MS in Research Psychology and Data Analysis
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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PSYC 501 | Theory, Research and Practice in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 511 | Experimental Research Methods | 3 |
| PSYC 512 | Non-Experimental Research Methods | 3 |
| PSYC 518 | Analysis of Variance | 3 |
| PSYC 518L | Analysis of Variance Lab | 1 |
| PSYC 519 | Regression | 3 |
| PSYC 519L | Regression Lab | 1 |
| PSYC 520 | Psychometrics: Assessment and Measurement | 3 |
| PSYC 520L | Psychometrics: Assessment and Measurement Lab | 1 |
| PSYC 517 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PSYC 597 | Introduction to Grant and Professional Writing | 3 |
| Students must choose one of the following: | 9 | |
Thesis Track | ||
| Thesis Seminar 1 | ||
Internship Track | ||
| Research Practicum 2 | ||
| Research Internship | ||
| Total Units | 36 | |
- 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.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Optional Concentration in Data Analytics | ||
| STAT 521 | Statistical Computing and Programming | 3 |
| STAT 551 | Data Visualization | 3 |
| STAT 553 | Data Mining | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Optional Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
| OPSY 501 | Introduction to Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| Choose two of the following: | 6 | |
| Group and Organizational Behavior | ||
| Individual and Team Assessment | ||
| Organizational Assessment and Interventions | ||
| Organizational Systems: Theories of Change | ||
| Total Units | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Units | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Optional Concentration in Public Health | ||
| GSPH 510 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| Choose two of the following: | 6 | |
| Bioethics and Healthcare Policy | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| Total Units | 9 | |
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:- Explain the knowledge and skills used in assessment/measurement, research design, and statistical methods in psychology.
- Apply various theories of psychology used in assessment/measurement, research design, and statistical methods in psychology.
- Examine the integration of psychological research with a Christian worldview.
- Articulate the APA codes, standards, and ethics of psychological research and practice in various applied settings.
- Demonstrate graduate level APA formatting skills for writing and presentations.