Oregon’s psychology graduate programs offer various options for students aiming to advance in research, clinical practice, or applied psychology. The University of Oregon provides both in-person and online master’s programs, along with Ph.D. tracks in areas such as clinical, cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychology
Oregon State University emphasizes applied research through its Ph.D. program, featuring concentrations in clinical science, engineering psychology, and health psychology .
Portland State University offers a combined master’s and doctoral program in applied psychology, with specializations in community, industrial-organizational, and applied developmental psychology. These programs are designed to equip graduates with the skills necessary to address complex psychological issues across various settings.
In this guide, we will discuss in detail popular psychology graduate programs available in Oregon, covering various specializations, course formats, and admission requirements.
Best Psychology Graduate Programs in Oregon
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering psychology graduate programs in Oregon:
- University of Oregon
- Southern Oregon University
- Oregon Institute of Technology
- Oregon State University
- Portland State University
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Pepperdine University
- Grand Canyon University
- National University
To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
University of Oregon
Online Master’s in Psychology
At the University of Oregon, you can pursue a 49-credit online master’s program in psychology designed for individuals who want to be agents of positive change. This program focuses on understanding human behavior through scientific study while building skills in program development and evaluation to help improve communities.
Whether you are a working professional or a full-time student, this program offers a flexible and affordable way for you to advance your career in community service or academic fields. The program’s online format allows you to balance your studies with your personal and professional commitments without the limitations of traditional class schedules.
No matter your area of interest—whether mental health, child welfare, education, justice, or other fields—you will study practical aspects of brain development and behavior. You will also learn how to create, implement, and evaluate programs based on evidence to meet the unique needs of different communities.
The curriculum includes topics such as the neuroscience of trauma, adversity, and resilience, as well as intervention science and innovative approaches to program development. You will be encouraged to apply this knowledge to improve the design of programs and services within your area of work. Students from around the world use applied research to better understand complex social issues and drive meaningful change.
Courses are offered asynchronously, allowing you to access materials and complete assignments on your own schedule. At the same time, you will engage with other students through discussions and group projects to maintain a collaborative learning environment. The program focuses on project-based learning, emphasizing practical application over general psychology theory.
Some of the courses you will take include:
- Community Needs Assessments
- Substance Use and Addiction
- Intervention Science
- Methods of Program Measurement
- Translational Neuroscience in Adolescence
- Translational Neuroscience in Adulthood
- Trauma-Informed Intervention
- Implementation with Community and Cultural Perspectives
The faculty leading this program are experts in neuropsychology, trauma resilience, and evidence-based interventions. They provide a strong foundation in program development and evaluation. You will gain knowledge of neuroscience and psychology that can be applied to create effective community intervention programs, without the need for clinical training or licensure.
This program prepares you for careers in community and social services, public agencies, healthcare administration, child welfare supervision, and college student affairs. Completing the degree will improve your job prospects and establish a solid base if you plan to pursue doctoral studies later.
If you are seeking professional growth or preparation for doctoral work in social and mental health fields, this program will give you the necessary neuroscience and psychology background along with research experience.
To apply, you will need to:
- Complete the application form.
- If you are an international student, take the TOEFL or IELTS exams.
- Provide 2 to 3 letters of recommendation.
- Submit short essays discussing your suitability and readiness for the program, your experiences, commitment to social justice, ties to community organizations, research interests, and goals.
- Upload your resume, a writing sample, and unofficial transcripts from all schools you have attended.
- Pay the application fee.
The University of Oregon values diversity and inclusion. You will join a community that welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, supporting a wide range of academic work, research projects, and innovative efforts across many fields.
Southern Oregon University
Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) – MA/MS
The 90-credit Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at Southern Oregon University prepares you to become a skilled, culturally sensitive, and ethical counselor. You will learn to provide excellent mental health services in both public and private settings to serve diverse communities effectively.
This program holds national accreditation under the 2016 Standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) specifically as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
Classes start each September after you are accepted. The program is designed to be completed in two years. You will move through courses and internships with the same cohort of students, creating a supportive group experience.
As a CMHC student working toward a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree, you will study counseling theories and develop counseling skills through a planned sequence of coursework. You will gain practical experience in counseling, with ongoing supervision from licensed professionals.
Your courses will include:
- Advanced Human Growth & Development
- Counseling Theory
- Advanced Crisis Intervention Strategies
- Ethics and Roles
- Group Counseling
- Advanced Psychopathology
- Treatment Planning & Consultation
- Substance Use Disorders & Psychopharmacology
- Family & Couples Counseling
- Multicultural Mental Health
- Applied Research Design
- Career Counseling
- Community Counseling
The curriculum meets both state and national standards, enabling you to apply for licensure as a counselor across the United States. The CMHC program is nationally accredited by CACREP and is recognized by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) as fulfilling educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
You will learn in small classes where faculty support your personal and professional development. You will build a deep understanding of the counselor’s role, which is vital to establishing effective counseling relationships. Your studies will cover a wide range of counseling theories supported by research.
Throughout your training, you will improve your counseling skills, beginning with hands-on experience during the first term under close supervision. You will learn to think and act ethically, showing responsibility for your clients, agencies, communities, and the counseling profession. You will develop a strong professional identity as a clinical mental health counselor.
Practical experience is an important part of the CMHC program. You will complete a sequence of experiential courses including Pre-practicum (COUN 502), Individual Practicum (COUN 504), Group Practicum (COUN 506), and Internship (COUN 510). During the first fall term, you will take COUN 502 – Introduction to Helping Skills, which introduces you to mental health counseling and basic counseling skills used in various therapeutic approaches.
You will practice counseling with volunteer clients, apply theoretical models, and learn to use supervision to improve your work. In COUN 506, the Group Counseling Practicum, you will develop skills to lead groups alongside a co-leader. Completing 100 hours of practicum, including 40 hours of direct client contact, is required before you can begin your internship.
The Internship (COUN 510) usually starts in the summer between your first and second years. You will work as a mental health counseling intern in agencies across southern Oregon and northern California. You must complete 600 internship hours, with at least 280 hours spent in direct contact with clients.
Each year, the program accepts between 26 and 30 students. On average, about 100 applications are received annually. Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.44, with a range from 2.60 to 4.03.
You will need to have completed prerequisites including Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods, Abnormal Psychology, and Developmental Psychology. It is also important for you to develop self-awareness and openness. Some prior experience in volunteer or professional care roles will provide a helpful foundation.
To apply, yu must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution before starting the program. If you have not yet completed your degree at the time of application, you will need to reapply after graduation. If your degree is in progress, you must send an updated official transcript confirming your degree once awarded.
Your bachelor’s degree can be in any field.
Southern Oregon University requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your most recent 90 quarter hours (or 60 semester hours) of undergraduate coursework. If your GPA is below 3.0, you may qualify by completing 12 credits of approved graduate coursework at SOU with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions Office by your previous institutions.
When you apply to the CMHC program, you will provide contact information for three references. After submitting your application, the admissions office will email your references with instructions to complete a short survey and upload recommendation letters.
The GRE is not required for admission to the CMHC program, but you may submit scores if you wish.
Oregon Institute of Technology
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
At the Oregon Institute of Technology, you can pursue a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy designed to fully prepare you for your professional career. You will learn how to assess, diagnose, and treat clients, while also gaining knowledge of specific therapeutic approaches such as systems theory and relational theory. This mix of training equips you to provide thorough counseling services to individuals, couples, and families.
You have the option to enroll as either a full-time or part-time student. If you study full-time, you can complete the program in nearly three years. The part-time option requires five years to finish, but most students choose the full-time path. To enroll part-time, you will need to submit a special request.
Your training begins with foundational courses that introduce key topics in marriage and family therapy. These courses include:
- Counseling Theory and Skills
- Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy
- Lifespan Development
- Professional Studies: Ethics
- Families, Substance Use, and Addiction
Though each course focuses on different subjects, they all provide essential knowledge to build your expertise in marriage and family therapy.
For example, in the Families, Substance Use, and Addiction course, you will explore how substance use often causes relational problems. You will study the addiction process, its effects on relationships, and how to treat these issues within a relational framework.
You will also take classes aimed at working with specific populations or challenges. In the Child and Adolescent Psychopathology and Diagnosis course, you will learn about common disorders such as ADHD and Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, and how to address them through family therapy. The Trauma and Recovery course prepares you to offer emergency counseling to families facing crises like the death of a loved one or traumatic events such as natural disasters.
Additional courses you will complete include:
- Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis
- Medical Family Therapy: Illness, Families, and Professionals
- Advanced Family Therapy
- Pharmacology of Substance Use Disorders
- Group Therapy
These courses cover every major area of marriage and family therapy, preparing you to work with clients facing a variety of issues that affect their well-being.
The program concludes with a year-long practicum during your final year. Along with practicum courses, you must complete supervised field hours at approved locations. You will work closely with an onsite supervisor who will support your growth as a clinician. You will also participate in group supervision sessions with classmates and faculty members.
To apply to this program, you must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from an accredited institution.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your last 90 quarter credits (or 60 semester credits) of undergraduate work.
- Demonstrate self-awareness, maturity, and a clear, informed interest in marriage and family therapy, along with potential for success in graduate studies.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended.
- Provide a personal essay describing your background, reasons for pursuing marriage and family therapy, and why Oregon Tech’s program fits your goals.
- Submit a current resume.
- Provide three letters of recommendation.
- Pass a criminal background check.
You may also be asked to participate in an interview with faculty members from the program.
Oregon State University
MS and Ph.D. in Psychology
At Oregon State University, you can pursue a doctoral program in psychology that includes earning a Master of Science (MS) degree along the way. The MS portion ensures you gain experience in designing and carrying out research before you begin your dissertation.
This program places strong emphasis on research, providing you with the skills needed to address various practical problems. You will take courses in research methods and statistics while continuously engaging in research activities.
The program focuses on applying psychological research methods, theories, and principles to solve real-world issues. You may choose one formal option along with three signature research areas:
Clinical Science Option:
If you select the Clinical Science option, you will study psychological science aimed at assessing, understanding, and improving problems related to behavior, emotions, thinking, or health. You will learn to apply scientific evidence to address these issues. Graduates often work as clinical scientists, instructors, licensed psychologists, or supervisors. This option will appear on your transcript.
The Clinical Science training model integrates theory and research with clinical practice. You will take courses covering core psychological topics, clinical methods grounded in scientific evidence, research techniques, and statistics. You will also complete practicum placements that provide hands-on clinical experience, preparing you to deliver high-quality services.
Aligned with the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the program encourages you to develop skills to challenge overlapping forms of oppression. You will be prepared to design, evaluate, implement, supervise, and share evidence-based clinical assessments and treatments. This will enable you to succeed in research, teaching, supervision, clinical practice, or a combination of these roles.
Signature Research Areas:
You may also engage in one of three signature research areas, which include experiential learning opportunities but do not appear on your transcript:
- Engineering Psychology: This area focuses on the interaction between psychology and technology, such as improving human-machine interfaces, transportation systems, information technologies, and work and living environments.
- Health Psychology: You will study the connection between psychological factors—like motivation, cognition, behavior, and emotion—and physical and mental health across diverse populations, considering factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health conditions.
- Psychological Science of Teaching and Learning: This area applies psychological theory and research to effective teaching and learning across formal and informal settings, emphasizing the impact of race, culture, disability, and overlapping forms of oppression.
For the MS degree, you will complete at least 45 credits. This includes a minimum of 6 credits dedicated to research and thesis preparation. Your coursework will typically cover the PhD Methods Core, Professional Core, and Content Core, as well as research and practicum credits.
The Psychology PhD requires a minimum of 108 credits, including at least 36 credits focused on research and dissertation preparation.
Core courses cover research methods, professional topics, and essential psychology content. This curriculum provides you with a strong foundation in quantitative and research skills, key psychological theories, ethics, and professional practices.
After completing the MS, you will be able to:
- Conduct research or create original work.
- Show mastery of your subject area.
- Engage in scholarly or professional work ethically.
When you finish the PhD, you will be expected to:
- Produce and defend a significant original contribution to knowledge.
- Conduct independent research, from formulating a question to writing a detailed manuscript.
- Demonstrate mastery of the subject material.
- Display broad knowledge of psychology, deep expertise in a specific area, and proficiency in statistics and research methods.
- Conduct scholarly activities ethically.
- Understand and apply principles of ethical and socially responsible behavior, including consideration of human diversity, in your research and professional work.
To apply for the MS or PhD program, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, a GPA of 3.0 or above, and proficiency in English demonstrated by TOEFL or IELTS scores. Your application should include a statement of objectives, a resume or CV, and contact information for references.
Portland State University
Ph.D. in Applied Psychology
Portland State University offers a combined master’s and doctoral program in psychology designed to prepare you to use scientific knowledge to create meaningful change after you graduate. This program trains students worldwide to apply research in understanding complex social challenges and promoting social improvement.
The curriculum allows you to earn a master’s degree on your way to completing a doctoral degree. You will develop skills using innovative conceptual and research tools while collaborating closely with faculty and community partners to address social issues.
Typically, completing the master’s program takes two to three years. The doctoral program generally requires about five years, including three years beyond the master’s degree. If you enter the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree, you may need more time to fulfill foundational program requirements.
The program currently admits students only on a full-time, daytime basis. It does not offer evening, part-time, or online options.
Your graduate training will provide a solid foundation in traditional psychology areas, while focusing on how psychological theories and research apply to modern social problems.
The program’s emphasis is on applied psychology, with five areas to choose from:
- Applied Developmental Psychology: You will focus on developmental research methods and study human development across life stages within social, cultural, and historical contexts. Emphasis will be on motivation, mindfulness, identity, and coping in relationships with parents, teachers, and peers. You will also explore how to implement and evaluate strategies that improve environments for children, youth, and educators.
- Applied Quantitative Psychology: This area will build your technical skills in handling data from applied research. You will learn about designing studies, collecting and validating data, visualization, analysis, and modeling, along with understanding important topics in psychology.
- Applied Social Psychology: You will study social psychological theories about self, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and social thinking. This area follows a research cycle where basic theory guides applied studies addressing social issues.
- Community Psychology: This track explores how social problems are defined and understood, social systems, intervention models such as empowerment and prevention, diversity, social support, and community sense. You will engage in research and action projects within communities using these theories and methods.
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Here, you will learn to apply psychological principles to workplace settings. Topics include employee motivation, leadership, training, organizational development, and balancing work and family life. The goal is to help organizations improve productivity while supporting workers’ health.
The program aims to prepare you for research and service roles in places like government agencies, businesses, schools, and hospitals. Note that this program does not grant graduate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology.
To earn a master’s degree, you must complete at least 54 credits of approved graduate courses, including a thesis. At least 40 credits must be in psychology. If you pursue a Master of Arts, you will need to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language; this is not required for a Master of Science. You will develop your study plan with your advisor and must submit and defend your thesis orally. Master’s degree courses include:
- Univariate Quantitative Methods (5 credits)
- Multiple Regression and Multivariate Quantitative Methods (5 credits)
- Advanced Applied Social Psychology (4 credits)
- Advanced Applied Developmental Psychology (4 credits)
- Advanced Organizational Psychology (4 credits)
- Electives (24 credits)
- Thesis (8 credits)
To earn a Ph.D. in applied psychology, you need a minimum of 108 credits. Your program of study will be planned with an advisory committee. The doctoral curriculum includes the master’s coursework plus extra courses in research design, methodology, and ethics. You will take comprehensive exams covering your major and minor areas of study, and you must submit and defend your dissertation orally. Ph.D courses include:
- Univariate Quantitative Methods (5 credits)
- Multiple Regression and Multivariate Quantitative Methods (5 credits)
- Research Design in Applied Psychology (4 credits)
- Required methodology elective (4 credits)
- Advanced Applied Social Psychology (4 credits)
- Advanced Applied Developmental Psychology (4 credits)
- Advanced Organizational Psychology (4 credits)
- Ethics and Professional Issues in Applied Research and Practice (4 credits)
- Electives in major concentration areas (12 credits)
- Additional Electives, including optional Internship credits of up to 8 (27 credits)
- Thesis (8 credits)
- Dissertation (27 credits)
To apply to this program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (which can be in progress when you apply but must be completed before enrollment). You should have preparation in research methods, statistics, and experimental psychology or equivalent courses. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.25 is expected, with the average admitted student having about a 3.80 GPA.
As part of your application, you will need to:
- Select one of the five areas of emphasis as your primary focus. While you may collaborate with multiple faculty members, your application will be evaluated mainly on the match between your interests and your primary advisor’s expertise.
- Submit a personal statement (approximately 500 words) explaining your academic and professional goals, your background, research interests, and reasons for choosing Portland State and your chosen field.
- Provide contact information for at least three references, preferably faculty familiar with your academic abilities and potential for graduate study. Portland State will contact your referees directly.
- Include official transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
- If applicable, submit proof of English language proficiency.
Most students who are admitted receive funding through research or teaching assistantships or fellowships.
If you have completed graduate coursework at another institution, some credits may transfer to Portland State. These credits might count directly toward your degree or allow waivers of certain requirements if they meet Portland State University’s standards. However, credits used for a completed degree elsewhere usually cannot be applied toward your Portland State degree.
Can You Become a Psychologist With a Master’s in Oregon?
No, in Oregon, you cannot become a licensed psychologist with only a master’s degree. To practice as a licensed psychologist in Oregon, you must have a doctoral degree and meet specific professional requirements set by the Oregon Board of Psychology.
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