MS in Psychological & Brain Sciences at Boston University

Programme overview

A one-year course of study offering flexibility across psychology, with strengths in cognition, neuroscience, developmental science and clinical psychology. Serves students with limited psychology background and those preparing for doctoral study. It does not qualify students for independent professional practice. STEM-designated CIP code.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences | Duration: One year; eight 4-unit courses (32 units) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Boston, MA, United States

What you will study

Required Contemporary Trends in Psychology, Statistics in Psychology I and Directed Study in Psychology (research apprenticeship); at least one course from two of three areas: Brain, Behavior & Cognition; Clinical; Developmental Science. No thesis or language requirement.

Career pathways

Graduates have worked in government and industry as researchers, mental health workers, administrators and managers; others pursue doctoral studies.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An undergraduate psychology major is not required, but some psychology coursework is; recommended are introductory psychology, research methods, statistics and at least two content courses. GRE is required; two academic letters of recommendation and a personal statement; application deadline May 15 for Fall 2027.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's programmes admit for Fall 2027; Spring 2027 entry is offered for selected programmes (Economics MS programmes, History of Art & Architecture MA, Preservation Studies MA, Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence).

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Fall 2027 master's deadlines are mostly priority January 15 and final March 15 (African American & Black Diaspora Studies priority February 15, final March 15; Preservation Studies February 15; Sociology and History of Art & Architecture January 15). Spring 2027 deadlines for selected programmes are priority October 15 and final November 15. Applications are submitted through the online application; the GRE is required only for the Economics MS/MA programmes and the MS in Psychological & Brain Sciences.

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