San Diego State University
Department of Psychology
Master's Degree Programs
UNIVERSITY AND PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
- Hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- 2.85 GPA in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted for domestic coursework.
(This does not include lower division courses taken after award of baccalaureate degree.)
(A 3.00 cumulative GPA for international coursework.)
- Have been in good standing at the last institution attended.
DEPARTMENT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Grade Point Average:
Minimum undergraduate overall GPA: 2.85
Minimum undergraduate psychology GPA: 3.0 (24+ upper division units)
Last 60 units GPA: 3.0 or better.
- The Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) General and Subject Tests:
A score at or above the 50th percentile on the Verbal and on the Quantitative, as well as on the Psychology Subject Test, is expected. Actual scores of accepted students are generally substantially higher. Scores must be received February 1st. We suggest that you take the general and subject exams by November. Failure to submit GRE scores on time is a major cause of rejection.
Note: Information about characteristics of accepted students, such as GPA and GRE scores, is shown further on in this document.
- Completion of Undergraduate Course Work Equivalent to the Following SDSU Courses:
A. Course Requirements for the M.A. Program
|
PSY |
101 |
Introductory Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
260 |
Physiological Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
270 |
Introductory Statistics |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
370 |
Psychological Testing and Measurement |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
410 |
Intro to Experimental Psychology with Lab |
5 Units |
Three classes from among the following:
|
PSY |
230 |
Developmental Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
301 |
Intro to Research Methods |
4 Units |
|
PSY |
340 |
Social Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
350 |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
351 |
Psychology of Personality |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
360 |
Behavioral Neuroscience |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
380 |
Cognitive Psychology |
3 Units |
PSY |
388 |
Sensation and Perception |
3 Units |
PSY |
470 |
Intermediate Statistics |
3 Units |
Plus 6 units of upper division psychology
electives, which may be from the above list
If you lack one or two of the above courses it is considered a deficiency, which must be made up in the first year of your graduate program. Deficiency make-up courses cannot be counted toward the Master's degree. Students with > 2 deficiencies will not be admitted.
B. Course Requirements for the M.S. Program
|
PSY |
101 |
Introductory Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
270 |
Introductory Statistics |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
301 |
Intro to Research Methods or |
4 Units |
|
PSY |
470 |
Intermediate Statistics |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
370 |
Psychological Testing and Measurement |
3 Units |
PSY |
499 |
Independent Research |
1-3 Units |
Three classes from among the following:
|
PSY |
230 |
Developmental Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
319 |
Industrial and Organizational Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
320 |
Personnel and Industrial Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
321 |
Organizational Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
340 |
Social Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
350 |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
351 |
Psychology of Personality |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
360 |
Behavioral Neuroscience |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
380 |
Cognitive Psychology |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
388 |
Sensation and Perception |
3 Units |
|
PSY |
410 |
Intro to Experimental Psychology with Lab |
5 Units |
Plus 6 units of upper division psychology
electives, which may be from the above list
If you lack one or two of the above courses it is considered a deficiency, which must be made up in the first year of your graduate program. Deficiency make-up courses cannot be counted toward the Master's degree. Students with > 2 deficiencies will not be admitted.
ADMISSION PROCEDURES
Before you apply: Make sure you satisfy both the San Diego State University and the Psychology Department requirements as shown above.
Application to the Psychology Department Master's Program is a 3-step
process:
Step 1: Take the GRE
a) Take the General and Psychology subject tests of the GRE by November to meet the Department of Psychology application deadline of February 1.
b) Request official test scores from www.ets.org (SDSU Institution Code is 4682 and the Psychology Department Code is 2016).
c) Enclose a copy of official GRE scores, or, if not readily available, a photo copy of official test scores.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ETS: Educational Testing Services
Step 2:
Apply to the University
You are required to submit the CSU application form and application fee to the SDSU office of Graduate Admissions. The preferred method of application and fee payment is on-line, at: CSUMentor (http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/).
Students applying to both the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program (JDP) and the Master's program are required to file only one CSU application and pay only one fee, which will cover both programs. However, you must file a department application for the JDP and another for the Master's program.
Step
3: Apply to the Department
The application packet for the Master's program should include the following:
a) Transcripts - One official transcript of all previous academic work attempted, even if it was just one class at a particular institution. Students with international coursework must submit all transcripts and proofs of degree. If certificates and transcripts are not in English, they should be accompanied by certified English translations.
b) Personal Statement - See application for details.
c) Application - The completed application for admission to the Department of Psychology Master's Program, plus the completed application for an Assistantship, if you are interested.
d) Letters of Recommendation - At least 3 Letters of Recommendation from people who are familiar with your academic work. Make copies of the form included at the end of the application and deliver to your recommenders. If you have not been in an academic environment for several years, you may wish to have an employer complete one of your recommendations. Ask each of your recommenders to put his/her letter in an envelope which you have preaddressed to yourself and stamped. Ask the recommender to seal the envelope, sign his/her name over the flap where it is sealed to the envelope, and mail the letter to you. You then should include all the letters in your admission packet. If recommenders prefer to send leters directly to the department, have them use the address below (same as for the completed packet.)
e) (International Students Only) If post secondary education was not conducted in English, enclose a copy of TOEFL or IELTS results.
f) (International Students Only) Complete International Student Center requirements.
Send your completed application packet directly to:
Department of Psychology
Master's Programs Coordinator
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182-4611
We admit students for fall semester only. The master's program application deadline is February 1. In order to ensure consideration, all application materials must be received by the SDSU Office of Graduate Admissions and the Department of Psychology by that date.
The applicaton for the Joint Doctoral Program can be found at http://www.psychology.sdsu.edu/doctoral/
DATA FOR NEW MASTER'S STUDENTS
Averaged over the last several
years
(Includes only students who
were accepted)
Number of Entrants
|
SDSU |
5 |
|
Other California |
15 |
|
Out of State |
14 |
|
International |
1 |
Psychology GPA
|
Mean= 3.49 |
|
GRE Percentile
|
Verbal Mean = 73 |
|
Quantitative Mean = 60 |
|
Advanced Test Mean = 68 |
|
|
