Experimental Psychology

The primary objective of the graduate programs in Experimental Psychology at CMU is to produce graduates who can demonstrate excellence in the broad arena of methodologies and general content so as to be prepared for doctoral training or research positions in the public or private sector.

The Experimental Program has the largest faculty membership of any graduate program within the Department of Psychology. The membership represents the complete spectrum of psychology including the areas of behavioral, physiological, developmental, social, clinical, cognitive, measurement, and statistics.

The program faculty members are committed to the traditional academic values of teaching and research. Many of the members have ongoing research programs with substantial publication and presentation records, and many have obtained prestigious research grants. In addition, several indices (e.g., teaching awards, student ratings, alumni comments) indicate that many of the program faculty are excellent teachers.

The faculty-student relationship is based on a mentoring system. All incoming students are required to be actively involved in research with a program faculty member throughout their program of study (typically two years). The mentoring system allows students to develop their research skills as well as develop close interpersonal and academic relationships with faculty.

Overall, the Experimental Program faculty are prepared for the opportunity and challenge of providing a quality education to our students. The second floor of Sloan Hall (where many of our faculty reside) is active with students a​nd faculty. A collegial atmosphere exists with leading-edge research is being conducted, discussed, and debated. This close student-faculty interaction has provided the foundation for the success of our program.

About Experimental Psychology

Master of Science in Experimental Psychology

The major goal of the Master of Science in Experimental Psychology is to prepare students for doctoral training in psychology. In addition to preparing students for doctoral programs, the mission of the program also includes preparing students for research positions in the private and public sector. The program has been very successful, with many of its graduates completing doctoral degrees in psychology. Some of these individuals have attained national and international reputations in scientific psychology. In addition, the program has produced graduates who have become successful in other endeavors including administration, health and legal professions, and business and industry.

The faculty-student relationship is based on a mentoring system. All incoming students are required to be actively involved in research with a program faculty member throughout their program of study (typically two years). The mentoring system allows students to develop their research skills as well as develop close interpersonal and academic relationships with faculty. Finally, students are provided feedback regarding their progress in the program via evaluations by program faculty at the end of each academic year. 

Accelerated 5-year B.S./M.S. in Experimental Psychology

Advanced undergraduate students majoring in psychology who want to obtain additional training in experimental psychology may want to consider an option by which they can obtain their Bachelor of Science with the General Major in Psychology and their Master of Science in Experimental Psychology in five years. The accelerated program requirements are identical to the General Major in Psychology and to the Master of Science in Experimental Psychology; and allows students to apply 12 credit hours of graduate coursework toward both their Bachelor of Science and Master's of Science degrees.

To be eligible for the accelerated program, students must meet all of the admissions requirements for regular admission to the Master's of Science in Experimental Psychology program and have completed at least 84 credit hours of undergraduate coursework, including all General Education, University Program, and competency requirements. It is expected that students will already be engaged in research with a faculty member prior to admission to the accelerated program.

The Accelerated Master of Science in Experimental Psychology program is a 12-month program. Students will complete the Bachelor of Science degree requirements and the first year of coursework for the Master of Science by the end of the summer term of their fourth year. Students will complete the coursework for the Master of Science and conduct and defend their thesis by the end of the summer term of their fifth year.

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Experimental Psychology

The objective of the Ph.D. program in Applied Experimental Psychology is to develop individuals with strong applied experimental research skills for positions in academia, business, industry, allied health, or government agencies. The program is designed to provide advanced training in psychological processes (e.g., biological, cognitive, behavioral, social, personality), quantitative methodological procedures (e.g. statistics, experimental design, computer applications), and their utilization in an applied setting. The program provides students with special applied training, including a pre-doctoral internship. The program uses a mentor system, matching students with faculty members who have an interest in closely related areas.

Applicants to the Program are expected to have a baccalaureate degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and at least 15 hours of psychology. The foundation of the program is the M.S. Program in Experimental Psychology. The first two years of the program are identical to those of the M.S. Program in Experimental Psychology. Students accepted into the program must complete all of the requirements of the M.S. Program in Experimental Psychology or its equivalent. The emphasis in the third and fourth years are on advanced specialized training, including generating high-quality applied research and gaining practical experience through internships.

Admissions process

Deadlines and dates

The deadline for all application materials is January 1st for the Experimental Psychology Doctoral Program and March 1st for the Experimental Psychology Master's Program. In addition to grades, the Admissions Committee is attentive to letters of recommendation, personal statements, relevant professional experiences, and GRE scores (optional - subject portion not required).

Contact information

If you have any questions with regard to the application requirements please contact:

Department of Psychology, 989-774-3001
Central Michigan University, Experimental Psychology Program
Sloan Hall 101, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
Fax number: 989-774-2553​

Application forms

    Complete and submit Central Michigan University's application form with all required application materials to the College of Graduate Studies. The Department of Psychology requires a Statement of Research Interest.  Requirements can be found in the application. Transcripts should be sent to the College of Graduate Studies, Central Michigan University, 802 Industrial Drive, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. They can also be sent electronically directly from your prior school to apply@cmich.edu. For an update on your application status, please call (989) 774-4444.

    Apply Now

    The online application requires three letter writers to electronically submit their letters to your application portal. You will need to provide their email addresses within your application in order for the system to automatically reach out to them.

    GRE scores are optional and the subject portion of the GRE is not required.  If you choose to send your GRE score, please use the following information:

    The code for Central Michigan University is 1106

    The Experimental Psychology Program Code number is 2007

    The GRE is currently administered either in person at testing centers or remotely on your own computer at home. Please visit the GRE at Home website. GRE fee reductions may be available for those with financial need through the Educational Testing Service.

    Educational Testing Service Website