Online Master of Science Degree in Psychology
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Program at a Glance
- Prepare to meet the educational requirements for certifications in behavior analysis or addictions.
- Learn from psychology practitioners with extensive experience in the field. All faculty possess a doctorate degree and relevant industry credentials.
- Choose one of four concentrations to align the program with your career goals.
Upcoming Start Dates
We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.
Course Effort
15 Hours per Week
Course Length
10-Week Terms
Average Completion
2 years
Of Full-Time Study
Credits Required
60–75
(40-50 Semester Credits)
Cost per Credit
$420
Purdue Global Career Outcomes 2020–2021
Each year, our Center for Career Advancement sends a NACE First Destination survey to our graduating class to learn more about their career choices and potential income within 18 months of graduation. We’re proud of our recent Purdue Global alumni accomplishments.
94%
Graduates in Purdue Global’s Master of Science in Psychology program were employed or continued their education within 18 months of graduation.
“Career Outcomes Rate” is not the same as an “employment rate”—it includes graduates who are: (1) employed (whether full or part time); (2) participating in a program of voluntary service, (3) serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or (4) enrolled in a program of continuing education. This rate may also include graduates employed in jobs unrelated to their degree or who were employed while attending Purdue Global. (9,106 graduates surveyed across associate's, bachelor's, master's, JD, EJD, and DNP programs from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. 7,803 of 9,106 replied.)
Master of Science in Psychology Overview
Our online master’s degree in psychology offers you an opportunity to blend the rich, academic tradition of psychology with the contemporary applications of science while allowing you to focus your studies in one of four concentrations: addictions, forensic psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, or general psychology.
This program emphasizes practical application so that you gain the tangible skills necessary to make a difference helping others, empowering people, and driving change. The master’s in psychology online program is designed to help you with the following:
- Understand how contemporary theories relate to real-world situations faced in various psychology professions.
- Evaluate and apply general psychological theories and concepts, as well as theories from your selected area of concentration, to various client-based situations within the field of psychology.
- Apply theoretical and conceptual foundations of psychology as they relate to your area of concentration to arrive at evidence-based professional practice strategies.
- Apply ethical, legal, individual, and sociocultural standards and guidelines set forth within your area of concentration and the field of psychology.
Before graduation, you'll have the choice of completing a thesis or a capstone course.
See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.
Learning Resources
The graduate resource center and addictions student site offer resources to support students in the psychology master’s program.
Connect Outside the Classroom
Students are invited to join organizations such as the Psychology Club, Psi Chi International Honor Society, and Autism Speaks U. Free webinars are also available to support your learning outside of the classroom.
Admissions Requirements
A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a master’s degree program. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.
NAADAC Approved and NASAC Accredited
Purdue Global is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider. In addition, The Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in addictions is accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).
Students who complete the addictions concentration will meet the coursework requirements to take the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) certification exam.*
Note: Applicants must meet additional requirements to qualify, including field experience and licensure requirements.
Ways to Save
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Prior Work Experience
You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.
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Financial Aid
Title IV federal financial aid is available for many of our degree programs.
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Corporate Partner Benefits
Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.
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Military Tuition Reduction
55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers, 38% per credit for veterans for undergraduate programs.
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International Tuition Reduction
International students living outside of the United States are eligible for a 25% tuition reduction.
Program Cost Estimator
Calculate your estimated tuition and ways to save.
What Courses Will I Take?
Curriculum focuses on the processes that guide the individual human experience and behavior, as well as the core knowledge, theories, and research in the field of psychology.
Select a thesis or a captsone course as the program's culminating experience.
See All Psychology CoursesSample Courses
- Foundations of Professional Psychology
- Testing, Measurement, and Assessment
- Applied Statistics for Psychology
- Advanced Research Methods
- Life Span Development
Thesis
- Core Credits40
- Elective Credits25–35
- Total Credits65–75
Capstone
- Core Credits35
- Elective Credits25–35
- Total Credits60–70
Concentrations
Choose from four psychology concentrations that allow you to develop specialized expertise in your chosen career path.
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Addictions
Prepare to counsel clients who have problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling, and eating disorders.
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Forensic psychology
Apply evidence-based psychological theories and concepts to develop strategies that advocate for populations in settings across the criminal and civil legal systems.
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Industrial/organizational psychology
Apply psychological principles to the business world and explore the theories, methods, and practice of I/O psychology.
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General psychology
Study learning and behavior approaches, neuropsychological perspectives and technologies, issues in psychopathology, and cognitive psychology.
Career Opportunities
Due to increased demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, social service agencies, and mental health centers, employment in this field is expected to grow from 2021 to 2031. Overall employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in the U.S. is expected grow 22% during the same period, much faster than the average for all occupations.†
With a master’s degree in psychology from Purdue Global, you could find opportunities in areas such as human resources, employee assistance groups, business research facilities, educational settings, drug and alcohol treatment programs, criminal justice organizations, and law enforcement and civil legal settings.
Top 5 Skills Employers Are Looking for:
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Complex Problem-Solving
Top Jobs With This Degree
Labor market, salary, and projected growth information are supplied by Emsi. Average salary range is based on national data. Projected growth represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018–2030) at the state level and is based on your geographic location. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, and opportunities for employment. Purdue Global cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.
The professional practice of psychology is regulated by each state, and the degree requirements of this program do not guarantee or prepare you for licensure in any state upon graduation. It is important to note that, while earning a master’s degree in psychology may qualify you to work in the helping professions, a doctorate degree is required to become a psychologist and a medical degree is required to become a psychiatrist.
Get to Know Our Faculty
Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.
View Psychology Faculty Directory
98%
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
51%
Faculty members who hold a doctorate
395
Faculty publications in 2021–2022
More Than 38,000
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2021–2022
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2022. 2021–2022 academic year.
Take a Career Assessment
Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.
Download the Program Brochure
Download our brochure to learn more about the online Master of Science in Psychology and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.
Prepare yourself for success with a master’s degree in psychology.
NOTES AND CONDITIONS
* Certification and Licensure: The professional practice of psychology is regulated by each state, and the degree requirements of this program do not guarantee or prepare students for licensure in any state upon graduation. Refer to Purdue Global's State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information. Visit www.NAADAC.org and/or www.BACB.com for additional state-specific licensure requirements. Students are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams. In some cases, work experience, additional coursework beyond the Purdue Global program, fieldwork, and/or background checks may be necessary to be eligible to take or to successfully pass the exams.
†Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm; Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.