New Master's Program in Psychological Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has just launched a brand new Master’s program in Psychological Science (pending approval), for which we think your students would be excellent candidates.

Psychological science is the use of the scientific method to create, test and improve hypotheses concerning behavior and the processes underlying behavior. Underscoring the emphasis of science in the degree, our coursework and research experiences will prepare students to use science to further basic psychological knowledge and apply psychological principles to analyze, improve or measure behavior.  

Our program is designed with two training goals in mind. The first goal of the program is to provide advanced training for students who wish to pursue doctoral education, but do not yet have sufficient preparation in the field of Psychology. The Department of Psychology has found that within the last several years, admissions to doctoral programs in psychology has becoming increasingly competitive. Increasingly, applicants have a master’s degree and substantial research experience when they apply to our program.

The second goal of the program is to provide students who wish to pursue professional careers the necessary coursework to make their goals clearer and their resumes stronger. Knowledge of human behavior and advanced analytic and statistical skills have become increasingly desirable across sectors (e.g., in technology, healthcare, education, government). Graduates of this program will be competitive for placements in education, industry, consultant groups, state governments, federal government, and healthcare systems based on current hiring requirements in these areas. 

This is a stand-alone Master’s degree program. Although students may take some coursework with graduate students in the PhD program in the Psychology Department, the Master’s degree program is separate from the department’s doctoral degree program. It should be noted that unlike many Master’s programs, our Master’s faculty are chosen from among the core faculty of the department.

Students can learn more about our program and find a link to apply at http://www.psychology.illinois.edu/graduate/prospective/MS_in_Psych_Science.aspx. We will recruit students until all slots are filled.

If you have any questions, please contact The Graduate Studies Office, Department of Psychology Graduate Studies Office, psych-gradstdy@illinois.edu; 217-333-2169.