General Psychology, Master of Science (M.S.)
Information About the Master’s Degree
There are two Master’s Degrees in General Psychology: A concentration leading to ABA Certification, and another one in Experimental Psychology which requires a thesis.
Information About the ABA Concentration (Within the General Psychology M.S. Degree)
To obtain a BCBA Certification students must:
- hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree;
- have completed Board approved ABA coursework;
- have completed the required and documented supervised practical experience; and
- pass an examination administered by the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board.
The M.S. General Psychology Degree with ABA Concentration is designed for students interested in earning a Master’s degree that will provide expertise in applied behavior analysis, and allow them to work toward eligibility to sit for the BCBA Certification Exam.
The M.S. General Psychology Degree with ABA Concentration provides:
- the required Master’s degree and
- the required Board approved ABA coursework.
Students are responsible for expanding their own practical experiences in order to accumulate the required hours of supervised experience, and for scheduling and paying for the BCBA Certification Exam. Information can be found at www.bacb.com.
Information About the Experimental Psychology Master’s Program
The Master of Science degree program in General Psychology offers students advanced training in the core areas of psychology and the opportunity to develop and explore specialized areas of interest. Students work closely with a faculty mentor to design an individualized course of study that combines classroom training and hands-on research experience, and culminates in a Master’s thesis. Graduates will have a solid foundation for pursuing doctoral-level training in psychology and related fields or for entry into a variety of work settings.
Admission Requirements
M.S. General Psychology: ABA Concentration
- Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or 3.5 in the last 60 hours
- Minimum of one research course
- Minimum of one upper level course in psychology and 2 additional courses in psychology or a related discipline
- GRE: If undergraduate GPA is below 3.2, then satisfactory performance on the general sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.
- For applicants pursuing Kentucky educator rank change: Must hold a teaching certificate to be admitted into the program
- Personal statement must address the following areas:
- What personal characteristics do you possess that you believe are important to the practice of applied behavior analysis? Do you possess any particular strengths that you feel will be an asset to you in graduate school? What about any personal challenges that you think might hinder your progress?
- What are your professional goals?
- Describe any experiences that have particularly prepared you for graduate study in applied behavior analysis (e.g., co-op/internships, work experiences, life experiences).
- If you feel that any portion of your application does not accurately reflect your academic skills or preparation for graduate school in psychology (e.g., GRE, GPA, etc.), please explain.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 42.2799
A total of 33 credit hours is required for candidates for the Master of Science in General Psychology. In order to complete the degree program, ABA concentration students must earn a grade of B or better in the following core courses: PSY 817, PSY 813, PSY 814, PSY 815, PSY 816, PSY 833, PSY 843, PSY 855, PSY 866, PSY 895.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses in Psychological Foundations | ||
| PSY 833 | Beh Research and Measurement | 3 |
| PSY 837 | Advanced Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 849 | Advanced Developmental PSY | 3 |
| PSY 853 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 859 | Cog/Affect Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: | 18-27 | |
Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration (Online Only) | ||
Experimental Concentration | ||
| Exit Requirements | ||
| GRD 857J | MS Psy Written Comp Exam | 0 |
| GRD 858J | MS Psychology Oral Comp Exam | 0 |
| Total Hours | 33-42 | |
Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration (Online Only)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| PSY 813 | Ethics and Prof Conduct Appl B | 3 |
| PSY 814 | Basic Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| PSY 815 | Applied Research in ABA | 3 |
| PSY 816 | Philosophical Underpinning ABA | 3 |
| PSY 817 | Intro Foundations in Beh Analy | 3 |
| PSY 843 | Practicum | 3 |
| PSY 855 | Addressing Problem Behaviors | 3 |
| PSY 895 | Building New Behaviors | 3 |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| PSY 866 | Adv Topics Applied Beha Analys | 3 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Experimental Psychology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| PSY 862 | Statistic & Research Design II | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose from nine hours of electives approved by graduate advisor | 9 | |
| Thesis | ||
| PSY 898 | Thesis Research | 6 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Exit Requirements
Students in the Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration must register for a written comprehensive examination in their area of study (GRD 857J MS Psy Written Comp Exam) (0 credit hours), and complete this examination.