Masters in Psychology Programs
(found programs from 765 schools)

Before you start working on your master's program, you need to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. While your undergrad degree does not have to be in psychology, it can certainly help you get into some of the more competitive programs. Merely having a degree isn't always enough. You need a track record of earning high grades as well as a high score on your GRE. You can add to your chances of getting accepted by volunteering in roles relevant to your planned area of specialization and by getting some practical work experience. You can expect to do a considerable amount of writing as you pursue your degree.

Advice from the Grad School Guru

Below, we speak with Dr. Laura Buffardi, Psychology Today's Grad School Guru, about the best strategies and most common mistakes for students applying to psychology master's programs. For more information, including help navigating the application process, visit http://www.gradadmissionsconsulting.com/.

Program Profile

Below, we speak with Dr. Kurt Kraiger, Colorado State University, about their Online Master's Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

The role of accreditation

Accreditation is more important as you pursue an advanced degree, particularly if you plan to continue to earn your PhD or PsyD. In addition to the usual regional accreditation authorities, look for accreditation specific to psychology. Master's programs can be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE), Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPAC), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), to name a few.

Degree types and specialties

As with your bachelor's degree in psychology, you have two choices for your master's. You can choose a Master of Arts in Psychology or a Master of Science in Psychology. The first option allows you to add to your liberal arts education, while the second concentrates on the life sciences. It usually takes two years to earn your degree. Course might include practical skills like statistical analysis and research techniques. Most grad already know exactly what it is they want to study, and your second year is when you can focus on your specialty, whether it is behavioral therapy, mental pathologies, geriatric psychology or neuropsychology. Most programs require you to write a thesis as a prerequisite to graduation.

While you can earn a general degree, most students begin to focus on an area of specialization. Clinical psychology, cognitive and behavioral psychology are common choices. Neuroscience is a booming, yet demanding field and forensic psychology is one of the fastest growing specialties. A number of specialties appeal to people who seek careers in business including consumer behavior psychology and industrial/organizational psychology. You can also specialize in the psychology of very young children or study the psychology of senior citizens.

Also, it's never too early to start networking. Getting a leg up on your job hunt is one obvious benefit, but professional organizations in the field of psychology offer much more than that. Joining the American Psychological Association can help when you apply to grad school, choose a specialty and look for grants and scholarships to ease your financial burden. This organization also has a division solely focused on programs for students, the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students. Don't stop there. At this point in your academic career, you probably know what specific area of psychology is most interesting to you. You should join an association that supports your focus. Psychology.org offers a comprehensive list of associations that focus on areas from eating disorders to sports psychology. Each one of these organizations offers aid and grants, in addition to career and networking opportunities.

What about online Masters programs?

You can pursue your degree on campus or online. Either way, there are numerous programs. You can go Ivy League with the University of Pennsylvania's new UPENN Online program. The academics are the same as those offered on campus - expect an extremely challenging program from one of the best institutions in the field. If cost is a factor, consider a state school. Kansas State offers a Master of Science in industrial-organizational psychology. The University of North Dakota offers a Master of Arts in forensic psychology. Other schools, such as the Chicago School of Professional Psychology have even more rich and varied options for master's degrees, with a number of innovative programs.

Show me all the Masters in Psychology programs in:

In addition to the campus based programs, there are numerous online programs available for many of the common Psychology degree types (Associate, Bachelors, Masters, PhD) and specialties. Please feel free to use the links on the left-hand side of this page to explore some of the online degree programs available. Thanks for visiting!