Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to help you reach your career goals. All students are required to complete Proseminar, Statistics I and II, and Research Design. Students can choose between a thesis track and a non-thesis track, get course credit for independent research, and choose electives according to their interests.
Please note that this is not an evening program. Students may have difficulty completing the program if they can only attend during the evening. If you are unsure about whether your work schedule is compatible with the program, we encourage you to contact us.
The MA in Experimental Psychology does not provide training in clinical psychology techniques. Students interested in a clinical program should consider Brooklyn College's MA in Mental Health Counselling.
Requirements for All Students
To obtain the master's degree in experimental psychology, students must complete 36 credits. The four required courses are Proseminar, Research Design, Statistics I, and Statistics II (12 credits total). The remainder of each student's program consists of elective courses.
Proseminar
You will take Proseminar in your first semester—think of it as "Grad School 101." Proseminar will orient you to the expectations of graduate school, help you set short- and long-term goals, and provide the tools you need to succeed in the program and beyond. Proseminar includes research talks by different faculty, which will help you get to know the Psychology Department and give you the opportunity to meet potential mentors.
Research Design, Statistics I and II
In these courses you will develop the skills and knowledge needed to design a psychological experiment, analyze the results, and communicate your conclusions orally and in writing. Research Design will familiarize you with all major components of the research process, from generating an idea, to operationalizing variables, to choosing an appropriate research design and communicating the results. In Statistics I and II, you will master the statistical techniques that are needed to analyze data. Instead of just clicking the buttons in a statistical software package, you will learn to solve problems by hand, which will help you to deeply understand the underlying principles introduced in the course. Topics covered include both classic statistical techniques such as regression and analysis of variance, as well as new computational techniques such as Monte-Carlo, Bootstrap, Jackknife, and permutation tests.
Elective Courses
Independent Research, Independent Reading and Thesis. To give students the opportunity to earn course credit while gaining research experience, we offer three research-focused elective courses: Independent Research, Independent Reading, and Thesis. In these courses, the student works closely with a faculty mentor to deeply explore a particular area of the literature, develop a new research question, design and carry out an experiment, analyze the results, and formulate conclusions. Research classes are required for students on the thesis track and optional (but strongly recommended) for students on the non-thesis track.
Content classes. These classes focus on foundational and cutting-edge research in a particular area of psychology. The emphasis is on student-led discussion the primary literature rather than lecture or textbooks. Content classes also give students the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills and to practice professional speaking and writing. Students choose content classes according to their interests, and classes offered vary from semester to semester. Recent content classes have included:
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Psychology of Emotion
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Close Relationships
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Neuroscience and Evolution of Creativity
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Psychology of the Arts
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Vision Across the Life Span
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Instrumentation (computer methods in psychology)
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Neuroscience of Criminal Behaviors
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History of Psychology
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Advanced Physiological Psychology
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Comparative Psychology
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Developmental Psychology
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Cognitive Psychology
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Language and Thought
Thesis Track Requirements
The M.A. in experimental psychology does not require a thesis, but we strongly recommend that students undertake one. The thesis allows students to develop a deeper understanding of a particular topic as well as to obtain hands-on experience with research methods. Below is the recommended curriculum for students who elect to take the thesis track.
| Course number | Course name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 7795 | Independent Research I | 3 |
| PSYC 7796 | Independent Research II | 3 |
| PSYC 7781 | Thesis | 3 |
| Required classes | 12 | |
| Electives | 12 |
Non-thesis Track Requirements
Students who do not pursue a research thesis are required to complete 24 credits worth of electives in addition to the four required courses specified above (Proseminar, Statistics I and II, Research Design).
Classes
Class sizes are small, typically seven to 15 students per class. Small classes allow students to get to know each other and the professor, and provide many opportunities for discussion and debate. Students learn to think critically and express themselves clearly, while engaging deeply with the foundations of psychological knowledge and cutting edge research.
Classes are offered throughout the afternoon and evening hours, with some classes beginning at noon. Students may have difficulty fulfilling the program requirements if they can only attend in the evenings. Additionally, most research opportunities are during the day. If you are unsure about whether your work schedule is compatible with the program, we encourage you to contact us.
Comprehensive Exam
The Comprehensive Examination is a requirement of the program. Details of the Comprehensive Examination are found here: (pdf).
Completion Timeline
The degree can be completed in two years by taking nine credits per semester. However, some students elect to take fewer than nine credits per semester. On average, students complete the program part time in three years.
