Master’s Degree in Psychology

The master’s in psychology is a graduate-level degree program that typically takes two to three years to complete. Unlike either the associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, the master’s in psychology is considered a terminal degree depending on your career field. A master’s degree in psychology is sufficient for entry-level career positions in organizational-industrial psychology as well as other business fields where psychology is employed. Notwithstanding, a doctorate degree in psychology is still the degree of choice among employers, and is absolutely necessary for those seeking a career as a clinical, counseling or educational psychologist practitioner. In fact, every state in the nation now requires that licensure applicants have a doctorate degree in psychology or a closely related field before sitting for state licensing exams.

Most colleges that offer the master’s of psychology program offer the option of choosing between a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) degree. The Master of Arts degree focuses on the study of psychology within the humanities disciplines. The MA in psychology addresses the human condition from a more analytic and applied perspective. In contract, the MS in psychology focuses on the human condition from a more empirical and science driven point of view. The difference between and MA and MS in psychology will vary depending on the school, but as a rule of thumb an MA degree traditionally focuses on theoretical and applied topics while the MS focuses on in-depth empirical research.

Career opportunities for students who earn a master’s degree in psychology are more plentiful than for those who only earn a bachelor’s degree. However, master’s programs can vary dramatically from one program to another. Some schools offer master’s degrees in psychology as terminal degrees-which are specifically designed to prepare students for careers, while others offer master’s programs designed to prepare students to pursue a doctorate degree in psychology. Before applying to any master’s program in psychology you’ll want to determine what the focus of the program is, and if it is in line with your future goals and career aspirations.

If you plan on using a master’s in psychology as a stepping stone into a doctoral program you may want to determine which doctoral program you want to attend prior to earning a master’s degree. Some doctorate programs in psychology only require the completion of a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of over 700 accredited colleges and universities that offer master’s degree programs in psychology.