MS in Applied Psychology

New Degree Program

This degree will be available starting in fall 2025.

Student seated across from a professor in a graduate class, gesturing and talking

GW's Master of Science in Applied Psychology provides students with comprehensive knowledge in how to use psychology to inform and improve real-world operations and outcomes. Students will develop professional proficiency in a wide range of psychological theories, methods and techniques through a sequence of courses, including social and clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, research methods and statistical and qualitative analysis. Elective courses, extracurricular research and applied work experience are also available to further bolster students' chosen area(s) of expertise.

This program is a perfect fit for professionals looking to advance their careers by enhancing skill sets that include training in understanding human behavior, research methods (both quantitative and qualitative) and enhancing analytical and statistical skills. This program is also ideal for recent college graduates looking to obtain a broad education in human behavior along with directed training in research and analytical methods to improve their employment potential.


Register for an Upcoming Session

Open House Info Session: October 24

Registration is now open for GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) Graduate Programs Open House! The event features program-specific information sessions and opportunities to interact with current graduate students, faculty and our admissions team. The Psychological and Brain Sciences Department will host a virtual information session for our new MS in Applied Psychology program on Thursday, October 24 at 2 p.m. EDT. Attendees will receive an application fee waiver. 

Registration and Details

Applied Psychology Info Session: December 10

Join us online for an information session discussing the field of psychological and brain sciences and the GW Master of Science in Applied Psychology program. 

Learn about the admission requirements, courses required, and career outcomes. 

Register to Attend


Preparing for Today's Job Market

The job market has a growing need for employees who are proficient with “mixed methods” techniques—those who are capable of executing and evaluating both qualitative and quantitative methods. The MS in Applied Psychology provides graduates with these tools, enabling them to succeed in a variety of professional fields, ranging from the corporate environment to the nonprofit and government sectors. 


Course Requirements

This program will begin in the fall 2025 semester. Applications are currently being accepted.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

36 credits, including 12 credits in research methods and statistics courses, 12 credits in core courses, and 12 credits in selected courses. Students can choose to complete an optional research track by taking 3 credits in PSYC 6295, 3 credits in PSYC 6296, and 6 credits in selected courses to fulfill the selected course requirement.

Required
Research methods and statistics courses
PSYC 8202Psychological Research Methods and Procedures
PSYC 8205Multiple Regression Analysis in Psychological and Social Sciences
PSYC 8258Qualitative Research and Analysis
PSYC 8261Introduction to Machine Learning for Applied Psychology
Core courses
PSYC 6100Applied Psychology Professional Development Seminar
PSYC 8211Community Psychology I
PSYC 8250Foundations in Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 8253Social Cognition
Selected courses
Four courses (12 credits) selected from the following in consultation with the program’s director of graduate studies: *
ECON 6323Applied Behavioral Economics
ECON 6379Causal Inference and Research Design
PPPA 6014Microeconomics for Public Policy II
PPPA 8022Econometrics for Policy Research
PPPA 8100Seminar: Literature of Public Administration
PPPA 8105Public Finance and Human Capital
PSC 8220Public Opinion and Political Psychology
PSC 8286Selected Topics in American Politics
PSYC 6286Applied Psychology Externship
PSYC 8206Multivariate Analysis and Modeling
PSYC 8210Developmental Theories and Issues
PSYC 8212Community Psychology II
PSYC 8218Evidence-Based Interventions
PSYC 8239Lifespan Developmental Psychopathology I
PSYC 8245Seminar: Organizational Behavior
PSYC 8253Social Cognition
PSYC 8254Social Influence
PSYC 8255Attitudes and Attitude Change
PSYC 8256Introduction to Survey Research
PSYC 8257Current Topics in Social Psychology
PSYC 8259Psychology of Individual and Group Decision Making
PSYC 8277Health Psychology
PSYC 8279Special Topics in Health Psychology
PSYC 8289Seminar: Current Topics in Experimental Psychology
SOC 6238Development of Sociological Theory
SOC 6239Contemporary Sociological Theory
Optional research track **
Students pursuing the optional research track fulfill the selected courses requirement (above) by taking the following:
PSYC 6295Independent Research (3 credits)
PSYC 6296Capstone Research (3 credits)
And 6 credits in selected courses from the list above.

*Students are encouraged to work with the program’s director of graduate studies to choose courses that best align with their career interests.

**Students who wish to pursue the optional research track must have the approval of the program's director of graduate studies and a faculty supervisor.