MS in Psychology, Experimental Psychology
Degree: Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Experimental Psychology
Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus
Credit Hours: 36
Completion Time: Four semesters (fall admission only)
Thesis: Required
Optional teaching emphasis offered
Admission Priority Deadline: Feb 15, 2023
Final Deadline: April 3, 2023
Are you interested in conducting psychological research?
As a graduate student in experimental psychology, you’ll conduct experiments and study human behavior- the way we think and learn, our attention, motivation, feelings, decisions, responses to our social environments, and more. You’ll join a steadily growing career that offers a median salary of more than $80,000 per year and make a contribution to an important scientific field.
Our MS in Psychology, Experimental Psychology Degree
Georgia Southern University’s psychology master’s degree with a concentration in experimental psychology is a 36-hour program on the Statesboro Campus — a charming and dynamic college town built around a shop-lined Main Street, and recently voted one of America’s Best Communities.
Our experimental psychology master’s program will give you a deep understanding of psychological research, and offer you the flexibility to learn to teach psychology, take an advanced clinical psychology course, or complete additional research projects with the supervision of our world-class faculty.
Ready to Apply?
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Curriculum for Experimental Psychology
Advanced training in statistics and research design and a required empirical thesis. Students will learn advanced research skills to prepare for doctoral training and to be competitive on the job market.
Advanced theoretical and empirical content in physiological psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, affective and cognitive psychology and learning. Students will learn advanced theory and empirical content in core subdisciplines of psychology.
Choose from several electives, including:
- Seminar in Teaching Psychology
Involves lecture, discussion, activities and homework designed to explore how to effectively teach psychology classes at the university level. Using readings from books and journals, along with personal experience, the class will discuss and apply issues such as how to plan effective lectures, test writing and grading, demonstrations, leading discussions, handling controversial issues, dealing with disruptive students, seeking out opportunities for experiential learning, and so on. - Psychopathology
Focuses on descriptions, hypothesized causes, and treatment modalities of major classes of mental disorders as classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. - Research Experience
Students work with a faculty member on a research project in progress, obtaining experience and skills to enhance their understanding of the research process.
Many of our students pursue doctoral programs in experimental and applied psychology. Approximately 80% of our graduates who pursue doctoral admissions are successful.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Experimental Psychology?
Experimental psychologists can find career paths in a wide range of fields. They are experts in using the scientific method to collect and analyze vital data regarding psychological and social issues.
Experimental Psychology careers can include:
- Data Analyst
- Human Factors Engineer
- Product User Researcher
- Neuroscience Researcher
- Medical Researcher
- Instructor at the College Level
Admissions Requirements
New students in the Master of Science in Psychology, Experimental Psychology are admitted to the program in Fall semester only. The program is limited to 10-12 new students.
To apply, each applicant must have:
- A successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Record of having taken Introduction to Psychology, psychology statistics, psychology research methods, and at least two other psychology courses.
- A 3.0 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average (GPA) or higher on undergraduate work. The average undergraduate GPA of successful applicants was 3.65 for the Fall 2021 class and 3.63 for the Fall 2022 class.
- NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and difficulties with testing, the GRE will be OPTIONAL for applicants applying for Fall 2023 admission. You may still provide GRE scores, but you are not required to.
Each applicant must submit:
- A personal statement that includes a description of career goals, reasons for applying to the experimental MS program at Georgia Southern University; a description of previous research experience, list of academic achievements, non-academic achievements, and a self-evaluation of maturity level and character. Finally, please describe three psychology faculty whose research interests are a match to your own.
- Developmental: Ty Boyer, Nicolette Rickert, Rebecca Ryan
- Social, Personality, and Applied: Cassandra Baldwin, Amy Hackney, Karen Naufel, Mike Nielsen
- Decision Making and Behavioral Economics: Jon Friedel
- Clinical: Ryan Couillou, Dorthie Cross, Lindsey Stone, Thresa Yancey
- Neuroscience and Developmental Psychobiology: Josh Herrington
- Experimental Psychology: Josh Williams
- Recommendations from three individuals who can speak of the applicant’s undergraduate academic performance, potential for graduate study, and maturity level and character. At least one letter must be from a former professor or faculty research supervisor.
- Optional: A current Curriculum Vitae.
- Optional: Submission of a writing sample of past work provides an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, tone, and style. The sample should be no longer than two double-spaced pages. Consider submitting an excerpt or passage from a research paper or writing assignment for class, a manuscript, or other relevant works.
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The following Statesboro Campus faculty are accepting a new student to mentor for Fall 2023:
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The following Armstrong Campus faculty are accepting a new student to mentor in Fall 2023. If you wish to work with either of the following faculty, please note that classes will be taken on the Statesboro campus and lab work will occur on the Armstrong campus:
MS in Experimental Psychology Student Work
Theses
Student Publications
Have Questions? Contact Us!
Dr. Amy Hackney
Professor,
MS Program Coordinator
Phone: 912-478-5749
Email: ahackney@georgiasouthern.edu
Related Programs
Last updated: 3/2/2023
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