MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY (online)
The Master of Science in Psychology at Divine Mercy University is a unique 33-credit hour, 100% online program that allows students to explore the richness of understanding behaviors, emotions, and thoughts through the study of psychology to aid self and others in flourishing. Students learn to integrate a Catholic-Christian vision of the person with best practices in psychological theory, research, and intervention. It provides competency in the study of modern scientific psychology that helps you understand the human mind and behaviors for the application of service delivery. Finally, the program offers concentrations in:
- Marriage and Family Studies
- Leadership
- Pre-PhD
Start your application today or schedule a call with an MS Psychology Admission Advisor Greg Shapero or Steve Showalter who can help guide you through the process.
Marriage and Family Studies
This concentration allows students to take three additional courses in the area of Marriage and Family Studies from the perspective of the Catholic-Christian teaching on marriage and family in historical, bio-psycho-social-cultural, philosophical, and theological contexts. The program prepares students to encourage couples and families toward flourishing in a variety of settings. Some of these might be by leading marriage preparation and marriage enrichment relationship education programs, training mentor couples, becoming directors of marriage and family in churches and other ministry settings. In their coursework, students gain insight into foundational systems-oriented theories and how issues such as gender, culture, and ethnicity impact the family system. Finally, students will be introduced to models and methods of intervention and gain certification to lead specific psychoeducational programs.Schedule a call with an MS Psychology Admission Advisor Greg Shapero or Steve Showalter.
Leadership Psychology
The Leadership Psychology concentration is designed for individuals who are responsible for leading people, programs, and organizations in a variety of settings. These might span from ministry-related leadership positions to leadership positions in business, education, and nonprofit settings. Initially, students appraise tenets of self-leadership by examining personal biases, using critical self-reflection, and evaluating self-regulatory behaviors which affirm the fundamental goodness and innate dignity of the person. In addition, students learn to analyze the evidence base of transformational leadership from a Catholic-Christian perspective. As transformational leaders, they analyze strategies to build growth-oriented learning organizations and foster personal and professional growth in others. Finally, they demonstrate skills of being a leader of teams, programs, and organizations in a service delivery setting. Schedule a call with an MS Psychology Admission Advisor Greg Shapero or Steve Showalter.
Pre-PhD
The pre-PhD concentration is designed for individuals seeking careers in research-related fields (such as research associates) or wanting to pursue doctoral-level study in psychology-related fields such as Psychological Sciences, Human Development, Applied Experimental Psychology, Clinical Psychology and others. Building on their applied research project, this concentration takes them further by reviewing and analyzing relevant psychological research literature within the framework of the Catholic-Christian vision of the flourishing person and by applying their research to a specific problem or setting. In addition to receiving training in both research and writing skills, students are also able to take an independent study with a faculty member to allow for deeper study of a certain subject area.Schedule a call with an MS Psychology Admission Advisor Greg Shapero or Steve Showalter.
The program provides advanced skills that enable students to become transformational leaders. These skills include:
- the ability to recognize and respond to mental health challenges
- how to effectively communicate and negotiate
- the importance of interpersonal relationship building
- ways to lead a team through crisis
- how to manage a budget
- strategies for program evaluation
- fostering increased cultural awareness
With these skills and scientific knowledge of psychology, through Catholic-Christian teachings on human dignity, students are equipped for a wide variety of job opportunities of over 60+ career options such as but not limited to:
- Case Management
- Market Research Analysis
- Directing Volunteer and Ministry Programs
- Teacher of Psychology
- Psychological associate
- Residential youth counselor
- Human service worker
- And many more!
Through DMU’s uniquely designed curriculum, you will thrive in your career and vocation, and excel as a mental health professional and advocate in your local community! By gaining an understanding of the whole person and not just their behaviors, you will be prepared to:
Help people flourish in their personal vocations and daily life.
Build and maintain relationships with clients, manage cases, and facilitate groups.
Act effectively in situations where de-escalation, negotiation, and crisis intervention are needed.
Examine in-depth theory and research associated with the diagnosis and treatment of common psychological problems.
Recognize the integrity and dignity of each person you encounter.
Recruit and lead a volunteer team.
