Master of Science in Psychology
The Master of Science (MS) in Psychology is an online program that serves two purposes: 1) as a PhD prep program designed to prepare students for PhD studies in clinical psychology at PAU or another institution, or 2) as a terminal degree designed for those wanting a concentrated focus in forensic psychology, general psychology, and technology and mental health. An MS degree in Psychology may support career advancement in fields that require social science research capability and an understanding of human behavior. All coursework is delivered online and can be completed evenings and weekends. Students who choose to pursue the PhD prep track travel to the Palo Alto campus once during the program for a one-week clinical interviewing course during spring break, between the winter and spring quarter of the second year. This highly structured, part-time format enables students to continue working and defer relocating while completing the first year of doctoral studies. With the exception of the spring clinical interviewing course in Palo Alto, the course work is didactic in nature and does not include an applied clinical component. Thus, the specific degree associated with the program is an MS in Psychology, not clinical psychology, even though some of the curriculum is relevant to clinical psychology.
Upon satisfactory completion of the program requirements, accepted and qualified students may transition into the Palo Alto University residential PhD program, pursue PhD studies at another institution, or receive a Master of Science in Psychology degree.
The Learning Outcome Goals of the MS Program are:
- To provide students with a knowledge base in Psychology
- To produce scientifically minded students
- To train students in producing and communicating psychological science.
- To train students in the basic knowledge and skills of clinical practice.
- To produce students with Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
- To produce students that develop professionally
Degree Requirements
The MS Psychology program consists of 37.5, 39, or 47 quarter units of coursework, depending on the chosen concentration. There is no thesis requirement. Courses are taken over six (6) or seven (7) consecutive quarters (including summer) beginning only in fall quarter.
Students take two (2) to three (3) courses during most quarters. Students in the PhD Prep concentration are required to travel to Palo Alto for a one-week intensive course in clinical interviewing during spring break of the second year.
Curriculum for the PhD Prep Concentration
Required
| ASMT500 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis I | 3 |
| ASMT501 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis II | 3 |
| CLIN500 | Ethics in Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| CLIN501 | Professional Standards I: IdentityDiscipline Culture (I) | 1 |
| CLIN508 | Introduction to Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CLIN515 | Clinical Interviewing | 3 |
| MTHD509 | Research Methods & Statistics I | 4 |
| STAT510 | Research Methods & Statistics II | 4 |
| STAT511 | Research Methods & Statistics III | 4 |
| PSYS500 | History & Systems | 3 |
| PSYS501 | Child & Adolescent Development | 1.5 |
| PSYS502 | Cognitive Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS504 | Affective Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS505 | PsySci II: Bio Bases of Behavior:Biological Psychology | 2.5 |
| PSYS507 | Adult Development & Aging | 1.5 |
| PSYS509 | Psychopharmacology | 2.5 |
| PSYS511 | Social & Personality Bases of Behavior | 3 |
Curriculum for the MS Forensic Psychology Concentration
Required
| ASMT500 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis I | 3 |
| ASMT501 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis II | 3 |
| CLIN500 | Ethics in Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| MTHD509 | Research Methods & Statistics I | 4 |
| STAT510 | Research Methods & Statistics II | 4 |
| STAT511 | Research Methods & Statistics III | 4 |
| PSYS520 | Introduction to Forensic Psychology | 3 |
| PSYS501 | Child & Adolescent Development | 1.5 |
| PSYS502 | Cognitive Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS504 | Affective Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS525 | Assessing and Managing Risk | 2.5 |
| PSYS507 | Adult Development & Aging | 1.5 |
| PSYS511 | Social & Personality Bases of Behavior | 3 |
Curriculum for the MS Generalist - No Concentration
Required
| ASMT500 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis I | 3 |
| ASMT501 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis II | 3 |
| CLIN500 | Ethics in Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| MTHD509 | Research Methods & Statistics I | 4 |
| STAT510 | Research Methods & Statistics II | 4 |
| STAT511 | Research Methods & Statistics III | 4 |
| PSYS500 | History & Systems | 3 |
| PSYS501 | Child & Adolescent Development | 1.5 |
| PSYS502 | Cognitive Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS504 | Affective Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS505 | PsySci II: Bio Bases of Behavior:Biological Psychology | 2.5 |
| PSYS507 | Adult Development & Aging | 1.5 |
| PSYS511 | Social & Personality Bases of Behavior | 3 |
Curriculum for the Technology and Mental Health Concentration
Required
| ASMT500 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis I | 3 |
| ASMT501 | Psychopathology & Psychodiagnosis II | 3 |
| CLIN500 | Ethics in Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| MTHD509 | Research Methods & Statistics I | 4 |
| STAT510 | Research Methods & Statistics II | 4 |
| STAT511 | Research Methods & Statistics III | 4 |
| PSYS501 | Child & Adolescent Development | 1.5 |
| PSYS502 | Cognitive Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS504 | Affective Bases of Behavior | 2.5 |
| PSYS507 | Adult Development & Aging | 1.5 |
| PSYS511 | Social & Personality Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| PSYS540 | Technology & Mental Health for Children & Adolescents | 1.5 |
| PSYS541 | Evidence-based Digital Intervention to Reduce Health Disparities | 1.5 |
| PSYS542 | Principles of Multimedia Learning for Product Design | 1.5 |
| PSYS543 | Mental Health & Design in the Digital World | 3 |