Psychology

Experimental Psychology

The Master's in Experimental Psychology (MS EXP PSY) prepares students for research positions in industry and other institutions as well as for doctoral programs. The program provides:

• Intensive student-initiated research training in a variety of areas of experimental psychology.
• Statistical and methodological knowledge required to examine basic or applied issues and to function as a professional research psychologist.
• An appreciation of the scientific basis of various fields of psychology.
• One-on-one faculty mentoring of student research.

The program is designed so that students can complete the bulk of their required course work and, in conjunction with their faculty mentor, prepare a thesis proposal during their first year. Students can then complete their remaining course credits and a data-based thesis during their second year.

Check out information on our recent graduate students and their thesis topics.

Where are our graduates now?

We are proud of the accomplishments of some of our recent students.

• Kyle Klaassen - (Class of 2021) Clinical and Forensic Psychologist - Whitmer and Associates
• Monica Sewell – (Class of 2021) Industrial Engineer - Facebook
• Mikayla Kimery – (Class of 2021) Fidelity National Title of Washington, Gig Harbor
• Rose Mastico – (Class of 2020) - Lead Researcher, Expper Technologies
• Viktoriya Broyan -(Class of 2019) Operations Manager and Research Project Manager at Ideal Balance, Kennewick, WA
• Rebecca Rose – (Class of 2019) Data Consultant - Institutional Effectiveness Research at Central Washington University
• Matthew Christiansen (Class of 2018) - Client Services Analyst at NORC at the University of Chicago
• Erik Ekberg (Class of 2018) - Human-centered software engineer at Good Dog

Some of our recent students have gone onto doctoral programs:

• Patty Chirco - (Class of 2021) started PhD program at University of Bern in fall 2021
• Tasha Lightning - (Class of 2019) started a PhD program at University of Lyon in France in fall 2020
• Jonathan Ojeda - (Class of 2019) – started PhD program at Idaho State (Experimental Psychology) in fall 2019
• Michael Clark - (Class of 2018) started PhD program at UC Davis in fall 2018
• Elijah Bruner-Sedransk - (Class of 2018) – started PhD program at Claremont Graduate University in fall 2020
• Ben Richardson - (Class of 2016) – started PhD program at WSU in fall 2017 What do our graduates accomplish? Some of our graduates have published their research:

• Buchanan, T. M., Brown, A., Chirco, P., Purgason, A., & Klein, D. (2022). Messaging matters: The impact of advising micro-messages on student affect and behavior across diverse university campuses. NACADA Journal, 42, 45-61. https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-22-04
• Chirco, P. & Buchanan, T. M. (2022). Dark faces in white spaces: The effects of skin tone, race, ethnicity, and intergroup preferences on interpersonal judgments. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 22, 427-447. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12304
• Chirco, P., & Buchanan, T. M. (2021). The (un)making of a citizen: The role of skin tone in perceived immigrant status and support for hostile immigration policy. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 7, 378–391. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000283
• Gabriel, K. I., & Montenegro, C. (2021). An animal’s environment influences perceptions of docility and vigor but not aesthetic appeal: A constructive replication. Environment and Behavior, 53(3), 231-251. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916519879774
• Krzemieniecki, A., & Gabriel, K. I. (2021). Stigmatization of posttraumatic stress disorder is altered by PTSD knowledge and the precipitating trauma of the sufferer. Journal of Mental Health, 30(4), 447-453. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2019.1677870
• Peecher, D. L., Binder, A. K., & Gabriel, K. I. (2019). Rodent models of mental illness in PCOS: The potential role of HPA dysregulation and lessons for behavioral researchers. Biology of Reproduction, 100(3), 590-600. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy233
• Pringle, G., McDonald, M. P., & Gabriel, K. I. (2015). Patterns and perceptions of dextromethorphan use in adult members of an online dextromethorphan community. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47(4), 267-275. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2015.1071448

Some of our student obtain internal and external funding for their projects.

• Congratulations to Gina DeNoble (2015) and Danielle Peecher (2017) for receiving Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology Graduate Research Grants!
• Congratulations to Gina DeNoble (2015), Carolina (Kina) Montenegro (2016), and Danielle Peecher (2017) for receiving Masters Research Fellowships from the School of Graduate Studies.

Go to our "About" page to see our recent admissions and their thesis topics.