Master’s Degrees in Psychology

Grand Canyon University offers you the opportunity to dive deep into your understanding of the field of psychology by earning your Master of Science in Psychology degree. This program can provide you with an in-depth analysis of various psychological topics, while also incorporating specific courses unique to your area of specialization.

Benefits of Pursuing Your Master’s in Psychology

As you pursue your graduate psychology degree, you will work to gain a deeper understanding of psychological topics and perform research in your area of interest. You will also have the opportunity to specialize in an area of your choice by completing focused psychology coursework, helping you develop valuable skills for a new career path in the field or pursue a doctoral psychology degree.

Psychologist careers are also expected to grow at a faster than average rate over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for psychologists to increase by about 6% from 2022 to 2032, accounting for an estimated increase of 12,000 jobs in the field.1

Master’s in Psychology FAQs

There are many questions that might come up as you decide to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. Read through some commonly asked questions to learn more about this course of study.

For those looking to pursue a career as a psychologist, a master’s degree in psychology is not only worth it, but it is typically necessary.2 This degree can prepare you to pursue doctoral psychology degrees, allowing you to position yourself for potential career advancement by instilling you with a deep knowledge of psychological topics related to your area of focus.

Salary expectations are also relevant to consider when looking at pursuing psychology-related careers. According to the BLS, psychologists have a median annual wage of $92,740 as of May 2023.3

Master’s programs are designed to be challenging to best prepare you for a career in a field that comes with its own set of challenges. It can also be difficult to balance your courses, work and other commitments at times. This advanced degree is designed to develop your leadership, critical thinking and sharp communication skills through a curriculum that covers and tests you on various complex topics, including ethical issues, statistics, research methods and other coursework specific to your emphasis.

Those with a psychology master’s may be eligible to become a therapist; however you will need to obtain licensure to practice. In order to practice as a clinical psychologist, you will need to obtain a doctoral degree in psychology as well as licensure in your state. It is important to review the requirements for licensure in your state and specific location to come up with an appropriate educational plan for you to obtain your desired position.

Psychologist sitting in a room

Flexible Learning Options To Fit Your Needs

GCU offers various modalities for you to complete your psychology master’s program, including online and on-campus course options. Explore our various program offerings and available modalities to find the graduate program that best fits your schedule, lifestyle and commitments.

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Graduate Psychology Degree Areas of Study

At GCU, you have the opportunity to focus your advanced psychology studies in an area that best supports your career goals. We offer emphasis options for our MS in Psychology degree in a number of different areas of study, including:

Work to develop your leadership abilities, enhance your communication skills and dive deeper into the study of psychology by earning your psychology master’s degree. This degree program will cover topics such as ethical issues, physical, social, cognitive, personality, spiritual and moral development, theory and design, and the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.

In a graduate forensic science degree program, you will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of criminal behavior and how it relates to scientific principles. This program will cover critical topics, including theories of crime causation, psychological knowledge, public policy and research-based methods for community reintegration.

Psychology is relevant in many fields, especially within businesses and organizations. Through the application of data, scientific findings and well-researched methods, this industrial organization psychology emphasis program can help you become a well-equipped, knowledgeable professional who can help enhance a workplace environment with the goal of improving productivity.

If you’re seeking to make a difference in the lives of your clients by helping them overcome obstacles, achieve goals and ease the burden of transitions, a psychology master’s with an emphasis in life coaching may be ideal for you. This program covers various theories, coaching skills, models and techniques that you can use to help others live happier, healthier lives.

If you’re passionate about helping aging adults live fulfilling, healthier lives, consider enrolling in a master’s in psychology with a geropsychology emphasis. This program focuses on applying analytical reasoning and evidence-based strategies to help positively impact the aging population, including implementing physical, cognitive and spiritual care.

This degree program will teach you how biological, social and psychological factors influence people’s behavior. This degree can help prepare you to help support and guide your clients as they seek to improve their lives mentally, physically and cognitively.

By earning your master’s with an emphasis in human factors psychology, you will work to understand the interaction between engineering and psychology. This program will cover topics such as user-based research, user experiences for a product or system, human factors principles and how to maximize human interaction efficiency.

Psychology Master's

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Specialized Psychology Coursework

In your psychology master’s program, you will work through a curriculum that covers advanced psychology topics, and is designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of the field and your role within it. Some coursework topics you will cover include:

  • Ethical issues in psychology
  • Social and cultural psychology
  • Research methods
  • Statistics

Along with your core courses, you will take specific topic-focused courses relevant to your emphasis, providing you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of that area of focus.

GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The accreditation statuses of our university directly reflect our commitment to providing our students with a comprehensive, quality education that can provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their desired career paths. Learn about the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ programmatic accreditation.

To be considered eligible for any of our graduate psychology programs, you must meet GCU’s graduate admissions requirements. These requirements include holding a previous accredited bachelor’s degree, as well as obtaining a specific GPA. To discuss your eligibility, fill out the form on this page to speak with a university counselor.

What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Psychology?

While licensing requirements will vary by state, a master’s degree in psychology is designed to prepare you for work as a psychologist. A master’s degree is typically the minimum requirement for various psychologist positions, such as in the industrial-organizational field.2

Graduate psychology student using computer

 

Student Resources and Support

At GCU, we want you to be successful in your studies. We offer all our students access to various resources and support to assist you as you work through your program. Take advantage of our online learning resources, as well as specific resources offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, so you can study confidently as you work toward graduation.

If you are ready to advance your education in the mental health field, apply to one of GCU’s graduate psychology programs today.

1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists, retrieved on April 16, 2024. 

2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). How to become a psychologist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 16, 2024. 

3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Psychologists, as of May 2023, retrieved May 13, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as psychologists, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.