Master's in Psychology Degree Overview

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Updated February 27, 2024

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Master's programs allow students to specialize in areas of psychology that interest them most. Learn about degree requirements and job opportunities for master's grads here.

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Counselor talking to group Credit: SDI Productions / E+ / Getty Images

Do you want to forge a professional path in psychology? A master's in psychology degree creates opportunities for various career specialties unavailable to bachelor's degree-holders. This graduate degree also meets the criteria for entry into a doctoral program.

Discover the pros and cons of earning a master's in psychology, common concentrations, and career prospects for graduates.

Popular Online Master's in Psychology Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Master's in Psychology

It Makes You More Specialized

Perhaps the most exciting part about pursuing a master's in psychology is the chance to dig into the area of psychology that interests you most. Social work, along with substance use, mental health, marriage, and family counseling are all fields that master's in psychology students can pursue after graduation.

  • Pro

    Psychology specializations fetch higher salaries and afford you more autonomy. The degree allows you to explore specific areas that align with your personal and professional interests.
  • Con

    To work in a specialization, you might need a doctoral degree and perhaps a state license. The path to a career could span 6-12 years.

You Can Gain Work Experience Through Internship or Volunteer Opportunities

Most enrollees in master's-level psychology programs work in roles like assistant, volunteer, and intern while in school, many of which allow them to pay for school. Master's in psychology students are guaranteed practical experience in their field of interest.

  • Pro

    Some nonprofits rely heavily on the support of master's-level psychology students, creating many opportunities for qualified applicants to develop experience.
  • Con

    Added experiential learning requires you to more carefully balance work and school.

Master's in Psychology Programs Teach You Tangible Skills and Prepare You to Counsel Clients

Master's in psychology students participate in off-campus practicums to engage in supervised field training after developing core competencies. Practicums provide opportunities for graduate students to observe licensed professionals directly counseling patients.

  • Pro

    Practicums are a common way for master's in psychology students to gain practical experience and build their resumes. You can receive placements in your preferred field, like substance use counseling.
  • Con

    Experience in a specific setting does not guarantee abundant job opportunities. To use the title of "psychologist," you must hold a doctoral degree and license.

The Master's Degree in Psychology Takes Less Time Than a Doctoral Program

The average master's in psychology degree takes 2-4 years and requires about 30 credits, while a doctoral in psychology degree takes 4-7 years and about 50-80 credits. Both degrees require rigorous academic research and often include a thesis or dissertation.

  • Pro

    As a master's degree-holder, you can jumpstart your psychology career faster than spending the additional time on a doctoral degree. A master's-level education can qualify you for more job opportunities with bigger paychecks than a bachelor's degree alone.
  • Con

    You can accelerate your psychology career by earning a master's degree. However, you still need a doctoral degree to qualify for licensed psychologist work.

Concentrations

  • Psychopharmacology: This concentration involves the study of medication used to treat mental disorders. You'll examine common treatment plans and how various medications affect the body.
  • Learning, Cognition, and Child Psychology: If you want to study how children think, learn, and retain information, consider this concentration. Materials in child psychology challenge you to consider kids' cognitive, emotional, and social development to examine common teaching methods.
  • Consumer Psychology: Courses focus on the perception, motivation, and market research methodology behind the science of consumer marketing, perfect for industrial-occupational psychology students.
  • Forensic Psychology: Forensic psychology requires psychologists who can assess victims' and criminals' motivations, desires, and pathologies.
  • Military Psychology: With a focus on the psychology behind military life, this concentration covers behavioral performance in intense and stressful situations and group dynamics. Students also explore trauma, grief, and leadership strategies.
  • Social Psychology: Social psychology focuses on helping young people realize their goals by developing effective and productive habits and life skills.
  • Engineering Psychologists: Students use their specialized research and analysis skills to explore perception, attentional processes, and motor skills in this specialization.

What Kinds of Psychology Careers Can I Pursue With a Master's Degree in Psychology?

After earning a master's in psychology degree, you can pursue many career options. However, you'll need a doctoral degree to get a license to practice psychology and call yourself a psychologist in most states. Industrial-organizational psychology, school and career counselors, and mental health counselors are possible careers available to master's in psychology degree-holders.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Colleges, state government agencies, and elementary and secondary schools hire instructional-organizational psychologists. They use their expertise in human behavior in groups and organizations to address workplace issues, such as recruitment and training.

These professionals use psychology research to improve employee training and create a better work-life balance for staff.

Average Annual Salary: $144,610

School and Career Counselors

Public and private schools employ school counselors. They assist students in dealing with social, behavioral, and academic problems. These counselors also provide guidance on vocational choices and pursuing higher education.

Career counselors are more likely to work in academic institutions, private practice, life coaching programs, and social work. Career counselors can also find employment with corporate recruitment departments.

Average Annual Salary: $64,200

Mental Health Counselors

Mental health counselors work with individuals and groups in settings such as community health centers, prisons, substance use rehabilitation facilities, and social service agencies.

These counselors assist clients with the management of mental health disorders, stressful life transitions, grief, and loss, among other concerns.

Average Annual Salary: $56,230

Marriage and Family Therapists

These therapists help families and couples through challenges. They may address marital and sexual issues, child-parent conflicts, and special circumstances related to raising children, including adoption, disabilities, developmental delays, and birth defects.

People caring for older adults may also benefit from working with marriage and family therapists. Marriage and family therapists can assist with challenges related to chronic illness and disability, along with the resulting financial strain.

Average Annual Salary: $63,300

Substance Use Counselors

These counselors, also called addiction counselors, often collaborate with psychologists and psychiatric and social workers to create treatment plans for people experiencing addiction and alcoholism. They evaluate patients, help modify their harmful behaviors, and repair relationships and careers.

Substance use counselors work at outpatient mental health centers, individual and family services, health practitioner offices, and hospitals.

Average Annual Salary: $56,230

What Job Settings Do Master's Degree in Psychology Holders Work In?

If you have a master's degree in psychology, you can find employment in many settings. Some common settings include:

Private Practice

Professionals in private practice enjoy the freedom to build their client loads and set pay rates. Counselors and psychotherapists who hold master's degrees meet with patients in private practices to deliver mental health services.

They enjoy greater scheduling freedom. Depending on the state, it may take a doctoral degree to open a practice of your own.

Community Mental Health Clinics

These clinics serve various clients, including children, adults, and adolescents experiencing mental health conditions. A counselor with a master's degree in psychology in this setting may see clients, facilitate groups, and provide educational programs in the community.

Corporate Settings

Corporations may have contracts with vendors that offer therapy services to employees. Performance coaches, who typically have master's-level psychology degrees, may guide other professionals to improve employee performance and work environments.

What Do Higher Education and Career Advancement Opportunities Look Like After a Master's in Psychology?

Ph.D. or Psy.D.
Next Degree Level

4-7 years
Typical Duration

$106,000
Average Annual Wage (Payscale, Feb. 2024)

Sample Careers

States set education and licensing requirements for psychology careers. A master's in psychology degree may suffice for some counseling positions, but most states may require a Ph.D. in psychology or a Psy.D. for positions such as counseling psychologists. Some states may allow master's-level graduates to work as psychologists under the supervision of licensed professionals, but to work in independent practice, they'd need a doctoral degree.

  • Clinical Psychologist: These licensed mental health professionals diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders in various clinical settings. You'll typically find clinical psychologists in private practice or health practitioner offices, but they also work in outpatient care centers, psychiatric hospitals, and individual and family service agencies.
  • Counseling Psychologist: Counseling psychologists guide patients to help them identify the root causes of issues in their personal and work lives. Healthcare organizations, colleges and universities, and corporations employ counseling psychologists.
  • Research Psychologist: Research psychologists engage in scientific research to advance their knowledge of how people behave and think. They typically work in institutions with research facilities, such as academia, or they may engage in corporate consulting.
  • Educational Psychologists: Educational psychologists support students with learning disabilities in public and private schools, universities, colleges, and other institutions of learning.
  • School Psychologist: A school psychologist provides skilled psychological counseling to school-age children. Students can be affected by issues such as academic pressure, disabilities, poverty, and mental illness. A sympathetic school psychologist can help children overcome their educational problems.
  • Forensic Psychologist: Forensic psychologists apply psychology tools and research to the legal world. These specialized psychological professionals work with people in the legal system, including defendants, suspects, crime victims, law enforcement, judges, and attorneys in civil and criminal cases. They may also provide expert testimony in the courtroom and conduct research.

Frequently Asked Questions About Master's in Psychology Programs

What can you do with a master's degree in psychology?

Licensing requirements for counseling and psychology careers vary by state. With a master's degree, you can become a licensed counselor and specialize in marriage and family counseling or substance use. Otherwise, you can use your master's in psychology degree on the path to earning a doctoral degree and pursuing a career as a clinical psychologist.

How long does it take to earn a master's degree in psychology?

You can usually earn a master's in psychology in 2-3 years. Most programs require 30-40 credits to graduate, but timelines vary based on factors like the curriculum, specialization options, and thesis requirements. Enrolling part time can also lengthen a program. Some schools offer accelerated or online options that can shorten the overall time to completion.

What are the requirements for a master's degree in psychology?

Many master's programs in psychology require 30-40 credits, but requirements vary by program. Generally, students can select concentrations like clinical, social, or organizational psychology. Some programs require a formal thesis project, while others culminate in a portfolio or comprehensive exam.

Is a master's in psychology worth it?

If you're planning to become a practicing psychologist, a master's degree in psychology can be a worthwhile venture. These programs prepare you to pursue a doctoral program, which can lead to an independent career as a mental health clinician. Earning a master's degree in psychology can lead to career advancement, further education, and higher earning potential.

What types of master's degrees in psychology are available?

Students can choose from a master of science (MS) in psychology and a master of arts (MA) in psychology. An MS degree will emphasize the sciences more, with more classes in biology and chemistry, while an MA degree covers more liberal arts coursework. Both degrees adequately prepare students for careers and doctoral studies in psychology.

Page last reviewed on December 7, 2023

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