Alabama has six master’s-level programs in psychology and counseling across five institutions. Specializations span applied behavior analysis, industrial-organizational psychology, general experimental psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and counseling. None leads directly to psychologist licensure, which requires a doctoral degree. Alabama A&M’s MS in Counseling is the only program on this page that prepares graduates for counselor licensure in Alabama.
Alabama’s master’s-level psychology landscape has grown since this page was last updated. Five institutions now offer six distinct programs, covering applied behavior analysis, organizational psychology, counseling, general experimental psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. Before you start comparing applications, it helps to know which program type fits your goals, because the three tracks available here lead to very different careers.
How to Choose: Three Types of Alabama Master’s Programs
The programs on this page fall into three categories based on what they prepare you to do. Applied and practitioner-focused programs are built around specific roles: Auburn’s ABA program is designed to build toward BCBA certification, while the industrial-organizational tracks at Auburn and AUM target HR, talent management, and organizational development. These are non-thesis programs with applied internship or practicum components.
Research and experimental programs are designed for students heading toward doctoral study or research careers. UAH’s general-experimental MS covers a broad range of psychology subfields and prepares graduates for PhD programs or research settings. South Alabama’s Behavioral and Brain Sciences MS is narrower, focusing on the neural and computational underpinnings of behavior, and requires a thesis.
Alabama A&M’s MS in Counseling is the only program here that prepares graduates specifically for counselor licensure. It leads to the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) credential in Alabama, with a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling concentration that also qualifies graduates for the CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) exam. If becoming a licensed counselor is your goal, this is the program type to consider. None of the other five programs on this page satisfies Alabama’s requirements for psychologist or counselor licensure.
Alabama Master’s in Psychology Programs at a Glance
All programs are offered at institutions regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M University | MS | Counseling (Clinical Rehabilitation) | Normal, AL |
| Auburn University | MS | Applied Behavior Analysis | Auburn, AL |
| Auburn University | MS | Industrial-Organizational Psychology | Auburn, AL (online) |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | MS | Industrial-Organizational Psychology | Montgomery, AL (online) |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | MS | General-Experimental Psychology | Huntsville, AL |
| University of South Alabama | MS | Behavioral and Brain Sciences | Mobile, AL |
Alabama A&M University
MS in Counseling: Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration
Alabama A&M is the only institution on this page with a master’s program explicitly designed to lead to counselor licensure. The MS in Counseling’s Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling concentration prepares graduates for the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) credential in Alabama and for the CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) exam. The program is housed in the Department of Psychology and Counseling at AAMU, an HBCU with a strong community-service orientation in Huntsville.
The program emphasizes experiential learning through practicum and internship placements, with students working directly with clients across clinical and community settings. Coursework covers human development, group dynamics, career counseling, assessment, cultural competency, and rehabilitation services for individuals with physical, mental, developmental, and vocational disabilities. AAMU is pursuing CACREP accreditation, the national counseling accreditation standard. Confirm the current accreditation status before enrolling.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC. CACREP accreditation in process; verify current status with AAMU directly.
Normal, AL | Program website
Auburn University
MS in Applied Behavior Analysis
Auburn’s ABA program is one of the more structurally specific programs in Alabama. It runs as a non-thesis MS built around a 1,500-hour supervised practicum completed at roughly 20 hours per week across semesters. Placements span early intervention preschools, an on-campus treatment facility for children with autism and developmental disabilities, school district consultation, in-home services for foster families across Alabama, and a juvenile corrections facility. The range of settings is a deliberate part of the training design.
The practicum is structured to build toward the supervised fieldwork hours required by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for BCBA eligibility. Confirm current BACB requirements with Auburn directly, since certification standards are updated periodically. The program received full ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) accreditation in 2024, valid for five years.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC; ABAI full accreditation granted 2024.
Auburn, AL | Program website
MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Auburn’s I/O Psychology MS is a 30-credit-hour, non-thesis program delivered fully online and asynchronously. It’s designed for students heading into applied organizational roles, not clinical practice or doctoral research. Core coursework covers foundations of I/O psychology, training and development in organizations, and advanced analytics for behavioral sciences. Students also complete a practicum in applied psychology as part of the degree. The program explicitly does not prepare graduates for licensure as a psychology professional.
Applications are accepted for fall enrollment; the deadline is March 31. Students are not eligible for graduate assistantships or tuition waivers through the Department of Psychological Sciences. All degree requirements must be completed within five years.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC.
Auburn, AL (online) | Program website
Auburn University at Montgomery
MS in Psychology: Industrial-Organizational Track
Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) is a separate institution from Auburn’s main campus, though part of the Auburn University System. Its online MS in Psychology with an I/O track is a 10-course program that can be completed in roughly 21 months. Coursework covers personnel selection and talent management, workforce training and development, workplace motivation, research methods, and related organizational topics. Like Auburn’s main-campus I/O MS, it’s designed for careers in human resources and organizational development, not for psychology licensure.
AUM offers the program fully online, making it accessible to working professionals. The university participates in the Yellow Ribbon program and has military-friendly resources for veteran students.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC.
Montgomery, AL (online) | Program website
University of Alabama in Huntsville
MS in Psychology
UAH’s MS in Psychology is a general-experimental program — broader in scope than the applied or specialized programs elsewhere on this page. Coursework spans applied experimental, biological, cognitive, developmental, human factors, industrial-organizational psychology, psycholegal studies, and research-based courses in psychopathology. That breadth makes it useful preparation for doctoral programs in multiple psychology subfields or for research careers where a wide theoretical base is valuable.
The program does not lead to licensure as a psychologist or counselor in Alabama. If that’s your goal, this isn’t the right fit. UAH also offers a PhD in Applied Experimental Psychology for students ready to enter doctoral training.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC.
Huntsville, AL | Program website
University of South Alabama
MS in Psychology: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
South Alabama’s MS focuses on the neural and computational underpinnings of behavior. Areas of concentration include Behavioral Statistics and Computational Modeling, Cognitive and Perceptual Processing, Psychophysiology, Social and Developmental Psychology, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. The program offers both thesis and non-thesis tracks; the thesis track is the standard path for students planning doctoral applications. Full-time students typically complete the program in two years, with the second year weighted toward research and thesis work.
Teaching opportunities are available through graduate assistantships, not as a blanket requirement — students interested in classroom experience should express this during the admissions process. The program is primarily designed for doctoral preparation, research careers, and college teaching roles. Confirm current Alabama psychologist licensure requirements separately — the path from a master’s in psychology to full psychologist licensure requires a doctoral degree.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC.
Mobile, AL | Program website
Alabama’s six master’s-level programs divide cleanly by purpose: AAMU for counseling licensure, Auburn’s ABA MS for behavior analyst practice, both I/O programs for organizational careers, UAH for broad experimental research preparation, and South Alabama for behavioral neuroscience and doctoral prep. For doctoral programs in Alabama psychology, the sibling page covers PhD and PsyD options across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any of these programs lead to licensure as a psychologist in Alabama?
No. Psychologist licensure in Alabama requires a doctoral degree. A master’s degree in psychology or counseling does not qualify you to practice as a licensed psychologist, regardless of the program. For current requirements, see Alabama psychologist licensure requirements. AAMU’s MS in Counseling is the only program here that leads to licensure — as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), not as a psychologist.
Which programs are available online?
Two programs are delivered fully online: Auburn University’s MS in I/O Psychology (asynchronous) and Auburn University at Montgomery’s MS in Psychology: I/O track. Both are non-thesis programs focused on organizational and HR applications. The remaining four programs — AAMU’s counseling MS, Auburn’s ABA MS, UAH’s MS in Psychology, and South Alabama’s BBS MS — require in-person attendance for coursework, practicum, or both.
How long do these programs take?
Most programs run approximately two years for full-time students. Auburn’s ABA MS is the longest: 12 months of coursework followed by a 1,500-hour practicum at roughly 20 hours per week, which extends the timeline beyond two years for most students. Auburn’s online I/O MS is structured to be completed in around 21 months. AUM’s program is similar. South Alabama and UAH typically run two academic years. AAMU’s counseling MS timeline depends on concentration and practicum placement.
What can you do with a master’s in psychology from Alabama?
Career outcomes depend heavily on the program. Auburn’s ABA MS leads toward applied behavior analyst roles and BCBA certification. The I/O programs at Auburn and AUM target HR, talent management, and organizational development careers. AAMU’s counseling MS prepares LPCs and rehabilitation counselors. UAH’s general-experimental MS supports doctoral applications and research careers. South Alabama’s BBS MS is primarily doctoral preparation, though the behavioral neuroscience background also applies in research and cognitive science settings. For a broader earnings picture, see the highest-paying jobs with a psychology master’s degree.
Can these programs prepare me for a doctoral program?
Several can. UAH’s MS is specifically general-experimental in scope, which translates well to PhD applications across subfields. South Alabama’s BBS MS provides research experience, thesis preparation, and optional teaching through assistantships — the kind of profile doctoral admissions committees look for. Auburn’s ABA MS can support doctoral applications in behavior analysis, though its primary focus is clinical practice. The I/O programs at Auburn and AUM and AAMU’s counseling MS are practitioner tracks, not primarily doctoral pipelines. To explore doctoral options in Alabama, see Alabama’s doctoral programs in psychology.
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