I. Program Description
The combined
B.A./M.A. program in Psychology was approved by the Board of High
Education in 1982. Since its inception more than 40 students have
completed the requirements of the program and 40% of them have been
accepted in Doctoral Programs in Psychology. Most of the other students
have completed their B.A. and M.A. degrees and are gainfully employed
in the helping professions.
The purpose of the Program
is to offer highly qualified students the challenge of graduate
study earlier than is usually the case. Students will typically begin
Masters courses in their Junior year and will simultaneously
earn the B.A. and M.A. degrees at the completion of the Program. Because
the B.A./M.A. students learn at an accelerated pace and actively engage,
they take one less undergraduate Psychology elective and one
less M.A. elective than is required for either degree. Otherwise
they complete the requirements for each degree.
Otherwise they will meet all the standard undergraduate Psychology
major and M.A. degree requirements. The total number of credits required
will be 145; undergraduate (117) and graduate (28) credits. Students
complete a three-semester research project in their junior and senior
years in an area of their own interest under the guidance of a faculty
member. This project often leads to the development of an M.A. thesis
which can be completed the following academic year. Completion of
a M.A. thesis is required for B.A./M.A. students. Most students take
approximately 5-6 years to complete both degrees. The undergraduate
requirements can be accelerated by completing courses during summer
school. There are few graduate courses available in the summer, but
students take this time to work intensively on their research projects
and their thesis.
The B.A./M.A. program
attracts a small number of students (5-10) each year who are academically
superior and committed to the field of Psychology. Students receive
individualized guidance and mentoring by the program supervisor and
research project mentors. Each student must meet with the supervisor
at least twice each semester and can only register with the approval
of the program supervisor who carefully works out a schedule of courses
and research with each student. Applications will be accepted during
both fall and spring semesters and includes students from City College
as well as transfer students from community colleges.
II. Admissions Requirements
Application to the B.A./M.A.
program in Psychology will be accepted during the fall semester (November
15) or the spring semester (April 15) deadline dates. The following
criteria have been established for program eligibility.
1. Accepted for full
matriculation by the City College of New York.
2. Completion of 60
credits at City College or a transfer institution.
3. A GPA of 3.2 by
the completion of the sophomore year with a 3.5 in Psychology.
Students at City College should have completed Introductory Psychology
(102) and Statistics (215). Transfer students should have completed
an Introductory Psychology course and at least one elective in Psychology.
They will provisionally be accepted into the program and will
be required to complete 215 during their first year maintaining a
3.5 GPA in all Psychology courses. If they do not maintain this average,
they will be dropped from the program after one year and will become
regular undergraduate students.
4. Preparation of a
Personal Statement. All students will be required to prepare this
statement (2-3 pages) to describe their qualities in term of personal
background, interests, experience and why they are applying to the
B.A./M.A. Program at City College. Also included should be a discussion
of short term and long-term goals.
5. Letters of Evaluation.
Three letters of evaluation about your promise for the B.A./M.A. Program
are required. At least two of these evaluations must be by Psychology
Professors. These letters are not intended to be blanket endorsements,
but rather a balanced evaluation of your relative assets and liabilities
for an accelerated program. Federal law requires that you decide whether
or not you formally waive your right to see the contents of each of
your letters of evaluation and you must sign the appropriate place
on each evaluation letter before you give the evaluation form to each
writer. (A sample letter form is at the bottom of this section).
6. Transcript.
Your most recent transcript must be sent directly by the registrar
of your institution to the supervisor of the B.A./M.A. Program in
Psychology. After these materials have been received you will be contacted
to arrange a personal interview. Applicants will be notified by mail
of all Program decisions.
MA in Mental Health Counseling / 
Form for Letters of Evaluation