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Master of Arts in Cognitive and Social ProcessesCredit hours: 43
Length: two years
Thesis: optional
In our master of arts in Cognitive and Social Processes program, you will receive extensive training in social and cognitive psychology, research methods, and statistics. We have a small program- we admit no more than eight students each year- that allows us to give you individual attention. We prepare program graduates to pursue doctorates in cognitive or social psychology (or a related area) or to obtain jobs as researchers, consultants, or professionals in business or industrial settings.
Assistantships
Most of our students are funded by an assistantship. A graduate assistantship provides partial tuition remission (a reduction in fees so that you are responsible for certain fees only, currently about $900 per semester) and a stipend of $7,956 per year. In return, you work 20 hours per week assisting faculty with teaching, research, and/or administrative duties.
Research
Our graduate faculty welcome the opportunity to do research with students, and we recommend that all students get involved in research projects. Often our graduate assistants are assigned to work on faculty research projects. For information about faculty research interests, see the faculty profiles and list of faculty research interests.
Thesis
Completing a thesis is optional in our program. Should you do one? Read about the purpose of a thesis, written by Bernard E. Whitley Jr., professor of psychology at Ball State since 1984.
Cognitive/Social Course requirements: 30 credit hours (including electives)
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PSYSC 616 - Perception and Cognition.
Analysis of research and theories of perception, cognition, and language. Covers information processing, attention, verbal learning and memory, problem solving, concept formation, and psycholinguistics. Prerequisite: PSYSC 284 or 584.
PSYSC 617 - Memory Processes and Applications.
Explores models of human memory processes, as well as biological, environmental, and social factors affecting memory. Prerequisite: PSYSC 616.
PSYSC 618 - Thinking.
Examines psychological theories, models, research, and applications of problem solving, decision making, reasoning, and other kinds of intelligent human cognitive processing. Prerequisite: PSYSC 616.
PSYSC 623 - Theories of Personality.
Review and comparison of theories of the structure, development, dynamics, and assessment of normal personality, with emphasis on empirical data presented by proponents of various theoretical positions. Prerequisite recommended: PSYSC 241.
SOPSY 610 - Social Psychology.
Introduction to theories, findings, and methodology of social psychology.
SOPSY 615 - Social Cognition.
Includes intensive examination of the current literature and theory of social psychology; gives particular attention to theories of social cognition and perception. Prerequisite: SOPSY 610.
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One of the following:
PSYSC 619 - Psychology of Language.
A review of research on the psychological processes involved in the comprehension and production of language. Topics include sentence and discourse processing, pragmatics, conversation structure, representation and meaning, language and thought, and language acquisition. Open only to graduate students in psychological science, English, communication studies, or speech pathology and audiology.
SOPSY 620 - Group Dynamics.
Research on and theory of behavior in small groups, effects on the individual of membership and participation in small and large groups, interaction of group structure and personality, and the effects of an individual on the group. Prerequisite: SOPSY 610.
SOPSY 640 - Social Psychology of Attitudes.
Examines theoretical and assessment perspectives pertaining to the psychological concept of attitudes. Prerequisite: SOPSY 610.
SOPSY 660 - Contemporary Social Psychology.
Selected areas of current interest in social psychology. Deals with contemporary research and publications from both foreign and American sources. Prerequisite: SOPSY 610.
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Psychology Core Requirements: 13 credit hours
PSYSC 680 - Research Methods in Psychology.
Overview of research methods in psychology, including experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, single-case, and program evaluation techniques. Prerequisite: PSYSC 241, 284 or their equivalents; permission of the instructor.
PSYSC 681 - Orientation to Professional Psychology.
Introduces research and professional work conducted in psychology. Psychological science faculty discuss issues such as educational programs, professional training, clinical practice, methodology, and development of research ideas.
PSYSC 691 - Systems of Psychology.
The major concepts of various schools of psychological thought and contemporary theoretical systems as they have evolved from their historical origins.
PSYSC 696 - Seminar on Diversity.
Introduces the application of diversity perspectives to psychological research and practice. Race, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, disability, gender, sexual identity, age, and religious beliefs will be considered. Emphasizes why all psychological subdisciplines need to understand diversity issues. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
EDPSY 642 - Intermediate Statistics.
An extension of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics through basic statistical research designs, including analysis of variance and covariance. Prerequisite: PSYSC 241 or EDPSY 641 or a proficiency test administered within the department.
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