General
Psychology MA

To obtain a Master’s in General Psychology degree, students must complete a total of 31 to 40 credits, depending on the selected path. The program offers two distinct pathways:

1. Thesis Path (31 credits)       2.Course-Intensive Path (40 credits)

Students should maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

All paths require the completion of the following core courses:
PSY V0100 (Advanced Experimental Psychology  I (4 credits | 2 lec. + 4 lab hr./wk.)
PSY V0500 (Statistical Methods in Psychology  I  (3 credits | 2 rec. + 2 lab hr./wk.)

Take one course from the following areas: Cognition, Neuroscience, Psycholinguistics, Psychometrics, Psychopharmacology, and Sleep. Or else achieve a score in at least the 65th percentile on the advanced psychology section of the Graduate Record Examination.

Requirements for THESIS students:
Thesis students are required to enroll in PSY B9900 Psychological Research and Seminar, for which 3 credits are received, with no grade, until completion of the thesis project. Students are also encouraged to enroll in PSY B9800 Tutorial for at least one semester prior to B9900 while they develop their thesis plans and complete the proposal.

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For the thesis path

For the thesis path it is the thesis itself (see the program handbook for more info), which registers on the transcript as PSY B9900 (Psychological Research and Seminar), for which credit is not awarded until the final thesis project is deposited in the library. Additionally, students are encouraged to enroll in PSY B9800 Tutorial for at least one semester before B9900, using this time to develop the literature review for the thesis.

For the 40-credit course intensive path

The capstone constitutes confirmation of completion of one of the following 3 options:

1. Development, write up, and oral presentation of a full case conceptualization, in which a clinical case from a field experience is viewed through a specific theoretical orientation, supports a specific diagnosis, and leads to a specific treatment plan
2. Presentation of a poster or talk at a professional or student research conference
3. Submission of a manuscript for publication.

Completion of an option is established either through the Capstone Evaluation Form ( see the program handbook for more info) signed by mentor or case supervisor, a letter from journal confirming receipt of manuscript submission, a copy of conference program with presentation listed, or a poster showcased within the department. The work may be done at any time during the student’s tenure in the program.

The American Psychological Association’s booklet, Psychology: Careers for the Twenty-First Century, highlights that most professionals with a terminal master’s degree in psychology work in research, data collection, and analysis across universities, government agencies, and private companies. Others find employment in health, industry, and education—the primary sectors for psychology professionals with master’s degrees.

Government and industry positions, particularly in personnel and mental health, are often filled by individuals with a Master’s degree in Psychology. These professionals typically work under the supervision of doctoral-level psychologists, especially in fields such as clinical, counseling, school, and testing and measurement psychology.

For over forty years, our program has built a national and international reputation for providing exceptional training in psychology. Graduate programs at other institutions recognize that students who excel in our program are well-equipped to thrive in theirs, as we maintain rigorous academic standards.

Masters students can become involved in activities on the City College campus such as peer counseling, teaching-assisting, drug-and-alcohol counseling, and research in many areas of psychology.