Master’s Psychology Schools

From severe personality disorders to common stage-of-life dilemmas, the broad spectrum of mental health issues requires the skills of compassionate, yet focused psychologists, therapists and counselors. Those who graduate from master’s psychology schools have acquired the knowledge and training required to enter the profession with confidence. Many schools offer targeted coursework for students who prefer to specialize in a particular field of psychology.

Who pursues a master’s degree in psychology?

Those who pursue psychology are as vast in their demographics as they are in their reasons for entering graduate school. Some students yearn for more knowledge of the dynamics of the human brain. Others want to be of service to humanity and the community. Many desire a job in a growing field with the possibility of earning a substantial income.

Students who would like to earn a master’s degree in psychology must already hold a bachelor’s degree. Although many students enter master’s psychology schools without an undergraduate psychology degree, it is often helpful to major or minor in psychology, or at least take some coursework in the field.

What is required?

Earning a psychology master’s degree usually requires two to three years of study. Students can pursue an master’s of arts (M.A.) degree or a master’s of science (M.S.) degree. An M.A. usually indicates stronger liberal arts coursework, while an M.S. usually signifies coursework which focuses on research and science. Some students complete a master’s degree and immediately enter the work force, while others use the degree as a springboard to a doctorate degree.

Before earning a psychology master’s degree, many students must complete a practicum, which involves working at a job-site for a specified number of hours, which is usually set by the individual school. During practicum, students often have direct contact hours with clients, as well as supervision from a seasoned therapist or psychologist.

When a student has completed all necessary coursework and the practicum, he or she is usually required to write a thesis or take an exam to complete degree requirements.

In order to graduate, most students who pursue a psychology master’s degree must take extensive coursework, which may include the following courses:

Adult psychology
Statistics in psychology
Theories of development/lifespan development
Psychotherapy
Principles of neuropsychology
History and systems

Although accredited graduate schools in psychology are located around the world, the number of hybrid or exclusively online graduate schools that offer a psychology master’s degree are growing to accommodate those who are juggling other commitments.

Types of psychology schools

Students who pursue degrees from master’s psychology schools can choose to specialize in a particular area of psychology, thereby taking coursework that directly applies to the speciality. Here is a look at the array of psychology schools from which students can choose:

Behavior modification through psychology

Behavioral psychologists focus on and modify what people do and how they think. By doing this, the behavioral psychologist helps clients manage their emotions. Many behavioral psychologists believe that, by modifying a client’s behavior, the client can then change the way he or she thinks and reacts. Typically, the student of behavioral psychology will learn how to do the following:

Develop a treatment plan
Use behavioral methods in treatment, such as conditioning, reinforcement and punishment
Collaborate work with the patient
Set an agenda for each psychotherapy session

Ultimately, the goal of behavioral psychology is to help build the patient’s capacities to cope with life without the continuous help of the psychologist. This method is often used in conjunction with cognitive therapy.

Clinical psychology schools

Clinical psychology students learn how to assess, diagnose, treat and prevent numerous mental disorders. Some clinical psychologists specialize in treating severe psychological disorders, but others help people deal with personal issues, such as divorce or the death of a loved one.

Clinical psychologists provide an opportunity for clients to talk and think about things that are confusing or worrying, offering different ways of interpreting and understanding problems and situations. Students who pursue this type of degree learn how to use a variety of approaches aimed at helping their clients.

Clinical psychologists can facilitate individual, family or group sessions in a private office; some clinical psychologists work in hospitals or medical schools.

The internal process — cognitive psychology

Cognitive psychology focuses on the way humans process information. Students who take coursework in cognitive psychology will learn how to look at how the information the brain receives leads to responses. In other words, cognitive psychologists focus on how what we think leads to behavior.

Cognitive psychologists study internal processes including the following:

Perception
Attention
Language
Memory
Thinking

Cognitive therapy is often used in conjunction with behavioral therapy.

Life stages — developmental psychology

Developmental psychologists study the physiological, cognitive and social development that takes place throughout life. Some specialize in behavior during infancy, childhood and adolescence. Others look at changes that occur during maturity or old age.

Students who graduate with a master’s degree in developmental psychology may work in several different places. These include the following locations:

Individual practice
Government agency
Teen rehabilitation centers
Assisted living homes
Centers for the homeless

Developmental psychologists may also study developmental disabilities and their effects. For example, some experts in the field focus exclusively on child developmental disabilities.

The school of educational psychology

Educational psychology is the study of the development of students as they progress from children to adult learners. More specifically, they study the following aspects of student learning:

Social
Ethical
Cognitive

Educational psychologists develop and apply theories of teaching, learning and human development to determine the most effective ways for educators to teach students.

Some educational psychologists are concerned with developing curricula to improve the quality of education. They look at various topics which may include the following:

Instructional methods
Individual differences in learning
Behavioral and cognitive theories of education

Educational psychologists research ideas like the multiple intelligence theory, appropriate learning goals, and what motivates students to learn.

Experimental psychologists

Experimental psychologists use scientific methods to research the mind and behavior. They study the behavior of both human beings and animals, such as rats, monkeys and pigeons. In doing so, experimental or research psychologists work in university and private research centers and in business, nonprofit and governmental organizations.

Students who earn a master’s degree in experimental psychology will likely take coursework in the following areas:

Motivation
Thought
Attention
Learning and memory
Sensory and perceptual processes
Effects of substance abuse
Genetic and neurological factors affecting behavior

Students who focus on experimental psychology may graduate and teach experimental methods to students.

Understanding crime through forensic psychology

Forensic psychologists help judges, attorneys and other legal professionals understand the psychological findings of a particular case. To do this, they often use the psychological principles they learned in graduate school to assist the legal and criminal justice system.

Those who specialize in forensic psychology are usually designated as expert witnesses and typically specialize in one of three areas:

Family court
Civil court
Criminal court

Forensic psychologists who work in family court may perform psychotherapy, conduct child custody evaluations or investigate reports of child abuse.

Those working in civil courts may assess competency, provide second opinions and provide psychotherapy to crime victims.

Criminal court forensic psychologists often conduct evaluations of mental competency, work with child witnesses and assess juvenile or adult offenders.

Industrial/organizational psychology — helping businesses grow

Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is the scientific study of the workplace. I-O psychologists apply psychological methods to issues of critical relevance to business, including the following:

Talent management
Coaching
Assessment
Selection
Training
Organizational development
Performance
Work-life balance

In essence, I-O psychologists are concerned with helping businesses choose the best employee for the job, while assisting existing employees in thriving in their current positions.

Those who graduate with a degree in I-O psychology are usually qualified to work in business, research or academia.

Mental health counseling

Clinical mental health counselors provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical, problem-solving approach. This often creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution.

Clinical mental health counselors may offer the following services:

Assessment and diagnosis
Psychotherapy
Treatment planning and utilization review
Brief and solution-focused therapy
Alcoholism and substance abuse treatment
Psycho-educational and prevention programs
Crisis management

Clinical mental health may work in individual practice, community agencies or managed behavioral health care organizations, among other locations.

Studying social pyschology

From influence to romance, culture to conflict resolution, graduate students who attend social psychology schools study human thinking and interaction, usually as it relates to groups or pairs. Social psychologists work in academic, non-profit, NGO and corporate settings.