Master of Arts in Applied Psychology (45 unit)
Our vision imagines a region and world in which everyone has access to an inspiring education and the psychological tools and support to propel them toward flourishing lives of meaning, purpose and connection. Our education is characterized by Strong Values, Social Justice, Transformative, Dverse Community.
The 45-unit MA in Applied Psychology program is for students who wish to pursue a variety of human service fields. This degree program is designed to serve students who are seeking the academic preparation for work areas such as human resources, program development in community-based organizations, youth development work, or as preparation in applying for graduate level PhD work in any branch of psychology. Students should be aware that such a degree will not make them eligible for licensure as an MA-level psychotherapist, nor can they transfer courses to a licensure-track program at a later date (per state regulations). This program is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in the core ideas and concepts underlying the application of psychology to organizational and human development. The program is designed to offer students flexibility to define their program to suit their educational and professional goals. Students have the option to specialize in one of our emphasis areas or take a number of electives across the School of Education and Counseling Psychology (with advisor approval) to round out their program.
MA in Applied Psychology Highlights
- Classes held both in-person and online
- 2 year full-time program (part-time available), start in any term
- Emphases available
- See the Bursar's Office for a full list of tuition & fees for graduate students.
Emphases & Concentrations
We offer five specialized interest areas. Our four emphases function like a minor. Students who don't choose an emphasis may choose from a variety of electives. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concentration is similar to the emphases, but requires additional elective coursework.
A focus on culturally and linguistically appropriate counseling experiences centered on a deep understanding of Latino culture, ethnicity, acculturation, and immigration.
Apply psychology to issues of well-being, stress and stress management, the modification of health behaviors, health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention.
Offering training in the application of counseling to issues of gender, diversity in sexual identity and expression, oppression, discrimination, and acculturation, among other topics.
Graduates work in community and law enforcement agencies, private practice, schools, correctional institutions, mental health and rehabilitation facilities, and group homes.
Students will be trained to develop greater proficiency in supporting children, teens, and young adults. Coursework will focus on: issues in early intervention and infancy; issues in school-based settings; developmentally-appropriate interventions; working with disabled children and youth; trauma- informed care; evidence-based approaches to working with children and youth, including short term therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, expressive arts therapy, family therapy, and much more.
Curriculum & Electives
Core Curriculum: 21units, 7 courses |
Elective Options: 15 units |
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Comprehensive Exam in Counseling
Focus of the comprehensive exam will center on the theory and practice of applied psychology related addressing social issues or organizational health. |
"After having just graduated from UC Berkeley, I was seeking a program that would provide me both a community and a solid academic foundation. And today I am so grateful to say that SCU’s Counseling and Psychology program gave me exactly that. It’s because of the relationships, the knowledge, and the practice I received from this program did I then have the opportunity to become the type of therapist I had sought out to be."
- Kim Panelo Xue, ’10, Counseling Psychology