Masters in Psychology Programs in Colorado
(found programs from 14 schools)

Many psychology subfields, such as clinical counseling, require a doctoral degree in order to be licensed, so it may be helpful to think of a master's degree in psychology as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. In fact, the psychology graduate programs at Colorado State University are open only to students who intend to seek a Ph.D.

However, a master's degree in psychology does open more employment doors than a bachelor's degree. Students in graduate level psychology programs can prepare for careers as clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, industrial-organizational psychologists, post-secondary psychology teachers and school psychologists. And the good news is that employment in all of these specialties is growing faster than the average according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE).

And while doctoral work is required for many of these positions, it IS possible to find work in the psychology field with a master's degree. According to the CDLE, a national survey listing the most common required level of education found that a majority of employers (51 percent) requested only a master's degree for industrial-organizational psychologist positions. For post-secondary psychology teachers, a master's degree was specified 28 percent of the time. Positions in community and social services also are possibilities.

Here are three graduate level psychology programs to consider:

The Psychology Department at Colorado State University in Fort Collins offers master's programs with specialties in applied social psychology, cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, counseling, and industrial/organizational psychology. These programs admit students interested in earning a doctoral degree.

Naropa University in Boulder is a private university that combines Eastern and Western educational styles. The result is graduate psychology programs in the categories of transpersonal counseling, somatic counseling, and contemplative psychotherapy. Check out the university's MA in Transpersonal Counseling with a concentration in art therapy or wilderness therapy.

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs offers a counseling master's through their college of education and may prepare students for work in school or community-based settings. The MA in Clinical Psychology trains students as scientists/practitioners and is usually a stepping-stone to doctoral studies.