Are you feeling stuck because your hectic schedule or your location is preventing you from advancing your psychology career? Do you reside in Mississippi and dream of obtaining a master’s degree in psychology, but struggle to balance your career, personal life, and academic pursuits?
It’s quite a challenge, isn’t it? You are passionate about furthering your education, but life’s demands seem to create roadblocks. Your ambition to secure a master’s degree in psychology may feel like a distant dream.
But here comes the exciting part: An online master’s degree in psychology can be your breakthrough! The versatility and ease of online learning eliminate the constraints of physical boundaries and inflexible schedules. You can acquire your master’s degree at your own pace, whether you are at home in Mississippi or anywhere else with internet access.
Online Master’s in Psychology in Mississippi
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online psychology master’s in Mississippi:
- Mississippi State University
- Capella University
- Liberty University
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Walden University
- Grand Canyon University
- Southern New Hampshire University
Mississippi State University
Online Master of Science in Educational Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis
Interested in influencing socially significant behavior changes and impacting lives in a positive way? The online Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program from Mississippi State University offers you this opportunity. With a curriculum that lays out the essentials of learning principles and behavior change, you will be in a position to make a real difference.
The coursework paves the way for you to earn your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification. Course sequence is also verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). The program equips you with the knowledge, practical exposure, and guidance needed to ace the certification examination to become a BCBA.
As a BCBA, you will find a wide range of settings where your skills can be put to good use. This includes schools, hospitals, clinics, and residential treatment facilities. You will interact and work with individuals across all age groups, who might be dealing with different clinical conditions like autism, ADHD, genetic disorders, and intellectual disabilities.
A BCBA’s responsibilities can cover a variety of areas – from improving daily living activities, enhancing adaptive and academic skills, promoting language and communication, managing problem behavior, to fostering social skills.
Key features of the program include:
- You will gain unique practical experience via university-based and community practicum training sites.
- You an study full-time or part-time study.
- All coursework can be completed online.
For earning a Master of Science in Educational Psychology with a concentration in ABA Mississippi State University , you will need to:
- Finish a minimum of 40 hours of coursework.
- Complete 10 core educational psychology hours.
- Complete 24 ABA concentration hours.
- Enroll for 6 credit hours of a practicum course.
- While additional practicum courses are available each semester, you only need to enroll for 6 credits (two semesters)
- Successfully pass a comprehensive master’s examination.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- Educational & Psychological Statistics
- Child & Adolescent Development & Psychopathology
- Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
- Applications of Behavior Analysis
- Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Behavior Analysis
While optional, practicum courses can offer a rich clinical experience in ABA. Each course is equivalent to 3 credit hours and can be taken each semester based on your preference. Faculty members will help you find a suitable practicum placement within a manageable distance if needed.
To apply, you will need to provide following:
- Completed online application
- Statement of Purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
- One official transcript of your bachelor’s degree
Liberty University
Online Master’s in Applied Psychology
Are you intrigued by the complex workings of the human mind? Do you have a burning desire to use this knowledge to make a positive impact on society? If you answered ‘yes’, then Liberty University’s online Master’s program in Applied Psychology might just be your calling!
Applied psychology implements the principles derived from psychological theories into various practical environments such as schools, businesses, and clinics. Instead of just studying and developing theories, you will be actively using them. This involves creative thinking on how to best use these theories to make your chosen field better. The program will equip you to understand and fulfill the needs of those around you.
You will have the opportunity to complete your online Master’s in Applied Psychology in just about 1.5 years. With flexible 8-week course structure, you will be able to finish your degree faster and get a jump-start on your career search.
Liberty’s Master’s in Applied Psychology will equip you with a wide range of skills, which you can utilize to positively influence individuals across multiple settings. The program is designed to aid you in understanding how distinct individual, social, and cultural factors affect people’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
The curriculum of Liberty’s online Master’s in Applied Psychology incorporates five core courses where you can learn about:
- Theories and research in cognitive psychology.
- Designing, conducting, and presenting your research.
- Research methodologies, statistical techniques, ethics, and data analysis.
- Theories explaining human behavior in social contexts.
This degree program is structured to cater to your chosen specialization, providing a foundation for any psychology career and the depth of knowledge needed for your specific career objectives. You can select one of the following specializations:
- General Psychology: Tailor your degree to align with your unique goals by choosing a combination of course options. These can range from child psychology and behavioral support to adult psychology and developmental neuropsychology.
- Developmental Psychology: Enable individuals to reach their full potential at different life stages by understanding human growth and development. You may find work in various settings such as hospitals, schools, or even your private practice.
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Use your skills to enhance work relations within an organization. You could boost the company’s culture and increase employee satisfaction.
- Public Mental Health: Develop strategies and programs to promote mental wellness in communities and organizations. Potential roles can include mental health education, epidemiology, case management, and more.
To be eligible for admission, you must hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.5 or above. You are required to submit:
- An admission application
- An application fee
- Official college transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose first language is not English)
University of Southern Mississippi
Master of Education in School Counseling
If you are seeking a rewarding career in school counseling, you should consider the Master of Education in School Counseling at the University of Southern Mississippi. This is a 48-credit program, recognized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is available in online and in-person formats.
Being part of the school counseling program at the University of Southern Mississippi, you can make the most of your time by completing your coursework online during the fall and spring. However, the learning isn’t confined to the digital space. Summer semesters are dedicated to practical, face-to-face clinical training.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- Foundations, Organization, and Administration of Guidance
- Counseling Theory and Practice
- Career Development and Information Services
- Group Processes
- Ethical Practice of School Counseling
- Theory and Practice of Consultation
- Gender and Culture in Therapeutic Relationships
- Development of School-Aged Children and Families
The focus of this program is to balance theory, research, and hands-on learning. It emphasizes the development of a counselor-first identity, strong leadership skills, and the ability to think critically and make ethical decisions. During the program, you will learn how to design comprehensive school counseling programs, enabling you to champion academic, social, and emotional success for students in both primary and secondary schools.
Upon completing this program, you will have the expertise to design and implement wide-ranging school counseling programs and support services. Leveraging data-supported models, you will be able to foster academic achievement, personal and emotional growth, and career development for all students.
After graduation, you will be equipped to pursue board certification as a National Certified School Counselor. If you have plans to get licensed in another state, do ensure that this program aligns with that state’s licensure requirements.
To earn your degree, there are certain prerequisites:
- You need to maintain a GPA of 3.00 or more. You can’t afford more than one “C” grade and none of your grades should fall below a “C”. If you end up with two “C” grades, you will need to retake one of those courses to improve your grade to at least a “B”. If these grade standards are not met, you may face dismissal from the program.
- You need to clear a criminal background check and secure professional liability insurance before embarking on your field experience in a K-12 school.
- Lastly, you are required to pass the Praxis II: Professional School Counselor exam (#5421) and share your scores with The University of Southern Mississippi before graduation.
Walden University
Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Do you have a passion for helping others overcome tough emotional hurdles? Consider advancing your career with Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, a CACREP-accredited course. This programs leads to state licensure as a professional mental health counselor.
This program is among the largest of its kind in the U.S., and is designed to guide you into becoming a skilled, empathetic counselor. During the program, you will get the chance to refine your skills through virtual simulations and real-world field experiences, engaging with a wide-ranging community of teachers and fellow students. By the time you finish, you will be well-prepared, motivated, and ready to assist your clients in leading more satisfying, productive lives.
Once you graduate from this master’s program, you will be ready to:
- Create evidence-based treatment strategies using your counseling knowledge to promote wellness.
- Develop therapeutic relationships with varied populations to encourage social change.
- Foster growth and wellness by exhibiting professional counselor behaviors in clinical environments.
- Assess the unique needs of clients within clinical mental health settings.
- Evaluate community needs in relation to clinical mental health environments and populations.
Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling provides a General Program as well as five optional specializations to tailor your education to your future clients’ needs:
- Addiction Counseling: Tackling addiction requires more than willpower. This specialization prepares you to handle the specific emotional difficulties of individuals and families on their path to recovery. You will learn about various addictive behaviors and modern treatment and intervention models used to facilitate recovery.
- Forensic Counseling: The legal and criminal justice systems increasingly rely on forensic counselors for advice and skill in resolving cases and treating offenders. This specialization helps you deepen your understanding of mental health law, with a particular focus on juvenile justice and delinquency.
- Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling: This specialization allows you to investigate treatments and techniques backed by research that promote the well-being of marriages, couples, and families. You’ wil learn how to evaluate research and apply findings to your practice.
- Trauma and Crisis Counseling: With this specialization, you will learn the theory, intervention strategies, and treatment models needed to counsel and support individuals and families facing crisis.
- Military Families and Culture: Support families in dealing with the emotional complexities of military life with a specialization in Military Families and Culture. You will explore the unique aspects of military culture, and common difficulties related to the military lifestyle—from prolonged separation and combat-related injuries to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Can You Become a Licensed Psychologist in Mississippi With a Master’s Degree in Psychology?
Although a master’s degree in psychology is a significant accomplishment, it’s not typically sufficient to become a licensed psychologist in Mississippi or most other states in the U.S. To become a licensed psychologist in Mississippi, you typically need a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology from an accredited institution.
However, with a master’s degree in psychology, you might be eligible to pursue other professional licensure paths within the field of mental health, such as becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), among other roles.
Related Reading
- BCBA Programs and Certification in Mississippi
- Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Degrees in Mississippi
- Industrial Organizational Psychology Degrees in Mississippi