Master of Arts in Psychology

The University of Northern Iowa Department of Psychology offers a Master of Arts degree in Psychology designed to provide advanced training in the major applied and basic areas of psychology. The program has a strong empirical orientation, emphasizes competence in research methodology, and requires that each graduate student satisfy a thesis requirement. The program reflects the views of department faculty that such an orientation is essential for the education of sophisticated consumers of psychological research at the master's level and for the preparation of students interested in the pursuit of a doctoral degree.

Graduate admissions to our M.A. in psychology program are suspended for fall 2024 and spring 2025 as we go through a program reorganization.

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Department of Psychology
Bartlett 1078
Cedar Falls, IA 50614

Phone: 319-273-2303
Email: adam.butler@uni.edu

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Students in the MA program may choose one of two emphases:

Clinical Science

Combining empirically supported, scientifically based clinical training with a solid foundation in clinical research methodology, this emphasis prepares students for doctoral programs or for jobs at the Masters level operating under appropriate supervision. Clinical practicum and research opportunities allow students to work with child, adolescent and adult clinical populations in a variety of settings. Clinical faculty members are dedicated to research, and actively involve students in ongoing and new areas of study. Students complete a thesis which they defend at the end of their second year.

‌More about Clinical Science Emphasis

Social

The Social emphasis is designed for students who are interested in social psychology and would like to complete a master's degree before seeking admission to Ph.D. programs in social psychology or pursuing employment as a research analyst, research associate, or community college teacher. Students in the social emphasis receive a broad education in psychology and especially social psychology. Students complete and present at least two research projects, their first year project and their thesis.

‌More about Social Emphasis

A complete list of Psychology graduate classes (starting with PSYCH 6001) offered at UNI can be found here.

Admission to the master's program is competitive, and successful applicants usually meet the following criteria:

A bachelor's degree in psychology; if a student does not have an undergraduate psychology major, 15-21 hours of undergraduate coursework as prescribed by the graduate coordinator may be substituted with the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee.
An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above; students with otherwise strong credentials who do not meet the 3.00 GPA requirement may, at the discretion of the Graduate Admissions Committee, be admitted to the program with provisional status.

GRE scores of 150 or above on Verbal and Quantitative portions of GRE are preferred, but applicants with lower scores whose applications are otherwise strong will be considered.
Successful international students typically have scores of 100 or more on the internet-based TOEFL test.

Application Procedure

All application materials are now available on-line and described below. If you have any questions about the process or the program, contact Dr. Helen C. Harton, Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

To begin your application process, click here.

If you haven’t previously attended or applied to UNI, you may have to set up an account (instructions provided). The system will lead you through the information you need to provide. You can log in and provide some information and complete the application at a later date.

The following types of information are required and will be reviewed with your application:

1) Three names of people willing to write letters of recommendation for you:

You will be asked to provide contact information requesting these letters, which will then be submitted electronically by your recommenders. Letters of recommendation should come from former instructors and those engaged in or familiar with the field of psychology.

2) A resume or CV (uploaded) that includes the following information:

Educational background
Research experience
Presentations and/or publications
Relevant work experience
Relevant extracurricular activities and/or psychology-related public service
Awards, distinctions, honors, and/or skills

3) An applicant statement (uploaded).

Submit a personal statement (generally 1-2 pages) that addresses the following areas:

Background and preparation for pursuing a graduate degree in psychology
Reasons for seeking a degree at UNI
Research experience and interests
Professional goals

4) Application fee ($60 for US students—waived for UNI students and alumni--and $75 for international students)

You should also send the following items directly to:

Office of Admissions - Grad Admissions
002 Gilchrist Hall
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0018

5) Official copies of transcripts from all colleges attended (must come directly from your previous institution)

If you are an international student, you will also need to submit:

An English proficiency score (must be sent directly from the testing provider. IELTS and TOEFL are accepted. There may also be cases (e.g., you attended college in the United States) where these tests may not be required. Please email harton@uni.edu if you think this may apply to you.
A financial statement (see further instruction on the application form)
A copy of your passport (uploaded)

The application deadline for full consideration of financial aid is February 1. Offers of admission will begin in early February and continue on a rolling basis until early May. All applications completed by April 30 will be given full consideration, but early application is strongly encouraged.

Applications will not be reviewed until they are complete. Applications completed after the deadlines will be forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Committee, but admission of these applicants will be contingent upon availability of space in the program at that time. Graduate students are only accepted into the program for entry in the fall semester and on a full-time basis. The program takes two years to complete.

The M.A. program in psychology admits 8-12 students each year.

FAQs

What is a thesis and why does everyone in this program have to fulfill this requirement?

A thesis is an original research project that involves reviewing an area of the psychological literature, formulating a hypothesis, carrying out a study to formally test this hypothesis, analyzing the data collected, and writing a formal paper communicating the results of this study. It is important for all psychology students to become familiar with the process of research, as a working knowledge of the scientific process is essential for becoming an informed consumer of research.

What kinds of topics could I do my thesis on?

Students have done their theses on a variety of topics related to faculty research interests.

Will I be able to function as a psychologist after completion of this program?

Graduates of any master's program are not considered psychologists by the American Psychological Association or by state licensing boards or insurance companies and are not able to function independently as psychologists (that is, set up a private practice, bill insurance companies for their services, call themselves psychologists). Graduates of these programs are, however, permitted to deliver psychological services (psychotherapy, psychological testing) under the supervision of a licensed psychologist in hospitals, mental health centers, clinics, etc. In many geographic areas that are underserved, such as rural areas, practitioners at the M.A. level of training may actually be more likely to provide psychological services directly than doctoral level providers, who may be less readily available and may be employed primarily as supervisors or administrators.

Can I be admitted to this program if I was not a psychology major in college?

Admission to the program usually presupposes applicants have been exposed to the field of psychology as undergraduates. If applicants are not psychology undergraduate majors, the Graduate Admissions Committee will evaluate their applications on an individual basis and will likely recommend remedial coursework designed to place the applicant on a more competitive level with other students prior to formal admission to the program. Generally, students are required to have at least 15-21 hours (including introduction to psychology, at least 2 content courses, research methods, and statistics) for full admittance to the program.

Do I need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the subject GRE?

No.

Is the application procedure the same for international students?

We admit several international students each year. Applicants from outside the U.S. should check out the International Admissions page for further information about special arrangements and requirements for attending school in the U.S.

What is a practicum experience?

Students in both emphases of the program must complete 2-6 credit hours of practicum experience. These experiences are designed to give students practical experience relevant to their career interests. Students in the Social emphasis generally fulfill their practica hours by completing a research project (independent of their thesis) in collaboration with a faculty member, presenting this project at a regional or national conference, and submitting it for publication in a professional journal. Students in the Clinical Science emphasis obtain supervised experience working in the capacity of a psychologist-trainee at an appropriate mental health agency or program. For more information on typical practica experiences, contact the Area Coordinator for Social or Clinical Science.

What do students in this program do when they graduate?

Some of our students go on to PhD programs directly from our program, while others have chosen to pursue employment in a degree-related field after graduation. Some graduates pursue teaching positions at community colleges, or go into non-academic research positions in government or business. See the APA website for more information on career opportunities in psychology. Recent students who have chosen to continue on to PhD programs have been accepted at institutions such as University of Kansas, University of Mississippi, University of Southern California, St. Louis University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Tennessee, and Stony Brook University.

How many students do you admit per year?

We generally admit 8-12 students per year into the MA program. We have a 2:1 student-faculty ratio.

Is financial aid available?

There are tuition scholarships and graduate assistantships available through the psychology department, and, occasionally, through other departments on campus. Graduate assistants generally either work as teaching assistants or research assistants. You will be automatically considered for tuition scholarships and assistantships within the department unless you ask not to be. You may also apply for assistantships outside of the department (our students have been very successful in the past at receiving these). Typically all of our students receive at least some assistantship and/or scholarship support. For information on loans, other types of financial aid, and campus employment, see the Financial Aid Office pages.

What about money for travel and research expenses?

There are several places on campus where students can obtain funding for travel to conferences and thesis research expenses. Our students regularly attend and present at the major conferences in their areas, including those of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the Midwestern Psychological Association, and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Do you admit students for the spring semester?

We only admit students to the program in the fall semester.

Is there a Graduate Student Handbook or a Graduate catalog available?

If you intend to enroll as a graduate student at UNI, you will need these publications. For a copy of the Graduate Student Handbook or Graduate catalog (also available on-line), contact the Graduate College, UNI, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0135. Our Department of Psychology Graduate Handbook is available as well.

Is housing available for graduate students?

On-campus accommodations for single students and families can be obtained through the Department of Residence. In addition, off-campus apartments are available near the University and in the Cedar Falls area. Housing in Cedar Falls and Waterloo is fairly cheap compared to other areas of the country. For off-campus housing information, see the classified ads in the on-line version of our local newspaper.

How much is tuition?

Current information on tuition can be found on the University's Tuition pages.

Is health insurance available?

For information on health insurance and campus clinic facilities, see the UNI Student Health Clinic pages.

Can I get a tour of campus?

Please contact Helen Harton, Coordinator of Graduate Studies, if you will be in the area and would like to visit our campus. We'll arrange meetings with relevant faculty and students and give you a tour of campus.

What is the area like?

The University of Northern Iowa is a campus of about 13,500 students in a metropolitan area of about 100,000 (Cedar Falls/Waterloo). Cedar Falls boasts a high quality of life, with many recreational opportunities in both the university and the surrounding towns. For more information on the city, our biking/skiing trails, the arts, and more, visit the City of Cedar Falls website.

Who should I contact if I have further questions?

Dr. Helen Harton, Coordinator of Graduate Studies.