An Overview of Master’s degree in Psychology

In dealing with each other, it is quite perceptual how we initiate a talk or an action, interact or react to people around us. The question is there a discipline that illustrates human behavior and beyond? Yes. Psychology. It tackles the aspects of the human psyche and the influence each individual is subject to from the surrounding environment, culture, and society.

Psychology is a sub-branch of social sciences that introduces a broad spectrum of topics such as human behavior, the mind as a byproduct of brain processes, mental health, subconsciousness, and self-discovery. So how about holding a master’s degree in such a major?

Psychology graduates learn about the mind and behavior; to study a master’s degree in psychology is to have an in-depth background in human thoughts, actions, and behaviors. After taking theoretical classes about child development, mental disorders, traumas, and addiction integrated with practical work experience, case studies, and current therapy methods. All of these combined qualify scholars to be a psychologist whilst they choose an area of specialty in psychology.

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What is a Master’s in Psychology?

A master’s in psychology is a degree in the principles and theories of human behavior, from which students learn how to evaluate and make a treatment plan for different problems that impact mental health.

Whether selecting the degree as a terminal or nonterminal, prospective psychologists choose to study a master’s program on their career expectations; They may choose to study an online degree or to study on a full-time or part-time basis. Thus they are given a core foundation to pursue their doctorate for clinical psychology for instance, or to be licensed only with the master’s itself, thanks to the proper and required knowledge they gain after graduation.

In addition, they learn how to implement after focusing in particular on the internalized mental and emotional health of the cases during the program.

The Difference between Psychiatry and Psychology

Psychiatry requires a medical school degree to prescribe medication and treatment plans to patients whilst monitoring them. However, Psychology focuses on the emotional and mental complaints of patients to provide behavioral intervention.

Why Should You Pursue a Master’s in psychology?

Do you have the passion for conceptualizing the behavior of humans and aiding people to outdo challenges and life hardships? A master’s degree in psychology is the right choice for you. This graduate program would open up a wide range of possibilities for career paths. It can be a significant milestone to proceed to a doctorate later on as well.

How Long Does it Take to Earn a Master’s Degree in Psychology?

The duration of the psychology master’s program varies between 2 to 4 years after you study for a bachelor’s degree in the same field, and relies on several factors: The academic requirements, thesis requirement, and specialization option. It is subject also to the school time offered to completion, whether it’s a full-time, part-time, accelerated, or online program.

Expanding on the type of psychology theory taught at an undergraduate level, the degree contributes to narrowing the focus to guarantee more accuracy. As most programs expect at least related and/or prior knowledge.

In other words, you can study social sciences, then pursue a master’s in psychology. Furthermore, there are varieties of concentrations you may choose from. The thing is, whichever path you take, you will tackle a psychology scientific literature related to your academic choice, and you may make your study practical by doing clinical psychology, your research, or required internships.

What is the difference between an MS and MA in Psychology?

Adequately both degrees opens up doors in psychology-related jobs or doctoral studies for their graduates. Yet, there is a slight difference between a Masters of Science (MS) which emphasizes research and behavioral sciences and a Master of Arts (MA) with its focus on analysis, liberal arts and humanities notions of psychology.

Though the academic requirements are almost the same, the type of degree offered varies on the chosen school. Hence the title of both degrees is affected by the curriculum and the coursework, and it is up to you to select a program that aligns with your career goals.

Here are a few examples of psychology master’s degree types:

M.A. or M.S. in experimental psychology
M.A. or M.S. in clinical psychology
M.A. or M.S. in child development

Psychology as a discipline has numerous sub majors, including cognitive and perceptual psychology, behavioral psychology, neuropsychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, and depth psychology that focus on unconscious functions.

What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Psychology?

The better education you get, the better life opportunities you have. Having a master’s degree equals more job opportunities and unlike having a university degree only. Consequently, earning a higher salary. Due to the pricey postgraduate degrees, a positive return on investment in terms of both expanded job opportunities and higher pay is expected.

Some graduates will opt to continue their studies with psychology doctoral studies or a related field. You may need a doctorate to be a practicing psychologist to practice the profession in a clinical setting.

Therefore, owning a terminal master’s in psychology would open professional career opportunities in the field, such as mental health, forensic psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. Or to affiliate with other work sectors, including colleges, universities, private businesses, and government.

By obtaining a master’s degree in psychology, you would have access to a wide variety of career options, as follow:

Certain Psychology Careers:

Psychotherapist
Marriage and Family Counselor
Psychology Counselor
Occupational Psychologist
School Counselor
Play Therapist
Forensic Psychologist
Organizational Psychology Consultant

Other Related Fields:

Teaching
Market Research
Human Resources
Governmental Sector
Psychological Research Team

Interested in delving into people’s behavior, thoughts, actions, interactions, and reactions? Do you want to help others to overcome life obstacles? Seeking a career path in psychology by pursuing a master’s degree in psychology is the perfect choice for you.

By studying such a discipline, you will be exposed to studies of the human mind and the abnormalities and mental health issues that affect the brain and thoughts. You will explore varied themes and try to answer questions such as: Is behavior learned or inherited? How can people change their behavior through self-discovery? And what is the nature of the human subconscious? In a nutshell, the insights you tackle in these approaches are one of the main perks of specializing in psychology.

Psychology is a broad course; there are variations in methodology and the coursework of master’s degree programs, based on your picked specialization. The majority of master’s in psychology degrees will be 1 or 2 years long, though this will vary by specialization and study destination, like to study in France for example. Additionally, the course is likely to take longer to complete in case of studying part-time or via distance learning. Furthermore, it can be either a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) with no major differences. Check out your aspired degree on UniApp. Moreover, it is a great asset for job hunting in different industries, related and unrelated to psychology.

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