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Program Overview

Multicultural Insight, Global Experience, Practical Scholarship

The M.A. Psychology program is a non-licensure program designed to extend students’ knowledge by providing a broad and general 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, and who instruct and guide students through each phase of learning and research.  Within a clinical framework, the program provides a multicultural curriculum and the opportunity to apply concepts of psychology in practical, real-world contexts.  M.A. 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. 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. Psychology program prepares individuals to apply psychology principles across many professional endeavors, such as in the human services field, youth development work, marketing, or 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 focus concentration. The Master of Arts in Psychology program currently offers five concentrations: Applied Behavior Analysis, Child and Adolescent Psychology; Organizational Leadership; International Psychology; and Generalist.  The program is designed for working adults to attend on a part-time basis.

More specific information is located the Program Guidebook

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Outcomes

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

Scholarship:

1.  Scientific Knowledge: Demonstrate acquired understanding and respect for the scientifically derived psychological bases of behavior and developmental issues across the lifespan.

2. Research methods: Demonstrate understanding of research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, as well as ability to apply scientifically derived knowledge.

Professional Behavior:

3. Professional Behavior and Ethics: Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and practices of ethical decision-making and behavior. 

Diversity:

4. Diversity and Cultural Competence: Respond ethically and effectively to individual and group differences across racial, ethnic, gender, age, social class, disability, sexual orientation and religious boundaries. 

Professional Practice:

5. Assessment: Demonstrate knowledge of psychological theory and assessment techniques to evaluate various dimensions of human experience across a range of contexts.

6. Intervention:  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.

Admission Requirements

Application to the M.A. 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 3.0 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.  Those applicants with a strong work record but with low GPAs will be asked for letters of recommendation and an additional admission essay. Those interested in the M.A. Psychology program must apply directly at www.thechicagoschool.edu.

Applicants should ensure their resume properly highlights two or more years of post-baccalaureate work experience. In addition to the admission criteria, students must have access to a computer that is less than three years old, a broadband or Internet connection, and the Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Outlook and, at minimum, the following computing skills:

• A comfort with basic Internet technology
• The ability to open and attach files from and to email
• The ability to send and receive email
• The ability to save documents

Standardized Testing:

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, and letters of recommendation.

TOEFL, International Credentials, and International Students 

TOEFL: If English is not a student’s primary language, the student must submit official TOEFL scores with your application (TOEFL School Code: 7161). International students who received a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States institution are exempt from this requirement.

ELS Educational Services, Inc.: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is a cooperative member of ELS Educational Services, Inc. which provides intensive English language programs. Students who have successfully completed ELS course 112 may be considered for admission in lieu of the TOEFL or IELTS.

International credentials: Applicants with international credentials must obtain and submit an official “course-by-course” evaluation through an evaluation agency such as World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. (www.ece.org). In addition to the agency evaluation, all official graduate and undergraduate transcripts must be submitted.

International students: Since this is an online program an I-20 visa will not be issued for study in the United States.

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 for the online program 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 established agreements between The M.A. Psychology and the B.A. Psychology program to allow qualified students to enter early into the master’s program.  This agreement allows qualified students to begin their master’s study while completing their bachelor’s degree.  Click on this link  for details.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has also established agreements between the M.A. Psychology program and the programs listed below to allow qualified students to enter early into the listed doctoral programs.  These agreements allow qualified students to begin their doctoral study while completing their master’s.  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  

Policies

The following policies are located under Academic Policies and Procedures : Transfer Credit/Course Waiver, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Grading Scale, Grade Change Requests, Degree Completion, Degree Conferral, Minimum and Maximum Timeframe requirements, and Credit Hours per semester for Financial Aid.  Information on the Academic Success Program is located under Student Life .

Academic Development Plans

An Academic Development Plan (ADP) is initiated and created by the program in which the student is enrolled. When a student demonstrates deficiencies in competencies that interfere with academic performance, training competence, and/or professional behavior, the ADP is initiated. The completion of an ADP does not constitute disciplinary action, but failure to complete the plan may lead to disciplinary action.

Student Learning Assessment

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is committed to offering the highest quality undergraduate program and graduate programs in applied professional disciplines. To meet TCSPP’s standard for academic quality, program learning outcomes are aligned with course learning outcomes and guide assessment.   Data collected from the results of student assessment and the aggregation of these data will inform how students are progressing towards achieving program outcomes.  

All academic programs report annual assessments of student learning and other indicators of program effectiveness as part of the Academic Program Review process.

Mission Statement

Through integration of theory, practice, and technology students in the M.A. 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.

Ethical and Professional Behavior

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.