Online Master of Science (MS) in Psychology

For consideration for the online master’s in psychology program, applicants must:

• Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or the international equivalent. A GPA of 3.3 or higher is recommended. If you have questions about your GPA, reach out to an admissions counselor.

  We do a comprehensive review of all your application materials.

• Be located in a state in which PAU is authorized to provide online education.
   
• GRE scores are not required for admission to PAU master's degree programs. GRE scores will not be considered in the review of applications, even if students provide them.
   
• Complete the following prerequisite courses (if  undergraduate major was not psychology, four prerequisite courses are required for the MS in Psychology program:):
  • Developmental psychology
  • Physiological or biological psychology
  • Physiological or abnormal psychology
  • Statistics
     
• International students may apply for the program if they plan to remain in their home country while enrolled. PAU is unable to enroll students on a student visa into this program. 

Once all application materials have been received and reviewed, the University invites applicants who meet admission requirements to one-on-one interviews with a PAU faculty member. 

Applicants typically receive their admissions decision four to six weeks after the interview. 

Students in the Generalist, Tech and Mental Health, and Forensic Psychology concentrations will automatically be awarded the MS in Psychology degree upon successful completion of all graduation requirements.

Students in the PhD Prep Track who successfully complete all academic requirements are awarded the MS in Psychology degree. Those who complete the PhD in Clinical Psychology earn an MS in Clinical Psychology, which supersedes the previously-earned MS in Psychology. 

Students in the PhD Prep Concentration who meet academic qualifications may interview for admission to the PhD program during the summer after their first year. 

Those who are offered and accept admission to the PhD program begin PhD studies during the summer quarter after completing their master's coursework. 

Admission to the PhD program is selective, and admission is not guaranteed. 

Each student must interview with the MS to PhD bridge faculty.

Those continuing to the PhD program, an on-campus program, need to relocate to the Palo Alto area. Students begin PhD coursework during the summer quarter, completing two online courses that are prerequisites for clinical work in the PhD program: Psychometric Theory (4 units) and Introduction to Psychotherapy (3 units).

MS in Psychology students accepted into the PhD program are expected to start their clinical work during the fall quarter of the first year of their PhD program. By that time, they must have completed the two summer courses listed above and also pass the clinical foundations competency exam, which is typically given in late August, and the research competency exam (at either the beginning or end of the summer).

The program offers four concentrations, all offered in a synchronous, online format.

1. Technology and Mental Health Concentration (6 quarters)
2. Generalist Concentration (6 quarters)
3. Forensic Psychology Concentration (6 quarters)
4. PhD Prep Concentration (7 quarters)

All four concentrations require the same application materials and process.

The MS Psychology program consists of 37.5 or 47 quarter units of coursework, depending on the chosen concentration. There is no thesis requirement. Courses are taken over six or seven consecutive quarters (including summer) beginning only in fall quarter.

Students take two or three courses during most quarters. Students in the PhD Prep Concentration are required to travel to Palo Alto for a one-week intensive course in clinical interviewing.

Sample Schedules

For course descriptions, please see the Palo Alto University Catalog.

PAU commits to making graduate education affordable and accessible to all students. With our stabilized tuition, competitively priced tuition, and helpful financial aid resources, we empower students to invest in their education and earn their degree.

Visit our Tuition and Cost page or contact our Financial Aid department to learn more. 

Students may not receive transfer credit for any additional courses, including electives.

Students can complete the MS from any authorized US state. Please review our list of unauthorized states. If you are located in an unauthorized state, we will not be able to consider your application for admission. If you live outside of the US, you may apply and complete the program from your home country.

The PhD prep track is 47 units, and the terminal degree is 37.5 units (one quarter shorter than the PhD prep program).

Students who complete the MS terminal degree but decide not to pursue a PhD may choose from many diverse career options, including positions in teaching, research, education-related publishing/media, healthcare, and business.

The MS is a degree in psychology, while the MA is a degree in counseling. Therefore, the content of classes is quite different. The psychology coursework covers a range of psychology topics, and the year one curriculum is similar to our PhD coursework. Students also receive more exposure to research. The MA courses are specific to counseling and prepare students for a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Classes cover counseling-specific theories and practice with less emphasis on research methods.

Students who earn the MS do not qualify for any particular license upon graduating, while MA graduates can apply for and work toward a counseling license.

The MS offers a preparatory track to our PhD program, while the MA does not feed into either of our doctoral programs.

Completion of the MS in Psychology does not satisfy the educational requirements to pursue licensure. If you are interested in obtaining a license, you may want to check out our MA in Counseling or our Clinical Psychology doctoral degrees.

Faculty Advisors

All students in the MS in Psychology program are assigned an academic advisor upon entry into the program. The primary role of the advisor is to assist with academic planning and to provide guidance on any personal or interpersonal issues that may arise. Because learning online can present unique challenges, academic advisors also serve as online success coaches, checking in with students monthly by phone, email, or both. The first meeting with an advisor is in an online video chat format. PhD Prep Concentration students and advisors meet face to face during the one-week intensive course at the PAU campus in Palo Alto. Throughout the program, students also have quarterly meetings to ensure that all their needs are being addressed. Students are strongly encouraged to be proactive and contact their advisors as soon as they have questions or if any difficulties arise.

At the beginning of the program, all students attend an orientation via web conference to ensure that everyone starts out on the same page with respect to academic expectations, online learning formats, available services, where to turn when needing assistance, etc.

Student Assistant Advisor

A student advisor is available for help, support, and proctoring. The student advisor is a PhD student who has successfully completed the MS in Psychology program online.

Student Feedback

Students are required to submit written evaluations of all courses each quarter. This informs the PAU faculty and administration of our strengths and weaknesses as we strive to deliver the best possible program.

Video Conferencing Orientation and Advising Sessions

A live orientation is available and required before courses start. In addition, the Student Assistant Advisor and the program director schedule quarterly video conferences. Moreover, the program director is available throughout the program for individual academic advising sessions.

Academic Resources and Administrative Support

Whether enrolled in an on-campus or online program, all students are members of the PAU community and have access to the full range of student services, including:

• Research Library
• Office of Student Services
• Office of Financial Aid
• Student Organizations

The MS in Psychology program was developed specifically to give students an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the ability to handle doctoral-level work at Palo Alto University. The hope is that every student admitted to this program in the PhD Prep Concentration will successfully transition to the PhD program. The Student Progress Committee meets quarterly, approximately two weeks after grades are submitted, to review the progress of all students in the program. Their goal is to identify and provide guidance to any students who may be encountering problems.

Students who wish to continue to the Palo Alto University PhD program will complete a brief application. Interest in and qualifications for the PhD program are discussed with the program director and advisors during the first year of studies. Each student must interview with the MS to PhD bridge faculty.

Qualified MS in Psychology students receive conditional PAU PhD program acceptance letters in the fall of their second year, after completing the MS to PhD interview process. The final offer of acceptance is based on grades earned during the second year of coursework and passing competency exams after completion of all MS in Psychology coursework.

Students must complete all seven quarters of the program, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 with:

• No failing grades
• No more than one B-minus
• No more than one incomplete

Students complete master's coursework by the end of the spring quarter and are then notified when to take their competency exams.

Those continuing to the PhD program, an on-campus program, need to relocate to the Palo Alto area. Students begin PhD coursework during the summer quarter, completing two online courses that are prerequisites for clinical work in the PhD program: Psychometric Theory (4 units) and Introduction to Psychotherapy (3 units).

MS in Psychology students accepted into the PhD program are expected to start their clinical work during the fall quarter of the first year of their PhD program. By that time, they must have completed the two summer courses listed above and also pass the clinical foundations competency exam, which is typically given in late August, and the research competency exam (at either the beginning or end of the summer).

Currently, there is no direct transfer from the MS to the PsyD. However, the MS does serve as a preparatory program for our PhD. Interested MS students may apply to the PhD during their first year.

If an MS in Psychology PAU student is admitted to our PhD program, they will enter into year two of the PhD program upon successful completion of their required 47 units.

International students living in the U.S. with F-1 status are not currently eligible to apply for PAU's MA in Counseling or MS in Psychology, but they can maintain their F-1 visa status with enrollment in our doctoral or undergraduate programs. More information about our international student services is available here. Prospective international students living in the U.S. are encouraged to contact this department with further questions.

Absolutely. The MS program takes place completely online. Students on the PhD prep track will have to come to Palo Alto for a one-week residency. The program has had students from across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Middle East, and South America.

Up to 13.5 units are transferable between the MS and MA, including:

• Psychopathology I
• Psychopathology II
• Diagnosis and Treatment Planning I
• Diagnosis and Treatment Planning II
• Clinical Interviewing
• Research Methods
• Research and Program Evaluation

Other classes may be reviewed on an individual basis.

Having an MS in Psychology with an emphasis in forensic psychology affords the same career opportunities as a general MS in Psychology, such as teaching, research, education-related publishing/media, healthcare, and business. However, a forensics emphasis also allows for unique possibilities in the criminal justice system. For example, some correctional facilities in need of psychologists will hire master's-level mental health professionals if they also have a forensics background

The program is completely online. However, students in the PhD Prep Track need to complete the one-week intensive residency on campus. Students seeking the terminal MS are able to complete the entire program online.

The PhD program is a total of five to six years, with most students averaging completion in five-and-a-half years. Students who complete the PhD Prep Track and are admitted to the PhD, enter into year two of the PhD program after completing the MS program. In total, they will spend two years in the MS program and four to five years in the PhD program, totaling six to seven years. Note that MS students must apply and be admitted to the PhD program. Admission upon graduation with a master's degree is not guaranteed.

Students who select the forensics emphasis will complete units of forensics electives rather than other offered electives.

No. The APA does not accredit master's degrees. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain APA accreditation for the MS in Psychology degree. The program is accredited by the WASC Senior Colleges and Universities Commission (WSCUC). PAU's PhD program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and has been since 1988. We also offer a PsyD in Clinical Psychology through a consortium with the Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences which is accredited by the APA. The MS does not transition into the PsyD.

Formatting:

• 2-3 pages
• 1.5 line-spaced
• 12-point font
• 1-inch margins

The paper should include:

A brief autobiographical sketch, including what led to an interest in a psychology graduate program. Details of goals and purpose in applying to Palo Alto University and how this applies to future career goals. Strengths and accomplishments thus far that have prepared the applicant for graduate psychology education.
Personal qualities that will be important assets as a psychologist or in your chosen career field.

What are you looking for in the statement of purpose?

The most important piece of advice is to respond to the questions asked in the prompt and to adhere to length and style requirements. Beyond that, the statement of purpose is the primary way for the Admissions Committee to hear your voice. There is no need to rehash your resume – take the opportunity to talk about your passions and interests specific to psychology.

You are welcome to address personal circumstances or hardship in your application if it helps frame your interest in the field. Please remember, however, that your statement of purpose is not a diary entry or a counseling session. 

Oversharing can raise concerns about boundary issues and personal judgment. If you address a past hardship, we encourage you to provide analysis and self-reflection of the situation, rather than just a description of what happened. If the situation is too fresh, and you feel you cannot distance yourself enough to provide analysis yet, it may be best to choose another topic for your statement of purpose.

With the exception of the summer clinical interviewing course in Palo Alto, the courses are didactic in nature and do not include an applied clinical component. That is why the specific degree associated with the program is an MS in Psychology, not clinical psychology, even though some of the content is relevant to clinical psychology.

The curriculum for this online program is similar to the first year of Palo Alto University's residential PhD program, and many courses are taught by the same faculty members as the on-campus program. This ensures high-quality instruction in both the online and on-campus programs. PAU's institutional data indicate that the performance of students in the online PhD Prep Concentration is comparable to that of students taking the same curriculum on campus.

Students take two or three courses during most quarters. Students in the PhD Prep Concentration are required to travel to Palo Alto for a one-week intensive course in clinical interviewing.

Canvas

Some portions of each course are completed on the student's own time, at their convenience via Canvas, an educational technology company that hosts courses and course materials in a web-based learning management system. Many classes use PowerPoint slides accompanied by lecture notes. A number of classes include an audio track so students can listen to the instructor. Readings in PDF format and streaming or video downloads for all classes are available through the learning management system.

Interaction at Scheduled Times

Courses also include chat rooms, video conferences or conference calls, which individual instructors schedule at times that work for their enrolled students. Real-time classes typically take place after 4 pm Pacific time on week days. 

Assessing Online Coursework

Student performance is assessed in a number of ways, including exams, papers, and project assignments.

Computer and Equipment Requirements

A computer with internet connection is the virtual campus for this program. Students will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection to participate. A powerful computer with a DSL or cable modem connection is recommended to participate in online classes and download course materials. Students also need a working microphone and speakers to join video and phone discussions.

Palo Alto University uses a number of methods to accomplish the program's educational goals. Every class includes real-time interaction in a virtual classroom as well as materials that students read and complete on their own. Instructional techniques include:

• Weekly evening remote classes in a virtual Zoom classroom. Instructors share a screen with all students simultaneously and the class members can engage in discussion while viewing the same materials.
• Threaded discussion groups, where students discuss course materials with each other and the instructor.
• Chat rooms or conference calls hosted by the professor that provide a forum for questions and dialog.
• Audio and video conferencing.