M.A. Psychology

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Program Overview

Multicultural Insight, Global Experience, Practical Scholarship

The M.A. in Psychology program is a non-licensure program designed to extend students’ knowledge by providing a thorough understanding of the principles, theories, and applications of psychology.  The program boasts an accomplished and highly supportive faculty, who bring their clinical, applied research, and community-based expertise to each course.  The program provides a multicultural curriculum and the opportunity to apply concepts of psychology in a practical, real-world context.  M.A. in Psychology students also have opportunities to study abroad at destinations specifically chosen by faculty to ground a deeper understanding of psychological principles in a global context. 

The Applied Research Project, the capstone of the M.A. in Psychology curriculum, emphasizes the application of learning directly to the workplace or other life-context, using assessments, projects, and other measures to ensure application-based research and learning.

The M.A. in Psychology program prepares individuals to apply psychology principles across many professional endeavors, such as in the fields of human services, nonprofits, youth development, marketing, government, and public relations.  The program can also be a strong stepping-stone to doctoral study. 

The curriculum is 36 semester credit hours, and includes twenty-one semester credit hours in general psychology, six semester hours in the Applied Research Project, and nine credit hours taken within a concentration.  The Master of Arts in Psychology program currently offers eight concentrations: Applied Behavior Analysis; Child and Adolescent Psychology; Forensic Psychology; Generalist; International Psychology; Organizational Leadership; Public Health, and Social and Community Psychology.  The  Social and Community Psychology concentration is offered in Spanish.

Program Mission 

Through integration of theory, practice, and technology students in the M.A. in Psychology non-licensure program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology will gain broad knowledge that will enhance their professional behavior and practice across cultures in the social/behavioral sciences. The students will set themselves apart through a diverse curriculum and creation of an Applied Research Project that will highlight their area of concentration in a real life application of scholarly theory and practice.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program students will be able to:

Professional Practice

• Integrate knowledge of psychological theory, research, and professional literature to choose professional activities that promote optimal health and well-being in individuals, groups, and systems.
• Demonstrate knowledge of psychological theory and assessment techniques to evaluate various dimensions of human experience across a range of contexts.
• Compose grammatically correct papers, reports, and discussion posts of a professional quality, using style and formatting consistent with the most recent APA Style publication manual.

Diversity

• Respond ethically and effectively to individual and group differences across racial, ethnic, gender, age, social class, disability, sexual orientation, and religious boundaries.

Professional Behavior

• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and practices of ethical decision-making and behavior.

Scholarship

• Demonstrate understanding of research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, as well as ability to apply scientifically derived knowledge.
• Demonstrate acquired understanding of and respect for scientifically derived knowledge of the psychological bases of behavior and developmental issues across the lifespan.

Admission Requirements

For information on where The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is currently authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to approval, please visit https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/why-us/state-authorization/

Application to the M.A. in Psychology program is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to do graduate work. Factors that are considered in admission are GPA from undergraduate and any graduate schools, successful work history after completion of the baccalaureate degree, and the admission essay.  Generally, an undergraduate GPA of a 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned. It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications. 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required; however, students who have taken the exam may submit their scores to enhance their application. Scores should be sent directly to the school (GRE School Code: 1119) for consideration. Please see the application for detailed instructions and information regarding application requirements, deadlines.

Applicant Notification

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once review begins, complete applications will be considered by the Admission Committee and applicants will be notified regarding the admission decision. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology does not share information or provide any feedback regarding admission decisions.

If a student is offered admission and in order to secure a place in the incoming class, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $250 will be required by the deposit deadline indicated in the offer of admission. The non-refundable deposit will be applied in full toward the student’s tuition upon enrollment.

Articulation Agreements

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has also established agreements between the M.A. in Psychology program and the programs listed below to allow qualified students to enroll in doctoral level courses while completing their master’s degree that will count toward the doctoral degree. Click on the link of the program that interests you for details.

Early Entry into Ph.D. International Psychology   

Early Entry into Ph.D. Organizational Leadership    

Early Entry into Ed.D. Educational Psychology and Technology    

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has also established agreements between the M.A. in Psychology program and the programs listed below to allow qualified students to enroll in courses in other TCSPP programs while completing their M.A. Psychology that can be counted toward both programs.Click on the link of the program that interests you for details.

M.A. Psychology and M.A. Forensic Psychology   

M.A. Psychology and Instructional Design Certificate  

TCSPP has also partnered with Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC).  For more information about this partnership please click here . 

Earning a Suicide and Cyberbullying Prevention Certificate 

A student in the MA Psychoogy  program may earn a Suicide and Cyberbullying Prevention Certificate  following the successful completion of required coursework and specific program requirements. At the beginning of the semester in which a student expects to be eligible for the certificate, they may submit the Petition for Degree Conferral to the Office of the Registrar. The petition is a request to conduct an audit to determine eligibility for the certificate and, is required for conferral. Eligibility guidelines for the certificate are contained in the catalog under which the student was admitted.

The Specific requirements are as follows:

• Financial/Financial Aid Good Standing.
• Academic Good Standing at the time the requirements for the certificate were completed.
• Cumulative GPA for the coursework required for the certificate must meet the graduation requirements of the certificate.
• Successful completion of all certificate coursework as identified on the program of study page.   
• The Petition for Degree Conferral must be submitted within 1 year from the date the final certificate requirement was completed.
• All SAC referrals for behavioral misconduct or issues of professional comportment must be deemed as fully remediated by the SAC committee before the certificate can be conferred.

Degree Completion Requirements

• Successful completion of 36 credit hours of coursework
• Successful completion of Applied Research Project

Policies

The following policies are located under Academic Policies and Procedures : Academic Calendar, Admissions Requirements, Attendance, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Service Learning, and Transfer Credit/Course Waiver. Click the link above for detailed information.

Ethical Guidelines

Students are expected to develop a working knowledge of the ethical and legal issues pertaining to, but not limited to, APA’s current Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct for Psychologists; relevant federal, state, and local laws, statutes, regulations, and legal precedents (e.g., the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, 1978) as well as the professional norms, standards, and guidelines relevant to the profession.