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These resources are intended to help current and prospective psychology students understand our degree requirements and experiential opportunities.

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The Department of Psychology at DU now offers a terminal MA degree in psychology for those who are currently enrolled in our undergraduate major (as a BA or BS). This is a dual degree program, meaning that those on track to graduate in 4 years can apply in Spring Quarter of their junior (3rd) year, beginning to take graduate classes and propose a research-based thesis in their senior (4th) year, continue with graduate coursework and complete the research thesis in their 5th year, and graduate with a BA or BS in Psychology AND an MA in Psychology in 5 years. Although students in their senior (4th) year are permitted to apply, they would then stay at DU for 2 additional years, and we designed the program to maximize value within 5 years, which involves applying in the 3rd year.

This program is research-focused, and is a great fit for undergraduates who a) have decided to apply for a graduate degree and would like more research experience first, b) haven't had an opportunity to do an independent, in-depth research project and would like to, and/or c) would like more experience and skills in psychology research, but are not yet sure if going onto a research-focused doctoral program is a good fit for them. This program is NOT focused on counseling or therapy skills, and no certifications are awarded as part of the program.

Applicants for the program should have completed at last 120 credit hours by the time they apply. In addition, applicants will need a departmental advisor to attest that they are on track to complete their undergraduate degree requirements in the next two years. Finally, this program is for students who, by the time they apply, have already found a faculty mentor willing to supervise their research. The application will ask you to select your faculty mentor and will ask them to write a letter of support, committing to mentoring you on your research-based MA thesis. Admissions will be based on these materials, your undergraduate transcript, and a statement of your research interests and career goals.

There are financial aid and scholarship considerations for this program. Please contact financial aid if you have questions before applying.

Please reach out to a psychology advisor if you have questions about whether this program is a good fit for you.The deadline to apply is April 14, 2023. There will be a virtual information session on Wednesday, February 22 at 4 pm MT. Click here to join the Zoom (must be signed into university Zoom account).

FAQ

Q: I'd like to be a therapist or counselor, so I'm considering a MA in Counseling or an MSW (Social Work) after I graduate. Would this program be good for me to do instead?

A: Almost definitely not. This is a research-focused MA degree, no therapy or counseling skills are taught, no clinically-relevant courses are required, and no certification is given. If your MA research is done with a clinical population, the program will give you some clinical research experience, but you will not be a qualified therapist when you complete the program.

Q: What is the timeline for the program?

A: Almost all students will apply for the program during their 3rd year (or equivalent) at DU, begin taking some graduate courses during their 4th year (or equivalent) at DU, and propose their MA research thesis by the end of their 4th year. Students will then continue to take graduate courses and complete their MA research thesis, finishing it by the end of their 5th year (or equivalent). There is no strict deadline for when undergraduate requirements should be finished, however, when undergraduate coursework is finished may impact tuition costs.

Q: How many students will be accepted each year?

A: There is no minimum number of students we will accept each year. We do not plan to accept more than 6 students in a single year, and often we will accept even fewer. This is a very small program.

Q: How difficult/rigorous is the program?

A: This is a very rigorous MA degree – as difficult as completing the first two years of our PhD program - and MA students will be taking graduate courses along with PhD students. Students are expected to contribute to high-level discussions in graduate courses and function with a great amount of independence while completing their research thesis.

Q: What will the admissions committee be looking for?

A: The admissions committee is primarily trying to determine 1) whether the program is a good match for the student's educational and career goals, 2) if there is evidence that the student will be successful in completing a MA-level research thesis (which includes having a faculty member willing to mentor them), and 3) if the students are prepared to contribute to graduate level courses alongside PhD students. Students with previous research experience and/or a previous partnership with their proposed faculty member often have an easier time making this case, although neither is strictly required.

Q: How is this different from the Departmental Distinction program (completing the Jr/Sr Honors sequence)?

A: The departmental distinction program (Jr/Sr Honors sequence) is an entirely undergraduate program. It is a more structured experience, that begins by matching students who do not yet have a research mentor with one, and then the entire cohort of students achieve milestones for their theses as a group, with feedback not only from their faculty mentor but the faculty instructor and TA teaching the honors sequences. Honors students give a short presentation to a broad audience at the end of the thesis process. The MA program does not have the same course structure to support the thesis project; students are expected to be far more independent. The MA thesis is expected to have more scientific rigor and independence than an honors thesis, and the MA requires a much longer individual oral defense in front of a committee of faculty members.

The dual degree MA program was designed to be accessible for students who did NOT complete the departmental distinction and also those that do. Students completing both departmental distinction and the dual degree MA will spend a total of about 2.5 years deep in conducting psychological research.

Q: What is the cost of the program?

A: This varies by student. Roughly, students should expect to pay tuition for an additional year (3 quarters) at DU beyond their current undergraduate graduation trajectory. A tuition discount for this program is available for quarters taken at DU as a graduate student, however, the exact quarter during which students become graduate students varies based on number of credit hours, when you complete your undergraduate degree requirements, etc. Scholarships and financial aid for your undergraduate degree may or may not apply. If you are admitted to the program, your admission letter will make the amount of the tuition discount clear, and you are then encouraged to work with the office of financial aid to figure out what the exact cost of the program would be given your specific situation.

Q: What should I do to prepare myself for success in the program?

A: The number one thing that you can do to prepare yourself is to get involved in research as an undergraduate, and educate yourself about educational and career options post-graduation to see what is the best fit for your goals. First, this will allow you to determine if you'd like to do an MA level research thesis. Second, it may help you form a relationship with a faculty member who will agree to mentor you through the program. Third, you will often be working in research groups with PhD students who can talk to you about the rigor of those courses and the usefulness of an MA for your goals.

Q: What are typical next steps for those with a research-focused MA in psychology?

A: We imagine that most students in the program will be hoping to eventually apply to PhD programs in psychology, which require substantial research experience. Completing a research-focused MA is one way to get that experience (but this can also be achieved by securing a full-time research position or even volunteering part-time in a research lab post-graduation). Students who are unsure whether they want to complete a PhD might be drawn to complete an MA to gauge their interest in applying for a PhD. For those worried that their undergraduate GPA might not reflect their potential to succeed in graduate school, they might want to complete an MA to demonstrate that ability. Finally, students headed to research position in industry, government, or non-profit work that does not require a PhD might find that an MA gives them an advantage for hiring and/or salary negotiations over a Bachelor's degree.