Master’s degree in psychology complete program guide

Master’s degrees in psychology

Psychology is one of the top 5 majors students choose at undergraduate school. Students are drawn to psychology for a variety of reasons. These include understanding oneself and other people better, being able to help others, and a plethora of career options from counseling to forensics to research, and much more.

For a master’s level degree in psychology there are 2 options: a master’s of science (M.S.) in psychology or a master’s of arts (M.A.) in psychology. The main difference being that the M.S. has a heavier focus on math, statistics, and research, and a M.A. program offers a wider range of electives from outside the psychology field. Regardless, both degrees contain similar foundational courses, with some programs allowing psychology majors to specialize in a specific concentration like school psychology or clinical psychology. It is important to research the availability of concentrations when deciding on prospective schools.

In addition, an increasing number of schools now offer specific master’s programs, such as an M.S in experimental psychology, or M.A in human factors psychology. Mostly these are regular psychology programs with concentration coursework, although some may have a greater focus on the specification. This can be a positive or a negative advantage, depending on how sure you are of your career goals.

If you’re interested in in earning a graduate degree check out the top ranking graduate programs in psychology.

What can I do with a master’s degree in psychology?

With a master’s degree in psychology in your back pocket, it is time to decide whether you want to work in clinical practice, research, or academics.
Employment options include:

• being a psychological consultant
• part of a hospital-based healthcare team
• working in school settings, community services, government agencies
• working in the public or private sector, or for a non-profit organization
• a career in research or academia

Should you get a master’s degree in psychology?

If undergraduate courses in psychology have piqued your interest in this field, a master’s program with the longer term goal to become a psychologist is understandable. At the master’s level students take their studies deeper and develop insight into individuals, groups, and communities. The field of psychology is so broad, that it is difficult to identify a sector that it doesn’t relate to.

Know that a doctoral degree is required for most professional psychology careers. Also be aware that many colleges offer doctoral programs that require only a bachelor degree to be eligible to apply. But, if your goal is expanding your knowledge – dive in to a master’s degree.

Another factor that may sway your decision is the cost of the program and the earning potential it gives you. The following table shows the average earnings of a master’s student 2 years after graduating. By earning a master’s degree, the average graduate earns $12,893 more than someone with a bachelor’s degree.

How to pick a master’s in psychology program

The decision regarding which master’s degree to enroll in, is often based on the area of psychology that most interests the student. At the master’s level, students take coursework in specializations that commonly lead to doctoral studies and a career in this area. Do your research on the courses, faculty members, and research projects available at the colleges you are interested in. This can help guide your choice. Most of all, ensure that your program has been accredited (more on this later).

Online programs

Master’s degree programs are becoming more flexible in terms of course availability, type, and program speed. Programs are mostly available as on campus, or hybrid options which provide more flexibility for students who have commitments outside their education.
Yet, with only 6.8% of master’s degrees in psychology being fully available online, there is a lot of potential for colleges to extend their online psychology program options. One reason this has been slow to happen may be related to the need for students to participate in lab based psychological experiments, for example observations of subjects reacting to stimuli.

Accreditation

It is highly recommended that prospective students choose a program that is accredited. Accreditation proves that you have been trained extensively in the field and are able to utilize evidence-based practices and interventions. The American Psychological Association, APA, is the main accrediting agency for master’s programs in psychology.

How much does a master’s in psychology degree cost?

The figures that you can see in the table below shows the median debt that master’s of psychology graduates have at the end of their degree program. Note that will graduates from private colleges end up with approximately $5,000 more in debt, the salaries of both public and private school graduates are similar.

Financial aid and scholarships for psychology majors

As is the case for all college students, the first place to beginning looking for financial support is the Federal Student Aid website. On this site, you complete the FAFSA which assesses your eligibility for financial aid.

Financial aid options are numerous and it is worth knowing about all of them as changing circumstances may demand changes to your student financing. For example, considering that government agencies commonly employ psychologists, this can make you eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program cancels or forgives the balance of student loans for graduates after 10 years of working in governmental organizations.

Specific scholarships for psychology graduate students also exist. They come with the advantage of having less competition due to the eligibility criteria, and because like all scholarships they do not need to be paid back.

What to expect from a master’s in psychology program

Psychology degree programs focus on learning about cognitive, emotional, and social processes. Students learn how individuals process information to understand the world, make decisions, express emotion, relate to one another, and interact with their environment.

What are the admission requirements for a master’s in psychology?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA) there are several prerequisites needed to apply to a graduate degree program. These typically include:

• B.S. or B.A. degree in psychology or a related field
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• previous work experience
• clinically related public service
• involvement in extracurricular activities
• research or volunteer experience

Most graduate degree programs also require you to submit GRE test scores, along with a personal essay or statements, resume, and letters of recommendation. After submitting the above information, you may also be asked to complete an admissions interview.

It is important to note that not all programs require the above-mentioned prerequisites, and requirements may differ if the program is online.

What type of courses are there in a master’s in psychology?

Typically, the coursework in a master’s program includes subjects such as:

Can I specialize my studies with a master’s degree?

The short answer to this question is, yes you can. The following are a list of the most popular specializations. Check which specializations your school of choice offers.

• Counseling psychology – This specialization focuses on wellbeing, with evidence-based interventions to treat emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. Related counseling activities may include diagnosis, teaching, research, assessment, and psychotherapy.
• School psychology – With this specialization, you can work with students of all ages and assist them through the schooling process. School psychologists typically conduct psycho-educational assessments and implement the relevant intervention to the individual, group, or family. They also direct the development of coping skills, program development, and consultation services.
• Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology – I-O psychologists focus on group behavior and productivity in the workplace. Professionals in this area tend to be involved in research, employee training, or human resources.
• Addiction psychology – Assisting individuals who are struggling with substance use disorders in addition to mental health disorders. Treatment usually includes both individual and/or group sessions, along with case management or medical services. Due to the rise in substance use disorders, more patients are also participating in MAT programs (medication assisted treatment) in which individuals are prescribed medications — for example Methadone or Naltrexone—that help control urges to use or prevent clients from becoming high after use.
• Forensic psychology – Another up-and-coming career which has steadily increased over the past few years. A forensic psychologist assists law enforcement to help profile criminals, assess mental competency and risk, and provide evidence in court.
• Social psychology – The study of how an individual is influenced by the presence of others has helped to close the gap between sociology and psychology. Social psychology typically involves topics such as social influence, group dynamics, and interpersonal attraction.
• Experimental psychology – This subject area involves the scientific study of the mind. Experimental psychologists seeks to teach us something about the mind and human behavior, they rarely work with individuals—their focus is research. Experimental psychologists are employed in various areas, such as academia, research centers, government, and business.

What careers can I have with a master’s degree in psychology?

For most psychological specialists, a doctorate degree is required for licensure. There are some exceptions, for example industrial and organizational psychologist, and other exceptions that are based on state licensure regulations. Below we provide details for clinical psychologists. While the I-O psychologist can work independently, a clinical psychologist without a doctorate degree is limited in the role, and generally requires supervision.

Continuing your education

After obtaining a master’s degree in psychology, you may want to continuing to a doctorate. It can provide more of a competitive edge and better job opportunities if you obtain postdoctoral work experience and specialize in a specific field.

In addition, every state has a credentialing board that requires continuing education credits to renew your license every 2 years.

Conclusion

A master’s degree in psychology can be a worthwhile and satisfying endeavor. There is high projected growth for this field and the U.S. needs more psychologists. Currently we are facing a growing mental health crisis, especially since the COVID19 pandemic began.

While this can truly be a rewarding field, it can also be challenging. It is important to take care of yourself, especially when working in the mental health field.