This article was written based on our interviews with psychology graduates.

Starting a Master's degree in psychology is a crucial step toward understanding how people think and behave. Whether you want to help others as a therapist, conduct research, or use psychology in other fields, this guide will help you get started. We'll cover everything you need to know about a Master's degree in psychology – from the duration and requirements to job opportunities after graduation.

Master's degree in Psychology: Basic info

A Master's in psychology is a graduate degree that provides an advanced knowledge of the field and is meant to prepare you for a career in psychology or counseling. This degree is usually required for certain psychology jobs and, more often than not, for enrolling in a PhD program.

Master's in Psychology requirements

To be accepted into a Master's in psychology program, you'll need a Bachelor's degree with completed foundational coursework in psychology. Your major doesn't necessarily have to be psychology, however, this largely depends on the program you choose. Some programs may also require the GRE or MAT.

To graduate, you'll be required to present a thesis or other research project and complete supervised fieldwork, such as internship, practicum, or residency.

How long does it take to get a Master's degree in psychology?

For full-time students, a Master's in psychology program typically takes 2 years. Most programs require 30-40 credits to graduate, although additional factors such as prerequisite courses or a thesis can extend the duration of your studies.

Master's in Psychology coursework

The list of courses differs from one program to another, but generally, you can expect to see these disciplines in your schedule:

• Ethical practice: Ethical codes and how they impact mental health and legal regulations.
• Counseling psychology: How to help individuals, families, and groups deal with everyday issues and problems.
• Research methods: How to design and conduct experimental, observational, and survey research and analyze the findings.
• Communication: Best communication practices for interacting with clients, patients, and the general public.
• Cognition and perception: Theories and methods used to understand how people's minds process information, perceive things, attention, memory, and thinking process.

Psychology specializations

There are many different specializations you can choose for your Master's program, which will have a major influence on your career direction. The specializations students frequently pick are:

• Counseling Psychology: A subspecialty within professional psychology that focuses on emotional, vocational, educational, social, developmental, and organizational concerns for people and aims to help them cope. It is the most popular specialization, according to the American Community Survey.
• Applied Psychology: A field of study that focuses on using psychological theories, techniques, and tools for solving practical problems and improving mental health.
• Forensic Psychology: Forensic psychologists study the research connected with crime and criminals, and use their knowledge of how the brain works in the field of criminal justice.
• Educational Psychology: Professionals in educational psychology assess children and use intervention techniques to improve their abilities in an educational setting.
• Clinical Psychology: A branch of psychology that specializes in assessing and treating mental illnesses, psychiatric problems, and abnormal behavior.

With so many options available, choosing one specialization may be challenging. Here's a tip from Stefano de Romanis, who studied psychology at the Sapienza University of Rome:

We all know what's best for us deep inside. Fortunately, many Bachelor's degrees in Psychology offer a very broad overview of the discipline, from clinical to social, groups, business, organization, cultural psychology and also neuroscience and developmental psychology. Having good foundations of all these disciplines might help out making you see clearer in what you want from your future and how you want to address your ambition.

MA vs MS in Psychology

These degrees are quite similar, but the main differences are their curricula and approach to learning:

• An MA usually focuses on holistic learning and prepares students for future practice in the field
• An MS is likely to prioritize research, scientific methods, and the science behind psychology

What is an MA in Psychology?

In most cases, Master of Arts in Psychology programs follow a liberal arts curriculum, meaning they place less emphasis on research and more on the application of psychological theories and techniques.

MA programs are usually structured in a way to lead students to licensure as practicing psychologists, therefore, certain psychological specialties tend to have more MA than MS programs, such as clinical psychology and counseling psychology.

What is an MS in Psychology?

An MS in psychology is a Master of Science degree with a focus on science and theory of psychology. The courses can include psychological research methods, statistics, experimental design, and neuroscience.

This degree is perfect for a future career in psychological research, especially in forensic, abnormal, experimental, and cognitive psychology.

Which one is right for you?

When choosing between an MA and MS, you should pay more attention to the actual program rather than the degree type. Some MA programs can offer you research opportunities that fit your career goals better, and an MS program could include practical application of psychological theories and prepare you for getting a license.

Master's in Psychology jobs

A Master's in psychology opens the door to a variety of careers – you can work at schools, healthcare agencies, big companies, and even government institutions. Here are some of the most popular jobs:

• Counselor: A counselor recognizes issues that lead to emotional struggles and guides individuals in developing the skills to deal with those problems in day-to-day life. This position can earn you $56,000 per year.
• Social worker: A social worker stands against social injustice and helps diagnose (and sometimes treat) mental illnesses. The average annual salary for this job is $55,000.
• HR specialist: An HR specialist is responsible for recruiting, training, and onboarding new employees. On average, HR specialists earn $57,000 per year.
• Manager: A manager is in charge of leading a team, and planning and organizing the work. You can expect to earn around $74,000 per year in this position.
• School psychologist: A school psychologist helps children who are having trouble with their studies, behavior, or other. The average annual income for this profession is $69,000.
• Industrial organizational psychologist: An IO psychologist is responsible for improving the work environment at companies. This job can get you around $95,000 per year.

Of course, psychology graduates usually pick careers that are directly related to the field. However, as Stefano puts it:

This doesn't mean that your psychology knowledge will prevent you
from taking on careers that involve media, advertising, marketing and communication, business and management, as well as human resources, especially when it comes to recruitment! Good complementary degree.

Average salary after a Master's in Psychology

In general, the average annual salary for someone with an MS in psychology is $64,000, according to Payscale. A marriage and family therapist earns about $50,000 per year, while a healthcare consultant's average salary is $82,000 per year.

An MA in psychology holder, on the other hand, can expect to earn $69,000 annually. If you choose to pursue a career as a mental health therapist, your salary may be a bit lower than average - about $53,000 per year, however, reaching a CEO position can get you an average annual income of $129,000.

You can learn more about careers in psychology in our guide on What You Can Do With a Master's in Psychology.

Conclusion

A Master's in psychology is usually a 2-year graduate degree for those who want to pursue a career in psychology, counseling, HR, or even management. You can enroll in a general psychology program, or choose from several specializations, such as counseling, applied, or forensic psychology. Overall, a Master's degree in psychology can teach you everything you need to become a qualified professional in the field or go one step further and go for a PhD.

Read more:

• How to Write a Great Academic CV for Your Master's Application
• Is a Master's Degree Worth It?
• How Much is a Master's Degree?