If you live in Arkansas and want to continue your college education with a master’s degree, psychology is a fantastic subject to pursue. With a graduate degree in this field, you can pursue any number of career goals, from teaching in higher education to conducting psychological research to working as a licensed psychologist.
Fortunately, you don’t even have to step foot on an Arkansas college campus to get a master’s in psychology. Instead, you can work remotely, complete your degree, and start your career without the constraints of a traditional on-campus schedule.
Below are some of the popular online master’s options in psychology available to you as an Arkansas student. Evaluate each one, compare them side by side, and determine which fits your needs best.
Online Master’s in Psychology in Arkansas
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online psychology master’s degrees in Arkansas:
- University of Arkansas Little Rock
- Arkansas State University
- University of Arizona Global Campus
- Capella University
- Franklin University
- Grand Canyon University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Pepperdine University
- Northwestern University
University of Arkansas Little Rock
Online Master of Arts in Counseling
One of the most popular online graduate options for psychology and counseling-related tracks in Arkansas is the Master of Arts in Counseling at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This program offers four specializations:
- Counselor Education
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Traditional Rehabilitation Counseling
Of the four options listed above, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track is likely the most similar to a master’s program in counseling psychology. This track requires you to complete 60 credits, which takes most students about three years to finish.
The program is divided into four phases. The first phase includes seven foundational-level classes that teach you about the history and development of counseling, counseling theories, and ethics, to name a few topics. For example, you’ll take Foundations of Mental Health Counseling, which familiarizes you with the structure and function of mental health counseling. You’ll learn about the history of the field, important counseling theories and techniques, and examine best practices used by counselors today.
Another key foundational course is Ethics and Advocacy for Counselors. This class teaches you the importance of adhering to personal and professional ethics in your practice as a counselor. You’ll learn about key ethical standards of professional behavior and examine ways in which you can use your position in a helping profession to advocate on behalf of others.
Additional foundational courses include the following:
- Applied Counseling Research
- Psychological Aspects of Disability
- Medical Aspects of Disability
- Counseling Theories and Applications
- Human Development for Counseling
Once you complete the seven foundational courses, you’ll move on to phase two of the program, which includes an additional seven classes. These courses focus more intensely on a single subject.
For example, in phase two, you’ll take a course entitled Psychopharmacology for Counselors, which introduces you to the wide array of drugs that can be prescribed to help clients with mental illnesses. Not only will you become familiar with how pharmaceuticals can positively impact a person’s behavior, but you’ll also analyze how drugs can negatively impact a person’s behavior and functioning.
Another phase two course you’re required to take is Cross-Cultural Counseling. This course focuses on the skills you need to work directly with clients who have a different cultural background from your own. You’ll learn to appreciate the value of people’s cultural identities while also identifying your blind spots about cultural influences on behavior. Other phase two courses include the following:
- Career Counseling and Placement
- Clinical Assessment
- Introduction to Family Counseling
- Foundations of Substance Abuse
- Human Sexuality
The program’s third phase includes four courses that prepare you for the final phase of the program–the internship. Phase three classes focus on skill-building and technique mastery that will make you a more effective counselor.
For example, you’ll take Models and Techniques for Counseling, which explores a wide variety of counseling techniques that have proven successful in treating common mental health disorders. You’ll also take Theories and Techniques for Group Counseling, so you can start your internship with the confidence you need to lead groups of clients in processing their struggles with mental health.
Rounding out phase three is a course on Case Management, which explores the day-to-day activities you must undertake to manage a large caseload of clients. You’ll put these skills to the test in a 100-hour supervised practicum in a clinical mental health setting.
Lastly, this program requires an internship in counseling to complete the degree. The internship is 600 contact hours with clients in a supervised setting. During the internship, you’ll have an onsite mentor to help guide your learning and skill development. You’ll also have a faculty liaison to guide you through this last component of the program.
You must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning with a 2.7 cumulative undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 in the last 60 credits of coursework.
- Score 149 or higher on the GRE verbal section and 146 or higher on the quantitative scales of the GRE or a 391 scaled score or higher on the Miller’s Analogy Test (this is only required if you don’t meet the GPA requirements for the program).
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Participate in a personal interview with a program faculty member.
Arkansas State University
Online Master of Science in Education in School Counseling
The Master of Science in Education in School Counseling at Arkansas State University focuses heavily on providing psychological services to children in crisis or those who have experienced trauma. Like child psychologists, school counselors focus on helping children process their feelings and emotions, identify their strengths, and provide resources that enable young people to make positive progress with their mental health.
This program, in particular, focuses on three components of child mental health:
- The impact of trauma and its long-lasting effects on performance in school, social relationships, emotional wellness, and success in the workplace.
- Planning strategies for addressing crisis-related mental health issues in school.
- Multicultural issues that arise in addressing crises and their related traumas.
The coursework for this program is divided into two parts: core classes and concentration classes. The core component includes both online class-based learning and fieldwork that allows you to apply what you’ve learned in a real-life school setting.
One of the first courses you’ll take is Foundational Knowledge of Professional School Counseling and Professional Practice. This class explores the history of school counseling and introduces you to the scope of this job in modern school applications. You’ll also take Theories of Professional School Counseling, which examines educational theories, individual counseling techniques, and group counseling theories you can employ with school-aged children.
Furthermore, you’ll gain essential counseling psychology skills by taking core classes such as:
- Program Development in Professional School Counseling
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Child and Adolescent Counseling
- Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling.
The core sequence of courses also includes a counseling practice and an internship. The practicum is your first opportunity to utilize the skills you’ve learned in the program in a real-world setting. The practicum lasts 10-15 weeks and takes place within the context of a developmental counseling program. During your time in the practicum, you must compile at least 100 hours of work, with 40 of those hours being direct client contact time.
The internship takes your experience a step further by giving you greater latitude for working with clients. Where the practicum is mostly observational, the internship places you in group, individual, and classroom-based counseling settings where you’ll provide mental health services, training, and guidance to children and adolescents.
Supplementing these core courses and experiences are three classes within the concentration area. These classes include the following:
- Introduction to Crisis and Trauma in Children and Adolescents
- School-Based Crisis Planning and Intervention
- Multicultural Issues in Crisis and Trauma
As you can see, these classes address extremely specific subjects within counseling and help you gain the skills necessary to address these areas. For example, the Introduction to Crisis and Trauma course examines how children experience trauma, the effects it can have on their behavior and mental well-being, and techniques you can use to address the effects of trauma in young children.
By completing the course requirements outlined above, you’ll have the necessary education to become a licensed K-12 school counselor in Arkansas. You could also work in private practice, in higher education, or in the job training space, to name a few options.
You can apply to Arkansas State University online at any time. To do so, you must already have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Other requirements are as follows:
- 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from references who can speak to your academic abilities and your professional performance.
- Submit an application essay in which you discuss your interest in this program, your personal attributes that will make you a good online student, and your ability to be a culturally responsive counselor.
University of Arizona Global Campus
Online Master of Arts in Psychology
If your future career goals don’t require you to have a license, the Master of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arizona Global Campus might be a good fit. This program is offered entirely online, so even though the University of Arizona is out of state, you can still study with a flexible schedule from one of the most recognized public universities in the nation.
Since this is a non-licensure program, far fewer credits are required–just 36. Many students complete this program of study in just two years, too, which is a full year shorter than the first two degrees on this list. Not only is this program shorter, but the classes are also accelerated.
Instead of taking classes for a traditional 15-17-week semester, you take six-week classes one at a time. This intense schedule allows you to focus on one subject, master it, and move on to the next subject more quickly than in a traditional schedule.
The program’s first year includes eight entry-level graduate courses in psychology. For example, you’ll take Introduction to Graduate Study in Psychology, which will help you understand the rigors of graduate work and what you need to do to be successful as an online graduate student.
You’ll also take courses like Developmental Psychology, Personality Theories, and Learning and Cognition to become familiar with some of the processes and mechanisms that drive human behavior. Other first-year courses include Biological Bases of Behavior, Psychopharmacology, and Research Design and Methods.
The courses you’re required to take in the program’s second year are more advanced and focus on more specific psychological topics. For example, you’re required to take a psychological testing and assessment class that provides a broad overview of testing tools at your disposal.
You’ll learn about various assessment techniques (e.g., personality tests andIQ tests) and gain a better understanding of psychometric methods. Likewise, you’ll learn how to use testing and measurement to derive insights into behavior and do so in an ethical manner as well.
The other three year-two courses explore the following topics:
- Psychopathology
- Psychology and Health
- Capstone Course
The capstone is the final hurdle you have to clear to graduate. This course encourages you to evaluate what you’ve learned, integrate the different components of your learning, and apply that learning to address a question or issue in psychology. Throughout the capstone experience, you’ll learn new skills, gain the ability to think critically and become a more reflective practitioner, too.
As a result of your participation in this program, you’ll graduate with a fully developed skill set for making a positive difference in the lives of others. More specifically, you’ll have a robust set of tools that allow you to:
- Practice ethically and professionally.
- Appropriately explain psychological concepts.
- Analyze important theories, techniques, and methods in psychology and related fields, like counseling and rehabilitation.
- Apply psychological theories and techniques to real-life situations.
- Conduct psychological research related to psychological theories.
You can start the application process to the University of Arizona Global Campus online at anytime. The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a 2.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Demonstrate English proficiency if English is not your native language.
Capella University
Online Master of Science in Sport Psychology
If you are interested in applying psychological principles within a sports environment, Capella University’s online Master of Science in Sport Psychology may be an ideal choice for you. Capella University;s online programs are accessible to students across the country, including those in Arkansas.
You can complete this program without the need to relocate, and it is offered in a FlexPath format, allowing you to progress at your own pace. If you are organized and able to manage your time well, this self-paced approach may enable you to complete the degree faster than the typical 15-month timeline.
In this program, you’ll be required to take 58 credits of psychology coursework, including four core courses. These courses will give you essential knowledge and skills that will support your learning in the specialized areas of sport psychology:
- Quantitative Design and Analysis
- Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology Learners
- Tests and Measurements
- Survey of Research Methods
The core courses are designed to give you a broad understanding of key psychological concepts, providing a foundation for your specialized study in sport psychology.
Your specialty courses, which make up 35 of the required credits, will cover a range of topics related to the field. One of these courses is Performance Enhancement in Sports, where you’ll learn about various methods to help athletes improve their performance, such as biofeedback, hypnosis, and visualization.
You’ll also take an Applied Sport Psychology course that focuses on using psychological research to advance your skills and knowledge. This course will also cover important professional and ethical considerations as you prepare to enter the field.
Other specialization courses you’ll take include:
- Learning Theories in Psychology
- Principles of Sport Psychology
- Biological Basis of Behavior
- Current Issues in Sport Psychology
- Ethics and Multicultural Issues in Psychology
To complete your degree, you’ll undertake an integrative project, working closely with a mentor professor. This project will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of sport psychology and your research abilities. Over five chapters, you’ll address tasks such as grant writing, conducting research, and explaining important psychological concepts.
You have the option to complete your degree through Capella’s FlexPath format, which allows you to take one or two courses at a time and finish as many classes as you choose within a 12-week term. This flexible format is ideal if you prefer working independently and managing your own schedule.
However, if you prefer more guidance and a structured approach, Capella also offers the GuidedPath format. This option includes more mentorship from instructors, opportunities for active participation with classmates, and a traditional schedule with set deadlines.
To be admitted into the GuidedPath program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities you’ve attended.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher in your undergraduate work.
- Provide a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license.
Capella does not charge an application fee, and you’ll not need to submit GRE scores to apply for this program.
Franklin University
Online Master of Science in Business Psychology
Franklin University’s many online programs are available to you as an Arkansas resident. This includes a Master of Science in Business Psychology that offers a unique type of graduate work that allows you to apply psychological principles to improve business functioning.
The business psychology program requires you to finish 36 credits of coursework. This work can be completed in as few as 14 months, making it the shortest program on this list by far. And since all classes are online, there’s no concern about making time to go to campus for class or arranging your schedule to allow for any fieldwork.
In fact, there are just nine online classes you must complete to earn your degree. Some, like Introduction to Business Psychology, offer a broad view of the subject. For example, this examines everything from the history of business psychology to neuroethics to contemporary issues in the workplace. Additionally, you’ll learn how to integrate psychology into business settings in a way that strengthens the business and has a positive impact on employees’ mental health.
Another broad-based course you’re required to take is Individual and Organizational Intelligence. This four-credit class teaches you how to apply various psychological concepts (e.g., systems theory) in business settings. You’ll learn about social psychology, workplace psychology, and organizational lifestyles and how each of these factors can impact business operations. Likewise, you’ll learn about multiple intelligences, organizational culture, and organizational DNA, to name a few.
Managerial Psychology is yet another important class you’ll take. This course gives you insights into the power of psychology for developing effective managers. You’ll look at organizational leadership and change, leadership development, and behavioral decision-making, among other essential managerial psychology topics.
This program also requires you to take a Behavioral Economics and Neurofinance class that examines how one’s brain structure affects financial decision-making. You’ll learn how human factors in finance and economics can be limited or reinforced while also exploring various measures of economic and financial performance.
The other courses you’re required to complete for graduation include the following:
- Psychology of Marketing
- Psychology of Human Resources
- Psychology of Creativity, Innovation, and Change
- Psychology of Organizational Coaching
- Business Psychology Mastery Demonstration
Franklin University also offers microcredentials that supplement your learning. For example, you can earn a credential in Business Psychology Foundations or Organizational Psychology that helps you stand out from other job applicants. These credentials are aligned with demand in business psychology, so you leave the program with an even larger toolkit for integrating psychology practice into business settings.
To graduate, you must complete all the courses discussed above and do so with a 3.0 GPA or higher. The admissions criteria include the following:
- Have a bachelor’s degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher for full admission. A 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA is required for conditional admission. If your GPA is lower than 2.5, you can petition Franklin University for conditional enrollment.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
If you’re a non-native English Speaker, you must also demonstrate proficiency in English by providing TOEFL or IELTS scores that you earned within the last two years. You may also submit documentation of living in a country in which English is an official language as proof of English proficiency. Earning an undergraduate degree or higher in an English-speaking country is another way to meet this requirement.
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