Home Master’s Degree in Psychology: Expanding Your Career Options Master's in Psychology in Illinois

Master’s in Psychology in Illinois

Find Programs for Master’s in Psychology Degrees in Illinois

Psychology may well be one of the fastest growing and changing fields in health care and social services. New research is always changing the standards of this field and how people can benefit from it. This is particularly true in Illinois.

The state of Illinois heavily values advanced education, so it is home to some of the largest psychological research institutions in the entire country. If you are considering psychology study at the graduate level, Illinois is an excellent place to begin.

Of course, there are career opportunities in the research sector of psychology in Illinois. However, just like most other states, Illinois has a huge shortage of mental health care providers as well. In fact, the need for mental health services have become so extreme in some areas that experts have dubbed it a community mental health crisis.

Ready to take your education to the next level? Learn more about your options by contacting Master’s degree in psychology programs in Illinois.

What Can You Expect from Psychology Master’s Programs in Illinois?

One of the benefits of studying psychology at this level is that you do not need an undergraduate degree in psychology. This degree thoroughly explores one area of psychology, so you simply need a broad understanding of the field as a whole. This can be accomplished through introductory undergraduate psychology courses. Keep in mind, however, that some competitive programs may prefer students with undergraduate psychology degrees.

Earning a Master’s degree in psychology means completing an extensive curriculum of high-level psychology courses over a period of two years. By the time you complete your 30+ credits, you should be ready to work independently in a variety of mental health and psychology settings.

Illinois Students Studying Together For Their Psychology Masters

Choosing the right area of concentration is essential. There are huge differences between, for example, industrial-organizational psychology and counseling psychology. Courses that you may find in your curriculum include Current Issues in Psychology, Cognitive Development, Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Psychology of Language, Human Performance, and Models of Thinking.

Financial aid opportunities are very diverse in Illinois, so you may be able to qualify for general psychology scholarships as well as those that specifically relate to your area of study. Illinois has the Mental Health Graduate Education Scholarship, which provides funding to psychology students who plan on working in the mental health sector of Illinois.

Working With Your Master’s Degree in Psychology in Illinois

As you prepare for your future career in psychology, you may want to consider new psychology careers in addition to those that have been established for decades. Thanks to advances in technology, genetic counseling is growing in demand. This may be a great choice for you if you are invested in helping people and studying human biology.

O*Net anticipates a 30% increase in genetic counseling jobs by 2022. Their statistics show an average salary of $71,100 per year in Illinois (O*Net, 2015).

You may also be able to make a huge difference by focusing on substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling. Although this can be a challenging field, it can also be extremely rewarding. Jobs in this field may swell 20% by 2022, and counselors in this specialty earn an average salary of $34,000 per year (O*Net, 2015).

If you are ready to use your career to change lives every day, don’t hesitate. Contact Master’s degree programs in psychology in Illinois today.