The Department of Psychology offers BA+MS in Community Psychology. This program has been developed in response to needs expressed by community groups and organizations for assistance in addressing the needs of their most vulnerable members. The program prepares students to work at the master's level in the field of Community Psychology in a variety of community, government, and consulting work settings. Students will learn how a community-based social justice perspective recognizes inequalities and promotes the exercise of greater power (i.e., access to resources and decision-making) for communities that have been marginalized, and creates ties to advocacy work with oppressed populations. The program leads to an applied, terminal MS degree and is not designed as an intermediate step toward a doctoral degree. Students interested in pursuing a PhD should speak with their academic advisor about the best way to prepare for a doctoral program.
Students interested in this program should meet with the MS in Community Psychology BA-MS program director, preferably during their second year. The application deadline for admission into the combined program is May 1 of the junior year. To be considered, students must be declared in the Community Psychology undergraduate concentration, have taken PSY 354, and be enrolled in PSY 356 at the time of application. Students should have a grade point average of 3.20 or higher. Admissions decisions will be made by the faculty administering the program.
The application process will require prospective students to submit the following information:
- Summary of Psychology Courses taken
- A list of community psychology-related volunteer or employment activities
- One letter of recommendation from a faculty member
- A personal statement including a brief description of future career plans
The combined Bachelor's + Master's degree program allows students to complete 12 graduate credit hours during their senior year by taking PSY 410, PSY 411, and PSY 421. These three courses will count toward both the undergraduate and graduate programs. No other courses may count more than once.
Students will need to apply for degree conferral of the BA degree before fully matriculating into the MS in Community Psychology degree. After completing the BA degree, an additional nine courses (36 credit hours) are required to complete the Community Psychology MS degree.