{"id":284,"date":"2014-06-09T15:48:50","date_gmt":"2014-06-09T20:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/psychology\/?page_id=284"},"modified":"2025-08-11T08:09:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T13:09:25","slug":"ms-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/psychology\/students\/graduate\/ms-program\/","title":{"rendered":"MS Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Department of Psychology is accepting applications for admission to the terminal MS program (MS in Psychology: Health Psychology).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health Psychology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Health psychology is concerned with the psychological variables that influence physical health and illness. The MS program in health psychology offers training in research and theories relevant to health promotion. The program of study consists of core health psychology coursework, research coursework, psychology breadth coursework, and an optional field placement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is appropriate for students planning applied research careers in health settings and for students who plan to later seek doctoral training in psychology or related fields. The MS program in health psychology is self-contained and primarily prepares students for work within the community. However, the emphasis on research training and basic principles also prepares students for doctoral studies. Some students may change their goals and wish to pursue a doctoral degree later. Such students are eligible to apply for 51ÁÔÆæ’s doctoral program in psychology if they do not have an undergraduate psychology degree from 51ÁÔÆæ<\/strong>. Students who have both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in psychology are not eligible to apply for the PhD in psychology at 51ÁÔÆæ and will need to complete their doctoral studies elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department\u2019s doctoral programs are highly competitive and admission is neither automatic nor guaranteed for current 51ÁÔÆæ students. Applications from students in the MS health psychology program are not given preferential treatment in the doctoral admission process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Topics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Current research topics include gender and health, cancer prevention and health education, reproductive health and STD prevention, patient advocacy and self-care behaviors, the effects of stress and mechanisms of coping with it, and child abuse prevention. Research is conducted in laboratory as well as clinical settings, and many of the faculty have strong ties to the Milwaukee community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Funding opportunities are very limited for terminal master’s students. Funds are primarily available to doctoral students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thesis or Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The student, under the direction of an advisor, has the option of developing either a thesis based on empirical research or a project (a review or theoretical paper). If the student chooses the thesis option, he or she must pass an oral defense of the thesis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time Limit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part-time study is possible so long as all degree requirements are completed within seven years of initial enrollment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The health psychology faculty include core faculty (Professor Marcellus Merritt<\/a>) and affiliated faculty (Professors Shawn Cahill<\/a>, W. Hobart Davies<\/a>, Bonnie Klein-Tasman<\/a>, and Krista Lisdahl.<\/a>) See the individual faculty bios for more details on their respective research programs. Additionally, other faculty in psychology may serve as advisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Deadline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Students who have completed undergraduate majors in psychology are encouraged to apply. On satisfactory completion of the master’s degree here, the faculty helps these graduates either pursue doctoral study in other programs outside of 51ÁÔÆæ or secure employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applications are due by March 1 through early applications are encouraged. Reviews begin on a rolling basis by recruiting faculty members starting on January 31. If there are specific questions about the program, feel free to email Dr. Marcellus Merritt [merrittm@uwm.edu<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admissions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

See our application page<\/a> for more information, deadlines, and a link to the application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information about the program’s requirements, visit its academic page at the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n