Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in General Psychology
Overview
Elevate Your Understanding of Human Behavior
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences' Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in General Psychology degree program is a non-thesis program designed to provide continued academic exposure to the field of psychology. Whether you are seeking greater insight into the field of psychology or career advancement, you will find that the MS in psychology can be applicable to a large number of fields and career opportunities.
With a focus on exploring why people behave the way they do, and the development of critical thinking and leadership qualities, this general psychology degree helps you impact those around you through leadership, action research and introduction of programmatic community changes as a teacher, practitioner or researcher. As a graduate of our Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in General Psychology degree program, you will develop an understanding of what motivates individuals to make the conscious and unconscious choices that they make.
Curriculum is aligned to the standards and recommendations set forth by the American Psychological Association.
Degree Outcomes
Choose an Online Masters in Psychology That Addresses Contemporary Issues
The master's in general psychology degree focuses on topics that include contemporary and ethical issues in psychology; learning, cognition and motivation; statistics; human development; research methods; health psychology; social and cultural psychology; and psychopathology.
Grand Canyon University offers this general psychology program, which concludes with a capstone course that involves a master research proposal. Choose an original topic and create a proposal that addresses the literature review, the hypothesis, a method section and discussion of hypothetical results.
What You Will Learn
Gain in the Field of Psychology
In addition to a firm foundation of master's-level psychology, you explore:
- Human development, which covers the transitions a human being experiences from birth to death
- Learning cognition, including attention, memory and decision-making processes
- Social and cultural development that involves the development of attitudes, group thinking and evaluation of propaganda techniques
- Psychopathology which allows you to delve deeper into personality and psychological disorders
- Research methods, including theoretical and applicable measures of experimental design
- Health psychology, including how biological, psychological and social factors interact with health-promoting and illness-preventing choices
Career Outcomes
Serve in the Behavioral or Mental Health Field
Most of the career opportunities from this master’s degree in general psychology are in the field of behavioral health, mental health, social services and education, which may require additional certifications or licenses. Graduates who earn the appropriate licensing can set up their own counseling practice, consult or work in a clinic, government agency, social service agency or a university setting.
Course List
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the liberal arts. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
This course serves as the foundation for advanced graduate study in the field of psychology. Professional skill development, such as critical thinking, scholarly writing, and literature reviewing are covered, as well as contemporary ethical issues in the field of psychology, including issues in research, writing, psychotherapy, forensic psychology, and animal research.
Course Description
This course is a study of social, group, and multicultural factors affecting individual behavior. Attention is given to the development of attitudes, leadership roles, group thinking, sources of conflict, altruism, attraction, effects of competition and cooperation, analysis and evaluation of propaganda techniques, and the influence of mass communication on social awareness and control.
Course Description
This course offers advanced theory in human cognition and learning, including attention, memory, consciousness, decision making, problem solving, motivation, cognitive mapping, and schemata.
Course Description
This course in developmental psychology emphasizes the physical, social, cognitive, personality, spiritual, and moral developments within an individual. The course is designed to provide an understanding of the transitions of life from conception to death.
Course Description
This course provides a study of theories of probability, descriptive and inferential analyses of data, and testing of statistical hypotheses. Practical experience is provided in the application of statistical methods.
Course Description
This course emphasizes both the theoretical and applied aspects of experimental design and research methodology at the graduate level, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed designs.
Course Description
Using the biopsychosocial model of health, this course examines how biological, psychological, and social factors interact with health-promoting and illness-preventing behaviors. Personality factors and the medical community’s role in health promotion are also covered.
Course Description
This course offers students a deeper understanding of current issues in adult psychopathology, including personality disorders, psychological disorders, and co-occurring disorders. Students gain advanced knowledge of clinical assessment and treatment planning and engage in in-depth research in the field related to the symptoms, etiology, epidemiology, and treatment of psychological disorders.
Course Description
This course prepares students to enter their prospective career and/or continue their education in psychology. Students will explore occupations and leaders in the various psychological fields, formulate and compile their experiences and achievements, and construct a roadmap for success. Original research ideas will be solidified and presented.
Program Locations
Online
Evening
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program's published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution's catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who started the program in the same year and then graduated within the published program length.
Online and Evening program disclosures* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.