Master's Degree in 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.

• Congratulations to Kina Montenegro for publishing research in the journal, Environment and Behavior, that she started at CWU entitled, An animal’s environment influences perceptions of docility and vigor but not aesthetic appeal: A constructive replication.  Advanced online publication (Oct, 2019) at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916519879774
• Congratulations to Anna Krzemieniecki for publishing her thesis research, Stigmatization of posttraumatic stress disorder is altered by PTSD knowledge and the precipitating trauma of the sufferer, in the Journal of Mental Health.  Advanced online publication (Oct, 2019) at https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2019.1677870
• Danielle Peecher (2018) published a review article in Biology of Reproduction based, in part, on issues raised in her thesis work: Rodent models of mental illness in polycystic ovary syndrome: The potential role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation and lessons for behavioral researchers.
• Janine Swiney (2017) published her thesis research in the International Journal of Indian Psychology entitled "A cultural comparison of the facial inference process."
• Karlie Hill published "Pedagogical considerations for effectively teaching qualitative research in an online environment" in the Journal of Effective Teaching in 2016.
• 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.
• In memoriam of George Pringle whose thesis "Patterns and perceptions of dextromethorphan use in adult members of an online dextromethorphan community" was published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs in 2015 with co-authors Dr. Kara Gabriel and Michael McDonald (2014). 
• Congratulations to Colleen Falconer (2014) for receiving a Masters Research Fellowship from the School of Graduate Studies.
• Congratulations to Whitney Stefani (2011) for her publication "Sex, power, and women: Female viewers'  perceptions of popular music video themes" in SOJ Psychology. 
• Congratulations to Katie Weight-Taylor for her publication "School lunch before and after implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act" in the Journal of Child Nutrition & Management in 2014.
• Congratulations to Jesse James for his publication "Student interpreters show encoding and recall differences for information in English and American Sign Language" in Translation & Interpreting.
• Congratulations to Brook Rutledge for her publication, "Attitudes on animal research predict acceptance of genetic modification technologies by university undergraduates" in Society & Animals in 2012.

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