Online Master's in Psychology

1/21

START DATE

TERMS

47-52

CREDITS

COURSES

$28-31K

COST

Applications for Fall 2021 will be open early spring 2021.

Through connections between cutting-edge researchers and working professionals, and by learning to understand the neuroscience that underpins effective programs, the UO Online Master’s of Psychology program will equip you to select, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based programs and increase their real-world impact on public health. The program features research-active faculty who develop and test psychosocial and behavioral programs to improve the health and well-being of people across their lifespan.

Whether you are interested in social services, community mental health, education or healthcare, this program will equip you with the skills and expertise for the next step in your professional or academic career.

Online Master's in Psychology

Curriculum

The UO Online Master’s of Psychology offers a unique combination of courses focused on the neuroscience of trauma, adversity and resilience, intervention science, and innovative approaches to program development. Our curriculum emphasizes how you can apply insights from these fields to guide and improve the design and implementation of programs and services.

Note: PSY 690 Capstone Research is to be taken each term, for all six terms. Total credits: 6-12.

Required Courses:
PSY 614 Fast Program Refinement (4)
PSY 615 Community Needs Assessments (4)
PSY 616 Implementation with Community and Cultural Perspectives (3)
PSY 618 Substance Use and Addiction (3)
PSY 619 Intervention Science (4)
PSY 628 Methods of Program Evaluation (4)
PSY 629 Methods of Program Measurement (4)
PSY 630 Translational Neuroscience in Early Childhood (3)
PSY 631 Translational Neuroscience in Adolescence (3)
PSY 632 Translational Neuroscience in Adulthood (3)
PSY 672 Trauma Informed Intervention (3)

Elective Courses:
PSY 607 Neuroscience in the Community (3)
PSY 607 Child Psychology and Neurological Development (3)
PSY 617: Implementation Scalability (3)
PSY 618 Substance Use and Addiction (3)
Science Communication (School of Journalism and Communication course) (3)
PSY 611 Statistics for Practitioners (3)

Required courses

Course	Course name	Credits
PSY 614	Rapid-Cycle Program Refinement	4
PSY 615	Needs Assessment	4
PSY 616	Implementation 1	3
PSY 619	Intervention Science 1	4
PSY 628	Evaluation	4
PSY 629	Measurement	4
PSY 630	Translational Neuroscience Seminar: Brain Science in Early Childhood	3
PSY 631	Translational Neuroscience Seminar: Brain Science in Adolescence	3
PSY 632	Translational Neuroscience Seminar: Brain Science in Adulthood/Aging	3
PSY 672	Trauma and Adversity Informed Approaches to Intervention	3
PSY 690	Capstone Research	1-2

Elective courses

Choose Two (6 credits required)

Course	Course name	Credits
PSY 607	Neuroscience in the Community	3
PSY 607	Child Psychology and Neurological Development	3
PSY 611	Statistics for Practitioners	3
PSY 617	Implementation 2	3
PSY 618	Psychology and Neuroscience of Substance Use and Addiction	3
TBD	Science Communication	3

Careers

The Online Master’s of Psychology program prepares individuals for professional employment or career advancement in:

Community and social service programs
Public agencies that address social and mental health needs
Health-care administration
Child-welfare supervision
College life or student affairs offices

For professionals already working in these fields, the curriculum will provide advanced training in program development and evaluation, as well as useable knowledge regarding the brain science of development and behavior change. Resulting skills and knowledge will amplify employment options, unlocking professional advancement opportunities.

Admissions

The application process includes the following steps:

Complete the application form.
International applicants only: Take the TOEFL or IELTS.
Provide contact information for two to three references who will submit letters of recommendation.
Upload a personal statement of purpose (2-4 page PDF document) in which you discuss the main reasons you're interested in this online master's program.
Upload as a PDF your curriculum vita/resume.
Upload as a PDF a writing sample (recent class paper, thesis, or article).
Upload as a PDF your unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended and send official transcripts to the UO Registrar's Office.
Pay the $70 non-refundable fee ($90 non-refundable fee for international applicants) when you submit your online application.
Monitor the receipt of your letters of recommendation.

Watch a video tutorial on how to apply on the program website here.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition	Fees	other expenses
$554/credit	$45/term Building Fee	$70 Application fee
	$136/term Incidental Fee	$449 Matriculation fee
	$50/term tech fee

Estimated Cost of Program Based on Current Rates: $28,000-$31,000.

Program Highlights

The Online Master’s in Psychology program emphasizes knowledge and skills working professionals can use to enhance the services they provide within their communities. Students will gain practical tools and direct experience evaluating the needs of their organizations and using data to inform organizational decisions. Students will have the opportunity to work with faculty mentors who are conducting innovative applied research, share experiences and network with peers in other community-based organizations, and carry out high-quality program research within their home organizations through the capstone research project.

Faculty Profiles

"The benefit of this program that I’m most excited about is to put the best, most rigorous scientific tools for developing, testing, and improving community interventions into the hands of the people who are best able to apply them to have an impact: people who are already situated in their communities and know their goals and needs."

Elliot Berkman

Professor

Dr. Berkman studies the motivational and cognitive factors that contribute to success and failure at health goals such as cigarette smoking cessation and dieting. His research leverages the distinct strengths of several research methods.
As a lecturer, I am very excited about guiding students toward novel, neuroscience-informed approaches to evidence-based practice that can be applied within human services and community health organizations.

Justin Caouette

Career Lecturer

Dr. Caouette’s research background focuses on social determinants of adolescent biobehavioral health, with an emphasis on identifying neural mechanisms underlying substance use decision-making and substance use intervention efficacy in higher-risk youth.
"The Online Master’s in Psychology provides access to state of the science information using the latest methods for online instruction. Our program emphasizes how research on brain development, program evaluation, and emotional well-being across the lifespan can be put to use in real-world settings."

Phil Fisher, PhD

Center for Translational Neuroscience Director and the Philip H. Knight Chair and Professor of Psychology

Dr. Fisher’s research focuses on early childhood interventions in marginalized communities and on translating scientific knowledge regarding healthy development under conditions of adversity for use in social policy and programs.
"I’m enthusiastic about this program because it is focused on the latest cutting-edge research and practices. And it is designed to be accessible and engaging for a wide range of students who will benefit from the flexibility of the online delivery modality."

Christina Karns

Research Assistant Professor

Dr. Karn's research involves neuroimaging children, teens, and adults with and without disabilities to clarify how attention and self-regulation support healthy neural development.
I am excited to be part of this innovative program because it is specifically designed to strengthen the connection between researchers and practitioners on the frontlines of human services. It is an honor to collaborate with students who are working to improve community health and well-being.

Anne Mannering

Program Director

Dr. Mannering’s teaching and research interests are in the areas of early childhood development and education, neurobiology of early life stress, executive function and self-regulation.
I'm excited about the innovative approach to educating and training the kind of student who knows that time is precious and we need to apply science to improve lives now!

Kate Mills

Assistant Professor

Research in Dr. Mills' lab integrates social network analysis with laboratory assessments and social environmental measures to examine how a child's social environment affects the development of cognitive and behavioral strategies.
"In my work as part of the Center for the Developing Adolescent, we partner with youth-serving organizations, policymakers, and practitioners to effect change that takes a holistic, integrative view of adolescent development. "

Jennifer Pfeifer

Professor

Dr. Pfeifer is interested in how affect, motivation, regulation, self-evaluation, and social perception interact across contexts, are instantiated at the neural level, as well as influence adolescent choices and well-being.
"This new online masters program will provide individuals with rich training in how to design, evaluate, and implement effective community-based interventions for children, adolescents, adults, and families. The field needs more trained professionals who have expertise that spans research and clinical practice."

Elizabeth Skowron, PhD

Professor of Psychology

Dr. Skowron’s research focuses on the contributions of neurobiology and environment to the development of self-regulation and school readiness in at-risk children. Her work also includes identifying effective interventions that support healthy parenting.
"Because this program is designed for those who have experience in a diverse range of community-based organizations, incoming students will bring a wealth of knowledge with them to the program. In the end, this program will elevate community-based staff's ability to read and evaluate research and program data that pertain to the clients they serve."

Maureen Zalewski, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychology

Dr. Zalewski is interested in risk factors that predict the development of emotion regulation in children. She examines the development of emotion regulation in children whose parents struggle with psychopathology.