M.A. Program
The mission of the graduate program in psychology at CSU San Marcos is to provide graduate education of the highest caliber to qualified students from the local community and beyond, leading to the Master of Arts (MA) degree. Our objective is to prepare students for the following: continued study at the doctoral level; a variety of positions in business, industry, and the public sector; and/or academic careers at the two-year college level. It is our belief that excellent graduate education is best accomplished in an atmosphere in which graduate students are treated collegially, and are closely mentored by the faculty. We are committed to the study of psychology as a scientific enterprise, and our program will encourage the development of skills that are consonant with the scientific spirit of inquiry and the critical thinking, articulate verbal expression, quantitative reasoning, and healthy skepticism of graduate-level study. In keeping with the mission of CSU San Marcos, we offer our students a curriculum that includes opportunities to enhance professional development and to contribute to the community at large. In addition, our program seeks to recognize the value of multicultural perspectives and to be sensitive to diversity concerns.
Our Master of Arts degree is designed to accommodate students with a wide range of goals. The active research programs of our faculty, and our recognition of psychology as a scientific enterprise, provide graduate students with the intensive research training and course work in primary content areas that are central to preparation for more advanced graduate work. Likewise, students who have aspirations for careers in community college teaching, community service, or business and industry, benefit from our program's emphasis on critical thinking, research methods, and advanced course work. Individual career goals are served by allowing choice in the content of the thesis research and by providing a curriculum that provides options in course content areas.
Many students undertake graduate work in psychology in order to pursue careers in clinical psychology or psychological counseling. Training specifically geared to those seeking licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is not currently available within the CSU San Marcos program. However, the program will prepare students to better compete for admission to doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology. Students with interests in clinical or counseling psychology will find opportunities to pursue course work and thesis topics at CSU San Marcos that are related to their interests.
Applications for Fall 2013 will be accepted starting December 1, 2012. Applications will be due on February 1, 2013.
Applying to the Graduate Program in Psychology:
Please follow these steps as you consider applying for admission to our program:
- Before you do anything else, read the FAQ page very carefully. It will help you determine if our program is right for you, and if you are right for our program.
- If, based on the FAQ answers, you think our program is a good fit for you, look carefully at the "Faculty and Staff" page (linked to the left, above). Can you identify one or more faculty (from the tenure-track list, not the lecturer list) with whom you would like to do research? Acceptance to our program requires a "match" between you and one or more of our faculty.
- Consider sending an email to the faculty member(s) you have identified to introduce yourself and ask about her/his plans for accepting graduate students in the next cycle.
- If you choose to apply, prepare you department application carefully and neatly. Your statement of purpose will be critical in helping us decide whether or not to admit you, so make it count!
- A complete application is due on February 1, 2013. Late applications are accepted on a case-by-case basis. A complete application includes the following elements:
•The application to the CSU completed and submitted on line. (See link below)
•The Psychology Department application completed and submitted on line (See link below).
•Official copies of all college transcripts submitted to Graduate Admissions, CSU San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096-0001 (Note: if you graduated from CSUSM you need not do this)
•Official copies of all college transcripts submitted to Soheyla Mohseni, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Psychology, CSU San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096-0001 (Note: if you graduated from CSUSM you may ask Soheyla to print out a copy of your CSUSM transcripts to place in your file.)
•Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which are from professors you have had, sent to Soheyla Mohseni, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Psychology, CSU San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096-0001. There is no form for this; your recommenders should write their letters on letterhead.
• GRE scores (the general GRE is required; the subject test in Psychology is not required but is recommended in cases where the student was not a psychology major or where the GPA is marginal). Have your scores sent by the Educational Testing Service to Soheyla Mohseni, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Psychology, CSU San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096-0001. - Follow up with Soheyla Mohseni to make sure all of your application materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) have arrived in our office.
Applications for Fall 2013 will be accepted starting December 1, 2012. Applications will be due on February 1, 2013.
Important Links for MA program:
Frequently Asked Questions
Course List
Current Semester Information
Faculty
Graduate Handbook
Graduate Program Application Psychology Department (opening in Fall 2012)
Graduate Application CSU
Applying to Graduate School
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Nancy Caine
