Arizona Master’s Degree in Psychology Curriculum

Find Programs for Master’s of Psychology Degrees in Arizona

An Arizona Master’s degree in psychology may be exactly what you need to jump start your psychology career and take your undergraduate knowledge of this field to the next level. Before you begin the application process, you have to know what you’re getting into.

There are many specialized psychology programs available in Arizona, and comparing different options may help you create a list of schools that interest you and that may get you closer to your career goals.

On top of that, you should compare admissions requirements for different psychology Master’s programs in Arizona. Some competitive programs require an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher, while less competitive schools may routinely admit students with GPAs of 3.0 or higher.

You may find that some psychology Master’s programs in Arizona require a degree in the social sciences, while others simply require consistently high grades at the undergraduate level. By eliminating schools for which you do not meet the admissions requirements, you can save time on the application process.

Master of Arts in Psychology

One option you may consider is a Master of Arts in psychology. This degree is fairly broad, covering the field of psychology as a field instead of honing in on one area of specialized study. There are several ways in which this type of degree may be beneficial. If you don’t feel drawn to one specialty over another, this degree may allow you to get experience in a variety of fields and choose a career that suits you after graduation.

If you’d like to conduct research in several areas of psychology, this degree may keep you from being limited to one subspecialty when you start working. On average, an Arizona Master’s in psychology requires the completion of 33 credits. Clinical requirements vary; some schools do require practical experience, but there are quite a few that don’t. The latter may be good options for those who want to earn a Master’s degree in psychology online.

Classes Required for a Master of Arts in Psychology

Theories of Personality: Explore different psychological theories on how personality develops, how one’s personality may change throughout the lifespan, and which personality types are prone to different psychological disorders.
Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior: A number of influences may change a person’s behavior, which is the focus of this course. You may learn how to understand the root causes of behavior and identify them with a variety of tests.
Positive Psychology: This looks into one of the newest specialties in this field: positive psychology. Students learn the role of mind over matter in health and injuries, how people may change their lives with positive psychology, and the evidence surrounding this field.
Multicultural Psychology: The goal of this class is to prepare psychological practitioners and researchers to consider people of different cultures in their daily work. You may learn how psychological disorders manifest differently in other cultures and how cultural differences may cause diagnostic difficulties.

Master of Arts in Counseling

Many students enter the field of psychology with the hopes of going into counseling. It’s hard to imagine a career in which you have more power to help people and improve their quality of life. Counselors must be licensed in Arizona, so you need to earn no fewer than 60 credits by graduation. At most accredited Master’s psychology programs in Arizona, this allows you to take some elective courses.

Classes Required for a Master of Arts in Counseling

Counseling Theories: Find out how counseling professionals make treatment decisions and care plans for their patients by exploring counseling theories that have been backed up by evidence.
Social and Cultural Concerns in Counseling: People do not develop in a vacuum. In this course, discover how to consider the effects of society and culture on a person’s psychological development and struggles.
Counseling and the Helping Professions: Learn about the role of a counselor in a patient’s treatment, what legal and ethical boundaries you must maintain during treatment, and how to avoid becoming overly invested in a patient’s growth.
Group Counseling and Dynamics: This course covers important techniques for running group counseling sessions, explores the goals that you may set for group sessions, and the diagnoses for which group counseling is effective.

Master of Education in Educational Psychology

If you have always hoped to work in a school and help children with social difficulties or learning disabilities, a degree in educational psychology is definitely an option to explore. This degree may lead to licensure in school counseling, so plan on earning at least 60 credits by the time you graduate. Clinical rotations are mandatory. However, rather than going to local clinics and treatment centers, you are sent to schools to work with students at different grade levels.

Classes Required for a Master of Education in Educational Psychology

Academic Assessment and Intervention: Students in this class learn how to identify academic struggles, test a student’s growth and potential, and use that information to create an intervention plan.
Ethics, Theory, and Practice: Since this field puts you in contact with students, it is especially important to have strict boundaries that protect students. Explore the ethics of this field while building up your theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Consultation and Supervision: Find out how educational psychology professionals work with other school professionals to improve student outcomes, what role supervision plays in your daily work, and how you may use feedback to grow professionally.
Psychological Assessment and Intervention: In this class, find out how to use different assessments to uncover a student’s psychological difficulties. With this information, practitioners may create intervention plans and work with other mental health professionals to help children thrive.

Explore your potential as a psychology professional.

Make the first move now by contacting Master’s in psychology programs in Arizona.

Featured Programs:

Master’s in Psychology Jobs in Arizona

Mental health counselor

Average Master’s psychology salary of $46,180 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017)
Expected job growth of 24% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017)
Potential workplace: Journeys Counseling Center

Marriage and family therapist

Average income of $65,440 per year (BLS, 2017)
Expected job growth of 26% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017)
Potential workplace: Arizona Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic

Social and community services manager

Average Master’s degree in psychology salary in Arizona: $66,990 per year (BLS, 2017)
Expected job growth of 21% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017)
Potential workplace: Arizona Aging and Adult Services

All the hard work you put into a Master’s degree may come to fruition when it’s time to start your career. Arizona has a growing need for counseling professionals all over the state. The state also has a fairly large Spanish-speaking population, so being bilingual may substantially increase your career opportunities.

As a licensed counselor, you may have numerous specialties to explore. Going into substance abuse counseling puts you in a position to help those struggling with addiction to alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescribed medications. Those who go into marriage or family counseling can help couples lay the groundwork for a successful marriage, navigate life’s challenges, or go through tough transition periods. If you become a mental health counselor, you may help those with chronic or acute mental health issues.

There are non-clinical positions to consider as well. You may work for nonprofit agencies or government agencies to help under-served populations get access to the resources they need. You may also go into research in various areas of psychology, conducting research that may change the future of this field. As you near graduation, you may want to explore job openings and start working your connections to figure out where you may be able to use your skills.

With our list of psychology Master’s programs in Arizona, you may start to find schools that are a good fit for you.

Request information from accredited psychology Master’s programs in Arizona to get started today.

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