Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Philip B. Oldham, Dean

Dr. Stephen B. Klein, Department Head

Dr. Kevin J. Armstrong, Graduate Coordinator

110 Magruder Hall

662-325-3202

E-mail: grad@psychology.msstate.edu

For additional information, write the Department of Psychology

Drawer 6161

Mississippi State, MS  39762  

The Department of Psychology  offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science in Psychology degree and the Doctor of Philosophy in applied cognitive science (an interdisciplinary program).  Major areas of study at the master’s level are as follows: clinical psychology and experimental psychology.  A limited number of graduate teaching and research assistantship are available.

Admission Criteria—Prerequisites for admission into the graduate program include all the general requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and the following courses at the undergraduate level:

·          for all applicants—statistics, experimental psychology, and biological/physiological psychology;

·          for the cognitive science doctoral program—introductory cognitive psychology and history of psychology;

·          for the clinical master’s program—abnormal psychology;

·          for the master’s program in experimental psychology—history of psychology and psychology of learning. 

The applicant without all of the undergraduate course requirements may be admitted into the graduate program contingent upon making up any deficiencies as soon as possible.

Requirements for admission into the graduate program are as follows: three letters of recommendation, an official score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test, and transcripts of all college/university work.  The applicant not meeting the GPA requirement of the University (2.75) may receive provisional admission if other factors (e.g., publications, work experience, excellent grades at the end of an undergraduate career) suggest the potential for successful graduate-level work.

Program of Study/Completion Requirements—A student in the doctoral program is required to complete successfully courses (number of hours in parentheses) in the following psychology core areas: foundation of psychology (nine hours), statistics (six hours), research methods (three hours), and the cognitive program core (six hours).  In addition, the doctoral candidate must take 12 hours (with at least six from outside the psychology department) from a specific concentration area in cognitive science.  The doctoral student must also attend a research seminar during the fall and spring semesters, complete a research project during the first year, take a general examination during the fifth semester, and take a specialty exam during the sixth semester.  A total of 72 graduate credit hours is required for the degree, with at least 21 hours of dissertation research.

The student in the master’s program is required to complete successfully PSY 8214, PSY 8513, PSY 8006, and six hours of research/thesis.  A  non-thesis option is not available.  Additionally, in a 47-hour program, the student in the clinical concentration must take PSY 8323, PSY 8333, PSY 8354, PSY 8383, PSY 8454, PSY 8464, PSY 8533, and PSY 8573.  Other than the 13 hours required of all master’s students, there are no specific requirements in the 40-hours experimental concentration.

Provisional Admission—If a student does not meet the GPA (2.75) admission requirements of the program, the student may be admitted provisionally.  In that case, the student must attain a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate courses at MSU after admission to the program.  Transferred and unclassified graduate hours do not apply.  If a 3.00 is not achieved, the student may be dismissed from the graduate program.

Academic Performance—Unsatisfactory performance in the graduate program in psychology is defined as any of the following:

1.       earning two grades of C or lower in graduate courses in a semester;

2.       earning three grades of C or lower;

3.       in the doctoral program—failing the preliminary examination;

4.       in any graduate program—failing the research defense;

5.       unsatisfactory evaluation of a thesis or dissertation; or

6.       failing a required component of study.  

Any one of these or a combination will constitute the basis for review for possible dismissal. The graduate coordinator and the student’s graduate committee will review the record and recommend a final course of action:  immediate dismissal or the establishment of a probationary period in which corrective action must take place.  Appeal of the dismissal can be made by submitting a written appeal statement to the department head.  If the dismissal is upheld by the department head upon the student’s appeal, the student can then submit a written appeal to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Graduate Courses—Course prerequisites are noted in parentheses.

PSY 6103      Psychometrics (PSY 3103). 3 hours

PSY 6123      Quantitative Techniques in Psychology Using Computers (PSY 3103 or equivalent and consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSY 6223      Drug Use and Abuse (PSY 1013). 3 hours

PSY 6353      Psychology and the Law (PSY 1013 and junior standing). 3 hours

PSY 6403      Biological Psychology (PSY 1013). 3 hours

PSY 6423      Sensation and Perception (PSY 1013, PSY 4403). 3 hours

PSY 6523      Industrial Psychology (PSY 1013). 3 hours

PSY 6643      Social Cognition (PSY 4623 or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSY 6653      Cognitive Science (CS 4633/6633  or PSY 4713 or PHI 4143/6143 or AN 4623/6623 or EN 4403/6403). 3 hours

PSY 6713      Language and Thought. 3 hours

PSY 6733      Memory (PSY 1013). 3 hours

PSY 6743      Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction (PSY 3713 or CS 4663/6663 or IE 4113/6113 or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSY 6753      Applied Cogniture Psychology (PSY 3713 or IE 4113 or consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSY 6903      Seminar in Psychology (PSY 1013). 3 hours

PSY 6983      Psychology of Aging (PSY 1013). 3 hours

PSY 6990      Special Topics in Psychology. 1-9 hours

PSY 7000      Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

SY 8000         Research/Thesis. 6 hours

PSY 8111-8151   Scientist-Practitioner Applications (consent of instructor). 2 hours

PSY 8214      Quantitative Methods in Psychology II (PSY 3103). 4 hours

PSY 8223      Systems and Theories of Psychology (PSY 4323). 3 hours

PSY 8313      Developmental Psychology (PSY 3803). 3 hours

PSY 8323      Psychopathology (PSY 3213). 3 hours

PSY 8333      Systems of Psychotherapy (consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSY 8354      Intelligence Testing (consent of  instructor). 4 hours

PSY 8364      Personality Appraisal (PSY 8323). 4 hours

PSY 8373      Child Psychopathology and Treatment of Childhood Disorders (PSY 3213). 3 hours

PSY 8383      Behavior Therapy (consent of  instructor). 3 hours

PSY 8403-     Seminar (consent of department 8413   head required of all non-psychology students). 3 hours

PSY 8454-     Professional Practicum 8464   (departmental consent). 4 hours

PSY 8503      Learning (PSY 3343). 3 hours

PSY 8513      Psychological Research (PSY 4313). 3 hours

PSY 8533      Introduction to Clinical Practicum in Psychology (consent of instructor). 3 hours

PSY 8573      Psychopharmacology (PSY 4403 and PSY 8323). 3 hours

PSY 8613      Advanced Social Psychology (PSY  4623). 3 hours

PSY 8713      Issues and Methods in Cognitive Psychology (graduate standing). 3 hours

PSY 8723      Cognitive Skills Models (graduate standing)  [same as CSE 8613]. 3 hours

PSY 8731      Applied Cognitive Science Research Seminar. 3 hours

PSY 8803      Advanced Quantitative Methods for Industrial/Organizational and General Psychology (PSY 8214). 3 hours

PSY 8990      Special Topics in Psychology. 1-9 hours

PSY 9000      Research/Dissertation. 20 hours