Curriculum

Experimental Psychology students are expected to develop a breadth of knowledge in psychology, as well as to acquire extensive research experience. Students take required core courses, as well as additional coursework designed to meet individual needs. Students are expected to complete 36 semester hours of coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the Master of Arts degree. Each student is expected to be involved in research or some other scholarly endeavor under the supervision of a faculty member beginning in the first semester and until the degree is awarded. Each student must also undertake a thesis project based on empirical research and successfully defend the thesis project in an oral defense.

Program Requirements – 36 hrs

(See the current Graduate Catalog on the Registrar's website for course descriptions, https://www.radford.edu/content/registrar/home.html)

Required Courses – 21 hrs

PSYC 610. Analysis of Behavioral Data (3)

PSYC 611. Methodology and Program Evaluation in Psychology (3)

PSYC 612. Psychometric Theory, Assessment, Appraisal, and Application (3)

PSYC 699. Research and Thesis (6)

PSYC 777. Multivariate Analysis of Behavioral Data (3)

PSYC 798. Professional Internship (3)

Topical Elective – 9 hrs

PSYC 622. Historical Foundations of Scientific Psychology (3)

PSYC 623. Advanced Social Psychology (3)

PSYC 628. Biological foundations of behavior (3)

PSYC 630. Advanced Cognitive (3)

PSYC 660. Human Growth and Lifespan Development (3)

PSYC 774. Introduction to Pharmacological Medications (3)

Additional Electives - 6 hrs

  • Any 600 - level or above course in Psychology
  • Any Approved course outside of the department 

Master's Thesis – Experimental

Each student must complete a Master's Thesis which makes a contribution to the science of psychology in order to obtain a Master's degree within the Experimental Psychology program. A complete proposal for the thesis project should be approved by the Graduate Advisory Committee by the fourteenth week of the second semester of graduate work; however, it must be approved at least one semester before the thesis is defended. The purpose of this approval is to ensure that the design or plan of the project has the endorsement of the Advisory Committee prior to investment of effort into the project. The written proposal (APA style) is to be prepared under the guidance of the Chair of the Advisory Committee and distributed for review to all committee members. The student may be required to defend the proposal in a meeting with the Advisory Committee. All Advisory Committee members must signify approval of the project. The Thesis Proposal form should be submitted to the Graduate College after the proposal has been revised by the student and approved by all members of the Advisory Committee.

The completed Master's Thesis must be successfully presented to the Graduate Advisory Committee in a public oral defense that includes the Final Comprehensive Exam. The student will present the thesis in colloquium format and be prepared to demonstrate a sound grasp of issues and methods pertaining to the thesis and its relationship to Psychology as a whole. The oral defense or colloquium must be arranged with the Advisory Committee, but all faculty members in the Psychology Department will be invited to attend and the colloquium will be open to the public (notices must be posted by the student 5 days prior to the colloquium). The thesis must be distributed to the members of the Advisory Committee 2 weeks in advance of the scheduled colloquium. A one- or two-page abstract of the presentation, including the date, time, and location of the colloquium, must be prepared by the student and placed in all Psychology faculty mailboxes at least five school days prior to the presentation. The revised and completed written thesis should be submitted to the Graduate College at least 2 weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the student will graduate.