There are many Master’s in Psychology degrees in Connecticut that students should consider as they look into furthering their education. These graduate programs vary in terms of their unique concentrations and design, ranging from highly specific school psychology programs to combined, six-year programs that grant students both an undergraduate and a graduate degree at commencement. Though Connecticut is one of the country’s smallest states, it has a large list of options for graduate psychology students that will appeal to almost every professional interest or experience.
Central Connecticut State University
Department of Psychological Science
Distinguished as Connecticut’s oldest publicly funded university, Central Connecticut has been an instrumental part of higher education in the state since 1849. The institution has long focused on education programs for the state’s teachers, but its evolution into a major research university in the 20th century has allowed it to become one of the most comprehensive institutions in the state. The Department of Psychological Science is top-ranked for its academic rigor and individual instruction, while the school itself ranks as one of the school’s most affordable universities, a “best value,” and a top regional institution for students in the liberal arts and sciences.
MA Psychology
CCSU offers students a choice between three concentrations: community psychology, general psychology, or health psychology. Across all three programs, graduate students will take an advanced statistics course, a class in professional ethics, a course in industry technology, and a seminar in current psychology issues and developments. Each concentration features its own unique set of required core courses and electives, ranging from terminal disease counseling to childhood psychology and advanced community counseling. These courses allow students to specialize the program and graduate as experts in their chosen concentration and future professional field.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Central Connecticut State University
Department of Psychological Science
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050
Phone: 860-832-3100
Email: fallahic@ccsu.edu
Website
Connecticut College
Psychology Department
Ranked as one of New England’s top liberal arts colleges, Connecticut College helps students achieve their professional goals through smaller class sizes, tight-knit student and academic communities, and unique programs that blend traditional instruction with cutting-edge technology. Professors in Connecticut College’s psychology department are among the top experts in their field regionally, and offer unique, hands-on learning experiences that give students the right blend of academic theory and practice. The M.A. program at the college focuses on general psychology, and is a top fit for private practitioners or students who are working toward various professional licenses in the profession.
Master of Arts degree in psychology
Upon enrollment, students will choose from concentrations in general, social, behavioral, or neuroscience psychology. These concentrations will form the basis of the student’s specialized core and will set the tone for up to 12 credits of elective coursework within the program. The graduate psychology program itself comes with a standard core curriculum that applies to all concentrations. These core classes include advanced statistics, advanced psychopathology, advanced clinical psychology, and a practicum course that focuses on a capstone project. While a thesis is not required of all students, the capstone project will, at a minimum, require a comprehensive final examination or an extensive research effort in the student’s area of concentration.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Connecticut College
Psychology Department
Box 5516
270 Mohegan Ave.
New London, CT 06320
Phone: (860) 447-1911
Email: info@conncoll.edu
Website
Fairfield University
Department of Psychology
Fairfield University is one of the only Jesuit institutions of higher education in New England, as well as one of the most highly ranked schools in the state of Connecticut. The school is focused on teaching-oriented degree programs for the most part, and this mission has informed Fairfield’s M.A. program in school psychology. Professors who teach within this unique graduate program focus not only on the psychological needs and best practices within today’s elementary and secondary schools, but also on the mix of teaching and counseling that successful school counselors must practice daily. As a result, the program is top-ranked for its value and outcomes, and has earned a great reputation among the state’s public and private school districts. Other programs in applied and psychiatric psychology also have earned distinction for their unique focus on practice and education.
MA School Psychology
The school psychology program at Fairfield is the school’s most popular and rigorous option. Students admitted to the program must take courses in advanced statistics, childhood development and child psychology, academic counseling, child abuse counseling, and several other courses. Electives will deepen the student’s knowledge, while a series of practicum experiences in actual public schools will give students the supervised experience they need in order to qualify for state licensure as a school psychologist. As per Connecticut state regulations, all students in this program must additionally pass a state criminal background check and a child abuse clearance prior to practicing either in a supervised or professional capacity.
Master of Arts in Applied Psychology
The applied psychology program is a general psychology degree that blends advanced statistical concepts with psychological research practices, childhood development and psychology, health psychology, and advanced psychopathology. Electives can be used to specialize the applied psychology program by focusing on areas like childhood, community, or clinical psychology, if the student wishes to graduate with a specialization or pursue licensure. The program can optionally include practicum experiences and internships for additional credit.
Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Track
The MSN program, with a focus on psychiatric practice, is one of the university’s most unique programs. In this program, students will be subject to the typical MSN core curriculum, which focuses on advanced healthcare administration and pathology. The psychiatric nurse practitioner track will teach advanced psychiatric diagnosis, treatment, and counseling, as well as best practices and current laws or regulations in the field. This extensive, high-credit curriculum will prepare nurses for a transition into psychiatric work and licensure after graduation.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Fairfield University
Department of Psychology
1073 North Benson Rd.
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (203) 254-4000
Email: webmaster@fairfield.edu
Website
Sacred Heart University
Psychology Department
Sacred Heart is the second largest Catholic university in New England, just behind Boston College in neighboring Massachusetts. Its large size allows graduate psychology students to choose between program sin applied psychology, a B.S. / M.S. hybrid program, and an online degree for maximum flexibility. Sacred Heart also offers students its historical reputation as one of the region’s leading private school, ranked highly for its small class sizes, doctoral faculty, student outcomes, overall value, and career success rates. Sacred Heart also maintains a “sister school” relationship with Fairfield University located just a short distance away, which helps students maximize their academic and professional networks within the psychology program of their choice.
Master of Science in Applied Psychology (MSAP)
Applied psychology students can choose from a concentration in either I/O or community psychology. In the I/O program, courses focus on workplace psychology and counseling, government and military psychology, advanced statistics, psychopathology, organizational problem-solving, and consultative psychology. The community psychology program requires courses in family and youth counseling, community development, crisis management, and several other core competencies. A practicum experience, though not required, can be included in either program at the student’s discretion.
BS/MS accelerated degree program
Undergraduate applicants who know they want to pursue a graduate degree eventually can opt for this combined, accelerated option instead. Graduates will receive a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in applied psychology when they complete the program, which should take no longer than five years. The program includes the undergraduate liberal arts core, the general psychology core, and the graduate courses in applied psychology. Those applied psychology courses, in either community or I/O psychology, will be considered the students elective and concentration coursework, permitting an early, dual-degree graduation.
Online Master of Science in Applied Psychology (MSAP)
The online MSAP program provides the exact same coursework and required material as its offline counterpart, though students are able to accelerate the degree by taking courses in three trimesters. This is a much better fit for older, working professionals in the area.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Sacred Heart University
Psychology Department
5151 Park Ave.
Fairfield, CT 06825
Phone: (203) 365-4748
Email: lamontagnea@sacredheart.edu
Website
Southern Connecticut State University
Psychology Department
Southern Connecticut is the third-oldest public institution in Connecticut, having been founded in 1893 as on of the state’s “normal schools” for teacher education. Today, SCSU is a major public university with programs in virtually all major liberal arts, science, education, and liberal arts fields. The school has earned praise from U.S. News and World Report for its affordable tuition, while Princeton Review has recognized the university for its vibrant campus life, many student organizations, and strong career outcomes for undergraduate and graduate students alike. The general M.A. program in psychology is designed for private practitioners and students pursuing a professional license in the field.
MA Psychology
The M.A. program at SCSU is designed for students who may be working toward doctoral studies in the psychological sciences, and focuses on a broad set of skills in educational, clinical, and behavioral psychology. All students must take the university’s core for graduate students, which consists of advanced courses in counseling, statistics, professional ethics, psychopathology, and psychological disorders. Elective courses can help students focus on one of the program’s three core competencies if they wish to do so, though these electives can also be broadly chosen from several different areas of study.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Southern Connecticut State University
Psychology Department
501 Crescent St.
New Haven, CT 06515
Phone: (203) 392-6868
Email: psychair@southernct.edu
Website
University of Connecticut
Department of Educational Psychology
Originally founded as the Storrs Agricultural School, the University of Connecticut today is considered one of the best public universities in the United States. In fact, UConn is typically referred to as a “public ivy” because of its prestigious reputation, rigorous programs, strong professional outcomes, and massive network of alumni. The school psychology program at UConn prepares students to work in schools throughout the state and across the country. Thanks to its large size and UConn’s excellent reputation, the job placement rate for students in this program is greater than 98 percent. That puts the program in a very elite class among competing options throughout New England and nationwide.
School Psychology, Master of Arts
UConn’s school psychology program is one of the most in-depth programs offered anywhere in the state. Because of the school’s status as a major research university, students are required to take at least six credits of psychological research courses as part of the program. They are also expected to conduct at least a small amount of research during their enrollment at the school, with the option to write and present a graduate thesis prior to graduation. The program requires advanced courses in pathology, psychopathology, statistics, childhood psychology and development, contemporary issues in school psychology, abuse prevention and counseling, and several other areas. Students must clear a criminal and child abuse background check, and they must complete a minimum of three separate practicum experiences prior to graduation. Fulfilling these requirements will permit professional licensure as a school psychologist.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
University of Connecticut
Department of Educational Psychology
Storrs, CT 06269
Phone:(860) 486-4900
Website
University of Hartford
College of Arts and Sciences
Since 1877, the University of Hartford has been providing a private, nonsectarian educational atmosphere to students throughout Connecticut and the New England region of the United Stats. Originally founded as a liberal arts college, the university has grown to be a fully comprehensive institution with top-ranked programs and several prestigious accreditations. The M.A. program in clinical psychology is one of the most popular graduate options at UH, thanks to its dual focus on advanced psychological instruction and required practicum experiences in several different professional settings. A fully doctoral faculty makes the program rigorous and dramatically increases its value to enrolled students.
MA in Clinical Psychology
Graduate students in clinical psychology at Hartford will focus on several core competencies, include the biological foundation of psychological disorders and the treatment of those disorders, psychological statistics, advanced clinical practice, applied research in psychology, and advanced treatment of psychological disorders. The school requires two separate practicum experiences in a supervised, clinical psychology setting prior to graduation as well.
MS in Organizational Psychology
The I/O Master of Science program integrates psychology and business skills for graduate students who work in a corporate setting or wish to do so. The program is deeply involved in organizational development, team-building experiences, and the psychology of leadership, job design, human resources, and organizational conflict management. The program does require students to complete at least one internship prior to graduation, in order for students to build a robust professional network that will assist their eventual job search.
MS and sixth year certificate – School Psychology
The M.S. in school psychology prepares students to work as school counselors and psychologists throughout Connecticut and nationwide. Coursework includes psychological research, statistics, and best practices, as part of the general core. More specifically, in the school psychology track, students will take classes in child psychology, child development, psychological disorders, abuse and bullying counseling, academic counseling, and psychopathology. Extensive practicum experiences are required in order for students to graduate and pursue licensure.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
University of Hartford
College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology Department
200 Bloomfield Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06117
Phone: (860) 768-4100
Email: UofHart@hartford.edu
Website
University of New Haven
College of Arts and Sciences
Recently named the 100th best university in the northeastern United States, the University of New Haven is one of Connecticut’s best private institutions of higher education. The school offers two graduate psychology programs to prospective students, with concentrations in either I/O psychology or community psychology. Upon enrollment, students will be greeted by an all-doctoral group of faculty members, unique internship opportunities, and a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes research and psychological theory. The program’s large size permits many opportunities that smaller liberal arts colleges in the state simply do not offer their students.
M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MAIOP)
New Haven’s I/O program is designed for psychologists who wish to work within large organizations. As such, the program’s core courses in general psychology are paired with more specific courses in organizational development, job design, occupational counseling, organizational cohesion, and other key skills that are essential to maintaining a highly productive corporate or other organization. The program requires two separate internships during the student’s final year of enrollment.
M.A. program in community psychology
Community psychology students pair the general psychology core with advanced courses in community development, crisis management, crisis counseling, community intervention, and community psychopathology. The general core teaches advanced statistics, advanced general psychopathology, advanced psychological diagnosis, psychological research, and professional ethics. An internship is optional for graduate students in this program, though the school notes that many of its students do opt for at least one placement in a practicum experience prior to graduation as they build a professional network in this niche area of psychology.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
University of New Haven
College of Arts and Sciences
300 Boston Post Rd.
West Haven, CT 06516
Phone: (860) 701-5462
Email: jlinicus@newhaven.edu
Website
Wesleyan University
Department of Psychology
With just under 200 students enrolled in its graduate programs, Wesleyan University is easily one of the smallest liberal arts universities in the state for graduate students. This does not mean that the school is reduced in its value or prestige, however. The B.A. / M.A. program at Wesleyan allows students to earn two degrees in just under six years, with a general psychology focus that will prepare them for a broad array of professional opportunities. The school’s small class sizes and doctoral faculty members will provide students with great value and individualized attention as they customize their degree program and chart their professional development.
Combined BA/MA Degree Program in Psychology
The combined degree program at Wesleyan allows newly admitted undergraduate students to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in this field within five years of study. All graduate courses will be taken in place of elective or concentration coursework, eliminating a full year of graduate study. Concentrations in clinical, organizational or behavioral psychology are available. Students must take the university core, satisfy the psychological core, and complete all required graduate courses within no more than seven years in order to earn both degrees.
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Wesleyan University
Department of Psychology
45 Wyllys Ave.
Middletown, CT 06459
Phone: (860) 685-2000
Email: admission@wesleyan.edu
Website
Graduate psychology programs are a great way for professionals to maximize both their professional knowledge and their practical potential in this growing field. Connecticut’s many programs offer top-notch accreditation, academics, and opportunities, in a variety of concentrations like school psychology, clinical psychology, and general psychology. When considering the many Master’s in Psychology degrees in Connecticut, choose the one that best combines academics, affordability, and promising career prospects after commencement.
See also: Psychology Doctoral Programs in Connecticut