Psychology BS / Psychology MS

Major: Psychology
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) & Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 225.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five Years) or No Co-op
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 42.2799
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3031

About the Program

The Accelerated Master of Science in Psychology (BS/MS) program provides an opportunity for select undergraduate students to complete their undergraduate education and psychology MS curriculum classes in an accelerated fashion. Through this program, potential BS/MS students may be identified when first admitted as entering freshmen psychology majors. Students may also enter as transfers or up until the spring of their junior year. 

During the course of their undergraduate study, students will need to seek out and establish a faculty member to serve as their mentor and program advisor, and with whom they wish to continue working during their graduate training and completion of their graduate thesis. 

The Accelerated Master of Science in Psychology program allows accelerated entry into graduate level courses during the student's fourth undergraduate year with planned entry into graduate school upon completion of their BS degree at the end of year 4. Because students have received a “head start” by completing a structured curriculum in their senior year, their graduate coursework for the MS degree can be completed in one year post-BS. The BS/MS curriculum is designed to include a 4-year undergraduate or 4-year undergraduate co-op program. Students in the program cannot be enrolled in a 5-year co-op. 

Admission Requirements

Prospective freshman criteria:
• Combined SAT score of 1300 (Quantitative and Verbal scores only)
• High school GPA of at least 3.5
• Top 10% of graduating class
• If these admission requirements are met, an additional application essay is requested via email and evaluated by the program director for final admission decisions.

Third year Psychology student criteria:
• Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher with no grade lower than a "C" in any class
• Enrollment in a 4-year, 1 co-op or 4-year, no co-op (some exceptions may apply)
• Completion of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum score of 302 (Quantitative and Verbal scores)
• Identification of and commitment from Psychology faculty mentor to advise student’s MS research

Degree Requirements

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

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GST 100 may be used as a substitute for ANTH 101

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Students with AP psychology, or transfer students with PSY 101 credit, should check the AP Student Placement Exam Crosswalk or check with their advisor.

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Students who do not wish to complete the research seminar sequence are required to complete 12.0 credits of additional advanced Psychology electives instead.

Students are required to complete all undergraduate credit requirements by end of the fourth year.

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Electives can be any graduate Psychology (PSY) course. Other graduate courses outside of Psychology might be taken pending approval from the graduate advisor or program director. 

Note the following for planning purposes: PSY 711, while not required, is often taken as an elective during Spring Term of Year 1, as it is the third course in the PSY MS data analysis sequence.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 + 1 (5 years), 1 coop

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

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See degree requirements.

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If a student selects a 4.0 credit SOC elective, the Free electives in this term will be 11.0 credits.

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Students who do not wish to complete the research seminar sequence are instead required to complete 12.0 credits of additional advanced Psychology electives.

BS/MS students are advised against taking senior seminar credits. Because students complete a master's thesis while enrolled in the BS/MS program, it is not feasible to also complete a senior thesis/research project. Consult with your advisor if you have any questions.

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Graduate-level credits for master's program may not count toward any part of the bachelor's degree requirements.

Psychology Faculty

Emeritus Faculty