Psychology MA, Behavioral Neuroscience Emphasis
The University of Missouri-St. Louis offers a program of studies leading to a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology with a specialization in Behavioral Neuroscience. Masters students take classes with Doctoral level students. Students will choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option.
Thesis students conduct research in a core area of study including neurophysiological correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder, self-reflection and default mode network, the neurocognition of emotion and romantic love, prejudice and discrimination, and health disparities. We soon will have training on the neuroscience of substance abuse and addiction. Students are enrolled into a research group headed by a faculty member with research interests in one of the areas identified above. That professor serves as the student’s primary mentor throughout their graduate training, though communication and collaboration with other laboratories are encouraged.
Research Facilities: The Department is equipped with several EEG systems, physiological research suites including eye-tracking, cardiovascular measures, and skin conductance. Many faculty have connections to facilities with magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
Degree Requirements
A total of 32 credit hours is required for the MA degree with an emphasis in the behavioral-neuroscience field of experimental psychology. Students will choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option.
Thesis Option
Students are required to complete a master's thesis for this program. Theses should follow the procedures in the Behavioral-Neuroscience Handbook and on the Graduate School website.
| Required Coursework | ||
| PSYCH 5001 | Neuropsychological Assessment | 3 |
| PSYCH 5340 | Human Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| PSYCH 5400 | Seminar: Special Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience 1 | 4 |
| PSYCH 5407 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| PSYCH 5465 | Seminar: Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYCH 5468 | Seminar: Cognitive and Affective Processes | 3 |
| PSYCH 7421 | Quantitative Methods I | 4 |
| PSYCH 7422 | Quantitative Methods II | 4 |
| PSYCH 7483 | Directed Research | 3 |
| or PSYCH 7484 | Directed Readings | |
| PSYCH 7491 | MA Thesis Research | 2 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
| 1 | One credit hour taken per semester. |
Non-Thesis Option
| Required Coursework | ||
| PSYCH 5001 | Neuropsychological Assessment | 3 |
| PSYCH 5340 | Human Neuroanatomy | 3.0 |
| PSYCH 5407 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| PSYCH 5465 | Seminar: Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYCH 5468 | Seminar: Cognitive and Affective Processes | 3 |
| PSYCH 7421 | Quantitative Methods I | 4 |
| PSYCH 7422 | Quantitative Methods II | 4 |
| Electives 1 | 9 | |
| Choose three of the following courses: | ||
| Hormones, The Brain and Behavior | ||
| Emotions and the Brain | ||
| Introduction to Social Neuroscience | ||
| Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination | ||
| Human Learning and Memory | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |
| 1 | Related coursework may count toward the electives with approval of the graduate program director. |