Program Description and Objective

The General Experimental program in psychology is a 51-quarter unit program designed to provide a broad background in psychology suitable for employment requiring a Master of Arts degree. The General Experimental program is especially designed to improve the candidacy of students who wish to enter doctoral programs in any academic area of psychology. In the past 10 years, over two-thirds of students awarded an M.A. degree from the General Experimental program were subsequently admitted to doctoral programs in the United States and Canada. We pride ourselves on being a program that emphasizes individual educational mentoring. Between 10 and 15 students are enrolled each year. All General Experimental M.A. students conduct original research as a thesis project. Research productivity of General Experimental students and faculty ranks favorably when compared to other M.A. programs across the country.

Award-Winning Faculty

You'll be taught by the best-of-the-best at Cal State, San Bernardino. The General Experimental Program in psychology at CSUSB has captured more Outstanding Professor and Outstanding Student awards than any other academic unit at the university. Seven faculty have been honored with the University's Outstanding Professor Award, a campus-wide distinction that is part of a California State University state-wide recognition program. The GE professors, and the year they earned the Outstanding Professor Award, are Fred Newton (1982), Diane Halpern (1985), Bob Cramer (1990), Gloria Cowan (1992), David Riefer (2000), Sanders McDougall (2001), and, continuing this remarkable tradition, our newest recipient, Yuchin Chien (2008).

General Experimental Faculty

Application and Admission

Program Course Requirements

General Experimental Psychology M.A. Faculty

From left to right: Joanna Worthley, David Riefer, Sanders McDougall, Robert Cramer, Hideya Koshino, Jodie Ullman, Luis Rivera, Jason Reimer, Kristy Dean, Michael Lewin, Geraldine Stahly, Charles Hoffman, Gloria Cowan, John Clapper, Jean Peacock, Allen Butt, Cynthia Crawford, Robert Ricco, Yuchin Chien. Not pictured: James Kaufman and Fred Newton.

Application and Admission

A student need not have taken an undergraduate major in psychology to be admitted to the program. However, sufficient preparation in the basic science of psychology is expected, including Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Statistics and Experimental Psychology. Some upper-division work in core courses, such as those taught in the program, is recommended but not required.

The deadline for fall admission is April 1st . A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. GRE's are NOT required for application, but are required in order to advance to candidacy in the second year of the program. An applicant may be considered for spring quarter admission, provided there is room in the program. Application deadline for spring quarter is March 1st.

Applying for admission is a two step process:

Step One: University Application

Step Two: Psychology Department Application

All information and forms must be received by Admissions and the Psychology Department by the appropriate deadlines to be guaranteed consideration for current academic year admission. It is your responsibility to be sure all information is received. All applicants whose files are complete by the appropriate dates will be reviewed and considered for admission to classified status. Late applicants may be considered if there are openings and will be notified by letter as to their acceptance or non-acceptance into their respective programs.

STEP ONE: University Application:

Send the following materials to:

1.) The completed University Application for Graduate Admission with your check attached.
You may request an application by calling 909-537-5188 or you can apply online (Click here to apply).

2.) One official copy of transcripts from each college and university you have attended, regardless of whether you received a degree.

Please note that you do not have to request CSUSB transcripts if you are a current student or graduate of CSUSB.

Please allow enough time (at least one month) for your college transcripts to be sent to the University. The University admissions office must evaluate transcripts of all colleges attended before they can send a Graduate Credit Summary to the Psychology Department. The Psychology Department cannot review your file without this summary.

If you are an unclassified graduate student currently enrolled at CSUSB, you must file a change of major form (at least one month prior to our deadline) at the admissions and records office so that an updated credit summary will be forwarded to the Psychology Department.

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STEP TWO: Psychology Department Application:

Send the following Materials to:

1.) A copy of transcripts from each college and university you have attended, regardless of whether you received a degree. These can be unofficial copies.

2.) A copy of your university application for graduate admission. 
When applying online, please print and send a copy of the receipt issued at the end of the online application process.

3.) Statement of Purpose

1-2 page typewritten description of a) the career and specific professional activities you wish to pursue following receipt of the Master's Degree, b) the type of training you hope to receive in the MAGE program, c) the research area(s) you are most interested in, and d) your qualifications for graduate study (e.g., academic accomplishments, research experience, practical or applied experience).

4.) Psychology Department Information Form (enclosed in application packet).

5.) Three (3) letters of recommendation (enclosed in application packet).

Two should come from instructors who know the quality of your academic work. These letters should be from people who can make relevant comments on your likely success in a graduate Psychology program.

Letters of recommendation should be sent directly from the writer (or placement file) to the Psychology Department; or included with the application in a sealed envelop that has the recommender's signature over the seal.

Please feel free to call or email any of the General Experimental faculty listed above for more information about specific areas of interest to you. To discuss the program and its relevance to your career goals, please contact the program director, Dr. Robert Ricco.

Program Course Requirements (50-51 units)

1. PSYC 611 Advanced Independent Study (2-5) for a total of (5 units)

2. PSYC 640 Advanced Methods of Psychological Research (4 units)

3. PSYC 641 Analysis of Variance (5 units)

4. PSYC 642 Regression and Nonparametric Statistics (4 units)

5. PSYC 650 Advanced Cognitive Psychology (4 units)

6. PSYC 652 Advanced Learning and Motivation (4 units)

7. PSYC 654 Advanced Life-Span Developmental Psychology (4 units)

8. PSYC 656 Advanced Biological Psychology (4 units)

9. PSYC 658 Advanced Personality and Social Psychology (4 units)

10. PSYC 699 Thesis (5 units)

11. Eight (8) units of PSYC 500 - or - 600 -level courses, excluding PSYC 595, 611, 612 and 689.