PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Psychology Department at Missouri State University offers a Master of Science (M.S) degree in Psychology - Experimental Track. The two-year program is limited to no more than one student per Experimental Track faculty member per academic year. The Experimental Track is designed to prepare students for doctoral studies; that is, it is for those students who wish to pursue primarily an academic/research career (to teach at the university level and to conduct basic or applied research in an effort to advance the science of behavior). The Experimental Track uses an apprenticeship system for educating and awarding a M.S. degree in psychology. The apprenticeship system provides a learning model, whereby the student and sponsoring professor are bound by a contractual relationship of mutual obligations. Specifically, each sponsoring professor's task is to foster the professional and intellectual development of the student by providing prodigious research experience. The student's task is to become immersed, with enthusiasm, in basic psychological research and theory. This model requires a close working relationship between the sponsoring professor, thesis committee, and student. For success, this working relationship should be marked by reciprocity, respect, patience, trust, open communication, and fairness. By virtue of the student's proven accomplishments and the sponsoring professor's and thesis committee's training and guidance, the student should be well prepared for doctoral work.

Objectives of the Experimental Track include:

1. Development of skills needed to design, conduct, analyze, and report research.
2. Acquisition of a broad background in psychology (theory and measurement) as well as specialized knowledge in an area of interest, such as learning, memory, and cognition; attention and perception; physiological; developmental; ethological; or quantitative psychology.

Missouri State University is a community of people with respect to cultural diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict nondiscrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In addition, in accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.