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Master's Program in Community Social Psychology

Admissions

This program is not accepting applications as of Spring 2023.

There is a Priority Application Deadline on March 15. Applicants who wish to meet the Priority Deadline should ensure that their applications, including external materials (e.g., letters of recommendation, etc.), are complete and ready for review by March 15. Review of applications by the program's Admissions Committee will commence on that date. Applicants who meet the Priority Deadline will have their application fee waived and receive priority consideration for scholarships or assistantships.

Applications can be submitted anytime after March 15 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all available spots are filled.

Students are encouraged to begin coursework in the fall semester because of the timing and sequence of required courses.

Admission Requirements

  1. To apply online, please go to the Graduate Admissions page.
  2. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A foreign credential evaluation is required for degrees earned outside of the U.S. (see link: CED Evaluations).
  3. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.000 or better. At the discretion of the Graduate Admissions Committee, students may be admitted with a grade point average below 3.000 if they have substantive work experience in the field.
  4. Academic background in psychology or a closely related field. We prefer to see at least 18 credits in psychology or a related field, including at least one course in research methods.
  5. Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a current or former professor. The second letter can be from another professor or from work experience related to community psychology.
  6. A personal statement. A 500-750 word personal statement explaining your interests in CSP and how you believe the degree will help you meet your career goals. Specifically, please include a description of your:
    1. Academic background,
    2. Career aspirations and how completing a degree in community social psychology supports your career goals,
    3. Relevant experience including undergraduate campus involvement, community-based projects, research involvement and/or relevant paid work experiences that reflect your interest in social justice issues.
  7. A 250-300 word essay in which you identify and discuss a current social issue of interest to you.
  8. A resume summarizing education and work experience.
Students for whom English is not a national language must also submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 570 for the paper test and for the new Internet-based test the aggregate minimum is 79. The minimum IELTS score is 65.

Learn more about the application process

Transfer Credit

Matriculated students in Community Social Psychology are allowed to transfer up to 12 credits of graduate course work completed with a grade of B or better taken in other departments at UMass Lowell or at other accredited universities, provided that such courses are within the content area of community social psychology and do not involve credit for field experience or professional work. Such transfer credit is subject to the approval of the Graduate Coordinator and the Registrar's Office.

Part-time Study & Non-degree Status

While the program in Community Social Psychology provides for full-time study, part-time students are encouraged to apply. Most courses are offered at late afternoon and evening hours to accommodate students who are employed. Students not pursuing an advanced degree or who wish to begin their graduate study without first applying for matriculated status are invited to register as non-degree students for specific graduate courses on a space-available basis.

If a non-degree student later applies for acceptance into the master’s program, his/her application will be treated equally with those of other new applicants, though performance in graduate courses taken on campus may be used as an additional admissions criterion. Non-degree students accepted as matriculated students may apply to transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credits earned at the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a grade of "B" or better toward the master’s degree (but students may be encouraged to formally apply to the program after completing 6 CSP credits).

BA / MA Program

Undergraduate psychology majors at the University of Massachusetts Lowell who have a GPA of 3.000 or better are invited to apply to the BA/MA program, allowing students to begin graduate level coursework in our Community Social Psychology (CSP) Master’s Program while still pursuing their bachelor's degree. If a student is formally matriculated into the Master's Program before earning their BA up to 9 credits of graduate (5000 level or higher) courses completed with a B grade or better may be used by the student to count toward both the Bachelor’s and Master's degrees.


Application to the BA/MA Program

Applications are typically submitted during the student's second semester of their junior year to allow adequate time for the student to take maximum advantage of the opportunity to take graduate courses and double-count these graduate credits. Although it is highly recommended that students submit their application during their junior year, application materials can actually be submitted at any time prior to graduation. Students who are interested in the BA/MA option are strongly advised to consult with the Graduate Coordinator about undergraduate course selection.

As additional advantages, students applying under the BA/MA option do not have to pay the standard application fee and do not have to take any of the standardized tests usually required of applicants.

The decision to accept a BA/MA applicant is based on 3 factors:

  1. A solid undergraduate record, with an overall GPA of 3.000 or better
  2. A strong letter of recommendation from UML faculty. Choose a professor who knows you well so that they can provide us with meaningful information.
  3. A personal statement that clearly describes the student's interest in our Community Social Psychology program and how it fits with the students educational and professional goals.

Additional Information from Graduate Admissions for BA/MA Students

  1. Students admitted to our BA/MA program are accepted on a conditional basis with the requirement that students receive their bachelor’s degree at the end of their senior year and graduate with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000. If students do not meet this requirement, their master’s degree candidacy will be voided and they would be required to re-apply via the traditional application process.
  2. BA/MA students must complete their bachelor’s degree first before graduate admissions can change their status to that of a fully matriculated graduate student.
  3. BA/MA students may defer their graduate matriculation for up to one year following their graduation for the bachelor’s degree. A request for deferral must be made to the Graduate Admissions Office in writing. After one year of deferral, failure to register for graduate classes will invalidate their acceptance into the master’s program.

Additional information on the Bachelor's/Master's Program.

Graduate Adviser

Each newly matriculated student in the program will be assigned to an adviser from among the faculty of the graduate program. The student will meet with his/her adviser on a regular basis throughout the years of study to discuss course selections, planning for practicum, and the development of the thesis or project (optional). Once a student selects a faculty supervisor for his/her thesis or project, this faculty member takes over as graduate academic adviser.

Degree Requirements: Credits

A total of 36 academic credits, at least 24 of which must be taken at the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a grade average of B or better, is required for the completion of the degree. The 36 credits for the Master’s degree are divided as follows:

Required Coursework (4 courses, 12 credits total)

 Social Justice Requirement (1 course, 3 credits total)

Required Practicum (2-semester course sequence and placement:6 credits )

(Must be taken over consecutive semester starting in the fall)

The remaining degree credits consist of elective courses. Students may select from over 15 elective courses in Community Social Psychology, most of which are offered at least once every two years. In their choice of electives, students have the option of completing a Master's Project or Thesis (see below).

Total must equal 36 credits.

Thesis and Project Options

To earn the 36 credits needed for the Master's degree, all matriculated students in Community Social Psychology have the option, in consultation with and with the consent of a faculty advisor, of completing either a Thesis or a Project. Both these options represent an integrative piece of significant independent scholarship. The Thesis will be larger in scope, more formal, and more rigorous than the Project, and it must involve a well-developed and systematically conducted research study. A brief summary is provided here:

Thesis

  • Be completed over the course of two semesters (usually consecutive), counting for 6 credits toward the degree
  • Involve a Thesis Committee of three faculty, chaired by a Psychology Faculty member and including at least one other Psychology faculty member.
  • Be written in accordance with University guidelines
  • Be defended by the student in front of the Thesis Committee at a public meeting.

The Thesis will always be a piece of quantitative and/or qualitative research, involving a review of literature, a clear statement of a research question, the design of an appropriate method for collecting data, and the analysis of results as the basis for drawing conclusions. 

Project

  • Typically be completed over the course of one academic semester, counting for 3 credits toward the degree
  • Be carried out under the supervision of a CSP faculty member
  • Be written in accordance with guidelines established by the graduate program
  • Involve an appropriate form of public presentation
  • The Project may also be a piece of research, though narrower in scope and more focused than a Thesis (e.g., a pilot study or a program evaluation). It may also involve the development, implementation and evaluation of an action-oriented intervention.

Although many students will choose to earn all their credits through coursework, a Thesis might be a good choice for students interested in enhancing their research skills and/or who are thinking of going on to a doctoral program and a possible career in university teaching and research. A project might be a good choice for students interested in enhancing their program design, intervention and evaluation skills, and it might also benefit those students pursuing careers in human services and community development.

Detailed information may be found on the department website and from the graduate program coordinator.

Visit the Community Social Psychology website for more information about the program.

Last Updated 12/13/2022