Master of General Psychology, Graduate Program, RWU

About the Master of Science in General Psychology

A one-year, full-time, 30 credit-hour program, the Master of Science in General Psychology is designed for students who wish to obtain additional research experience to strengthen and/or focus their applications to PhD programs in Psychology. In addition to pertinent coursework, students work closely with a faculty mentor on research activities and on a required thesis project. Students are matched with faculty members based on interests and expertise.

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Program Level Details

Details

Details

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Format

Summer - Online

Fall/Spring - On Campus

Schedule

Summer admission

Credits Required

Time Commitment

One year, full-time

Cost

2026-2027 Academic Year
$1,176 per credit

Fees

2026-2027 Academic Year
$490 per semester

Ways to Save

Scholarships Available

Apply By

Summer: March 1 (Regular Deadline), April 1 (Final Deadline)

Upcoming Events

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Program Structure
Cost
Important Dates

Master of Science in General Psychology

Summer (2 courses / 6 credits)

PSYCH 502 Quantitative Methods (Summer)
PSYCH 534 Advanced Developmental Psychology (Summer)

Fall (4 courses / 12 credits)

PSYCH 500 Methods and Evaluation (Fall)
PSYCH 521 Adult Psychopathology (Fall)
*Elective (Chosen from list below)
PSYCH 597 Thesis (Fall)

Spring (4 courses / 12 credits)

PSYCH 505 Introduction to Clinical Assessment (Spring)
PSYCH 550 Professional Ethics in Psychology (Spring)
PSYCH 579 SpTp: Working with Diverse Populations (Spring)
PSYCH 597 Thesis (Spring)

Electives:

PSYCH 518 Trauma
PSYCH 522 Biological Perspectives in Mental Health
PSYCH 529 Health Psychology Interventions
PSYCH 531 Family Violence
PSYCH 543 Substance Abuse Counseling

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Summer (2 courses / 6 credits)

PSYCH 502 Quantitative Methods (Summer)
PSYCH 534 Advanced Developmental Psychology (Summer)

Fall (4 courses / 12 credits)

PSYCH 500 Methods and Evaluation (Fall)
PSYCH 521 Adult Psychopathology (Fall)
*Elective (Chosen from list below)
PSYCH 597 Thesis (Fall)

Spring (4 courses / 12 credits)

PSYCH 505 Introduction to Clinical Assessment (Spring)
PSYCH 550 Professional Ethics in Psychology (Spring)
PSYCH 579 SpTp: Working with Diverse Populations (Spring)
PSYCH 597 Thesis (Spring)

Electives:

PSYCH 518 Trauma
PSYCH 522 Biological Perspectives in Mental Health
PSYCH 529 Health Psychology Interventions
PSYCH 531 Family Violence
PSYCH 543 Substance Abuse Counseling

Learning Outcomes

Students will apply advanced knowledge and training to the conceptualization of research appropriate for their area of interest.

Students will design and execute a research project that represents a novel contribution to their area of interest within the discipline of Psychology, and that employs appropriate methodologies and analysis techniques.

Students will communicate research findings through conference presentations and/or publications.

Application Requirements

Application Process

To be considered for admission to the M.S. General Psychology program, applicants must hold an earned Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

Each application will be reviewed using a portfolio approach - all parts of the application will be considered, inclusive of grades and trend of grades, letters of recommendation, the letter of intent, and other information that candidates for admission may wish to submit.

How to Apply Apply Now

Application Materials

1. Completed application form and $55 application fee
An application fee is not required for RWU students.

2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
The Office of Graduate Admission will obtain transcripts on behalf of RWU students.

3. Letter of Intent (no more than two double-spaced pages) describing your interest in M.S. General Psychology Graduate Program, career goals and how you can positively contribute to the graduate program at Roger Williams University

4. Three letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school. All three letters should come from academic sources (professors) who can speak to your performance in the classroom. One letter may come from an internship supervisor or employer, if appropriate. You should select recommenders who know you well, can speak about your character and work ethic, and can attest to your ability to handle graduate level coursework.

5. Academic Writing Sample submitted that has not been revised/edited by a professor/mentor.

Uploading Materials

Once an applicant has submitted the application form they will have access to a portal to upload all supplemental materials (transcript copies, letter of intent, portfolio, resume, etc.)

Alternatively, documents can be submitted via email to gradadmit@rwu.edu.

Any official documents that must be mailed (i.e. transcripts) should be sent directly to:
Office of Graduate Admission
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809

Additional Requirements and Testing

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is not required for admission. Applicants with an overall GPA below 3.0 are strongly encouraged to take either the GRE or MAT.

International Applicants

International applicants are required to submit an external transcript evaluation. If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results is also required to apply to graduate programs.

International applicants should read additional requirements for non-U.S. residents using the link below.

Additional Requirements for International Students Accepted International Student Information

A Buckeye Becomes a Hawk: Going Small for Grad School

Lyndsey Sheldon, RWU Class of 2023

Forensic Mental Health Counseling (M.A.)

Lyndsey Sheldon grew up in a small town in Ohio where everybody knew everybody. After undergraduate life as a Buckeye, she knew it was time to find a tight-knit experience for grad school. “When I knew it was time to get my masters and really buckle down, I knew a small community with interactive professors is what I needed,” she said.

Read full story

Career Paths & Continuing Education

Graduates of the program typically seek admission into PhD programs in Psychology or seek employment as research assistants in various settings to gain more research experience and/or exposure.

RWU has a long history of offering graduate programs in Clinical Psychology and Forensic and Legal Psychology. In 2025, we expanded our offerings with the MS in General Psychology to encompass all areas of Psychology represented in our department. This program reflects our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive graduate education in the field. Our alumni have gone on to enroll in or complete doctoral degrees (PhD) at various institutions.

Doctoral Programs

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (Clinical Forensic)
Carleton University (Canada, General)
Suffolk University (Applied Developmental)
University of Nevada, Reno (Legal)
Middlesex University (UK, Forensic)
East Tennessee State University (Clinical)
Montclair State University (Clinical)
University of Wyoming, Laramie (Experimental)
Florida International University (Experimental)
Pacific University (Clinical)
Portland State University (Criminology)
University of Rhode Island (Clinical, Education, Behavioral Science)
John Jay College of Criminology (Clinical)
University of New Hampshire (Sociology)

Employers of our Graduates

University of Rhode Island
University of North Dakota
Tufts University
Wisconsin Department of Health
Massachusetts General Hospital
Public Safety Canada
Private Practice
Roger Williams University
Prairie View A&M University
Hartford Hospital
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Faculty Experts in General Psychology (M.S.)

Faculty in the Psychology Department represent various areas in the field, including Social, Developmental, Clinical, Health, Experimental, Legal, and Forensic Psychology, as well as Neuroscience. Please refer to our Faculty page for more information about specific faculty research interests.

Events

Campus Visit Request

Interested in meeting us in person and touring our beautiful campus? Fill out our campus visit request form to set up a time to visit Bristol, RI!

Virtual Information Sessions

Short on time or just want to learn more about us from the comfort of your home, school, or office? Join us for a Virtual Information Session.

Most current information on Virtual Information Sessions.

Contact Us

Alejandro Leguízamo, PhD

Address CAS 106

Emailaleguizamo@rwu.edu

Phone401-254-3834

General Psychology (M.S.)

Overview