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The Master of Science program in psychological research offers you an education in developing advanced data-analysis skills to ask and answer questions in the psychological sciences. Our program offers you a faculty mentored research experience, training in research design and advanced data analysis, and an education in the foundations of psychological knowledge, all at an affordable cost.
Our master’s program is designed to help you reach your career goals, including opening doors for further psychological research at the doctoral level and pursuing data-intensive jobs in industry. Graduates of our program will be able to market their knowledge of psychological concepts and research methodology for a wide range of careers involving research, healthcare, government agencies, and the private sector, and for admittance into competitive doctoral programs.
The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.
This faculty-mentored program equips students with advanced data analysis skills and practical psychological research experience and allows students to concentrate in the areas of cognition, learning, perception, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, developmental psychology, psychopathology, applied psychology, and social psychology. Focus is on preparation for a career in basic or applied research in a variety of settings. This program is also useful for those who wish to enroll in a doctoral program in psychology.
Applicants should offer:
All applicants passing a first round of consideration will be interviewed.
General matriculation and admission requirements of Graduate Studies are in the section “Admission” of the Graduate Bulletin.
Students must complete 36 credits including a thesis. There are three areas of coursework, including 12 credits from psychological science courses, 12 credits from statistics and data-analysis courses, and 12 credits from independent reading and research courses. Required courses include Psychology 7801G and 7802G in the psychological science area, 7705G, 7706G, and 7750G in the statistics and data-analysis area; and one faculty-mentored independent reading (7791G, 7792G) or research course (7795G, 7796G) per semester in the first three semesters, culminating in a thesis 7781G during the final semester. Electives are chosen in consultation with a student’s faculty mentor and are taken with permission of the graduate deputy chairperson. Courses offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses or higher.
Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
This program does not accept nondegree applicants.
Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.
4401 James Hall E: andrewd@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.5000, ext. 6026
5401 James Hall E: tonia.hucey@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.5601
Or contact:
222 West Quad Center 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210 E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.4536
Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:
BC Admissions Appointment Tool
Research psychology uses scientific methods to improve our understanding of the mind, brain, and behavior. The master’s program in psychological research offers students an education in the foundations of psychological knowledge, the current state of the field, and training in research design and data analysis at an affordable cost. Students learn to ask and answer questions in the psychological sciences and have the opportunity for professional development and mentoring.
Note: This is not an evening program.
Our two-year curriculum focuses on three areas: a faculty-mentored research experience culminating in a master’s thesis, skill development in data analysis techniques, and broad domain-knowledge in psychological science. An example path-to-degree is described below, followed by more general program information.
Class sizes are small, typically seven to 15 students per class. Small classes allow students to get to know each other and the professor and provide many opportunities for discussion and debate. Students learn to think critically and express themselves clearly, while engaging deeply with the foundations of psychological knowledge and cutting-edge research.
Classes are offered throughout the day, with some classes beginning as early as 9:30 a.m. Research labs typically operate during business hours.
The degree can be completed in two years by taking nine credits per semester.
This is not an evening program. If you are unsure about whether your work schedule is compatible with the program, we encourage you to contact us.
The M.S. in psychological research does not provide training in clinical psychology techniques. Students interested in a clinical program should consider Brooklyn College’s M.A. in mental health counseling.
Our master’s program involves hands-on and intensive faculty-mentored research experiences culminating in a master’s thesis. Accepted students will be paired with a faculty mentor and work with faculty in completing psychological research each semester. Our faculty have a diverse range of research interests across many domains within psychological science, so it is possible for students to find mentors who work with human and non-human animals on basic and/or applied research questions. We encourage prospective students to identify faculty mentors with shared research interests by visiting their websites and contacting them via email.
Individual laboratories in the department focus on topics such as creativity and cognition in the arts, computational cognition, prejudice and discrimination, cognition in invertebrates (e.g., octopus), the role of inequality in cognitive development, the neurobiological bases of psychopathic behavior, metamemory (knowledge of one’s own memory), the development of children and adolescents’ career goals, moral decision-making, and the neurobehavioral and computational mechanisms of associative learning and causality perception.
All labs are well equipped, and many have attracted funding from NSF, NIH, NASA, DARPA, and other organizations. Several faculty members have appointments and working collaborations with research labs in city hospitals and medical schools with access to technologies such as fMRI.
Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members in Psychology offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the psychological research M.S. program access to internships at a variety of companies. Brooklyn College alumni have found employment with many organizations, including:
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