Master’s Degree Program for International Students in Psychology
I. Training Objectives
The program aims to cultivate high-level professionals or academic reserve talents in psychology with firm ideals and beliefs, a solid foundation in psychological theory, a broad international research perspective, and a scientific and creative mindset. Graduates will be skilled in using basic research methods of their chosen direction and engaging in either psychological applications or scientific research.
II. Research Directions
1.Basic Psychology
2.Developmental and Educational Psychology
3.Applied Psychology
III. Basic and Maximum Study Duration
The academic master’s degree program is full-time with a basic study period of 3 years and a maximum duration of 5 years. Students who complete the minimum required credits and finish their thesis may apply for early graduation, but must meet the following conditions:
1. The minimum study duration must not be less than 2 years;
2. The average grade of all courses must be above 85 points;
3. The student must submit an application with the approval of their supervisor;
4. Thesis evaluation grades must all be "A."
IV. Training Methods
The training for academic master's degree students emphasizes independent learning and innovation. The program combines coursework with thesis research, developing both aspects simultaneously.
1. The importance of reading literature is emphasized to deepen and broaden students’ knowledge base. Supervisors and advisory teams will jointly guide students in reading and reporting on professional literature and required readings.
2. Emphasis is placed on developing independent learning under the guidance of supervisors. Students, with their supervisor’s help, will create individual study and research plans.
3. A combination of personal supervision and group mentoring will be employed. The advisory group will collectively guide key stages like thesis proposal, research progress, and defense, focusing on comprehensive research training.
4. Students are encouraged to engage in educational practice and focus on real-world problems, developing the ability to connect theory with practice.
V. Curriculum
1. Credit Requirements
International master's students are required to complete a total of 32 credits, including public courses offered by the International School of Chinese Studies.
2. Course Structure
Course Type |
Course Name |
Hours |
Credits |
Semester |
Notes |
Basic Courses (6 Credits) |
Measurements and Statistics |
40 |
2 |
1 |
|
Experimental Design and Techniques in Psychology |
40 |
2 |
2 |
|
Advanced Issues in Contemporary Psychology |
40 |
2 |
1 |
|
Core Courses (4 Credits) |
Research Seminar in Psychology, Part I |
20 |
1 |
1 |
|
Research Seminar in Psychology, Part II |
20 |
1 |
2 |
|
Research Seminar in Psychology, Part III |
20 |
1 |
3 |
|
Research Seminar in Psychology, Part IV |
20 |
1 |
4 |
|
Elective Courses (15 Credits) |
Introduction to Psychology |
40 |
2 |
1 |
|
Quantitative Research Methods in Practice |
40 |
2 |
2 |
|
Abnormal Psychology |
40 |
2 |
1 |
|
Developmental Psychology |
40 |
2 |
2 |
|
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Part I |
40 |
2 |
2 |
|
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Part II |
40 |
2 |
3 |
|
Educational Psychology |
40 |
2 |
3 |
|
Cognitive Neuroscience |
20 |
1 |
3 |
|
Public Courses |
Introduction to Mandarin |
80 |
4 |
1 |
Offered by the International School of Chinese Studies |
China Panorama |
60 |
3 |
1 |
VI. Assessment and Progression
Semester Overview
| Semester |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| Master's Program |
Coursework |
Individual Study Plan |
Research Ethics and Academic Norms |
Coursework |
Individual Research Plan |
Coursework |
1. Individual Study Plan
Supervisors will help students formulate personalized study plans based on their academic background, career direction, and research interests. These plans must be submitted to the college for record within one month of enrollment.
2. Research Ethics and Academic Norms
Students must attend research ethics lectures organized by the college in their first semester to ensure compliance with ethical standards in psychological research.
3. Thesis Proposal
The thesis proposal evaluates the topic and research design of the dissertation. All students must present their proposal by the third semester, and the proposal must be publicly defended. The interval between proposal approval and thesis review must be at least eight months. Specific requirements can be found in the “Graduate Thesis Proposal Management Regulations of Northeast Normal University.”
4. Thesis Review and Defense
The thesis defense is a comprehensive review of the quality and level of the master’s thesis. After passing the review, students can apply for defense with the supervisor’s approval. The defense committee will assess the thesis based on theoretical foundation, specialized knowledge, research ability, and quality of results.
5. Academic Warning
An academic warning system is in place to monitor students' academic progress, identify potential issues, and provide interventions to ensure timely and quality completion of their studies.
6. Innovation Achievement Assessment
Master’s students must meet one of the following criteria to fulfill the innovation requirement:
·Submit a paper accepted by a CSSCI, SSCI, or SCI journal;
·Receive a provincial or higher research award;
·Publish an academic monograph;
·Write and have adopted a consulting report;
·Obtain an invention patent.
VII. Graduation and Degree Awarding
Students who meet the national and university regulations, complete the required credits and training and have no academic integrity violations will be allowed to graduate. Those who meet the degree awarding criteria will be granted a master’s degree in Education upon approval by the university’s degree evaluation committee.
School of Psychology
June 27, 2024
