One of the biggest questions STEM students ask themselves when considering graduate programs is “What is a Master of Science, and where can it take me?” On Nov. 7, the Psychology Department Masters hosted an information session to answer these questions on the Master of Science (MS) in Psychological Science program at New Paltz, hosted by the program’s director, Professor Elizabeth Hirshorn. The session provided attendees with information on the program’s research focus, the applications with which they can utilize their degree, paths taken by past graduates, degree requirements, available scholarships, research grants, admission requirements, application details and the advantages of the accelerated program.
To begin, Hirshorn emphasized the focus on research which the program takes, the MS in Psychological Science being a skill-based degree for students. Most time for students is spent in the lab, gaining experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students have the choice of what they research, with most recent endeavors including research on “I feel, therefore I am: Generational differences in moral processing styles” and “Success will be the best revenge: Revenge as motivation for goal pursuit.” Graduates of the program have gone on to take various positions with their degrees, including Project Analyst at Columbia Memorial Health and a Research Measurement Analyst at the National Board of Medical Examiners.
The program’s curriculum covers four broad areas of content: social, cognitive, developmental and applied psychology. It is meant to advance students to future doctoral study or work in education, community service, government, etc. Hirshorn explained the curriculum through the session, highlighting core courses in statistics and methodology, as well as research specialization. Alongside their study, students also have the opportunity to take on teaching assistant/graduate assistant positions, both curbing program costs and deepening their academic journey through teaching. To further connections, students are also able to attend talk series, alumni panels and professional development workshops.
As for more on funding an MS in Psychological Science, Hirshorn outlined various financial assistance opportunities for students in the program. Teaching assistant and graduate positions provide students with stipends of $2,500, as well as a tuition reduction up to six credits. There are also various research grants available to fund student endeavors, such as the Graduate Student Research Award and Creative Project Award (RCPA), an internal grant with a $400 maximum award amount per year.
When students choose to do the Accelerated Pathway Program (4+1), they gain various advantages in comparison to if they went the traditional route with their masters degree. These include saving money, saving a year of study, building relationships with faculty and a competitive edge when applying for PhD programs.
Students interested in applying for the program should be aware of the Department of Graduate Admission’s requirements, including good academic standing, completion of different psychology courses, letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Applications are due March 15, 2025 for full consideration.
To learn more about the Accelerated Program for the MS in Psychological Science Program, contact Hirshorn at hirshore@newpaltz.edu to book office hours and review your standing for the program.