Dec 04, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Psychological Research, M.A.

The Master of Arts in Psychological Research (MAPR) program is a 30-unit degree program designed to provide foundational graduate education in the content areas and research of general psychology to prepare for a master’s-level career or entrance into a doctoral program.

Admission Requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree in Psychology from a four-year accredited college or university, or a bachelor’s in another area and the equivalent of four lower division and eight upper division CSULB courses (please see Non-Psychology Bachelor’s Degree web page) 

  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 

  • Prerequisite coursework must include the following CSULB course (or equivalent, to be determined by Psychology Dept.): 

    • PSY 310 (Intermediate Statistics; requires Introductory Statistics) 

    • Students lacking the PSY 310 prerequisite may be admitted to the program but must complete the course their first semester in attendance. 

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to Candidacy is the next step after achieving classified status and confers catalog rights to graduate students. It also signifies approval of a plan of study by the graduate student’s major, department, and college. Advancement requirements are:

  1. Application for Advancement to Candidacy must be completed prior to or concurrent with enrollment in PSY 698 - Thesis .
  2. Classified status.
  3. An approved program of studies for the Master of Arts, Psychological Research option degree.
  4. A minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in all units undertaken for the program (at least 6 graduate units).
  5. Enrollment in regular session.

Requirements

The student must complete, as a graduate student, 30 units of graduate coursework (501-698), 24 of which must be in Psychology (not including PSY 697 ) including:

Take one of the following:

Take the following course during the first semester:

Take the following course during the second semester:

Take three courses chosen from the following:

Take the following course:

Additional Requirements

  • With graduate advisor’s approval a maximum of 6 units from related areas may be used for 6 of the 30 units.
  • Completion of all requirements as established by the MA Psychological Research Committee.
  • A preliminary oral examination on the thesis proposal and a final oral examination in defense of the completed thesis. Furthermore, in order to satisfy the culminating activity requirement, students must also complete six (6) units related to the completion of their thesis (i.e., PSY 698).

Student Learning Outcomes

Knowledge base in Psychological Research

By the completion of the MAPR degree, students will demonstrate that they can:

  • Summarize and critique the psychology literature including core theories, particularly within their chosen area of specialization.

Research Design and Methods

By the completion of the MAPR degree, students will demonstrate that they can:

  • Demonstrate their understanding and ability to implement basic and applied research designs used to address psychological issues.

Statistics

By the completion of the MAPR degree, students will demonstrate that they can:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the range of analytic techniques that are used in psychology.

Communication

By the completion of the MAPR degree, students will demonstrate that they can:

  • Communicate both orally and in writing at a level that is appropriate for professionals in their chosen area of specialization.