Psychology MA With Thesis

Program Overview

Koç University ‘Master of Art (MA) in Psychology Program’ is a two-year graduate program with three concentration areas: the Developmental, Social Psychology and Cognitive Psychology. The students receive rigorous training in both statistical methods and area of specialization.  The program emphasizes students’ training in both research and its applications with scholars who are leaders in their areas of expertise.

For information on the application procedure (including questions on exam requirements and scholarships), please contact the Graduate School at gsssh@ku.edu.tr

Statement of Purpose 

Required for all applicants. It should not exceed 2,000 words focusing on the following questions:

  • Why do you apply to Koç University?
  • Why do you apply to the particular program?
  • What are your career objectives?
  • For applicants of PhD programs what are your research interests and who do you want to work with?

Transcripts 

  • You must have a 2,5 GPA for application for MA Applications.

We strongly encourage applicants to submit a scanned image of the transcript at the time of application, which can speed processing; however, a final, official transcript will be required of all admitted students during registration. Applicants who have attended international institutions must submit transcripts or certified attestations of study, with certified English translations. Once translated, the original transcript and the certified translations are to be sent to the Graduate School admission office.

  • Letters of Recommendation 

The Graduate School requires two letters of recommendation for MA applications and three for PhD applications. These should be by persons well qualified to speak from first-hand knowledge about the applicant’s potential for graduate study. Letters of recommendation must be submitted online*.

* recommendation letters from faculty members is not necessary for candidates applying to graduate programs in Psychology if they are the graduates of Koc University Psychology undergraduate program.

  • GRE/ALES 

Applicants to MA and PhD programs must have their results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE-for foreign applicants) or ALES (Akademik Lisansüstü Eğitim Sınavı-for native applicants) General Test sent to the Graduate School. You need to also upload available scores during online application. You will be able to leave these spaces empty if your scores are not available at the time of application. We do accept applications without ALES and/or TOEFL scores. You must submit these scores as soon as they are announced.

  • ALES Score

Equal Weight: 70

*Due to Turkish Higher Education (YÖK) regulations, one can not apply with an ALES score lower that 70 for MAApplications

  • GRE Score

Quantitative: 610/149

  • TOEFL/YDS/YÖKDİL

All native applicants and international applicants whose native language is not English must ensure that the Graduate School receives their official score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Language Proficiency Information/Minimum Scores 

TOEFL (IBT): 80/120

YDS: 80

YÖKDİL: 80

– Successful performance in a written exam.

MA/Ph.D. applicants are invited to take a Science Exam which aims to test psychology and research methods knowledge, science literacy, and demonstrate the ability to understand the logic and design of an empirical research.

1st Year – Fall Semester1st Year – Spring Semester
PSYC 501- Research Methods ıPSYC 502- Research Methods II (optional)/or Area Elective
Area ElectiveArea Elective
Area ElectiveElective
PSYC 590- SeminarElective
KOLT 500: TA WorkshopsETHR 500 Ethics Course
TEACH 500: TA AssignmentsTEACH 500: TA Assignments
2nd Year – Fall Semester2nd Year – Spring Semester
ENGL 500 : English Academic WritingPSYC 595: MA Dissertation
TEACH 500: TA AssignmentsTEACH 500: TA Assignments
PSYC 595: MA Dissertation

Psyc 501 Research Methods I
Review of descriptive statistics and basic research methodology. Experimental methods and research design including one-way analyses,factorial designs, repeated measures, analysis of covariance, and the analyses of main effects, simple effects and interaction comparisons.

Psyc 502 Research Methods II
Building on the content of PSYC 501, further advanced research methods are presented. These include problems in multivariate regression analysis, multivariate analysis of nominal and ordinal data, structural equation models, and methods for analyzing longitudinal data. In addition, students learn how to choose appropriate methodology for a variety of research problems.

Psyc 504 Testing and Measurement
A review of basics of psychological measurement; all steps of the process of assessment development; different methods of psychological assessment such as observational, self-administered, and interview techniques; and, ways of integrating information from multiple assessment methods are discussed. Students work with applications and discuss greater cultural, ethical, and societal context of psychological measurement.

PSYC 505 Culture and Self
This is a required course for Social, Cognitive and Developmental Psychology doctoral programs. The formation of the self and its interaction with social-psychological-cognitive processes are studied in socio-cultural context and from developmental, cultural, and cross-cultural perspectives.  The main topic of this course is the self, which has its antecedents in the beginnings of American psychology on the one hand, and in social psychological and sociological symbolic interactionism on the other hand. It is emphasized that self is the key to individual-society interface and is important for the theoretical advancement of both universal psychology and also for psychological applications directed at human well-being.

PSYC 510 Emotion and Motivation
The Course provides an overview of theories and research in emotion and motivation. Readings will examine the role of emotions and motivations in verbal & nonverbal communicatio, decision making & reasoning, social functioning, and psychopathology. Whenever possible, students will be exposed to these topics at different levels of analysis including biological, cognitive and social.

PSYC 517 Advanced Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Theories, Methodologies and Practices. The course will focus on state-of-the-art theoretical and methodological approaches in IO Psychology. Most recent research and theories on some of the most important subjects of the field like “criteria definition”, scientific bases of personnel decisions and industrial development will be discussed. Also in order to encourage students to have research experience in these areas, they will be asked to conduct a research project.

PSYC 521 Cognitive Development
This course will review current research and theoretical issues about cognitive development. Major research areas that will be covered are theory of mind, joint attention, language, memory, numerical cognition, social cognition, and implications of atypical cognitive development. Interfaces with socioemotional development will also be emphasized.

PSYC 524 Social Development
This course will examine the social aspects of development. Topics include parenting, peer relationships and friendship, attachment, empathy, aggression, emotional development, gender socialization, and adult social development.

PSYC 525 Applied Developmental Psychology
This course will help develop the students’ understanding of how the science of human development may contribute to address individual, familial, social, political, and economic problems. This course will address how human potential can be realized at an individual level and how societal resources can be created, mobilized, and utilized to facilitate the realization of human potential.

PSYC 542 Advanced Social Psychology
This is in an entry level course that involves discussion of some of the central theories and models and examination of most recent approaches and research in the field of social psychology.  Another goal of this course is to provide the students with an overview of the methods and paradigms used by social psychologists.

PSYC 567 Attitudes and Persuasion
This course will provide an overview of classic and recent research on attitudes and persuasion. Content will include broad coverage of the issues of major importance to attitude theory, but will focus on more recent issues and controversies that have captured the interest of researchers in the field. The class will cover topics such as structure and functions of attitudes, measurement, the role of memory, models of attitude chaneg and persuasion, resistance, message design and evaluation. Students who take this course will become familiar with research methods and major issues in attitudes research and will have a better understanding of how individuals form, use, and maintain their evaluations. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to critique existing research and formulate new research ideas. Applications in the context of health, consumption, politics, and advertising will be covered throughout.

PSYC 561 / PSYC 461: Physiological Psychology  
Introduction to physiological psychology; overview of the physiological mechanisms that underlie psychological processes of sensation, motivation, learning, memory, and emotion. Other topics include neurological disorders, schizophrenia, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychopharmacology.

PSYC 515 / PSYC 415 Neural Bases of Memory
An overview of the neural basis of memory. Covers topics in cutting edge research related to the cognitive neuroscience of human memory, including neural correlates of working memory, cognitive control of memory, long-term memory encoding, long-term memory retrieval, and the impact of aging on various memory processes.

PSYC 511 / PSYC 411 Cognitive Neuroscience 
An overview of the neural bases of cognition. Covers basic neuroanatomy, a description of the neuroscience methods, and a survey of fundamental topics such as neural basis of vision, executive function, learning and memory, attention, emotion, thinking and problem solving, and social cognition.

Psyc 590 Seminar in Psychology
Discussion of recent research by faculty and other invited speakers, and cross-fertilization of, research ideas topics as well as methodological approaches are emphasized.

ENGL 500 Graduate Writing
Builds a solid background in written and spoken academic discourse; improves critical reading and writing skillls ; fosters critical and creative thinking. Provides instruction in proper academic citation models.