Psychological Research (M.A.)
M.A. Psychological Research
Program Overview
Students work closely with highly qualified faculty mentors, learning about research relevant to their interests. The Department of Psychology has resources to assist and support graduate students, such as office space, specialized facilities and software for data collection and analysis, funding for conference travel and graduate assistantships.
Course Work
The M.A. in Psychological Research is a program that requires enrolling in nine credit hours per semester for two years. The program requires the completion of 38 credit hours, consisting of 20 hours of core courses (six thesis hours taken in the second year) and 18 hours of electives. Courses are taught by faculty renowned for their expertise in developmental, health, clinical, cognitive and social psychology, as well as human factors and neuroscience (both basic and clinical). At least 12 hours of elective course credit must be obtained by completing courses offered by the Department of Psychology. Elective courses completed outside of the department require the consent of the program director to be added to a student’s degree plan.
| Degree | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor Option | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree M.A. | Hours 38 | Thesis Option Non-Thesis | Minor Option No minor | Location San Marcos |
Degree M.A. | Hours 38 | Thesis Option Thesis | Minor Option No minor | Location San Marcos |
Program Details
The faculty is a diverse group of experts with specialized labs for electrophysiology, sleep, exercise, salivary analysis, data science, eye-tracking and behavioral testing with children and adults, including software for online remote data collection and analysis.
Program Mission
The mission of the program is to foster competence in the methodological foundations and conduct of psychological research across a wide variety of settings. Students will gain expertise regarding the impact of biological, social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral factors on psychological phenomena and use this knowledge to conduct original research in their area of interest. Focus is placed on learning interpersonal, research and statistical skills and competencies relevant to the responsible and ethical conduct of both basic and applied psychological research.
Career Options
Graduates are prepared to work as research associates in academic, clinical, community, corporate and government settings. Students will learn skills that enable them to design and conduct ethical research, evaluate/synthesize information derived from various sources and communicate effectively in both written and oral formats. Competencies gained also benefit individuals wishing to pursue clinical or experimental doctoral degrees in psychology.
Program Faculty
The graduate faculty in the Department of Psychology consists of internationally recognized individuals trained at universities such as Harvard, Yale, Duke, and Northwestern, who are highly active in research. Faculty members work closely with students to develop original research in a mutual area of interest. Research interests of graduate faculty include:
- clinical psychology
- cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience
- developmental psychology
- health psychology
- social and international psychology
- psychology and diversity
- human factors
- psychometrics and quantitative psychology
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Katherine Warnell
warnell@txstate.edu
512.245.5564
Undergraduate Academic Center (UAC), Room 253G
Advisor Support
Kim Burns
kjb168@txstate.edu
512.245.2526
Undergraduate Academic Center (UAC), Room 253E
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall - Priority | U.S. Citizen February 1 | International February 1 |
Deadlines Fall - Standard | U.S. Citizen April 30 | International April 30 |
This program's deadline is firm. This type of deadline means the application and other application requirements must be submitted by the program's specified deadline day.
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Funding Information Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding. |
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Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a firm basis. |
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
OR - $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
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Transcripts & GPA
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
- minimum 3.0 GPA in the following prerequisite courses:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Quantitative and Statistical Methods
- Experimental and Research Methods
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE scores not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents
- research interest statement listing three faculty members in the Texas State Psychology Department whose research interests most closely match your own
- resume/CV including prior experience in research or clinical areas, awards, and scholarships
- statement of purpose (approximately 1–2 pages) conveying your research interests, plans for graduate study, professional aspirations, and career goals. Please indicate how your scholarly interests fit with those of specific faculty members in the Department of Psychology, as well as any relevant experience, special abilities, or skills (e.g., computer programming, fluency in another language).
- three letters of recommendation from non-related individuals familiar with your scholarly work and/or relevant experience
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