MS in Research Psychology and Data Analysis

APU’s M.S. in Research Psychology and Data Analysis program gives students advanced skills and hands-on experience in psychological research.

NOTE: This program is not admitting new students for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Master of Science in Research Psychology and Data Analysis provides research and statistical experience needed to be competitive for doctoral programs and pursue, or advance within, careers related to psychological research. The program consists of a rigorous 36-unit curriculum that can be completed in one academic year, 18 months, or 2 academic years. Students in this program acquire skills in research methods and statistical analyses commonly used within psychological research, and complete a master’s thesis. Courses feature lectures, seminars, and hands-on research labs that incorporate various popular statistical software used within psychology. All courses are offered in a distance learning format that consists of face-to-face and remote students. Face-to-face students attend courses at the Azusa campus, and remote students join the face-to-face course using video conferencing technology. Throughout the program, a faculty advisor works closely with individual students to provide guidance on completing the thesis or practicum/internship, applying to doctoral programs, and pursuing a career in research. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in professional events, including academic conferences.

Coursework Schedule

Fall (10-13 units): Experimental Research Methods (3), Analysis of Variance (3), Analysis of Variance Lab (1), Theory, Research, and Practice in Psychology (3), Research Practicum (3)

Spring (16 units): Thesis Seminar (3) or Research Practicum (3), Non-Experimental Research Methods (3), Regression (3), Regression Lab (1), Introduction to Grant and Professional Writing (3), Program Evaluation (3)

Summer I (7 units): Thesis Seminar (3) or Research Internship (3), Psychometrics: Assessment and Measurement (3), Psychometrics: Assessment and Measurement Lab (1), 

Summer II (3 units): Thesis Seminar (3)

Requirements

Core Courses
PSYC 501Theory, Research and Practice in Psychology3
PSYC 511Experimental Research Methods3
PSYC 512Non-Experimental Research Methods3
PSYC 518Analysis of Variance3
PSYC 518LAnalysis of Variance Lab1
PSYC 519Regression3
PSYC 519LRegression Lab1
PSYC 520Psychometrics: Assessment and Measurement3
PSYC 520LPsychometrics: Assessment and Measurement Lab1
PSYC 517Program Evaluation3
PSYC 597Introduction to Grant and Professional Writing3
Students must choose one of the following:9
Thesis Track
Thesis Seminar 1
Internship Track
Research Practicum 2
Research Internship
Total Units36
1

Students on the thesis track are required to take 9 units of PSYC 598, but may take up to 12 units in order to complete their thesis.

2

Students on the internship track are required to take 6 units of PSYC 578.

Optional Concentration in Data Analytics
STAT 521Statistical Computing and Programming3
STAT 551Data Visualization3
STAT 553Data Mining3
Total Units9
Optional Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
OPSY 501Introduction to Organizational Psychology3
Choose two of the following:6
Group and Organizational Behavior
Individual and Team Assessment
Organizational Assessment and Interventions
Organizational Systems: Theories of Change
Total Units9
Optional Concentration in Counseling Psychology
Choose three of the following:9
Multicultural Counseling
Evidence-Based Practices in the Treatment of Children and Youth
Ethics and Professional Issues
Theories of Counseling and Therapy
Total Units9
Optional Concentration in Public Health
GSPH 510Social Determinants of Health3
Choose two of the following:6
Bioethics and Healthcare Policy
Epidemiology
Environmental Health
Total Units9

Optional Concentrations1

Data Analytics

This concentration equips students with statistical and data visualization techniques. It consists of courses that develop students’ skill in statistical programming, including R and SAS, data visualization using Tableau, and data mining. Such training prepares students to pursue careers in business and/or data analytics.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Organizational psychology, often called industrial/organizational psychology, considers the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors of people in the workplace. At the intersection of business and psychology, courses in this concentration help you discover your ability to diagnose organizational health; develop and implement change initiatives; administer and create job satisfaction surveys; increase employee morale and expand retention strategies; advance performance management programs; hire, train, and develop talent; and advise, coach, and build successful teams.

Counseling Psychology

This concentration is for students who are interested in getting a PhD in clinical/counseling psychology and would like to take graduate courses that would expose them to this area of psychology. Students wishing to complete this concentration need to complete three courses from the MS in Counseling Psychology program as outlined in program requirements.

Public Health

This concentration equips students with conceptual and applied knowledge of the public health field. Students learn important areas of public health, including how health and diseases are influenced by social, economic, and political risk factors; ethical considerations and healthcare policies; epidemiological procedures; and issues in environmental health.

1

The cost per unit for the concentration is based on the cost of the concentration courses, and may be different from per-unit cost for the MS in Research Psychology and Data Analysis.

Graduation

In order to graduate, students must complete the required courses with an overall grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 within five years of matriculation. This includes completing every required course with a B- or above. Students must also complete a master’s thesis according to the guidelines outlined by the program and university, or a practicum and internship as outlined by the program.

Admission

University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.

International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.