Popular Searches
Skip to content

MA in General Psychology Program Curriculum

Touro’s MA in General Psychology strongly emphasizes psychological science as we explore the most critical and contemporary aspects of the discipline of psychology. Coursework covers neuroscience, clinical, personality, developmental, health, and statistical and methodological areas of the field. As seasoned experts and noted scholars in their respective areas, the MA program’s dedicated faculty members artfully weave evidence-based psychological theory with vivid real-life examples from their professional careers.

To help students balance academic goals with personal responsibilities, we use state-of-the-art platforms to deliver an exceptional 36-credit educational experience using online synchronous and asynchronous formats.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The MA program can be completed in 1.5 full-time academic years (fall and spring) or 2.5 academic years of part-time graduate study. Below, please find the full-time and part-time curriculum layout, including the optional master’s thesis track.

The MA in General Psychology is cohort-based, with a fall start only.

Can I complete the program in 2 years instead of 1.5 or 2.5 years?
The MA in General Psychology offers each course only once per academic year. Our focus on exceptional 1:1 mentoring, opportunities for participation in doctoral research labs, and courses taught by full-time faculty and teaching fellows means the courses are only offered at specific times and we cannot add additional sections. You will need 1.5 years (full-time) or 2.5 years (part-time) to complete the program’s requirements.

Full-time Study (1.5 years)

For both Fall 1 and Spring 1 of full-time study, students will complete four courses (12 credits) per term. Fall 1 and Spring 1 coursework is structured so that full-time students meet for online synchronous instruction for three courses each term, which are held two days per week. The 4th course each term is offered online asynchronously. If full-time students are interested in and are accepted to complete the optional master’s thesis track, those students will begin initial thesis planning during Spring 1.

For Fall 2 of full-time study, students will complete four courses (12 credits). Fall 2 coursework is structured so that students meet for online synchronous instruction for two courses, which will be held either one or two days per week. The other two courses in Fall 2 utilize an online asynchronous model to allow for optimal time management and life balance during the final semester of the full-time program. For full-time students who have been accepted into the optional master’s thesis track, such students will carry out and complete their thesis during Fall 2, in place of either the Seminar: Advanced Research Topics in Psychology or the Distribution Requirement of either Developmental Psychopathology or Health Psychology.

Fall 1 (full-time)

  • Biological Foundations of Behavior (synchronous learning)
  • Psychopathology (synchronous learning)
  • Research and Statistical Methods (synchronous learning)
  • Theories of Learning (asynchronous learning)

Spring 1 (full-time)

  • Individual and Group Treatments (synchronous learning)
  • Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (synchronous learning)
  • Personality and Its Assessment (synchronous learning)
  • Developmental Psychology (asynchronous learning)

Fall 2 (full-time)

  • The Psychology of Gender, Culture, and Race (synchronous learning)
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Professional Psychology (synchronous learning)
  • Seminar: Advanced Research Topics in Psychology (asynchronous learning)
  • Distribution Requirement: Developmental Psychopathology (asynchronous learning), or Health Psychology (asynchronous learning), or Master’s Thesis

Part-time Study (2.5 years)

During Fall 1 of part-time study, students complete two courses (6 credits). Fall 1 coursework is structured so that part-time students meet for online synchronous instruction for one course, which will be held once per week. The 2nd course is offered online asynchronously.

During Spring 1 of part-time study, students take two courses (6 credits). Spring 1 coursework is structured so that part-time students meet for online synchronous instruction two days per week. During Spring 1, both courses involve online synchronous instruction.

During Fall 2 of part-time study, students complete two courses (6 credits). Fall 2 coursework is structured so that part-time students meet for online synchronous instruction two days per week. During Fall 2, both courses involve online synchronous instruction.

During Spring 2 of part-time study, students take three courses (9 credits). Spring 2 coursework is structured so that part-time students meet for online synchronous instruction for two courses, which will be held either one or two days per week. The 3rd course utilizes an online asynchronous model. If part-time students are interested in and are accepted to complete the optional master’s thesis track, such students will begin initial thesis planning during Spring 2.

During Fall 3 of part-time study, students complete the final three courses (9 credits). Fall 3 coursework is structured so that part-time students meet for online synchronous instruction for only one course, which is held one day per week. The other two courses utilize an online asynchronous model to allow for optimal time management and life balance during the final semester of the part-time program. For part-time students who have been accepted into the optional master’s thesis track, such students will carry out and complete their thesis during Fall 3, in place of either Seminar: Advanced Research Topics in Psychology or the Distribution requirement of either Developmental Psychopathology or Health Psychology.

Fall 1 (part-time)

  • Psychopathology (synchronous learning)
  • Theories of Learning (asynchronous learning)

Spring 1 (part-time)

  • Individual and Group Treatments (synchronous learning)
  • Personality and Its Assessment (synchronous learning)

Fall 2 (part-time)

  • Biological Foundations of Behavior (synchronous learning)
  • Research and Statistical Methods (synchronous learning)

Spring 2 (part-time)

  • Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (synchronous learning)
  • Developmental Psychology (asynchronous learning)
  • The Psychology of Gender, Culture, and Race (synchronous learning)

Fall 3 (part-time)

  • Seminar: Advanced Research Topics in Psychology (asynchronous learning)
  • Distribution Requirement: Developmental Psychopathology (asynchronous learning), or Health Psychology (asynchronous learning), or Master’s Thesis
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Professional Psychology (synchronous learning)

Optional Master's Thesis Track

If you are looking to apply to doctoral programs, interested in research-oriented careers, or want to build research and critical thinking skills, you are encouraged to consider joining the optional master’s thesis track, which is a one-semester intensive research experience during the final semester of the program. Supervised by a faculty member within the Department of Doctoral Studies in Clinical Psychology, the MA student would be a member of a research lab (joining virtually each week), craft a high-level proposal, write the master’s thesis, and defend the thesis in an oral examination in front of a faculty panel.

Admission into the Master's Thesis Track

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 1: Full-time students, after you’ve completed 12 credits.
  • Spring 2: Part-time students, after you’ve completed 18 credits.

Criteria for Acceptance into the Master's Thesis Track

In order to get accepted into the master’s thesis track you must have:

  • a current GPA of at least 3.6;
  • approval from their faculty advisor in the MA program;
  • previous involvement in one of the PsyD research labs;
  • approval from the research mentor who oversees the specific research lab;
  • and completion and submission of the formal master’s thesis track application (see MA in General Psychology Handbook for more information).

If accepted into this optional track, you will sculpt the initial thesis proposal in the same semester in which you apply. The master’s thesis will then be conducted and completed during the final semester of the program and replaces one final-semester course (either the Distribution Requirement course or Seminar: Advanced Research Topics in Psychology).

Program Time to Completion

All requirements for Touro’s MA in General Psychology must be completed within 10 semesters from the student’s start date. This timeline is applied to both full-time and part-time students. Time elapsed during approved and documented leaves of absence do not count toward the total of 10 semesters.