Program Overview
Montclair State University’s MA in Psychological Sciences program seeks to prepare students for doctoral-level study in Psychology. Students that enter this program develop their abilities in research methods and data analysis while also gaining a broad base of knowledge in psychological sub-disciplines.
Training Philosophy
Research mentorship and hands-on experience. This program uses a mentorship model of training to help students develop and reinforce strong research skills. Each student will identify a faculty mentor with shared research interests, who will integrate the student into her research program, develop the student’s research skills, and guide the student through an empirical thesis project. Thus, students that matriculate into this program will have the opportunity to work closely with affiliated faculty members and gain hands-on experience in all aspects of the research process.
The faculty members affiliated with the M.A. in Psychological Sciences program are comprised of researchers with a diverse set of research interests arrayed across several psychology subdisciplines, including biological, cognitive, social, developmental, clinical and health psychology. Prospective students are encouraged to consider any affiliated faculty member as a possible mentor, to pursue a thesis project relevant to their mentor’s research expertise, and to submit their research for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, or for presentation at relevant scientific conventions.
Rigorous Coursework: The core courses in this program push students to develop skills in the critical evaluation of scientific literature, the principles of ethical research design, as well as the proper collection, management, and statistical analysis of empirical data. Additional coursework will expose students to advanced concepts from a broad range of psychological subdisciplines.
Beyond Graduation
The MA program in Psychological Sciences is excellent preparation for doctoral-level studies in experimental or applied psychological disciplines. Many of the graduates from the MA in Psychological Sciences program further their studies in doctoral programs at Columbia University, Rutgers University, the CUNY system, Lehigh University, and Yeshiva University, to name a few.
This program also prepares students for a variety of research-focused careers. Graduates of this program will be qualified for work as researchers in a variety of settings, including academic laboratories, social service agencies, government agencies, educational evaluation programs, and corporate research and development or marketing departments. Former students have secured positions as research assistants at The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, The Passaic County Mental Health Center, and The Alpine School, as examples.
How long does the program take to complete?
Graduation from the MA in Psychological Sciences program requires successful completion of a 35-credit program of study and completing an empirical Master’s Thesis. The program can be completed in two years by taking three courses per semester, which is considered a full-time course load.
Admissions
Students interested in applying for the Master of Arts in Psychological Sciences must submit a Graduate Application and all required credentials to The Graduate School. Please click below for more detailed information on application requirements.
For more information on the MA in Psychological Sciences program, please reach out:
Call: 973-655-4077
Email: psycgrad@montclair.edu