Learn more about the Master of Science in Psychological Research.
About the Program
The accelerated +1 MS in Psychological Research is designed to provide a research-intensive experience, advanced coursework and professional development to current Temple University students completing their undergraduate degree in Psychology who intend to pursue doctoral studies in any of the academic psychology disciplines. Students enter the program as senior psychology majors and complete the MS degree with only one additional year of graduate coursework. Students in the 30-credit program work with a faculty sponsor to develop and carry out a master’s project; complete graduate-level coursework in methodology, statistics, ethics and topical seminars; and engage in professional development activities that prepare them for doctoral-level studies and enhance their applications to PhD programs.
The MS in Psychological Research is separate and distinct from the PhD program offered by the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and does not lead to entrance into the Psychology PhD program. Prospective doctoral students must apply directly to the PhD program.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 2 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time study is required.
Interdisciplinary Study: The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework.
Job Prospects: Graduates of the MS program in Psychological Research gain skills that enhance their applications to doctoral programs in academic psychology. Positions for individuals with an MS in Psychological Research are also available in a number of settings, including universities, private research and consulting organizations, nonprofits and marketing.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Master’s Directed Research courses, including PSY 5791 Master's Directed Research I and PSY 5891 Master's Directed Research II, and 8000-level courses are not open to non-matriculated students. Permission of the instructor is required for non-matriculated students to take PSY 5003 Advanced Statistics and PSY 5104 Ethics and Ethical Conflicts in Psychological Science.
Financing Opportunities: Assistantships are not available for the MS program.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: March 1
Applications are not evaluated until after the deadline has passed.
If you are currently an undergraduate student in Psychology at Temple University, APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program. The MS program in Psychological Research is open only as an accelerated +1 program for Psychology undergraduate students at Temple University. It is expected that the program will open to non-Temple students in the future, but that time frame has not yet been determined.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic competence. One letter should be from the applicant's faculty mentor and include the faculty mentorship agreement.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree (BA, AB or BS) in Psychology is required. Additionally, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is required in both Psychology and overall for admissions consideration. Meeting the minimum does not, however, guarantee admission.
Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, state your reasons for pursuing a master’s degree, current research interests, research experience, and future career goals.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Optional. Scores may be submitted if available.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 105
- IELTS Academic: 7.0
- PTE Academic: 72
Writing Sample: An academic writing sample must be submitted. It is used to assess the applicant's ability to complete graduate-level written work and produce a high-quality master's project paper.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| PSY 5791 | Master's Directed Research I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 5003 | Advanced Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 5891 | Master's Directed Research II | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 8017 | Professional Issues for Psychology Careers | 1 |
| PSY 9991 | Research | 4 |
| 8000-level Statistics or Methodology course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 5104 | Ethics and Ethical Conflicts in Psychological Science | 3 |
| PSY 9991 | Research | 4 |
| Topical Seminar in Psychology or Neuroscience | 3 | |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
The elective must be a graduate course at the 5000 to 8000 level, but may be taken from any school or college.
Other Requirement: MS students are exposed to a broad range of current research by attending the department’s Colloquium and TILES lecture series to hear talks by distinguished researchers from other universities. They are also required to participate in lab meetings and journal clubs, and to attend regular advising meetings to select and apply to appropriate doctoral programs. Students who postpone application to doctoral programs receive guidance for a master’s-level job search and applications.
Culminating Event:
Master's Project:
A four-course sequence of directed research immerses the student in carefully planned and executed research, culminating in a publishable paper. Throughout the sequence, students are expected to participate in and contribute to the advisor’s program of research. Activities include data analyses, literature reviews, programming experiments and/or recruitment.
- During the first term, students work with their advisors to develop a research proposal and analysis plan for the master’s project. A protocol is submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval. Students become familiar with the methods, measures and apparatus in the advisor’s lab.
- During the second term, students begin data collection for the master’s project and start work on a comprehensive literature review.
- The third term focuses on continued data collection, preliminary analyses, completion of the literature review, and a possible poster submission.
- During the fourth term, data collection, cleaning and analyses are completed, and the results are written up in an APA manuscript.
Students who do not complete the final project requirement by the end of the Spring term of Year 2 may register for additional research credits in the Summer term and submit their master's project no later than July 15 to be eligible for August graduation.
Accelerated Programs
Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The accelerated pathway for the Psychological Research MS is only available to undergraduate students in the Psychology BA.
Cohort Code: XMSPSYRES
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 5003 | Advanced Statistics 1 | 3 |
| PSY 5791 | Master's Directed Research I 2 | 3 |
| PSY 5891 | Master's Directed Research II 3 | 3 |
- 1
PSY 5003 can be used to substitute for PSY 3000-3620 elective.
- 2
PSY 5791 can be used to substitute for a CLA/CST 2000+ elective.
- 3
PSY 5891 can be used to substitute for a CLA/CST 2000+ elective.
Suggested Academic Plan
| Year 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| PSY 5791 | Master's Directed Research I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 5891 | Master's Directed Research II | 3 |
| PSY 5003 | Advanced Statistics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Admissions Criteria
Candidates for the +1 program must:
- be a declared Psychology major.
- be able to complete their baccalaureate degree in a total of four years.
- have two letters of support from full-time faculty who can vouch for the student's readiness for graduate work and a faculty sponsor agreement.
- provide a personal statement.
- submit a writing sample.
- have successfully completed the following foundation courses:
Students apply during their junior year; therefore they do not take any courses that year toward the MS degree. Admitted students begin taking courses during their senior year and then continue taking courses during their graduate year.
During the first term (Fall, Senior year), students work with their advisors to develop a research proposal and analysis plan for the master's project. A protocol is submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval. Students become familiar with the methods, measures, and apparatus in the advisor's lab. During the second term (Spring, Senior year), students begin data collection for the master's project and start work on a comprehensive literature review.
Application: https://apply.temple.edu/CLA/Pages/Welcome.aspx
Contact Information
Sandra Sepulveda-Kozakowski, PhD, Director
tuk53856@temple.edu
Contacts
Program Web Address:
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/psychological-research-ms-la-psyr-ms
Department Information:
Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience
653 Weiss Hall
1701 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6085
215-204-7321