Psychology MS

Our Master’s program is designed to build your skills in the core areas of psychological science. It is a 36 credit-hour program that you can complete in two years (four semesters). You will take required courses face to face on the Warrensburg campus during weekday evenings. Choose from a variety of courses for six hours of electives. All students complete a thesis, which is the capstone of the program and sets it apart from many non-thesis Master’s programs.

What does it take to get into the program? We are looking for students whose career goals align with our science-based program. You do not need to have a bachelor’s degree specifically in Psychology, but you do need to have completed at least 12 hours of Psychology courses. We do require the GRE-General. Minimum admission requirements are:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA in at least 12 hours of undergraduate psychology courses or at least 12 hours of graduate psychology courses from an accredited institution.
• Official GRE-General score report. Preferred minimum verbal plus quantitative of 297.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Statement of purpose.

You can apply at any time but we recommend that you complete all application materials at least one month before the semester (fall or spring) in which you wish to start. Apply in early spring for the fall semester if you want to be considered for department graduate assistantships.

We have several graduate assistant positions available in our department. Our graduate students also often obtain GA positions in other areas across the university. These positions come with a monthly stipend and a scholarship to cover tuition costs. Apply through the university’s HR website after you are admitted to our program.

Scholarships are also available for graduate students, including the Joseph J. Ryan Scholarship, which is specifically designated for students in the M.S. Psychology program. Graduate students may also apply for financial aid through our Student Financial Services office.

We take pride in offering research opportunities for our students. In addition to completing your Master’s thesis, you can collaborate with department faculty on research across a variety of areas in Psychology. We have several laboratory facilities and a research participant pool. Our graduate students often present their research at student conferences, co-author presentations at major conferences, and sometimes even co-author publications with their faculty mentors.