New psychology programs will allow students to complete M.S., J.D. degrees sooner

New psychology programs will allow students to complete M.S., J.D. degrees sooner
Psychology Programs
Oakland University’s Department of Psychology is launching two new programs this fall that could help students save time and tuition by allowing them to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees sooner

Oakland University’s Department of Psychology is launching two new programs this fall that could help students save time and tuition by allowing them to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees sooner.

 

“We are very excited about these new programs,” said Todd Shackelford, Ph.D., distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Oakland University.

 

One of the programs, a partnership between Oakland University and Wayne State University’s Law School, will allow students to earn an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) and a law degree (J.D.) in just six years instead of seven.

 

To apply, Oakland University students must have completed a minimum of 75 credits in an approved undergraduate degree. Students also must take the Law School Admission Test and meet all other Wayne Law admissions requirements.

 

“This program provides an additional opportunity to our psychology majors interested in jointly pursuing other studies, including law,” Shackelford said.

 

Psychology majors also have an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in approximately five years instead of six, courtesy of the new 4+1 Program.

 

“Students admitted to the combined B.A./M.S. program can graduate with a Master of Science degree in psychology in as little as one calendar year after completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology,” said Virgil Zeigler-Hill, Ph.D., associate professor and director of graduate training with the Department of Psychology.

 

According to Zeigler-Hill, interested students are eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:

 

  • The student must have earned a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 in PSY 100 (Introduction to Psychology), PSY 250 (Research Design in Psychology), and PSY 251 (Statistics in Psychology)

 

  • The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.2.

 

“It is also important for students to note that this is a competitive program and that not all students who are eligible will be accepted into the program,” Zeigler-Hill said. “Students who are accepted into this program will work very closely with our faculty members to gain additional experience with research as they complete the requirements for the MS degree.”

 

According to Zeigler-Hill, students in the program will also take eight graduate-level credits at undergraduate-level rates, which reduces the cost of the degree.

 

To learn more about these and other programs offered by the Department of Psychology, contact Professor Todd Shackelford at shackelf@oakland.edu or Professor Virgil Zeigler-Hill at zeiglerh@oakland.edu, or visit www.oakland.edu/psychology.