M.S. in Psychology: General Psychology

Make an Impact in the Lives of Others With a Master’s in Psychology

At Grand Canyon University (GCU), the Master of Science (MS) in Psychology degree with a general psychology emphasis is a graduate-level program designed to help you become a more impactful and effective teacher, practitioner or researcher. Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this graduate program aligns with the standards established by the American Psychological Association (APA). You will be encouraged to develop your leadership qualities, sharpen critical thinking skills and enhance your communication abilities as you gain insights into human behavior and thought patterns.

The master’s in psychology program is available online or during the evening and will teach you to apply the Christian worldview and the principles of servant leadership to your professional career.

Take Your General Psychology Classes Online

With GCU’s flexible learning options, you can earn your MS in Psychology degree in a way that fits your lifestyle. The general psychology emphasis is offered through on-campus evening courses or through a digital online learning platform. The program requires a total of 36 credits for completion and most online general psychology classes are eight weeks in length.

General Psychology Topics Covered in This Program

GCU seeks to transform you into an analytical thinker and ethical leader, capable of communicating complex information to a range of stakeholders. As you work through the master’s in psychology curriculum, you will be taught relevant general psychology topics in human development, health psychology, social and cultural psychology, psychopathology and cognition.

In the general psychology classes such as Contemporary and Ethical Issues in Psychology, Human Development and Research Methods, you will explore the following core competencies in psychology:

    Ethical issues pertaining to animal research, forensic psychology, psychotherapy, research and writing
    
    The physical, social, cognitive, personality, spiritual and moral developments of a person throughout all stages of life
    
    Theoretical and applied aspects of experimental design and research methodology, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed designs
    
    The interaction of biological, psychological and social factors with health-promoting and illness-preventing behaviors

The online MS in Psychology with a general psychology emphasis does not require the completion of a thesis. Instead, you are required to complete the Professional Capstone. This course allows you to explore and present your original research ideas. Through this occupational research, you will have the opportunity to build a roadmap for your future career or continued academic pursuits.
Career Opportunities for Master’s in Psychology Graduates

An understanding of how people think and why they behave the way they do can be valuable in many fields or industries. Knowledge of general psychology can support meaningful interactions with colleagues, clients and family members, and it may also encourage personal growth. As a graduate of the Master of Science in Psychology with a general psychology emphasis program, you may wish to work in the behavioral and mental health field, which has a variety of options available for you to pursue. You may apply for positions at the following types of organizations:

    Nonprofit organizations
    
    For-profit companies
    
    Governmental agencies
    
    Social service agencies
    
    Educational institutions
    
    Community outreach organizations

Family services worker, group home coordinator and health project coordinator are a few of the jobs that may be related to this degree. Other MS in Psychology job possibilities may include compliance manager, employee trainer and research assistant.

The Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in General Psychology does not lead to professional licensure. This means that there is no course requirement for field experience or an internship. Different states have varying requirements, but all states require a specified amount of field experience in order to obtain licensure as a psychologist.

1 Psychology.org Staff. (2022, December 15). Master’s in Psychology Degree Overview. Retrieved June 5, 2023.