The advantage of getting an online master’s degree in psychology is that you can enroll in a program near or far. As a student in Iowa, that means you aren’t limited to the online programs available from in-state schools; you can also pursue a degree offered online by schools across the nation.
Since psychology is one of the most popular college majors, schools near and far offer online graduate options for completing your studies. Moreover, you can find online master’s programs in many different psychology topics and applications, from developmental psychology to forensic psychology to general studies in psychology, just to name a few.
If you’re ready to continue your education in this field, the online psychology master’s programs listed below are among the popular options in and around Iowa.
Online Master’s in Psychology Programs in Iowa
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online psychology master’s degrees in Iowa:
- Upper Iowa University
- Loras College
- Adler University
- Purdue University Global
- Walden University
- Drake University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- The Chicago School
- Northwestern University
Upper Iowa University
Online Master of Arts in Psychology
The Master of Arts in Psychology from Upper Iowa University is a fully online program you can complete in about one year of full-time studies. The program, which requires just 31 credits to graduate, does not require you to take the GRE to be considered for admission. And with two start times each year, you have your choice of when to start your courses to work around your busy schedule.
Another feature worth noting about this program is that each class is accelerated–just eight weeks long. This format means you take fewer classes simultaneously but work through the material at a faster pace. Proceeding with your graduate studies in this accelerated format lightens your course load and allows you to concentrate more thoroughly on the subjects at hand.
This is a non-licensure track. However, despite this, there are many avenues you might take with this degree. On the one hand, you might use this degree to prepare for doctoral studies in the future. On the other hand, you might use a graduate education in psychology to advance in your current career. Psychology has wide applicability, so you might also use your degree to seek employment in areas such as:
- Human resources
- Education and training
- Law enforcement and criminology
- Higher education
Whatever your career aspirations might be, you must first complete the 31 credits needed to graduate. Your classes begin with a one-credit course on Applied Learning Strategies. This class is designed to help you master the art of online graduate studies. You’ll learn about the various resources available to you as an online graduate student and strategies for enhancing your success, and you’ll gain insights into how you can apply what you learn in your program to real-world situations.
Many of the classes you’re required to take focus on core areas of psychology. For example, you’ll take a Learning and Motivation class analyzing the forces influencing how humans learn. You’ll also examine motivation and the manners in which people might be motivated in certain ways. A good example of this is the study of money as a motivator. In some cases, it can motivate a hard-working person to perform their job better to earn a higher salary. But money can also motivate people to be greedy and engage in undesirable behaviors like robbery and fraud.
Another key course in the curriculum is Research and Ethics. Understanding how to design, implement, and evaluate psychological research is key to your success in this field. You’ll explore various types of experimental design, examine seminal psychological experiments, and evaluate how to conduct psychological research in an ethical manner as well.
Other classes you’ll take include the following:
- Adult Development
- Data Visualization
- Applied Social Psychology
- Leading to Motivate
- Group Dynamics and Cohesion
The final component of this program is an experiential activity. You can choose to complete a capstone or a thesis. A capstone typically requires detailed research and a real-world application of your findings to a specific problem or issue. A thesis, on the other hand, is typically more theoretical in nature and often relies more heavily on psychological research. In either case, you’ll spend a great deal of time toward the end of the program synthesizing what you’ve learned and applying it in your capstone or thesis experience.
You can apply to Upper Iowa University at any time. You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for admission:
- Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher or a 3.0 GPA or higher in six or more semester credits of graduate work.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
If you do not meet the GPA requirements, you must also submit an application essay, a resume or curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendation.
Loras College
Online Master of Arts in Applied Psychology
Located in Dubuque, Iowa, Loras College offers an online Master of Arts in Applied Psychology that focuses on organizational psychology applications. More specifically, you’ll learn about organizational leadership, positive change-making, human performance, and productivity. Within those areas, you’ll explore psychological principles like motivation, social dynamics, and social justice, each of which is important for your growth as a psychology professional and your ability to facilitate change in organizations of all kinds.
This program requires you to complete 30 credits of online coursework. Each class is completely online, though classes are synchronous, meaning there are specific times you must be available to meet for online class sessions. You only take one class at a time, though; each class is seven weeks long and allows you to focus your studies on one topic at a time. Most students complete this program in two years, despite the one-class-at-a-time format.
The synchronous format is designed to be as flexible as possible. For example, each class meets just once per week for about two hours. These online live meetings occur after 4:00 pm local time to minimize the impact on your work schedule. Furthermore, you can begin the program in the spring or the fall to accommodate your work and life schedule.
The curriculum includes both broad and specific coursework in psychology. For example, you’ll take an Adult Development course that examines the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social changes that occur in adulthood. Furthermore, you’ll analyze how these changes play out in different realms, including in social and workplace contexts.
Another course you’re required to take is Group Dynamics. Since this program focuses on industrial-organizational applications of psychology, this class takes on added importance. You’ll learn various aspects of social psychology, including group dynamics and motivation. You’ll also explore social theories, team theories, leadership, and other critical elements of organizational dynamics.
Related to that course is the study of Leadership and Organizational Development. This class helps you understand how to address group dynamics at the organizational level. You’ll learn about leadership development and the characteristics of a quality leader. You’ll also examine modern and historical theories of leadership and how these theories differ in promoting enhanced organizational performance.
Other required classes include the following:
- Learning and Motivation
- Intra-Professional Competency
- Community and Psychology
- Evaluation and Assessment
- Psychology of Stress and Coping
This program requires you to complete an applied psychology capstone as well. The capstone requires you to undertake independent psychological research. With the assistance of a faculty member, you’ll use what you’ve learned in the program and in your research to complete a thorough research paper examining a specific topic. For example, you might study the effect of using behavioral psychology techniques on the production and motivation of workers in an organization.
The capstone also requires you to present your findings. This is done in an oral presentation to a faculty committee. The written paper and oral defense must be completed prior to graduation.
Ensure you meet the following admissions criteria prior to applying:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher or a 2.9 GPA in the last 60 credits of your undergraduate studies.
- Complete nine or more credits of coursework in the behavioral sciences prior to applying for admission.
- Submit a personal statement.
- Submit a resume or curriculum vitae.
- Provide three letters of recommendation.
Adler University
Online Master of Arts in Psychology
Adler University has campuses in Chicago and Vancouver, British Columbia, but it also has a large offering of online degree programs. This includes a non-licensure online Master of Arts in Psychology that allows you to tailor your education with your choice of four different concentrations:
- Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Crisis Management
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Health and Wellness
No matter which of these concentrations you choose, you’re required to complete 36 credits of coursework. Included in the curriculum are 22 credits of core courses and nine credits of electives. You must also participate in a two-credit social justice practicum and a three-credit capstone or thesis.
The curriculum focuses on using data to drive decision-making. You’ll learn how to work as a socially responsible professional who adheres to strict ethical principles. And since the program was built on the teachings of Alfred Adler, you’ll find that each class strongly emphasizes inclusivity, social justice, and social responsibility.
The core coursework for this program explores essential topics in psychology. For example, you’ll take a class on Cognitive, Affective, and Biological Bases of Behaviors, which explores some of the most common influences on human behavior from childhood to late adulthood. Your studies also include an analysis of emotions, perceptions, language development, and brain development, to name a few.
You’ll also take History and Systems for Applied Psychology. This class examines the origins of applied psychology and gives you insights into both historical and modern theories of human behavior. This course is a good precursor to more specific studies on psychological theory, like the required course on Adlerian Psychology for Community Applications. As the name indicates, this course covers Adlerian approaches for explaining how individuals interact within larger social systems.
Other required core courses include the following:
- Ethics and Socially Responsible Practice for Applied Psychology
- Statistics
- Research Methods
- Diversity and Individual Differences
- Adlerian Theory in Socially Responsible Practice
Also included in the core sequence of courses is a four-part practicum. The practicum focuses on social justice. This non-clinical 200-hour practicum allows you to explore social justice more thoroughly, including examining how you can use your knowledge and skills to make positive changes in our society.
Adler University offers a long list of elective courses you can choose from to meet the nine-credit requirement. The electives you choose allow you to customize your learning experience and focus on areas that most interest you.
For example, let’s assume you have an interest in the psychological effects of military service. As such, you might take courses like the following:
- Ethics, Morality, and Social Justice in the Military
- War, Trauma, Grief, Death, and Loss
- Culture and Diversity in the Military
Alternatively, perhaps your area of interest is in child and adolescent psychology. That being the case, you might take courses like Juvenile Justice, Multicultural Youth Development, and Lifespan Development. Yet another option might be to focus on psychology’s role in business and industry. Courses like Operational Psychology, Organizational Theory, and Talent Management would be good options to take.
The final element of this program is your choice of a capstone experience or a thesis. The master’s capstone is a reflective experience in which you explore your training throughout the program. You’ll use what you learn to address a specific problem or issue of interest. The thesis, meanwhile, involves detailed research in an applied psychology topic that’s relevant to the program’s curriculum. Your research will be presented in a journal-ready scholarly paper.
You must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher. If your GPA is between 2.5-2.99, you can still apply, but you must also submit two letters of recommendation from a professional reference or past professor. You may also apply if your GPA is below 2.5, but acceptance is only made on a case-by-case basis.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
Purdue University Global
Online Master of Science in Psychology
Purdue’s online campus is available to you as an Iowa resident. Of particular interest is the Master of Science in Psychology, which is a 15-course, one-year program that offers four distinct concentrations:
- Addictions
- Forensic Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- General Psychology
Each concentration requires different courses. However, the progression of the program is the same regardless of which concentration you choose. For example, if you elect to enroll in the thesis option, you’re required to complete 7-8 core courses and 5-7 electives. If you opt for the capstone version of the program, you’ll take 7 core courses and 5-7 electives.
For example, let’s assume you choose the addictions concentration with the thesis track. In that case, you’ll take core courses like Foundations of Professional Psychology, Applied Statistics for Psychology, and Advanced Research Methods. These classes explore essential psychological topics that give you a solid foundation for understanding the discipline of psychology and how to conduct effective research and data analysis.
Additionally, you’ll take classes like Life Span Development, which examines the social, emotional, behavioral, and physical changes that occur as we age. You’ll also take Ethics for Addictions Professionals, so you exit the program with a solid understanding of your duties and responsibilities as a helping professional.
The thesis version of the addictions concentration requires that you take classes like Psychopharmacology and Chemical and Psychological Dependency Counseling. These courses help you understand the effect that drugs have on the body and mind and how to treat people with chemical dependency. Furthermore, you’ll take classes like the following:
- Group Counseling
- Advanced Addictions Counseling
- Co-Occurring Disorders and Treatments
- Addictions Practicum I & II
The practicum component is very important because it gives you real-world experience working in addictions counseling. You’ll compile at least 150 hours of experience working as a clinician with an experienced supervisor to guide you along the way.
The final aspect of this track is the thesis. In the thesis, you’ll present a formal research proposal that, with approval, you’ll carry out in the following term. The proposal is highly detailed and must include a literature review, a hypothesis, and a methods section that explains how you’ll test your hypothesis. Then, in the second term, you’ll carry out your research and present your findings in a thesis defense.
Now, let’s assume you decide to take the capstone track for addictions. You’ll take the same core courses and concentration classes, but instead of a thesis, you’ll complete a capstone experience. The capstone allows you to integrate what you’ve learned in the form of a research proposal. Your proposal will be on a current topic or challenge in psychology and will explain your approach to resolving that challenge. You’ll present your findings in a proposal prior to graduation.
You can apply to Purdue University Global at any time online. The following are required to apply:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Complete an enrollment agreement.
- Complete the ID verification process by providing a current government photo ID, such as a driver’s license.
Walden University
Online Master of Science in Forensic Psychology
Walden University offers a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology that you can access as a student in Connecticut. This program focuses on psychological principles and their practical use in the criminal justice system. You’ll study how psychology plays a crucial role in identifying criminals, predicting criminal behavior, and improving community safety.
This non-clinical program prepares you for various career options. With this degree, you might pursue a role as a victim advocate, where you would help crime victims through case management, trial preparation, and connecting them to services like medical care or counseling. You could also use the degree to work toward a career in criminal investigations with a law enforcement agency.
To reach your career goals, you must first complete this program, which typically takes about 15 months. The program requires 48 quarter credits, and one of the first courses you’ll take is Foundations in Graduate Studies in Psychology. This course helps you prepare for graduate-level work, teaching you how to succeed as an online student, connect with peers, and improve your academic skills, such as scholarly writing, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking.
In addition, you’ll complete 25 credits of core courses that form the basis of your forensic psychology studies. These courses include:
- Intersection of Crime, Psychology, and the Law
- Abnormal Behavior
- Criminal Behavior
- Research Theory, Design, and Methods
- Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment
These classes help you build knowledge in both psychology and criminology and teach you how to apply these concepts in practical settings.
For example, the course on Criminal Behavior is essential for your growth as a forensic psychologist. In this class, you’ll study modern theories of criminal behavior and examine real-life case studies. You’ll also explore the experiences of victims, the social factors that influence crime, and biological indicators that may increase the likelihood of harmful behaviors.
After completing your core coursework, you’ll select a specialization. Walden University offers nearly a dozen specializations, such as Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology or Criminal Justice, or you may design your own. Each specialization requires you to complete 15 credits. For instance, if you choose the Terrorism specialization, you’ll take courses such as:
- Psychology of Terrorism
- Terrorism: A Systemic Approach for Emergency Preparedness or Current Issues in Homeland Security
- Culture and Psychology
Alternatively, if you specialize in Police Psychology, you’ll take courses like Law Enforcement Psychology and Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue, along with other relevant classes like Disaster, Crisis, and Trauma or Stress and Coping.
You’ll also need to complete either a capstone project or a field experience. The capstone project involves applying what you have learned to bring about positive change in the field of forensic psychology. You’ll write a paper related to your specialization, using research and theory to support recommendations for improvement.
The field experience option lasts 11 weeks and is tailored to your chosen specialization. For example, if you focus on Terrorism, you might arrange to complete your field experience with the Department of Homeland Security. You’ll need to complete at least 60 hours of on-site work, regardless of your field experience placement.
To apply for this program, you’ll need to:
- Complete the admission application.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
Walden University does not require the GRE, an essay, or an application fee.
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