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Social psychology explores how people behave and interact in various social contexts, as well as assessing relationships and social perceptions. Professionals examine how others can impact an individual's behavior. Social psychology developed from the belief that social interactions help shape the human psyche.
Find out more about the benfits of earning a master's degree in this field, as well as earning an online master's in social psychology or getting your degree through a more traditional program.
Popular Online Psychology Master's Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Degree Snapshot
- Typical Admission Requirements: Applicants must typically hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum 2.75-3.0 GPA. Programs generally require applicants to submit GRE scores, including psychology subject test scores and letters of recommendation.
- Time to Completion: Most programs require 48-60 credits, which full-time students can complete in 2-3 years.
Why Get a Master's Degree in Social Psychology?
Earning a master's in social psychology can lead to many professional and personal benefits. The list below includes benefits graduates often receive after completing a social psychology master's program.
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Salary Increase
Earning a master's degree in social psychology can lead to higher salaries. Professionals with a graduate degree typically earn more than those with a bachelor's degree only. -
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Preparation for Doctoral Degree
The training in research, statistics, and foundational social-psychological concepts acquired in a master's program prepares students for advanced and specialized study at the doctoral level. A master's in social psychology may boost chances for admission to a doctoral program. -
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Specialization
Most master's in social psychology programs allow students to tailor the degree to their specific interests through specialization options and electives. -
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Field Knowledge
Master's students can pursue research and scholarship while earning their degree, allowing them to explore and engage with the field before practicing social psychology. -
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Professional Networking
Social psychology students often interact with professionals in the field, attend conferences, and build their professional network.
Example Courses
Social psychology graduate programs often require foundational courses in general psychology and specialized classes in culture, development, social cognition, and interpersonal relationships. Coursework helps students gain skills and knowledge in clinical psychology, common research theories and designs, and statistical analysis. Most social psychology master's programs also include an internship and a thesis or capstone project involving extensive research.
Course offerings vary by school, but most social psychology programs cover similar topics. The classes below are commonly available in social psychology graduate programs.
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Culture and Psychology
Students explore topics related to cross-cultural psychology and develop an understanding of various cultures represented in psychological theories. The course also examines the intersection of culture, mental health, social behavior, and human development. -
Emotion
This course explores complex emotions and examines their cognitive and psychological origins. Students understand how an individual's unique experiences and perceptions can impact their emotions. Coursework examines psychological theories regarding various types of human emotions. -
Social Cognition
Social cognition involves individuals' cognitive processes to analyze and store information about other people, particularly during social interactions. Coursework covers schema theory and attribution theory. Students discuss the impact of social cognition on social behavior. They examine topics that include social biases and heuristics. -
Group Dynamics
This course explores theories and existing research on group dynamics. Students examine and discuss discrimination, majority influence and motivation, group conflict, and collective identities.
What Can You Do with a Master's Degree in Social Psychology?
Most social psychology careers require a doctoral degree. Professionals must hold licensure to practice clinically. Some states award certain types of clinical licensure to candidates with a master's degree. Graduates qualify for careers, such as:
- Mental health counselor
- Social and community services manager
- Marriage and family therapist
However, professionals need a doctoral degree to practice as a psychologist. Graduates with only a master's degree can pursue other careers or apply to doctoral programs.
Where Do Social Psychologists Work?
Social psychologists often work for private organizations, government organizations, and in scientific research and development services. They can also work as independent consultants.
Career Advancement
A master's in social psychology can lead to careers in multiple settings, including research, business, social services, and social policy. However, earning a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in social psychology prepares you for the most advanced professional roles.
Doctoral Programs
A master's in social psychology can lead to entry-level careers in similar fields. A doctorate often provides further career advancement. Professionals must hold a doctorate and a state license to practice as a clinical psychologist. Many graduates obtain licensure and practice clinically after earning a doctorate in social psychology. Doctorate-holders can also pursue other advanced, high-paying fields, such as organizational psychology and human resources.
Many graduates of social psychology doctoral programs pursue roles teaching at colleges and universities. Ph.D. programs prepare students for these teaching positions, which may involve engaging with scholarship, conducting new research, and serving on doctoral research committees.
Licensure
In most states, you need a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. from an accredited program to apply for a clinical psychology license and to practice independently. Most doctoral programs require several practicum experiences and at least one year of a full-time internship. In addition, state licensure boards require 1-2 years of postgraduate supervised clinical practice hours.
The next step is to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), the national test for clinical psychologists required in all states to obtain a license. Licensing boards also require state-specific jurisprudence exams on law and ethics applicable to psychological practice.
Application fees and testing costs vary by state but can range from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards' Handbook of Licensure and Certification Requirements lists licensing fees for each state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Psychology Master's Programs
Is a master's in social psychology worth it?
Earning a degree from a social psychology master's program can broaden your career opportunities, increase your salary potential, and boost your chances of admission to a doctoral program. Because a master's in social psychology explores all aspects of interpersonal and group relationships, it offers applications in various employment settings.
What do social psychologists do?
The insights and training gained from a social psychology degree help you find career opportunities in almost every employment setting, including education, healthcare and social services, nonprofits, governments, and corporations. Specific roles and responsibilities for social psychologists depend on the type of employer and the degree level.
How is social psychology different from sociology?
Social psychology is a subfield of psychology that explores how thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and emotions are influenced by the social environment. Sociology is a separate discipline that explores the influence of social structures, institutions, culture, and other societal factors on patterns of behavior.
What would a social psychologist be most likely to study?
Because social psychology addresses how the presence of others, whether actual, imagined, or implied, affects human behavior, social psychologists study all aspects of social behavior. They research cognition and emotion, interpersonal and group relationships, social influence, prejudice and discrimination, and violence and aggression.
Page last reviewed on May 30, 2024