ABA Laboratory

4+1 Bachelor's to Master's Psychology Degree

The Department of Psychological Science offer's a 4+1 program for students pursuing an NMU Bachelor's degree with a Psychology major and planning to enroll in NMU's Master of Science Psychology program. Students admitted to our 4+1 program have the option of taking their first year of master's level courses in their undergraduate year, allowing them to use the graduate courses toward completing the bachelor's degree as well as the first year of the Master of Science Psychology program. Doing so leaves only one additional year to earn the Master of Science in Psychology degree. To enroll, students must apply to the 4+1 graduate admission pathway by February 1st in their Junior year. Accepted students must meet the GPA criteria and other admissions guidelines for the master's program, and then be selected by the department's graduate programs committee. Students may apply for either the Behavior Analysis Track or the Experimental Psychology Track.

Learn More About the Master of Science Psychology Program

Suggested Timeline for 4+1 Psychology Bachelor's to Master's Program

Sophomore and early Junior Year 

Discuss academic and career goals with your Faculty Mentor in the Department of Psychological Science. Determine if pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology is consistent with your goals and if the 4+1 program is a good option for you. Assess the courses you have taken and determine if you meet the coursework requirements for the program.

By February 1st of your Junior year 

Submit your application, keeping in mind that the application requires a Personal Statement, a Curriculum Vitae, recommendation letters, and transcript, as described in the Admissions Requirements for the Master of Science in Psychology degree. Students should consider working with their Faculty Mentors when preparing the application materials.

March - April of Junior Year

Admission decisions will be made for the MS Psychology Degree. There are only a limited number of seats available. If accepted, you will be contacted by the NMU College of Graduate Studies and Research as well as by the Department of Psychological Science. You will be advised on the required graduate courses to take in your senior year. 

Example 4+1 course plans for the Senior year of the Bachelor's Degree program are shown below

MS Psychology - Behavior Analysis Track

Last year of Bachelor's Degree program

FallCreditsDescription/RequirementWinterCreditsDescription

Elective

PSY505

LIB535

ABA501

PSY589

3 - 4

3

2

3

1

Any undergraduate course

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

PSY460

PSY489

PSY506

ABA503

ABA504

PSY589

2

0

3

3

3

1

PSY Major and Concentration

PSY Major requirement

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

MS Psychology - Experimental Track

Last year of Bachelor's Degree program

FallCreditsDescription/RequirementWinterCreditsDescription

Elective

PSY460

PSY505

LIB535

PSY500+

3 - 4

2

3

2

3

Any undergraduate course

PSY Major and Concentration

Required graduate course

Required graduate course

Elective graduate course

Elective

PSY489

PSY506

PSY500+

PSY588

PSY589

3 - 4

0

3

3

1

1

Any undergraduate course

PSY Major requirement

Required graduate course

Elective graduate course

Elective graduate course

Elective graduate course