSYC 516, or PSYC 538. Students must be involved in research and enrolled in one hour of PSYC 597 during each of their first three regular semesters. Subsequent to this, at least six hours of thesis, PSYC 599, are required. Students must also take a minimum of 9 hours (3 courses) of Psychology electives. Students must also successfully pass a written preliminary exam based on the required course work. Lastly, students must successfully defend a thesis to graduate.

Applied psychology (with thesis option) students will complete 45 semester hours. Required courses include: PSYC 511 and PSYC 515, plus PSYC 425G or PSYC 426G, PSYC 517 or PSYC 534, PSYC 510, PSYC 516, PSYC 533, PSYC 535, PSYC 536, and PSYC 538. Students must be involved in research and enrolled in one hour of PSYC 597 during each of their first three semesters. At least six hours of thesis, PSYC 599, are required. Students must complete six hours of practicum, PSYC 595. Students must successfully pass a written preliminary exam based on the required course work. Finally, students must successfully defend an oral examination based on academic and practicum experiences, as well as successfully defend a thesis based on research experiences to graduate.

Applied psychology (without thesis option) students will complete 42 semester hours. Required courses include: PSYC 511 and PSYC 515, plus PSYC 425G or PSYC 426G, PSYC 517 or PSYC 534, PSYC 510, PSYC 516, PSYC 533, PSYC 535, PSYC 536, and PSYC 538. A minimum of six hours (2 courses) of Psychology electives must be taken. Students must complete six hours of practicum, PSYC 595. Finally, students must successfully pass a written preliminary exam based on the required course work and successfully defend an oral examination based on academic and practicum experiences to graduate.

Document last revised Saturday, August 22, 2009 5:16 PM