Graduate Programs
The Master of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Educational Specialist degrees in Psychology are designed to provide students with a broad background in psychology while allowing them opportunities to pursue areas of special interest. Completion of the requirements for all master’s degrees prepares students for positions in community mental health service agencies, school settings, community college teaching, research, or entry into Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs in Psychology.
Admission to Master of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Educational Specialist degrees is based upon the satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses selected from the core courses required for the California State University, Fresno undergraduate major in psychology, or their equivalent. Potential graduate students should submit transcripts of all academic work and three letters of recommendation. All students must submit applications to both the Division of Graduate Admissions and the Department of Psychology.
Admission to the graduate program in psychology is based on the evaluation of a student’s capacity to successfully complete master’s level work. The graduate committee uses multiple criteria to assess an applicant’s qualifications including coursework completed, grades, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation. In addition, an applicant’s professional interests and goals are evaluated in terms of the interests of the faculty and the resources of the Department of Psychology. Separate evaluations of applicants are made for the M.A. general/experimental program, the M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis program, and the Ed.S. School Psychology program. Although many applicants meet our minimum admission requirements, we are limited in the number of positions available and many qualified applicants cannot be offered admission.
Admission to classified graduate standing requires a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, as well as a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate psychology courses. Applicants lacking in one area with compensating strengths in other areas may apply. The Department of Psychology does not typically admit unclassified students into the graduate program.
In order to apply for advancement to candidacy, students in psychology graduate programs must earn grades of A or B in PSYCH 244 and pass the Psychology Department Graduate Writing Requirement and the Psychology Department Statistical Proficiency Exam. In order to apply for advancement to candidacy, students in psychology graduate programs must earn grades of A or B in PSYCH 244A and PSYCH 244B and pass the Psychology Department Graduate Writing Requirement. The graduate writing requirement can be fulfilled in PSYCH 244A . Further information can be found in the course syllabus and graduate handbook. Under the direction of a graduate advisor, a coherent program is prepared and submitted, directed toward the achievement of the student’s goal in graduate study.
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