According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 221,000 adults and 73,000 children in Arizona suffer from mental health conditions, indicating a need for those who successfully complete master’s in Psychology degree programs in Arizona. The need for mental health professionals in the state is growing, as untreated mental illness has deadly and costly consequences. In 2006, only 18 percent of adults with mental illness in the state received treatment and many of those who were incarcerated were found to have some level of mental illness.
These Master’s in Psychology degree programs in Arizona can help those who wish to provide assistance to people with mental health issues advance their career.
Arizona State University
Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering
The Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering began in 1954 as the College of Applied Arts and Sciences. In 1992, an endowment from the Del E. Webb Foundation created the Del E. Webb School of Construction and in 1996, a separate school was created for technology. In 2003, Ira A. Fulton, the founder and CEO of Fulton Homes, established a $50 million endowment, and the school renamed the engineering school in his honor.
Applied Psychology, M.S.
The Master in Applied Psychology at the Fulton School at ASU is a two-year program that provides students with both hand-on and classroom learning. The areas of application include coursework in:
- Applied cognitive science
- Consumer psychology
- Human factors
- Learning design
- Sports psychology
Graduates have found positions with world-renowned companies, including Boeing and GoDaddy. Students must have a bachelor’s in psychology or related field and must have completed an undergraduate course in statistics. Applicants must have a 3.00 GPA and must provide an official transcript from each college or university. Three letters of recommendation must be provided as well as a resume and personal statement.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission North Central Association
Contact
Graduate Advising
Arizona State University
Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering
PO Box 9309
Brickyard 6th Floor
Tempe AZ 85287-9309
Telephone: 480-757-5232
Website
Grand Canyon University
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Grand Canyon University offer high-quality education in a Christian setting. The college provides a learning environment designed to help students master course material as well as a faculty and staff that are truly dedicated to the success of students. Graduates are confident that they will receive the highest levels of achievement and personal support as well as groundwork that will help them advance in their chosen career.
Master of Science in Psychology with Emphasis on General Psychology
The Master of Science in Psychology program is designed for students who want to advance in the field of psychology, providing insight into what makes people act the way they do and providing training on how to address behaviors that may not be achieving the proper outcome. Students develop critical thinking skills through leadership, action research and viewpoints from students, practitioners and instructors. Students are provided instruction in:
- Contemporary and ethical issues in psychology
- Learning, cognition and motivation
- Statistics
- Human development
- Research methods
- Health psychology
- Social and cultural psychology
- Psychopathology
Students must also complete a Capstone course that involves a master research proposal.
Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis on Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The Master of Science in Psychology with an emphasis on industrial and organizational psychology is designed for students who want to work with problems having issues in the workplace. There is a strong focus on workplace performance in order to make recommendations for management. Many students who complete this program obtain positions as consultants or in the world of academia. Courses include:
- Contemporary and ethical issues in psycology
- Industrial and organizational psychology
- Statistics
- Organizational behavior
- Research methods
- Strategies for effective leadership and consultation
- Social and cultural psychology
- Principles of personnel and human resource management
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission
Contact
Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix AZ 85017
Telephone: 602-639-7500
Website
General Psychology
Industrial & Organizational Psychology
Northcentral University
School of Psychology
The School of Psychology unites global communities in an effort to provide students with a thorough understanding of the field. The programs emphasize understanding of the workings of the mind and what guides human behavior. Curriculum is designed to help students learn more about themselves and how their history shapes the actions they take so that they may better help others. Students are provided educational opportunities that help acquire knowledge and skills that they will integrate into their professional career.
Master of Arts in Psychology
The Master of Arts in Psychology program at Northcentral provides students with a solid insight and knowledge into human behavior. Students develop the skills necessary to further analyze psychological principles and apply them in a real-world setting. Students may choose from four concentrations to better focus their education to their career goals. Concentrations include:
- Gender diversity
- General psychology
- Health psychology
- Industrial organizational psychology
Students are expected to think critically and apply problem-solving skills to explore and address problems related to behavior and cognitive processes. Students are qualified for positions in academia, healthcare settings or as researchers.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission
Contact
Northcentral University
10000 East University Drive
Prescott Valley AZ 86314
Telephone: 866-776-0331
Email: admissions@ncu.edu
Website
Northern Arizona University
Department of Psychological Studies
The Department of Psychological Studies focuses on the study of the mind, brain and behavior while seeking evidence-based knowledge on areas such as social/personality, developmental/clinical and cognitive/psychobiological areas. Students are taught by faculty members with expertise in their field of study. The faculty is dedicated to mentoring students and providing them with the quality education they will need to obtain careers in their chosen field. All students must take foundational coursework in statistics and research methods as well as courses dedicated to their degree focus.
Psychology, Master of Arts
The Master of Arts in Psychology program at the Department of Psychological Studies at Northern Arizona University prepares students for a career focused on how others think, feel and take action. The program is available with four different concentrations, including:
- Clinical Health Psychology
- Pre-Doctoral Training in Clinical Health Psychology
- Pre-Doctoral Training in General Psychology Research
- Teaching of Psychology
To successfully complete the program, students must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas consisting of 30 units of graduate-level courses. All requirements must be for the student’s specific plan that includes a thesis. In addition, the cumulative GPA for all classes must remain 3.0 or higher and all work must be completed within six consecutive years. Individualized research may also be required by the chosen emphasis or offered as an option. Students may also have to orally defend their thesis. The program is offered through the Flagstaff campus.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission
Contact
Northern Arizona University
South San Francisco Street
1200 South Beaver Street
PO Box 4084
Flagstaff AZ 86011-4084
Telephone: 928-523-9011
Email: Admissions@nau.edu
Website
Prescott College
Limited Residency Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
At Prescott College, there is a belief that learning and living go hand-in-hand which is why the focus of the Limited Residency Master of Arts in Psychology program is to provide students with problem-solving skills using an approach to education that is uniquely individual. Students are provided the opportunity to discover and develop their own therapeutic qualities while learning skills that will carry them forward as a mental health counselor. The program is 60-semester credits that require core courses and supervised clinical experiences. Core courses include:
- Professional Orientation to Mental Health Counseling
- Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Research and Program Evaluation in Mental Health Counseling
- Counseling Methods: Prevention and Intervention
- Helping Relationships: Basic Counseling Skills
- Career and Lifestyle Development: Challenges of Adulthood
- Group Work: Clinical Theory and Practice
- Assessment: Psychological Testing and Appraisal in Counseling
- Professional Counseling Ethics
- Supervised Counseling Practicum and Leadership
All students attend three, three-day colloquia each year where they connect with their cohort, attend workshops and contribute to dialogue and scholarship among peers. Students should be self-directed and have prior success with independent learning. Students must complete 900 hours of supervised counseling practicum and internships.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission
Contact
Prescott University
220 Grove Avenue
Prescott AZ 86301
Telephone: 877-350-2100
Website
University of Phoenix
College of Social Sciences
The College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix works to fill skills gaps in social science professions providing students with an education unparalleled in the education field. Students are provided with the skills and knowledge to meet the growing need for mental health professionals throughout the country in both an online and traditional classroom setting.
Master of Science in Psychology
The Master of Science in Psychology program at the University of Phoenix is designed to help students explore what lies beneath the surface of people’s interactions. The program helps students develop skills and knowledge necessary to enhance the evaluation of human behavior as well as apply theory directly to the human experience. There is a newly developed thesis option for students as well. The program focuses on the scientific study of human behavior with emphasis on cognition, motivation and emotion. The program provides an education on four core areas, including:
- Biological bases of behavior
- Acquired or learned bases of behavior
- Social, cultural and systemic influences on behavior
- Individual differences in behavior
- Students are also provided information on the science of psychology and how it is advanced through research with an emphasis on critical-thinking and problem-solving.
Master of Science in Psychology with a Concentration in Behavioral Health
The Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Health is designed for students to gain an understanding of the mind-body connection. Students focus on the application of psychological and behavioral methods to the aspects of physical health. Students learn the evolution of biopsychosocial models as well as learn to examine the interactions of various aspects of behavior in order to promote health and avoid disease. Students focus on the scientific study of human behavior including cognition, motivation and emotion. Students learn how the study of behavior is enhanced through research as well as developing problem-solving and applying knowledge to address the issues facing those they serve.
Master of Science in Psychology with a Concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
The Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology offers insight into the group dynamics within a workplace as well as the unique development of culture. It focuses on what inspires employees to perform and how they interact with each other. Information is included on how these factors affect productivity, hiring and morale. Students develop skills that will help them guide individuals and teams in the workplace setting to function more effectively. The program is a unique collaborative effort between the College of Social Sciences and the School of Advanced Studies. Students complete four of the total number of courses through the online portal at the School of Advanced Studies. The program focuses on the study of human behavior but is not designed to prepare students for professional licensure, so students should discuss additional needs with their academic advisor
For all graduate level courses at the University of Phoenix, students must have a degree from an accredited college or university and must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on the undergraduate degree transcript which must be provided. Students may not have been expelled from any other colleges or universities and must meet work experience requirements as outlined by their academic advisor. Students for whom English is a second language may be required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Test of English as an Interpersonal Communication (TOEIC) that indicate they are proficient in the language.
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission North Central Association
Contact
Central Administration
University of Phoenix
1625 West Fountainhead Parkway
Tempe AZ 85282-2371
Telephone: 866-766-0766
Website
The need for mental health professionals with advanced degrees is expected to grow over the next few years especially with the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The ACA will make it easier for those suffering from mental illness get the medical attention they need. Because more people may seek assistance, those who have successfully completed Master’s in Psychology degree programs in Arizona may find themselves better positioned for advanced positions throughout Arizona and the rest of the United States.
See also: Psychology Doctoral Programs in Arizona