Take a data-driven approach to understanding human behavior and prepare for careers in research or advanced study in psychology.
Locations
- Statesboro Campus (In Person)
Why Earn a Master’s in Experimental Psychology at Georgia Southern?
- Collaborate with experienced faculty in a research-focused program.
- High alumni admission rate to doctoral programs.
- Prepare to be a college instructor with an optional teaching emphasis.
- Build in-demand analytical skills for diverse career paths.
- 36 credit hours to completion.
Build your knowledge of core psychology concepts while developing advanced skills in research with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology with a concentration in Experimental Psychology from Georgia Southern University. The program combines rigorous coursework with robust student-faculty collaboration in psychological research to equip you with a thorough understanding of current theories and the ability to enhance the field through original investigations. Through a required thesis, you’ll design and undertake your own study, contributing to the discipline and mastering the practical skills needed for a career observing human behavior and gathering data.
If you plan to continue your studies after your master’s, our research focus gives you an edge: approximately 75% of graduates pursuing experimental and applied psychology doctoral programs are accepted. You’ll also find opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills right away in research- and data-centered positions in education, industry, government and the nonprofit sector.
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Experimental Psychology?
Graduating with a broad understanding of psychology and a nuanced perspective of conducting research, you’ll be ready to embark on a number of career paths. Many alumni continue on to doctoral studies, progressing into roles in clinical psychology or academia. You’ll also be equipped for positions in research, product development, data analytics, marketing and other areas that draw on your analytical abilities and knowledge of human behavior.
Where our graduates work:
- Education
- Government
- Health care
- Marketing
- Media
- Product development
- Research
- Technology
- User experience development
What our graduates do:
- Data analyst
- Human factors engineer
- Instructor at the college level
- Medical researcher
- Neuroscience researcher
- Product user researcher
What You’ll Learn
To develop your analytical skills, you’ll study statistics and research design, learning the techniques and frameworks that support careful empirical investigation in psychology. You’ll also apply them in a major faculty-mentored research project culminating in a written thesis and oral defense.
At the same time, you’ll build a deep understanding of psychology’s foundational areas, including physiological, cognitive, social and developmental, through core coursework infused with an experimental focus.
See the CurriculumBuild Your Experience
Develop your professional skills in research and teaching, laying the groundwork for career paths in academia and beyond.
Thesis Research
Apply and hone your skills in psychological research. You’ll formulate a unique question, undertake an empirical investigation and analyze your data for insights that can contribute to the field.
Teaching Emphasis
Prepare to serve as a teaching assistant and get a head start on an instructional career at the college or university level. You’ll take a course in teaching psychology while receiving mentorship from seasoned professors.
Want to Learn More?
Explore essential information about our M.S. in Psychology, Experimental Psychology program, including application details, accreditation status, and licensing disclosures. Gain insight into the program’s credibility and requirements to help you start your journey toward success with the knowledge you need.
The M.S. in Psychology, Experimental Psychology program is open to those with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). The average undergraduate GPA of successful applicants was 3.79 for the Fall 2024 class and 3.60 for the Fall 2023 class.
You must have taken Introduction to Psychology, a statistics course, a course in psychology research methods and two additional courses in psychology.
We strongly encourage students to obtain research experience as an undergraduate.
To apply, please submit:
- An online application. (There is a $50 nonrefundable application fee.)
- A personal statement that includes:
- Your reasons for applying for graduate study at Georgia Southern University.
- A description of your research interests and your career goals.
- A list of your academic achievements, nonacademic achievements and relevant work experience.
- A self-evaluation of your maturity level and character.
- A description of three psychology faculty whose research interests match your own.
[The following Statesboro Campus faculty are accepting a new student to mentor for Fall 2025:
- Developmental: Ty Boyer, Nicolette Rickert
- Social and Personality: Amy Hackney, Karen Naufel, Mike Nielsen
- Decision Making and Behavioral Economics: Jon Friedel
- Cognitive Psychology: Larry Locker
- Clinical Psychology: Lindsey Stone, Thresa Yancey
The following faculty with research labs on the Armstrong Campus are accepting a new student to mentor for Fall 2025:
- Clinical: Wendy Wolfe
- Experimental Psychology: Josh Williams
- Neuropsychology/Developmental psychobiology: Josh Herrington]
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak about your undergraduate academic performance, potential for graduate study, and maturity level and character. At least one letter must be from a former professor or faculty research supervisor.
- Transcripts from your undergraduate degree-granting institutions, as well as transcripts for any graduate-level coursework. Copies can be uploaded with your application; official copies sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions will be required for admitted students.
- Official GRE scores. Minimum Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores of 147 on the Verbal section and 146 on the Quantitative section for applicants who took the exam after July 31, 2011. NOTE: The GRE will be OPTIONAL for applicants applying for Fall 2025 admission. You may still provide GRE scores, but you are not required to.
- (Optional) A curriculum vitae (CV) of your academic and professional achievements.
- (Optional) A writing sample of prior work to showcase your writing skills, tone and style. The sample should be no longer than three double-spaced pages. Consider submitting an excerpt or passage from a research paper or writing assignment for class, a manuscript or other relevant works.
International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES-accredited evaluation service. The evaluation must be course-by-course and include a GPA.
Application Deadlines
All students admitted to the program begin in the fall semester.
The priority application deadline is Feb. 5, and we will begin reviewing completed applications on a rolling basis starting on this date.
The final deadline is April 1.
Your application and all required documents must be received by the deadline.
Contact Information:
Dr. Amy Hackney
Graduate Program Coordinator
ahackney@georgiasouthern.edu
912-478-5749
Related Programs
Take the Next Step
Deepen your research skills and expand your knowledge for a career in psychology through master’s-level studies at Georgia Southern.
Contact Us
Department of Psychology
Statesboro Campus:
Brannen Hall, 1010
P. O. Box 8041
Statesboro, GA 30460-8041
Phone: 912-478-5539
Fax: 912-478-0751
Email: tboyer@georgiasouthern.edu