Psychology, MA
Vision Statement
The Master of Arts in psychology is designed to give students a broad background in the field of psychology plus a sufficient degree of specialization to prepare them for either careers or further graduate training.
Program Contact Information
unopsycgrad@unomaha.edu
402.554.2581
Program Website
Admissions
General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria
Program-Specific Requirements
Application Deadlines (Fall 2025)
- Fall: January 10
Other Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
- A minimum of 15 undergraduate semester hours (or the equivalent) of psychology courses including: basic statistics and an upper level laboratory course, independent research, or equivalent, emphasizing the experimental method, data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing are required.
- Entrance Exam: Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- GRE scores are OPTIONAL for those applying to the Psychology MA Program. All applications will be reviewed whether or not GRE scores are included.
- English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.
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Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
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- Statement of Purpose
- Writing Sample (preferred APA style)
- Resume
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from professors and individuals who can speak to applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program are required.
Degree Requirements
Student must select an area of concentration.
Required Course
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PSYC 8000 | THE PROFESSION OF PSYCHOLOGY | 0 |
Total number of required credits is determined by the area of concentration completed.
Other Requirements Needed for a Student to Complete the Program
Obtaining a score of at least 600 on the Advanced Psychology Test of the GRE. (NOTE: not required for the neuroscience & behavior, developmental, cognitive areas of concentration).
Total Credit Hours: 30-37
Concentrations
Cognitive Concentration (Thesis Option 30 hours)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Cognitive Concentration Proseminar Courses | ||
PSYC 9010 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I | 3 |
PSYC 9020 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II | 3 |
PSYC 9070 | PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 9230 | PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | 3 |
PSYC 9560 | PROSEMINAR: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
Advanced Cognitive Courses | ||
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
PSYCHOLOGY OF LANGUAGE | ||
PROSEMINAR LEARNING | ||
MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS | ||
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | ||
TOPICAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY 1 | ||
PSYC 8990 | THESIS | 6 |
Total Credits | 30 |
- 1
PSYC 9910: (Cognitive topic)
Exit Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination
- Thesis
- All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the Supervisory Committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms and final approval of a thesis and final submission of the thesis.
Developmental Concentration (31-37 hours)
Plan A (Thesis Option 31 hours)
Plan A is recommended for students who plan to pursue a PhD and/or who wish to complete an independent research project (the thesis).
This plan requires completion of a minimum of 31 credit hours, as listed below:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PSYC 9010 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I | 3 |
PSYC 9020 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II | 3 |
PSYC 9560 | PROSEMINAR: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 9650 | RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 9960 | RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS 1 | 1 |
Developmental Concentration Courses | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2 | ||
PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2 | ||
PROSEMINAR: PERSONALITY | ||
PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
Advanced Developmental Concentration Seminars | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
RESEARCH METHODS IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | ||
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
PSYC 8990 | THESIS | 6 |
Total Credits | 31 |
- 1
PSYC 9960: (1-6 credit hours)
- 2
Plan B (Non-Thesis Option 37 hours)
Plan B is recommended for students who plan to work in an applied setting involving children and/or families and who do not plan to pursue a PhD. This plan requires completion of a minimum of 37 credit hours. In addition to required course work, students choose 3 elective courses (within or outside the Department of Psychology).
Instead of a thesis, students complete two applied practica (6 credit hours).
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PSYC 9560 | PROSEMINAR: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 9650 | RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 9960 | RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS 1 | 1 |
Statistics Course | ||
PSYC 9010 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I | 3 |
or PSYC 9020 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II | |
Developmental Concentration Proseminars | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
PROSEMINAR: PERSONALITY | ||
PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
Advanced Developmental Concentration Seminars | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
RESEARCH METHODS IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | ||
PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
Developmental Concentration Electives | ||
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
FAMILY ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT | ||
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TESTING | ||
PSYCHOLOGY OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN | ||
PSYCHOMETRIC THEORY | ||
SEMINAR IN PROGRAM EVALUATION | ||
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS | ||
Additional Course | ||
Select an additional course outside the Department of Psychology (e.g., SOWK, SOC, SPED, GERO, CJUS, COUN, and PA). | ||
PSYC 8980 | PRACTICUM IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2 | 6 |
Total Credits | 37 |
Exit Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination
- Thesis
- All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the Supervisory Committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms and final approval of a thesis and final submission of the thesis.
Industrial Organizational Concentration (Thesis Option 36 hours)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Industrial Organizational Concentration Proseminar Courses | ||
PSYC 9010 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I | 3 |
PSYC 9020 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II | 3 |
PSYC 9440 | PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
Proseminar Required Course | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
PROSEMINAR LEARNING | ||
PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
PROSEMINAR: EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY | ||
Breadth Requirement | ||
Select one additional course from list provided by area. | 3 | |
Industrial Organizational Core Course | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MOTIVATION & MORALE | ||
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT | ||
LEADERSHIP THEORIES AND RESEARCH | ||
CRITERION DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL | ||
PERSONNEL SELECTION | ||
GROUPS AND TEAMS | ||
Additional Required Industrial Organizational Courses | ||
PSYC 8636 | ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 8646 | PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 9090 | PSYCHOMETRIC THEORY | 3 |
PSYC 9650 | RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
PSYC 8990 | THESIS | 6 |
Total Credits | 36 |
Students who were undergraduate students at UNO cannot take a dual-listed course at the graduate level if they have already taken the course at the undergraduate level.
Exit Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination
- Thesis
- All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the Supervisory Committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms and final approval of a thesis and final submission of the thesis.
Neuroscience and Behavior Concentration (Thesis Option 30 hours)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Neuroscience and Behavior Courses | ||
PSYC 9010 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS I | 3 |
PSYC 9020 | PROSEMINAR: STATISTICAL METHODS II | 3 |
Group I Proseminar | 3 | |
PROSEMINAR LEARNING | ||
PROSEMINAR: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
PROSEMINAR: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
PROSEMINAR: EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY | ||
Group II Proseminar | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
PROSEMINAR: PERSONALITY | ||
PROSEMINAR: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
PROSEMINAR: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
Breadth Requirement | ||
Breadth requirement in Psychology. From a list of approved courses provided by the area. | 3 | |
Neuroscience and Behavior Field-related Electives | ||
To be determined in consultation with your graduate advisor, approved GBCA (UNMC) allowed, may be PSYC, BIOL, or NEUR 8-- or 9-- courses EXCEPT the following: | 3 | |
THESIS | ||
RESEARCH OTHER THAN THESIS | ||
Neuroscience and Behavior Electives | ||
To be determined in consultation with your graduate advisor; approved GBCA (UNMC) allowed, may be PSYC, BIOL, or NEUR 8-- or 9--level courses EXCEPT the following: | 6 | |
PSYC 8990 | THESIS | 6 |
Total Credits | 30 |
Exit Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination - at least one of the following
- Submission of a national funding agency proposal
- Manuscript submitted to peer-reviewed journal
- Co-author of a poster or presentation at a national conference or first author at a regional conference
- Thesis
- All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the Supervisory Committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms and final approval of a thesis and final submission of the thesis.
- Oral and written thesis defense; public presentation of thesis
Special Performance Quality Rule
If at any time a grade of "C", (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in graduate courses become a matter of record, a graduate student in the Department of Psychology will be placed on probation. An unexcused grade of "W" in a proseminar course will be considered equivalent to a grade of "C" for purposes of this policy. An excused "W" must be approved by the chair of the department of psychology. Students placed on this probation will forfeit any departmental graduate assistantship they may have and any approved programs of study will be subject to re-evaluation and change. Before registering for additional courses, a student placed on probation must, with the assistance and approval of his/her advisor, submit a plan for remediation of his/her academic problems, and have that plan approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The Graduate Program Committee will review and, if appropriate, modify the plan. Further, any enrollment in graduate courses must be approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The student will remain on probation until the Graduate Program Committee approves termination of probation status. If a student earns a second "C", the student will be dismissed from the program and the GPC will work to come up with a plan, and evaluate if it is possible for the student to return to the program at some point.