General Master's Degree in Psychology
The Department of Psychology offers an MA degree in General Psychology. Students may, through selection of appropriate elective courses, choose a concentration within the field of general psychology. Areas of concentration represented in the department of psychology include Behavioral Neuroscience, and Clinical, Cognitive, Health, and Social-Personality Psychology. Our M.A. degree in General Psychology does not provide training for specific careers. In order to work as a professional psychologist, it is necessary to earn a Ph.D. (a doctorate). Many students enroll in UB's M.A. program for one of four reasons: First, some students know they want to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, but they are uncertain about the area of psychology to specialize or focus in. By enrolling in our M.A. program, they can take advanced courses in several subfields of psychology, learn more about psychology and focus their interests, and then apply for a doctoral program that meets their career objectives. Second, some students find that they need to strengthen their credentials before they can be competitive for a Ph.D. program. By enrolling in our M.A. program, they can show their ability to earn good grades in graduate-level courses and can gain research experience that can strengthen their applications to doctoral programs. Third, some students may be interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Psychology, but they did not take many psychology courses as an undergraduate. Our General MA degree allows them to accumulate the necessary background to qualify for application to doctoral programs. Finally, some students may be working in a related field that requires an MA degree to advance. Obtaining an MA degree in General Psychology may allow them to advance in their career.
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