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

Master’s in Psychology in New York

Find Programs for Master’s of Psychology Online Degrees in New York

If you live in New York, it may come as no surprise to you that the state has significant issues with its mental health services. Although New York is a vibrant, culturally exciting place to live, it is also a state where many people are afflicted by poverty and people may fall through the cracks of the social services system. The only way to combat this problem is to tighten up procedures and increase the amount of mental health professionals working throughout the state.

The shortage is so severe in New York that the state has devoted $30 million to train non-mental health professionals to recognize the signs of mental health issues and react appropriately (Press Connects, 2015). No matter which type of psychology you specialize in, your skills can make you indispensable in New York.

Studying psychology at the graduate level can give you the tools you need to understand and solve problems like mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. Keep reading to learn more about psychology Master’s degree programs in New York.

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

To study at the Master’s degree level, you must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. However, the vast majority of programs do not require a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Any introductory psychology course is enough.

Completing a Master’s degree requires you to earn 30 or more credits at the graduate level. The specific amount of credits you have to earn is dependent on the specialty you choose. Some of the more prominent specialties in New York include biological psychology, social psychology, child psychology, and counseling psychology.

New York Students Taking a Test For Their Psychology Masters

Your curriculum should be comprised of many challenging and high-level psychology courses. If you decide to specialize in general psychology, you may prepare for your future career with courses like Affective Bases of Behavior, Clinical Interviewing, Research Methods and Statistics, Psychodiagnosis, Psychopharmacology, and Social and Personality Psychology. To meet the clinical requirements of your program, you may conduct research, write a thesis, or work in a clinical setting. Each program has its own requirements, so make sure you choose one that fits in with your career goals.

Scholarships, grants, and loan repayment programs are available for aspiring psychology professionals. If you want to work in a school setting, you may apply for scholarships through the New York State School Counselors Association.

At Adelphi University, students can earn a master’s in psychology degree in school psychology. This degree prepares students to work as school counselors, though it does not certify them as private practice psychologists. Master’s in psychology degrees are also available in general psychology and mental health counseling. Canisius College offers several master’s programs in psychology. The school-counseling program allows graduates to apply for licensure as school psychologists in K-12 public schools. With the mental health counseling master’s degree, students can take the exam for New York’s Mental Health License, and apply to a doctoral program. Fordham University in the Bronx offers a master’s of psychology degree in applied psychological methods. The program will help students obtain jobs or advanced education in social science research fields.

Working with Your Master’s Degree in Psychology in New York

The growing demand for mental health professionals in New York means that you may enjoy a solid job outlook when you complete your graduate degree in this field. Quite a few psychology careers at the graduate level require licensure, so you may need to go through an extensive testing and background check process before you can legally work in the state of New York.

Clinical psychology is a broad field in this area, allowing you to work in settings like doctors’ offices, social service agencies, and community clinics. Job openings may swell 6% through the year 2022, and the average salary in this field is $81,700 per year (O*Net, 2015).

With experience and a passion for teaching, you may decide to teach undergraduate courses in psychology. By 2022, O*Net anticipates a 15% increase in psychology teaching jobs in New York (2015). Those in this field report an average salary of $74,000 per year (O*Net, 2015).

As a psychology professional in New York, you can improve the lives of residents in both rural and urban areas. Learn more now and contact Master’s in psychology programs in New York.