There are many different kinds of graduate training programs (for earning Master's and Doctoral degrees) in Psychology. Some focus on training you to be a practitioner (therapist, counselor, school psychologist) who works in an applied setting (e.g., hospital, clinic, private practice, other service organization). Other programs focus on research and are designed to train you to be a college professor who teaches and conducts research in a university setting. Some professional research psychologists work outside of universities at private or public research institutions. Programs vary depending on whether they offer a Master's or a Doctoral degree, and whether they are offered by a traditional academic institution or a "professional school."
Master's Programs in Psychology at Cal State LA
The Master of Arts in Psychology (MA), and the Master of Science in Forensic Psychology are research-based degrees that do not focus on clinical practice (and will not help you earn a therapist license). They require a thesis (a research project) and many courses in research methods and statistics. If you don't want to be a college professor, these are not the degree programs for you. You may teach with an MA or similar degree at the community college, but such degrees are usually not sufficient for tenure-track (permanent) jobs as a college professor. The MA in Psychology is offered at many CSU campuses.
Additional Master's Programs
Although we no longer offer these programs at Cal State LA, you can find similar programs at other CSU campuses. The MFT degree (Marriage, Family Therapy) is a Master's degree that is designed to train you as a therapist/practitioner. It does not involve a thesis project but a comprehensive exam. It is designed to move you toward licensure as a practicing therapist. Other Master's programs in other disciplines (e.g., Master's of Science in Counseling, Master's of Social Work or MSW) are also designed to train/educate students as practitioners/counselors. If you want to be a therapist, all three are viable options. Master's programs in School Psychology are also available. These Master's programs are offered at many CSUs. The MS in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) is designed for students who plan to work as behavior analysts, specialists, or consultants with a Masters degree (often working with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, including autism), and for those who plan to pursue doctoral training in behavior analysis with the goal of being a college professor.
Going Beyond a Master’s...
These programs are not offered at Cal State LA’s Department of Psychology, but here’s some information on them. This may help you design your thesis question as you consider your future options.
Ph.D. Programs in Psychology
The graduate training for ANYPh.D. in Psychology(including Clinical or Counseling Ph.D.s) is based very heavily on research. All Ph.D. degrees (regardless of field) are about training you to become a researcher. Because most researchers work at universities (the main institutions that support such work), many Ph.D.s are college professors (including people with Ph.D.s in Clinical Psychology). Professors with Ph.D.s in Clinical Psychology do sometimes work directly with clients/patients, but many do not.If you don't want to be a researcher and/or college professor, Ph.D. programs are not a good choice.
Ph.D. programs in psychology, especially Clinical Ph.D. programs, are EXTREMELY competitive; they can attract hundreds of applicants and often select only two or three. Clinical Ph.D. programs are mainly interested in people who want to become researchers, particularly programs at large public and private universities (e.g., all of the Universities of California ). Research willalwaysbe emphasized over practice in such programs. So, if you are not interested in doing research as a career, then Ph.D. programs are probably not the route you want to go.
Typically, Ph.D. programs (in any field of Psychology) require GRE scores that are at the very least 1100. They prefer applicants who have research experience (work done directly with a faculty member who is conducting empirical research). For Clinical/Counseling Ph.D. programs in Psychology, applied work (in a mental health, social service, educational setting) is also valued, but research experience is more strongly emphasized. If you do not have research experience, it is very unlikely that you would be accepted into a Ph.D. program. Ph.D. programs also requiresuperiorundergraduate grades; if your overall undergraduate GPA is under 3.5, it is unlikely that you would be accepted into a Ph.D. program in Psychology.
Professional School Doctoral Programs in Psychology
PsyD(Doctor of Psychology, as opposed to the Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy) programs are growing in popularity. They are much less research focused, not designed to train you as a research professor, and much more applied (focused on teaching you to work with clients/patients). PsyD programs (like Argosy, Alliant, etc.) are very expensive because they are only offered by private "professional schools" (not traditional universities). These programs are less competitive than Ph.D. programs at universities, meaning they accept many more applicants each year.
There is a big difference between Ph.D. programs at large universities and PsyD programs offered at professional schools. Ph.D. programs at large universities involve research, even for Clinical Ph.D.s. These degrees are designed to train you as a scholar/researcher/professor. Students are likely to receive funding as a graduate student.
At professional schools, students pay very high tuition, and are trained as practitioners more than researchers (although all Ph.D.s require a dissertation, a research project). Ph.D.s from professional schools are about being a practitioner. Ph.D.s from professional schools are less valuable in attaining a tenure-track academic job (a tenured position as a college professor), but you may be able to teach part-time with such a degree. These degrees train you to be a clinician; they are well-regarded degrees in the clinical world. Ph.D.s from professional schools are very much like PsyDs.
FAQs
Graduate school in clinical psychology consists of three broad activities: class work, clinical work, and research. There are classes on such topics as statistics, psychopathology, psychotherapy, and research methods.
What is a graduate degree in psychology? ›
The Master of Arts in Psychology (MA), and the Master of Science in Forensic Psychology are research-based degrees that do not focus on clinical practice (and will not help you earn a therapist license). They require a thesis (a research project) and many courses in research methods and statistics.
Why pursue graduate study in psychology? ›
It can unlock new career opportunities.
Health and forensic psychology are two examples of career tracks in which at least a graduate degree in psychology is typically required. Other positions of note you may be able to pursue with a master's in psychology include: Data analyst. Market and survey researcher.
Is grad school for psychology hard? ›
Graduate studies in psychology require a lot of hard work and effort on your part. Many programs take at least two years to complete, and if you pursue a doctorate, the timeline is often about five years.
How do I prepare for grad school psychology? ›
Read publications from professors you are interested in working with. Get involved in research as an undergrad. Get involved with research as an undergraduate, take courses that are relevant to the field (e.g., Statistics), talk to current graduate students, study for and take the GRE...
What psychology jobs make the most money? ›
10 Highest Paying Jobs With a Psychology Degree
- Psychiatrist. ...
- Industrial-organizational psychologist. ...
- Neuropsychologist. ...
- Clinical psychologist. ...
- Engineering psychologist. ...
- Counseling psychologist. ...
- Forensic psychologist. ...
- School psychologist.
Master's Degree in Psychology
Like a bachelor's degree in psychology, you can earn either a master of science (MS) or a master of arts (MA). The MS focuses more on research and theory, and is therefore good preparation for an academic career. A master's in psychology takes 2-3 years to complete.
How does psychology grad school work? ›
Graduate school in clinical psychology consists of three broad activities: class work, clinical work, and research. There are classes on such topics as statistics, psychopathology, psychotherapy, and research methods. Course work is typically complete by the end of the third year of graduate school.
What are three major reasons why we study psychology? ›
7 Reasons to Study Psychology
- Develop domain-specific knowledge. ...
- Understand yourself. ...
- Understand the people around you. ...
- Improve your communication skills. ...
- Cultivate the ability to research. ...
- Sharpen your critical thinking. ...
- Enhance your employability.
A master's degree in psychology is often a good choice for individuals who have completed an undergraduate in psychology or a related field, and wish to either expand their knowledge and skills in the field or are interested in meeting the educational requirements in pursuit of a doctoral degree.
The amount of time it will take for you to complete your psychology graduate program in California depends on the program you enroll in and the course load you commit to. If you attend as a full-time student, around two years is the norm, while it may take three to four years to earn your degree as a part-time student.
What is a good GPA for psychology grad school? ›
Generally, graduate schools in psychology want to see an average 3.0 cumulative GPA. While many graduate schools in psychology will not consider a student with less than a 3.0 GPA, competitive GRE scores override a lower GPA.
What is a good GPA for psychology? ›
The mean of successful applicants to PhD programs in psychology, on the 4.0 scale, is 3.6 overall and 3.7 in psychology courses; for Master's programs it is 3.4 overall and 3.5 in psychology courses. The GPA should be, at minimum , typically 3.0 or higher.
Do you need a thesis for Masters in psychology? ›
A master's in psychology thesis is a regular requirement of many programs. Some psychology students earn their master's degree during their doctoral program. However, other psychologists simply want to work as an assistant to a doctorate degree holding psychologist.
What to do before master's in psychology? ›
In addition to taking prerequisite classes, you will most likely need to take the GRE and psychology subject tests before submitting your application for admission. Some graduate-level psychology programs no longer require the GRE for admission. However, some may accept test results to help supplement your application.
What percent of psychology students go to grad school? ›
According to the American Psychological Association, of the 3.5 million Americans with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2017, about 44% had continued to earn an advanced degree in some fields. 14% had earned at least one graduate degree in psychology.
Is it better to have a masters or bachelors in psychology? ›
A bachelor's in psychology can be useful for jobs in healthcare and business, but a master's degree is a better path for landing a job in-field. Want an online degree that's: Affordable.
How many years is 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.
Is a Masters the same as a doctorate degree in psychology? ›
Doctoral programs in psychology are highly research oriented, and require a doctoral dissertation on research you conduct. Masters programs in psychology and related fields may or may not be particularly research oriented (it depends on the program).
How many years is a PHD degree in psychology? ›
Usually, it takes around five to seven years to finish a doctoral psychology program, which includes coursework and research. However, the duration of the program, similar to master's programs, depends on the area of specialization, the type of program, and whether the student is studying full-time or part-time.
