General Psychology
Master of Arts
Psychology is a discipline with a bright future. Among fields requiring a college degree, it is expected to be one of the fastest growing fields in America, and to continue to grow steadily for at least another dozen years after that. The primary purpose of the M.A. in General Psychology is to prepare students for future graduate study. The 30-credit program provides instruction in core competency areas but also allows students to structure a program that meets their interests.
Our program offers courses in abnormal psychology, human development, counseling theory and techniques, social psychology, and statistics and research methodology. Beyond these core courses students can choose to focus in other areas of interest such as forensic psychology, learning disabilities, or mental health counseling.
In the classroom. In the workforce.
What You'll Learn
Every student will develop a solid theoretical foundation of core competency areas in general psychology as well as the necessary knowledge and skills to critically evaluate, analyze, and interpret psychological literature and research.
Future Studies
The program prepares students for doctoral or other graduate level study in psychology and related fields.
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of the degree, students may choose to obtain employment in a variety of social service, mental health, and psychiatric institutions and settings.
Program is 30 credits; 6 core courses and 4 electives.
Required Core Courses
- PSY5036: Behavioral Statistics
- PSY5215: Counseling Theory and Practice
- PSY5345: Advanced Abnormal Psychology
- PSY5205: Applied Research Methods
- PSY5415: Psychology of Development
- PSY6615: Social Bases of Behavior and Cultural Diversity
Plus 4 Elective Courses
All Courses
Coverage includes descriptive statistics: central tendency, variability, transformed scores, graphing, skewness and kurtosis. Also included will be probability and inferential statistics, including z test, t tests (one and two sample), ANOVA, Chi square and the Pearson r. Basic preparation in mathematics is needed.
This course will examine in some detail the influence of psychoanalytic, interpersonal/social, cognitive, and behavioristic theories on present therapeutic techniques. Each style of counseling is evaluated and the relationship between the nature of the disturbance and the effectiveness of each approach is discussed. The response to counseling of those from various racial and cultural groups will be considered. Classroom discussion will be used in conjunction with film and audio tape presentations to translate theoretical understanding into effective counseling behavior.
This course examines disorders in adulthood, adolescence, and childhood with consideration of the relationship between biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors, as well as problems in classification and potential behavior systems. The concepts of normal and abnormal will be explored especially when attempting to understand the behaviors of culturally diverse groups. The symptomatological disorders, including borderline personalities, and various phobic and obsessive-compulsive syndromes will be studied. Also covered will be dis-compensation, stress, anxiety, and defense.
This course links statistical analysis and research methodology in order that the student may become a sophisticated research consumer as well as research producer. The student must learn to understand the logic of the research enterprise and have a basic grasp of the conceptual base on which the statistical tests of significance rest. Understanding research strategy and the logic behind the statistical tests is the underlying theme of the course. This will allow students to understand the nature of empirical research in developing education interventions and therapeutic strategies. Students are also required to learn the SPSS computer program.
This course addresses the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, including a description of behaviors that are present at the various stages, and explanations for those behaviors in terms of relative contributions of heredity and environment. The sociocultural and social economic factors that may contribute to a development outcome are considered.
This course covers a number of advanced topics in the general area of social psychology, including cultural, ethnic, and group processes, sex roles, organizational behavior, group dynamics, status and role, attribution theory, and leadership. Special emphasis will also be placed on cultural diversity, including those issues related to racial and ethnic bases of behavior, with a focus on people of color.