Social Psych masters programs?

[dylan5]

I was initially considering a PhD in Social Psychology, but have for a number of reasons have decided to pursue a Master's degree instead. I am looking at both Social Psych and Health Psych Master's programs.

I know the Master's is a rarer degree for Social Psych, and have focused on searching Canadian university's where it's a more common offering.

Any thoughts about the Social or Health Psychology Masters programs out there? Experiences, recommendations, advice? Lesser-known programs I might not yet have found? Thanks.

[schoolpsych_hopeful]

You're right, a master's in psych is much more rare than a PhD. Out of curiosity, what is your goal career-wise in getting a master's? How would you like to use it?

Here's some programs I found through the APA's gradstudy website listed under Health Psychology:

Central Connecticut State University: http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=1785

Carleton University: http://www2.carleton.ca/psychology/

Appalachian State University: http://www.psych.appstate.edu/

Wisconsin, University of, Stout: http://www3.uwstout.edu/programs/msap/index.cfm

Wisconsin, University of, Milwaukee: http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/psychology/

The New School for Social Research: http://www.newschool.edu/nssr/psychology/

Texas State University-San Marcos: http://www.psych.txstate.edu/

Northern Arizona University: http://www.nau.edu/~psych/index.html

[lewin]

If you're interested in tobacco research the University of Waterloo has a big health psychology lab in its social psychology area. Most people enter the PhD program but an MA is possible too. There's also a Masters of Public Health.

I also echo schoolpsych_hopeful - depending on what you want to do a MA in social psychology may not be that directly useful.

[dylan5]

Thank you both for the suggestions. Very helpful!

And good question. I am very interested in social psychology, especially its practical implications. For instance, how principles learned from social psych can be used to influence policy, help people be healthier, or improve legal decision making. What I’m not sure about is whether I want an academic career. I have been working in the non-profit field for a while and would be happy to continue to do so, or work in government.

I haven’t ruled out an eventual PhD. But I did not write a thesis in Undergrad and am generally kind of weak in the research experience area. I did an undergrad research tutorial, and have been a volunteer research assistant for the past few months. So my goals with a Masters are a) to decide if I do want to pursue a PhD, and if so, gain relevant research experience and at least further my education and position myself as more competitive for more interesting nonprofit or government jobs.

Do you feel similarly about the health psychology masters degree as you do about social psych? I welcome your thoughts...

[dylan5]

So my goals with a Masters are a) to decide if I do want to pursue a PhD, and if so, gain relevant research experience and at least further my education and position myself as more competitive for more interesting nonprofit or government jobs.

That's funny, that was supposed to be a b parentheses, not a sunglasses face!

[digits2006]

Ball State has a Masters degree with a professor who looks at jury decision making and eyewitness testimony.

[dylan5]

Ball State has a Masters degree with a professor who looks at jury decision making and eyewitness testimony.

Thank you. I am now looking into that program.