Several strong psychology graduate degrees in Connecticut exist to help professional students further their understanding of what it means to be a psychologist in the 21st century. Each of the programs available in the state benefits from a body of research done both within Connecticut’s borders and throughout the international community. Students learn the results of this research and help supervising professors conduct their own, seeking an advanced understanding of psychological disorders, hereditary issues, and ethical guidelines that dominate the profession in today’s world. Thanks to interactive and hands-on classroom environments, strong academic research, and the work of seasoned local professors, Connecticut graduate students are among the best qualified in the country after graduation for positions in counseling, treatment, research, and academia.
Central Connecticut State University
Department of Psychological Science
CCSU is consistently named a best value, a center of excellence, and one of the best universities in the northeastern part of the country. As the oldest publicly funded university in the state of Connecticut, CCSU has a long history of producing top candidates in a number of fields. The Department of Psychological Science is one of the school’s oldest, and has contributed greatly to Central Connecticut’s status as one of the most prestigious public institutions in the state. Through its master’s degree program in psychology, the university offers students access to a seasoned doctoral faculty, numerous graduate teaching assistantship opportunities, and real networking opportunities within the broader psychological industry nationwide. Students enjoy one of the best job placement rates in the country upon graduation with their M.A. in the field.
Master of Arts in Psychological Science
The Master of Arts in Psychological Science at Central Connecticut State University is split into three different tracks that teach students an entirely different set of advanced skills. These tracks include health psychology, community psychology, and general psychology. Those in the community concentration will focus more on the nature of private practice and community clinics, while those studying the health track will learn more about how health and psychological wellbeing are one and the same. The general psychology option is a great one for students who would prefer to gain the broadest possible graduate education, as well as those who would like to succeed in a broad, doctorate-level program after the finish the program. A core of required classes teaches students advances ethics regardless of their concentration, as well as advanced diagnosis, legal implications of professional practice, and community responsibilities of the psychological professional.
Contact
Central Connecticut State University
Department of Psychological Science
1615 Stanley St.
New Britain, CT 06053
Phone: (860) 832-3200
Email: admissions@ccsu.edu
Website
Fairfield University
Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
Fairfield University is distinct in Connecticut, largely because its mission clearly states that the school is teaching-centered. As a result, it Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions is the largest such school for students pursuing a master’s degree. All students in the school will be encouraged to seek a graduate teaching assistantship, where they will work under the supervision of a doctoral faculty member and teach undergraduate courses in their area of specialization. Students will also be encouraged to complete supervised research into a specific area of the psychology profession, building the foundation of a successful graduate thesis that will accompany them as they seek a doctorate in psychology.
Applied Psychology
Because the university’s graduate degree is in Applied Psychology, students will spend a great deal of time learning how to apply their knowledge of psychological concepts to real-world counseling, treatment, and diagnosis settings. Graduate students will pick from one of three concentrations at the university. The first of these is the focus on industrial or organizational psychology. Students in this program will focus on the psychological impacts of business and industrial organizations, corporate structures, and productivity. Another track available to students is the Human Services concentration, which is generally reserved for students with a human services background who want to learn more about the psychology of the professional. Perhaps the most popular track is the Advanced Psychology option, which introduces students to the broadest and most advanced concepts concerning research, diagnosis, treatment, private practice, medical practice, and more.
Contact
Fairfield University
Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
1073 North Benson Rd.
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (203) 254-4000
Email: webmaster@fairfield.edu
Website
Sacred Heart University
College of Arts and Sciences
Ranked as one of the best private universities in the northeast, and distinguished as the second-largest Catholic university in New England, Sacred Heart University is home to a large College of Arts and Sciences that has long played an instrumental role in educating psychology professionals. The school focuses on the real world applications of psychology rather than the theoretical nature of industry research, giving graduate students the skills they need to succeed as private practitioners, clinical psychologists, or assistants in a variety of other fields that require psychological analysis, research, and information. The school’s small class sizes make it easy for students to seek the help and understanding they need throughout the course of the program.
Master’s in Applied Psychology
This program in applied psychology is concerned with the practical applications of psychological knowledge and best practices. Three concentrations are available to students accepted to the program: General psychology, community psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. Each concentration takes a slightly different view of the profession, whether it’s the impact of psychological forces on business, the role of the psychologist in a community or private practice setting, or the general set of skills needed to successfully diagnose disorders, conduct scholarly research, and meet with success in a high-level doctoral program. Students will participate in graduate teaching assistantships and they will be encouraged to conduct research that will lead either to a thesis defense or a final, capstone project during their final semester at Sacred Heart.
Contact
Sacred Heart University
College of Arts and Sciences
Academic Building, HC 219
5151 Park Ave.
Fairfield, CT 06825
Phone: (203) 365-4748
Email: lamontagnea@sacredheart.edu
Website
Southern Connecticut State University
Psychology Department
Southern Connecticut’s reputation is nationally known, and its Psychology Department is easily one of the fastest growing in the state. Though the school is most broadly known for its M.A. in General Psychology, the department has been busy over the past few years instituting programs in school psychology, school counseling, and general counseling. As a result of rapid expansion, students enjoy access to a large number of elective courses during their graduate studies and typically can choose from a large number of diverse research opportunities. The school’s faculty is entirely doctoral, with both research and professional experience that provides excellent insight into professional ethics, dilemmas, and experiences.
Masters in General Psychology
The M.A. in General Psychology is a program designed for those students who want the broadest possible understanding of the field and their role in it. The program is also a perfect fit for students who are considering enrolling in a doctoral program after they graduate, since it covers the largest number of potential topics and does not narrow students down into a single area of study or research. The general psychology program requires advanced coursework in professional ethics, rare disorders, diagnosis, private practice, medical settings, counseling. Students will also be required to complete a final project or defend a graduate thesis before they can receive their degree, which sets them up nicely for future academic work at the doctoral level as well as adjunct teaching and professional positions.
Contact
Southern Connecticut State University
Psychology Department
501 Crescent St.
New Haven, CT 06515
Phone: (203)392-6868
Website
University of Hartford
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Hartford is a relatively small, private institution in Connecticut with just over 7,000 students enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate programs. The school’s College of Arts and Sciences has long been a believer in helping students serve in the education industry, and the Psychology Department makes that commitment a reality for graduate students through its M.S. in School Psychology. Students in this program will have access to some of the leading minds in New England when it comes to treating common student problems, ranging from bullying to legitimate psychological disorders. They’ll gain the professional networks and supervised school experiences they need to succeed in the field after receiving their degree from the university as well.
Master of Science in School Psychology
In a world where both school shootings and incidents of bullying seem to have increased dramatically in frequency in recent decades, the school psychologist is an increasingly vital position. To make sure that these professionals have all of the skills they need to prevent such unfortunate occurrences, Hartford requires students to take courses in advanced child psychology, current issues in school psychology, advanced psychological diagnosis and treatment, and pedagogy. Students will also be required to complete a supervised counseling job placement at a school in the greater Hartford metropolitan area in order to both graduate from the program and become certified in the field. As a result of this requirement, they’ll have a number of professional contacts and several strong avenues to full-time employment after they finish the program.
Contact
University of Hartford
College of Arts and Sciences
200 Bloomfield Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06117
Phone: (860) 768-4100
Website
The psychology field is one that seems to never stop changing and evolving, benefitting from a large amount of research at universities all around the world. As new ways of diagnosing and treating psychological programs come to light, students who choose a graduate degree can take advantage of those developments or conduct their own research to keep the profession moving forward. Psychology graduate degrees in Connecticut help students throughout the state leverage their interest and expertise in the field as they assist with research, teach fellow students, and learn more advanced knowledge of disorders, diagnosis, and practice.
For more information on Online Psychology Degree, “The Top 15 Best Affordable Online Master’s in Psychology and Masters in Counseling Degree Programs“.