MS in Psychology - Masters Courses in Abroad

Psychology is one of the youngest branches of sciences which was developed to study the human mind and behavior. Another reason why psychology is popular is that the subject not only offers the students an opportunity for personal growth, it also opens up plenty of job opportunities.

Here are some of the reasons to study MS in psychology -

• A master’s degree in Psychology opens the door to a variety of careers and focus on specialty areas that appeal to their interests.
• A degree in psychology helps you learn more about the human mind, emotions, actions, and gain a greater understanding of people.
• The demand for psychological services is always on the rise, and the three job areas which are expected to be in high demand are clinical psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.
• If you always wanted to develop solutions for real-world problems, and an interest in developing problem-solving skills, a master’s degree in psychology is tailor-made for you.
• You will have the opportunity to learn more about how to gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data which can be a crucial skill to many careers.
• Another significant benefit of choosing a psychology major is the potential to earn high salaries.

Even though both Master of Arts and Master of Science cover a very similar curriculum, there are some differences which can have an impact on the type of career, future education, and specialization you will pursue in the future.

• An MA degree indicates a stronger focus on the liberal arts, whereas an MS degree focuses on research and the science behind brain, behavior, and psychological processes.
• A Master of Science would be ideal for students who have a bachelor’s degree in psychology whereas, for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a different major, a Master of Arts would be ideal.
• A Master of Arts program has a broad spectrum approach to psychology, and its application, whereas a Master of Science allows you to specialize.
• If you are planning to get a doctoral degree in Psychology, an MS is essential whereas an MA degree is perfect for students who want to work in general counseling, teaching, or work in a related field.

A master’s degree in Psychology is a two to three years program where students take core psychology classes and specialize by selecting a set of electives. Some of the psychology courses are -

• Clinical Neuropsychology
• Clinical psychology
• School psychology
• Clinical child psychology
• Counseling psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Family psychology
• Behavioral and cognitive psychology
• Rehabilitation psychology
• Geropsychology
• Sleep psychology

The applicants for a master’s program in psychology must have a bachelor’s degree, an acceptable score in GRE which is around 150, and a minimum GPA depending on the school, and letters of recommendation. Along with the GRE score, you also have to submit a completed application form and fee, a personal statement, and a resume.

You can apply for a master’s program in Psychology even if you don’t have a bachelor’s in Psychology. Some of the universities accept graduates from any discipline if they have achieved the required grade.

Psychology is a broad subject, and choosing the right university is crucial to a successful career. Here are some of the top universities across the globe -

• Stanford University
• University of California
• Harvard University
• The University of California
• The University of Michigan
• Yale University

• University of St Andrews
• University of Bath
• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• University College London

• Trent University
• University of Alberta
• Dalhousie University
• University of Waterloo
• University of Saskatchewan

• Flinders University
• James Cook University
• University of Tasmania
• The University of Western Australia
• Edith Cowan University
• Macquarie University
• University of New England

• LMU Munich
• Free University Berlin
• The University of Ulm
• TU Dresden
• Ruhr University of Bochum

• Massey University
• Auckland University of Technology
• University of Canterbury
• Victoria University of Wellington
• University of Otago

• Karolinska University
• Stockholm University
• Lund University
• Linkoping University
• Uppsala University

• University College Dublin
• Trinity College Dublin
• The University of Limerick
• The National University of Ireland
• University College Cork

There is a wide variety of master’s degree within the field of psychology; here are some of the degree programs -

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Forensic Psychology There are both general programs where you can select a specialization as well as programs that focus on a particular field of psychology.

• The tuition costs to earn a master’s degree in psychology from a private university is about 30,000 USD, and it is approximately 34,000 USD for public universities in the USA.
• The tuition fees for MS in Psychology is around 10,000 euros in the UK
• Whereas the average tuition fee for a master’s program in Canada is about 20,000 CAD per year.
• The tuition fees for master’s programs in Sweden is about 120,000 SEK per year.

There are plenty of job opportunities to consider once you have completed your master’s in psychology. The different fields where you can find jobs are:

Colleges and Universities

Some of the graduates with a master’s degree in psychology find teaching jobs in colleges and universities. Some of the alternative careers are academic counseling, career counseling, and academic recruiting.

Local, State, and Federal Government

A lot of different government offices frequently hire graduates with a master’s degree in psychology.

Some of the various government positions are -

• Vocational rehabilitation provider
• Self-reliance specialist
• Developmental specialist
• Drug and alcohol specialist
• Employment counselor
• Human resources analyst
• Parole officers
• Psychology program manager
• Rehabilitation counselor
• Social service manager

Health care and Mental Health Services

Some of the job titles in this field are -

• Behavioral counselor
• Health project coordinator
• Psychiatric technician
• Rehabilitation specialist
• Group home coordinator
• Family services worker
• Child protection worker
• Childcare supervisor

Business, Sales, Marketing, and Advertising

The strong interpersonal and communication skills of psychology graduates are often sought after by employers.

Some of the jobs in this field are -

• Human resources manager
• Advertising agent
• Market researcher
• Employee trainer
• Public relations representative
• Project manager
• Sales representative
• Store manager

The starting salary for a master’s graduate in psychology is around USD 40,000 per year..

Some of the highest paying psychology careers are -

• Psychiatrist
• Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
• Neuropsychologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Engineering Psychologist

Psychiatry is one of the highest paying fields for a master’s graduate in psychology as they make about USD 216,090 per year. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist and Neuropsychologists make around USD 100,000 a year, which are the fields that pay you the most after psychiatry.

Graduates of a master’s degree program in psychology can also pursue a Ph.D. program once they complete the course. You can work as a licensed psychologist once you complete a Ph.D. program, which is a four to five-year program.