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New Mexico State University

Psychology Graduate Program

On Campus Master's Program

The on-campus master's degree is in experimental psychology with possible emphases in engineering psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, biopsychology, or developmental psychology. Students must take a minimum of 36 credit hours with at least 15 credit hours in Psychology and at least 15 credit hours in courses numbered 500 or above. Students are also required to

  1. complete a first year project
  2. take three of seven core courses (engineering, cognitive, perception, learning, biopsychology, developmental, and social)
  3. take three required courses in quantitative skills (typically, the three courses in the Psychology department that cover basic statistics, experimental design and ANOVA, and multiple regression) and
  4. complete a research thesis.

The department considers the master’s degree to be a legitimate terminal goal for many students; most students who earn a master’s degree in the program successfully find employment in a degree-relevant job.

 

Online Master's Program

The online master’s program is in experimental psychology with a focus on usability, human factors engineering, and applied cognitive psychology.  The degree is intended for scientists, engineers, and managers working in industry, government and the military. The degree has been designed as a professional qualification rather than an entry to a research career. The M.A. in Experimental Psychology is available online for students who have completed a four year undergraduate college degree program. A variety of web-based psychology courses are offered every semester and every summer session. Completion is possible in two years.

The online master’s degree requires a minimum of 36 credit hours with at least 15 credit hours in Psychology and at least 15 credit hours in courses numbered 500 or above. Students are also required to

  1. take three of seven core courses (engineering, cognitive, perception, learning, biopsychology, developmental, and social)
  2. take three required courses in quantitative skills (typically, the three courses in the Psychology Department that cover basic statistics, experimental design and ANOVA, and multiple regression); and
  3. complete a three or six credit capstone program. The online program does not require a thesis.

More information about the online master’s program (including course descriptions and admission information) is available here.

Ph.D. Program

At the Ph.D. level, students can select one of three emphases: engineering psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.

The engineering psychology emphasis is within the realm of human factors and usability. The research conducted by the engineering psychology analyzing how trust affects operator responses to automation recommendations, how operators monitor and control multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, visual search during luggage screening tasks, perceptual and cognitive processes in reading, simulation of human auditory perception, biases in the perception of moving objects, and selective attention. Students completing a degree in engineering psychology typically take positions in the computer industry working in the design and evaluation of user interfaces.

The cognitive program has a joint emphasis on basic and applied research. As a consequence of the applied focus, several faculty members hold joint appointments in both cognitive and engineering psychology. In addition, students completing their masters and Ph.D.'s in cognitive psychology at NMSU often take applied jobs in usability engineering in the computer and telecommunications industries. Faculty interests in cognitive psychology include language processing, cognitive and perceptual development, and prospective memory.

Like the cognitive program, the social psychology program has a focus on both basic and applied research. Social faculty research interests include social cognition, evolutionary psychology, close relationships, attitude formation, emotions, sexuality, and gender. Recent social graduates have taken positions in both academia and industry.

All baccalaureate level students who enter the PhD program enroll initially as master's students. Upon completion of the master's degree, a student may be admitted into the Ph.D. program, contingent on the recommendation of the student's master's committee and the vote of the whole faculty. In addition, students who have completed their master's degrees at another institution can be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program.

 

Financial Assistance

Financial aid for graduate students is awarded on the basis of potential for research and teaching in the form of an assistantship. Up to 20 hrs. may be awarded for each of the fall and spring semesters. Up to 40 hrs. may be awarded over the summer. Students interested in assistantships should complete the Financial Aid Form (which can be downloaded below) and send it to the Psychology Department with other application materials.

To request more information contact Dr. Laura Madson.