Psychology master’s degrees in Georgia span 13 programs, from terminal degrees in clinical/counseling psychology and I/O psychology to combined M.Ed./Ed.S. tracks in school psychology. Most run two to three years. Several serve as licensure pathways toward Georgia’s LPC credential, while others are research stepping stones toward a doctorate.
Sorting through Georgia’s psychology graduate options comes down to one question: are you trying to practice, or are you trying to do research? For a broader look before you narrow down to Georgia, our national guide to psychology master’s degrees covers the different degree types. The state’s 13 programs split roughly along the practice-vs-research line, with counseling and I/O tracks built for direct practice and experimental tracks built to feed a doctoral application. Here’s how each one breaks down, including which ones can get you licensed and which ones are just the first step.
Terminal Master’s or a Step Toward a Doctorate?
Not every master’s on this list gets you the same outcome. Programs like Clayton State’s Clinical/Counseling Psychology, Mercer’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and the counseling tracks at Valdosta State and the University of North Georgia are terminal degrees built to get you licensed as a professional counselor. Others, including Augusta University’s Applied Experimental and General Experimental tracks, Georgia Tech’s HCI program, and Emory’s psychology master’s (awarded only as a milestone inside its PhD program), exist to prepare you for doctoral study rather than to stand on their own.
The licensure path also splits by track. Counseling-focused master’s programs lead toward the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential, which requires passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), not the EPPP. The EPPP only comes into play if you continue to a doctorate and pursue licensure as a psychologist, a decision worth thinking through before you apply. If you’re weighing that next step, our PsyD vs. PhD breakdown covers how the two doctoral paths differ, and Georgia’s doctoral psychology programs list the state’s PhD and PsyD options directly.
Georgia Psychology Master’s Programs at a Glance
Every one of these psychology master’s degrees in Georgia carries institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), plus a program-specific accreditor such as MPCAC, CACREP, or NASP, where one applies. Click a school name to jump to its details.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta University | M.S. | Clinical/Counseling, Experimental | Augusta, GA |
| Brenau University | M.S. | Clinical Counseling Psychology | Gainesville, GA |
| Clayton State University | M.S. | Clinical/Counseling Psychology | Morrow, GA |
| Emory University | M.A. (en route to Ph.D.) | Clinical Science, Research | Atlanta, GA |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | M.S. | Human-Computer Interaction | Atlanta, GA |
| Georgia Southern University | M.S. | Experimental Psychology, Behavior Analysis | Statesboro, GA |
| Georgia State University | M.Ed./Ed.S., M.S. | School Psychology, Educational Psychology | Atlanta, GA |
| Mercer University | M.S. | Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Atlanta, GA |
| University of Georgia | M.A. | Industrial-Organizational Psychology | Lawrenceville (UGA Gwinnett Campus), GA |
| University of North Georgia | M.S. | Clinical Mental Health, Addictions, College Counseling | Dahlonega, GA |
| University of West Georgia | M.A. | Humanistic Psychology | Carrollton, GA |
| Valdosta State University | M.S., M.Ed./Ed.S. | I/O Psychology, School Counseling | Valdosta, GA |
| Wesleyan College | M.A. | Industrial-Organizational Psychology | Macon, GA |
Augusta University
Augusta University’s Department of Psychological Sciences now sits within the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and offers an M.S. in Psychology with three tracks.
Clinical/Counseling Track
Built for students pursuing Georgia’s Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential, this track is accredited by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) through July 2027. It runs about five semesters and pairs coursework with a supervised clinical practicum and internship.
Applied Experimental and General Experimental Tracks
Both tracks are built for students planning to continue to a doctoral program rather than practice directly after the master’s. Students complete research practicums and internships, and the General Experimental track requires an independent research thesis.
Augusta, GA. Program website
Brenau University
Brenau’s psychology graduate programs are housed in the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling.
M.S. in Clinical Counseling Psychology
This 62-credit-hour program is accredited by MPCAC through February 2027. One thing worth knowing before you apply: this degree does not by itself qualify graduates for LPC licensure. Brenau positions it as preparation for doctoral study, including its own PsyD in Clinical Psychology, alongside training in counseling, research, and psychological assessment.
Gainesville, GA. Program website
Clayton State University
Clayton State’s College of Arts & Sciences offers a Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology, accredited by MPCAC through December 2026.
M.S. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology
This 60-credit-hour, two-year program prepares graduates to pursue Georgia’s Associate Professional Counselor (APC) credential and, eventually, LPC licensure, both of which require passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Students choose between a thesis track and a non-thesis professional-paper track with a comprehensive exam.
Morrow, GA. Program website
Emory University
Emory doesn’t offer a standalone psychology master’s. Its master’s degree is conferred only as a milestone inside the university’s Psychology PhD program, which has four concentrations: behavioral and systems neuroscience, clinical science, cognitive and computational sciences, and developmental science.
PhD Program (Master’s Awarded En Route)
If you’re looking for a psychology master’s that you can apply for and complete on its own, this isn’t it. But for students planning to pursue a doctorate and eventual licensure as a psychologist, Emory’s Clinical Science concentration is an APA-accredited doctoral training program worth knowing about.
Atlanta, GA. Program website
Georgia Institute of Technology
Better known as Georgia Tech, this school offers a Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), a 36-credit-hour program now run jointly by four schools: Interactive Computing, Literature, Media, and Communication, Industrial Design, and Psychology.
M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology Specialization
Students entering through the Psychology specialization study the human side of interface design, including cognition, human factors, and research methods, alongside core HCI coursework. This is a research- and design-focused degree, not a clinical or counseling program, and like Emory’s, it’s built assuming further study rather than direct-practice licensure.
Atlanta, GA. Program website
Georgia Southern University
Now housed in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Georgia Southern’s psychology master’s program has been renamed since our last update: it’s the M.S. in Experimental Psychology, with a separate M.S. concentration in Behavior Analysis.
M.S. in Experimental Psychology
Designed for students planning to apply to a doctoral program, including clinical or counseling psychology, or looking for research-focused work right after graduation. About 75% of graduates who apply to experimental and applied psychology doctoral programs are accepted.
M.S. in Behavior Analysis
A concentration that prepares students to work or continue their education as a behavior analyst.
Statesboro, GA. Program website
Georgia State University
Georgia State’s Counseling and Psychological Services department and College of Education & Human Development offer two distinct psychology master’s paths.
M.Ed./Ed.S. in School Psychology
This NASP-recognized program combines a Master of Education and a Specialist in Education as one concurrent sequence. Worth flagging: the M.Ed. alone doesn’t lead to certification in Georgia. Completing the full Ed.S. sequence, plus passing the required exams, is what qualifies graduates for state certification as a school psychologist.
M.S. in Educational Psychology
Offered fully online with three concentrations: general, adult literacy, and development and social justice. Georgia State is direct about this one too: it’s research-focused and isn’t designed to prepare graduates for a licensing exam or teaching certification.
Atlanta, GA. Program website
Mercer University
Mercer’s graduate counseling programs run through its College of Professional Advancement.
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and built for LPC licensure, this program runs 30 to 42 months in a blended online and in-person format at Mercer’s Atlanta campus. Students sit for the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) before finishing; Mercer reports a 94% first-time pass rate for its 2023-2024 cohort.
Atlanta, GA. Program website
University of Georgia
Professional Master’s Program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Now in its second decade, UGA’s I-O master’s (branded IOMP) marked its 10th graduating cohort in 2024. It’s built for working professionals: classes meet just five weekends per semester at UGA’s Gwinnett campus, and roughly half the coursework is taught by HR executives and consultants from Atlanta-area businesses rather than academic faculty alone.
Lawrenceville (UGA Gwinnett Campus), GA. Program website
University of North Georgia
M.S. in Counseling
Students choose one of three tracks: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP-accredited), Clinical Addictions Counseling, or College Counseling & Student Affairs. All three share a common core curriculum plus 9 to 15 credit hours of specialty coursework, along with a supervised practicum and internship year.
Dahlonega, GA. Program website
University of West Georgia
M.A. in Psychology
This program leans into the department’s roots in humanistic psychology rather than the clinical/counseling model most other Georgia schools use, integrating phenomenological, critical, and depth psychology perspectives. Students choose a thesis option (33 hours plus thesis) or a 45-hour non-thesis option, built around two foundational courses and an individualized plan of study developed with a faculty mentor.
Carrollton, GA. Program website
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State’s Department of Human Services, part of the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education & Human Services, offers three master’s-level paths.
M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
A 36-credit-hour, fully online program and one of the longest-running I-O programs in the state, running since 1984. A thesis is optional but recommended for students planning to continue to a doctorate.
Counselor Education, M.Ed.
Restructured since our last update: this is now a single M.Ed. in Counselor Education with two concentrations, School Counseling (CACREP-accredited) and a newer Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration that meets Georgia’s licensure requirements even though it isn’t yet independently CACREP-accredited.
Ed.S. in School Counseling
An add-on credential for students who already hold a school counseling master’s and Georgia certification, requiring a 3.0 GPA and prior experience as a certified school counselor.
Valdosta, GA. Program website
Wesleyan College
Master of Industrial-Organizational Psychology
An 18-month hybrid program built around evening classes for working professionals, with a distinct emphasis on workplace justice, diversity, and organizational productivity alongside the standard I-O curriculum. Classes blend online coursework with in-person seminars at Wesleyan’s Macon campus.
Macon, GA. Program website
Georgia’s psychology and counseling master’s programs split cleanly into two camps: degrees that get you licensed to practice and degrees that get you into a doctoral program. Match the track to what you actually want to be doing five years from now, and confirm current accreditation on any counseling-focused program directly with the school before you apply.
Salary and Job Outlook for Georgia Psychology Master’s Graduates
Where your master’s degree leads matters for pay too. In Georgia, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, the licensure path for most terminal counseling master’s programs on this list, earned a median annual salary of $58,960 as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Projections Central estimates 21.7% employment growth for that occupation in Georgia between 2022 and 2032. Clinical and counseling psychologists in Georgia, a doctoral-level credential, earned a median of $96,060, useful context if a master’s here is your first step toward that degree. Industrial-organizational psychologists command the highest pay nationally at a median of $193,950, though Georgia-specific wage and growth figures for this occupation aren’t published separately by BLS or Projections Central.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Job Growth (2022-2032) |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Georgia) | $96,060 | +10.5% |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (Georgia) | $58,960 | +21.7% |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists (National) | $193,950 | +5.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychology master’s programs does Georgia have?
Georgia offers 13 psychology and counseling master’s programs across public and private universities, ranging from terminal Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) tracks to research-focused programs built as a step toward a doctorate.
Can I become a licensed psychologist with a master’s degree in Georgia?
No. Georgia requires a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and passing the EPPP to use the title “licensed psychologist.” A master’s degree can instead lead to licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), which requires the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Confirm current requirements with the state licensing board before you apply.
Are any of these Georgia programs available online?
Some are. Georgia State’s M.S. in Educational Psychology and Valdosta State’s M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology are both fully online, and several counseling programs use a blended format that pairs online coursework with in-person practicum and internship requirements.
What’s the difference between a “Clinical/Counseling Psychology” master’s and a “Counseling” master’s?
Not much in practice. Programs titled Clinical/Counseling Psychology (Augusta, Clayton State, Brenau) and those titled simply Counseling (University of North Georgia, Valdosta State) both lead toward the same LPC credential. The main differences come down to the specific accreditor, MPCAC versus CACREP, and which specialty tracks each school offers.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2022-2032 job growth forecasts for Psychologists (including Clinical & Counseling, Industrial-Organizational, and School Psychologists) and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.