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College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Online master's psychology degrees

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Online master's psychology degrees

Advance your knowledge of human behavior 

Upgrade your existing knowledge, apply for higher level roles or prepare for diverse careers helping others with our online master’s psychology degrees. Gain skills to evaluate human behavior and help solve challenges in various personal, social and organizational contexts. You’ll learn how to help people function more effectively and optimize workforce performance with psychological principles.

The best part? Our courses are 100% online, giving you the flexibility to earn your master’s degree on your schedule. Plus, you’ll learn from accomplished professionals who work in the psychology field and bring a hands-on perspective and practical knowledge to the classroom. 

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Find the psychology master's degree for you

Gain valuable skills in core master’s psychology degree courses

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY

  • Psychology
  • Ethical and social responsibility
  • Communication
  • Scientific mindedness

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY (DIRECT ASSESSMENT)

  • Psychology
  • Ethical and social responsibility
  • Communication
  • Scientific mindedness

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL-ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 

  • Industrial/organizational psychology
  • Scientific mindedness
  • Ethical and social responsibility
  • Communication

Register for a new Master's Q&A Webinar

Reserve your spot and join us for our free, 20-minute Master’s Q&A Webinar hosted by University of Phoenix representatives. This is your chance to ask questions and get more information to help you in your decision-making process.

Job outlook for master’s psychology degree graduates

BLS CATEGORY: Postsecondary Teachers

JOB GROWTH: 12%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for postsecondary psychology teachers is projected to be much faster than average between 2021 and 2031.

JOB TITLES:

  • Psychology instructor
  • Compliance manager
  • Regulatory affairs manager

BLS CATEGORY: Postsecondary Teachers

JOB GROWTH: 12%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for postsecondary psychology teachers is projected to be much faster than average between 2021 and 2031.

JOB TITLES:

  • Psychology instructor
  • Compliance manager
  • Regulatory affairs manager

BLS CATEGORY: Management Analysts

JOB GROWTH: 11%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for management analysts is projected to be much faster than average between 2021 and 2031.

JOB TITLES:

  • Employee relations manager
  • Human resources operations manager
  • Development manager
  • Management consultant
  • Organizational consultant
  • Psychology instructor

Master’s psychology degree course requirements

Master of Science in Psychology

You’ll take 12 core courses with program-specific knowledge to help you gain confidence and skills to succeed. These core courses include topics like: developmental psychology, personality theories, social psychology, biological basis of behavior, ethics and professional issues, and psychopathology.

Master of Science in Psychology (Direct Assessment)

You’ll take 12 core courses with program-specific knowledge to help you gain confidence and skills to succeed. This direct assessment program requires students to have an undergraduate degree and three years of work experience. Take 2, 3 or 4 courses every 12-week term. Core courses include topics like: developmental psychology, personality theories, social psychology, biological basis of behavior, ethics and professional issues, and psychopathology.

Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology

You’ll take 12 core courses with program-specific knowledge to help you gain confidence and skills to succeed. These core courses include topics like: human performance, assessment and feedback; work motivation and job attitudes; organizational development, leadership and management; and multicultural and social issues in psychology.

Tuition and financial aid

Affordable, locked-in tuition

GRADUATE: $698 Tuition cost per credit

Cost per credit applies to all master's degrees.

Tuition guarantee
University of Phoenix offers locked-in tuition rates

Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options.

From scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid for those who qualify, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition. 

Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid is money from the U.S. Department of Education to help you pay for your college tuition and expenses. Currently, the Direct Assessment Master of Science in Psychology is not financial aid eligible.

Military or Veteran Benefits

See if you qualify to use veterans’ education benefits or tuition assistance to help pay for school.

Credit for Prior Learning

Explore savings opportunities to earn college credit for skills you’ve gained through work and life experiences.

Scholarships

Starting with your first course, every new qualifying student will be awarded one of our scholarships.

Employer Tuition Discounts

Check if your employer provides tuition assistance, benefits, or reimbursement programs toward your degree.

Student experience

Michelle H.

“Being an online student has taught me that I can be disciplined, study hard and achieve my end goal.”

—Michelle H. 
MS in Psychology, 2022

 

Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life. So can you. 

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Use Robust Student Resources

How to apply for your master’s psychology degree program

Once you’ve selected your degree program, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you'll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class.

  • No application fee — no obligation!
  • No SAT, GMAT or essay required
Apply for your master's degree online

Experienced faculty

University of Phoenix has experienced faculty

Learn from accomplished, real-world faculty members who lead in the fields they teach. Our instructors go through a careful vetting process before joining our faculty ranks. They include industry leaders who encourage, challenge and inspire our students. And with a student-faculty ratio of 32:1[1], you’ll get the attention you need.

1 This is a university-wide ratio. the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences student-faculty ratio may vary.

Master's psychology degree FAQs

Depending on which degree option you’re pursuing and how many eligible credits you can transfer toward your program, you could complete a master’s psychology degree in 18 months. Our self-paced competency-based master’s in psychology allows you to complete your degree sooner depending on how many courses you take each term, but you must meet eligibility requirements to enroll. 

 

A master’s degree in psychology can prepare you for a range of employment opportunities focused on improving the lives of people. Potential job titles you can pursue with a master’s psychology degree include psychology instructor, compliance manager, employee relations manager, human resources operations manager, management consultant and more.

Yes! University of Phoenix is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) since 1978. Plus, the courses for our Master of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology programs are aligned to the education standards set by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP).

Both of our master’s psychology degrees are built around skills employers want. We worked with labor market researchers to align career-relevant skills with our programs to ensure you’re able to learn and demonstrate them in your coursework. These in-demand skills can impact your career from the start.

You may be able to transfer eligible credits to our traditional online master’s degree program if the university or college you attended is accredited. If you apply for our Master of Psychology competency-based program, you may be able to leverage your relevant work experience to earn your master’s degree faster and for less cost. Speak with an enrollment representative to start the process of evaluation by the University to see if your prior college credits can apply to your program and to request your transcripts.