Psychology (MS)

The Online Master’s in Psychology program is designed to benefit people with bachelor’s degrees working in community-based organizations and public agencies that address social and mental health needs.

Graduate students in the Psychology program have a variety of professional goals. Our general learning outcomes and assessments are listed below, but these may vary in their detail according to the primary career aims of the student. Details on the Psychology Graduate Programs, including the departmental requirements meant to achieve the learning outcomes listed below, are provided in the Psychology Graduate Handbook and in the Guide to the UO Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, both posted on the Psychology Department website (http://psychology.uoregon.edu).

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Professional Ethics: Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and professional behavior related to academic and research integrity.
  • Core Knowledge: Demonstrate a working knowledge of major theories, research findings and methodological approaches within Psychology.
  • Data Analysis: Demonstrate a working knowledge of analytical and statistical techniques.
  • Scientific Inquiry: Achieve a deep fluency in the scientific literature and compelling questions within a primary field of research, and (for empirical research studies) achieve proficiency in relevant experimental design, methodology, and data analysis/statistical methods.
  • Scientific Communication: Demonstrate effective written scientific communication skills.

Online Master’s Degree Program

The Online Master’s in Psychology program is designed to benefit people with bachelor’s degrees working in community-based organizations and public agencies that address social and mental health needs. This terminal master of science (MS) degree requires 49 credits of coursework completed on a part-time schedule (9 credits per term) distributed over 6 consecutive terms, including summer. All courses are delivered asynchronously online. Students receive advanced training in program evaluation and the brain science of development and behavior change and complete a capstone research project. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to (a) evaluate current interventions delivered in their home agencies, (b) make informed selections of evidence-based programs to deliver, and (c) have a working knowledge of the basic psychological and neural processes at play in their clients as they participate in behavior change programs. This program does not provide clinical training.

PSY 615Community Needs Assessments4
PSY 616Implementation with Community and Cultural Perspectives3
PSY 619Intervention Science4
PSY 628Methods of Program Evaluation4
PSY 629Methods of Program Measurement4
PSY 630Translational Neuroscience in Early Childhood3
PSY 631Translational Neuroscience in Adolescence3
PSY 632Translational Neuroscience in Adulthood3
PSY 672Trauma Informed Interventions3
PSY 690Capstone Research12
Choose Two Electives From The Following:6
Seminar: [Topic] (Neuroscience in the Community)
Seminar: [Topic] (Child Psychology and Neurological Development)
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Implementation Scalability)
Fast Program Refinement (The proposed change would move PSY 614 from required to elective.)
Substance Use and Addiction
Data Analysis I
Total Credits49

Individualized Master's Degree Program

The individualized master’s degree program does not lead to a PhD. This program is designed to provide advanced training for a small number of individuals who have a clearly focused research interest and an academic plan.  Unlike other master’s programs, this program is not designed for general master’s level training in psychology.  We expect persons entering the master’s program to be highly self-motivated, with the goal of acquiring conceptual and research skills appropriate to their own work plans. Each program of master’s study will be tailed to the individual student’s goals within the discipline, so long as it satisfies core master’s degree requirements.  This program does not provide clinical training.

The master of science (MS) requires 45 credits of work. Program requirements and application information may be obtained from the department website. Clinical training is not available in the master’s program.

  • 45 credit hours in courses approved for graduate credit
  • 24 of the 45 credits must be UO graded graduate credits (B- or higher)
  • 30 of the 45 credits must be Psychology graduate credits
  • 9 of the 45 credits must be in 600-level courses
  • 2 approved graduate-level statistics courses (grade of B- or higher)
  • Psy 607 Sem Research Ethics
  • Completion of an approved research paper or thesis
  • Maintain a UO Cumulative Graduate-Level GPA of 3.0 or higher

The Department expects that most students will complete the Master's degree in 1-2 years