MA in Psychology - General/Experimental in Fresno United States | California State University, Fresno

The M.A. in Psychology provides options for specializing in either general or experimental psychology. This program equips graduates with comprehensive training in psychology as an empirical science. MA candidates develop foundational skills essential for doctoral studies, including quantitative methods, experimental design, psychological theory, and research techniques. For the General/Experimental and Applied Behavior Analysis tracks, we employ a mentorship approach where students collaborate closely with faculty members sharing similar research interests. Prospective students can explore potential research advisors on our Research Page. Through this partnership, students and faculty jointly formulate research questions and hypotheses, culminating in an experimental thesis as the capstone of the graduate experience. A distinctive feature of our department's graduate programs is the intensive faculty-student collaboration, where graduate students typically work either individually or in small groups (2-3 students) with their mentors, ensuring a rigorous, personalized training experience in experimental psychology tailored to each student's objectives. The General/Experimental track features a adaptable curriculum covering research methodology, advanced statistics, and specialized topics such as Behavioral Approaches to Language, Psychopharmacology, and Social Psychology. Graduates emerge prepared for PhD programs, research analyst positions, or community college teaching roles. Historically, about 50% of our MA graduates have pursued doctoral studies, while others have entered fields such as research analysis, program evaluation, administration, and community college instruction.