The field of psychology demands constant attention to academic growth, and students interested in Master’s in Psychology Degrees in Colorado will appreciate all that the Centennial State has to offer.
With breathtaking natural landmarks and urban centers that rank this state third in the nation for businesses according to a 2010 CNBC listing, Colorado affords those who attend school here plenty of opportunities to pursue engaging careers after graduation.
The following list outlines several of the state’s top schools in terms of performance and program availability in psychology, any of which will propel students forward into this demanding and often competitive industry.
Colorado State University
Department of Psychology
Colorado State University began as the Colorado Agricultural College in 1870 but has since evolved into one of the country’s most imminent research institutions. The school boasts several distinctions, including a tier-one designation by U.S. News and World Report as well as recognition by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance for being a top contender in terms of affordability and educational quality. Psychology plays an important role at Colorado State. According to the department’s website, psychology is the second largest major with about 1,100 combined students pursuing degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students who study here gain access to advanced research facilities.
Master of Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology (M.A.I.O.P.)
Students interested in functional psychology will appreciate Colorado State University’s online program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Of the graduate-level programs offered at the school, this is the only terminal master’s degree and is offered entirely online. The M.A.I.O.P. requires 38 credit hours at the graduate level, but students do not have to complete a thesis. Students can finish the degree in six semesters or two years, but program length varies based on students’ individual courses of study. Summer courses are necessary. The program focuses on quantitative research methods while providing students with a general, comprehensive curriculum on applied industrial and organizational psychology concepts.
Graduate Programs in Psychology
Colorado State University offers five additional programs at the graduate level, but these five are doctoral programs that focus on specific specialties within the field of psychology: Applied Social and Health, Cognitive, Cognitive Neuroscience, Counseling, and Industrial/Organizational. The school does not admit students for terminal master’s degree programs. In other words, students must pursue a doctorate unless they choose the online MAIOP program outlined above. Specifics for each specialty are highlighted in brochures on the school’s website. In general, students will take courses at the graduate level to earn an M.S. before taking the required doctoral courses, which include seminars, a research practicum and a dissertation.
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Colorado State University
Department of Psychology
Graduate Admissions
1876 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1876
Phone: (970) 491-6363
Email: Ginger.Lacy-Gill@colostate.edu (Ginger Lacy-Gill)
Program Link
University of Colorado Boulder
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Established in 1876, the same year that Colorado itself was founded, the University of Colorado Boulder forms the flagship public university in the state and enrolls about 32,000 students. The school holds a rank of 88 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the Best National Universities for 2015, and students who pursue a program here will enjoy the college’s focus on high-quality education as well as its rich traditions. According to the school’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, the programs offered here provide an “ideal platform to enhance students’ critical thinking, creativity, complex reasoning, research skills, and written and oral communication effectiveness.”
Joint Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Psychology with Specialization in Cognitive Psychology
The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience offers several approaches for looking at the human brain. Psychology, which studies emotional and cognitive development, has been combined with neuroscience, which focuses on biological functioning at the cellular level. In the joint bachelor’s and master’s degree, students will pursue a program that prepares them for one of two tracks. They can either go on to complete a doctoral program in cognitive psychology or work in a technical career in government or industry using cognitive psychology techniques. This is a five-year program requiring a thesis.
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of Colorado Boulder
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Muenzinger D244
345 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0345
Phone: (303) 492-1234
Email: info@psych.colorado.edu
Program Link
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Psychology Department
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs enjoyed record enrollment in 2014 at around 11,100 students, which is up 5 percent over previous years. As one of the fastest growing schools in Colorado, the university enjoys continued success in terms of graduation rate, cost-effectiveness and efficiency. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school as number 13 on its list of the best regional schools in the West, and several of the university’s programs earn special recognition. The Psychology Department is home to the region’s only age-based clinic, the UCCS Aging Center, which graduate students use as their primary source for clinical training.
MA, Clinical and Psychological Science
Within the Master of Arts program, students can choose the Clinical or Psychological Science track. Both tracks require three components, which are classes on research and the scientific method, core courses on common psychology knowledge, and a research-based thesis. The clinical track also requires teaching courses and completion of a practicum. Students who pursue the Psychological Science track can also gain experience in one of four sub-fields: Cognition, Psychology and Law, Developmental Psychology and Trauma Psychology. Program length varies based on a student’s chosen track and specialties. For example, the clinical track requires at least 42 credit hours and takes about two years to complete.
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- American Psychological Association (Ph.D. program)
Contact
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Psychology Department
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 255-4500
Email: psych@uccs.edu
Program Link
University of Denver
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
The University of Denver was founded in 1864 and continues to be one of the state’s most prominent private universities. More than 11,500 students pursue over 220 undergraduate and graduate-level programs. The school ties with the University of Colorado Boulder in its ranking by U.S. News and World Report. For students interested in studying psychology at the graduate level, the University of Denver offers unique programs under the direction of its Graduate School of Professional Psychology, including a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology, a Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology.
Master of Arts in forensic psychology
The MA Forensic Psychology program offered by the University of Denver was developed in 1999 and continues to meet the need for psychologists with rigorous training in elements of forensics. The program combines clinical psychology training with law-based courses to give students wider exposure to issues within the field. Students who pursue the MAFP program also have the chance to focus their course of study on different sub-fields such as trauma and crisis intervention, treatment of offenders, group therapy and substance abuse. In addition to standard classroom-based instruction, students gain experience through field trips and field placements in relevant settings.
Master’s Program in International Disaster Psychology
Developed for students who wish to work with victims of trauma on an individual or community basis, the MA International Disaster Psychology program features coursework that is centered on clinical psychology with an emphasis on trauma recovery. The school recently founded an in-house training clinic open to Denver-area residents called the Trauma and Disaster Recovery Clinic. Students who pursue this program will gain significant experience by working at the clinic. The program requires completion of 90 quarter-credit hours as well as local field placement within the immediate community and an international internship that lasts for eight weeks during a summer session.
Master of Arts degree in Sport and Performance Psychology
For those who currently work in or plan to work in mental health careers related to sports, the performing arts or other similar industries, the University of Denver offers an MA Sport and Performance Psychology program designed to enhance the practitioner’s ability to treat sport players and performing artists. The use of psychology in performing arts and sports is a relatively new focus, and the school’s pioneering program will help students stand out in their careers. Those who undertake this course of study will complete at least 72 credit hours, a practicum within the community and a comprehensive Master’s Project.
Accreditations
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of Denver
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
2450 S. Vine Street
Denver, CO 80208
Phone: (303) 871-3736
Email: gsppinfo@du.edu
Program Link
While the field of psychology in general offers an average growth rate of 12 percent over the next decade according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, specific topics within the field of psychology continue to award diligent students with interesting job opportunities in Colorado and around the world. For those interested in Master’s in Psychology Degrees in Colorado, the schools listed above provide unique programs that cater to individual interests and goals.
See also: Psychology Doctoral Programs in Colorado