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Psychological Studies

  • Credits:
    36
  • Degree:
    Master of Education

Program Description

The psychological studies degree is a non-licensure graduate program that explores a broad range of psychological perspectives. The program offers a variety of elective course options that allow you to tailor your course of study to your particular interests. The psychological studies major also emphasizes the needs of an evolving multicultural society. Designed for working adults, classes are offered days, evenings, weekends, and online.

What Is Psychological Studies?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and human behavior. The master’s in psychological studies at Cambridge College explores topics such as counseling theory, the psychological and biological aspects of human development, addiction disorders, and the role of culture in mental health.  

Cambridge College Psychological Studies Program Highlights

The Psychological Studies program at Cambridge College offers a flexible, hands-on master’s degree option for adult learners.

  • Experiential learning. The program features research, experiential exercises, and career development opportunities that allow you to apply your learning to real-world situations.
  • Flexible class options. Designed to meet the needs of working professionals, the psychological studies program is 
  • offered via day, evening, weekend, and online classes.
  • World-class faculty. At Cambridge College, you’ll work closely with expert faculty who bring diverse psychology research and professional counseling experience to the classroom.
  • Diverse students. Cambridge College welcomes more than 300 students from over 50 different countries around the world and was recently ranked as one of the Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges in America by Best College Reviews.
  • Exceptional value. As one of the most affordable four-year private nonprofit colleges in the nation, Cambridge College offers quality education at a low tuition rate.
  • Convenient locations. All of our classroom locations are close to public transportation and/or offer free parking for students. 

According to Psychology Today, about 40 percent of psychology majors complete some form of graduate training, placing psychology among the highest of all undergraduate majors in post-graduate degree completion.

Psychological Studies Program Learning Outcomes

When you earn your master’s in psychological studies, you’ll have a strong foundation in counseling theory, with knowledge in assessment, resources, cultural and racial dynamics, roles on interdisciplinary teams, ethics, and laws. You’ll also learn about small group dynamics and processes, and how leadership styles influence group process.

Psychological Studies Jobs

Graduates of the psychological studies degree will be prepared for advancement in human services careers that do not require licensure. Psychology careers that do not require a license may include positions in mental health programs, drug and alcohol recovery programs, shelters for the homeless, and teaching and mentoring positions with colleges and universities.

Example Psychological Studies Courses

The psychological studies curriculum covers a wide range of topics and includes courses such as:

  • Personality and Counseling Theory
  • Perspectives in Cross Cultural Counseling
  • Career Development

Download the Psychological Studies program sheet.

Psychological Studies Scholarships and Financial Aid

Cambridge College offers exceptional value through low tuition and a variety of financial assistance programs to help pay for your degree. Explore financial aid opportunities at Cambridge College.

Many companies also offer tuition assistance programs that can help to pay for your master’s degree. Learn more about getting your company to help.

Related Programs at Cambridge College

If you’re still exploring degree options, you might be interested in learning more about these programs at Cambridge College:

Curriculum


Psychological Studies Core Courses
15
Credits
Personality and Counseling Theory
CCP 540 3 credit(s)
This course explores personality and counseling theories, identifying strengths and weaknesses in each theory. Cultural elements are stressed. Theories are approached from an eclectic standpoint, including normal and abnormal, social, intellectual, and emotional development. Students are encouraged to identify an approach or approaches which are compatible with their history, current philosophy, clients and counseling settings. We also explore modern notions of cultural and family identity, increasing our ability to adapt counseling theory to the strengths and needs of individuals in our contemporary, diverse client population. The on-line library is employed in this course to gather evidence and support project development and presentations. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: b: Theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: e. Theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development.
Human Development Across the Lifespan
CCP 630 3 credit(s)
This course will address the psychological and biological aspects of human development from conception through childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, mid-life and aging. Familial, environmental and cultural factors will be explored as they impact the development of people across the continuum of life. Theory will combine with application related to physical, emotional, intellectual, learning, social, normal and abnormal development; plus cognitive, moral, and vocational adjustment. The processes of physical and psychological development including ethnic and gender differences will be studied. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: b: Theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: c. psychology of learning, and e. theories of normal and abnormal, intellectual, social, and emotional development.
Addiction Disorders
CCP 640 3 credit(s)
Designed for beginning and intermediate clinicians, this course provides a thorough foundation in substance abuse treatment. The prevention and treatment of substance abuse in people of all ages will be explored, as well as the relationship between substance use, violence, and physical and sexual abuse. Topics include: theories of etiology of addiction; pharmacology of psycho-active drugs; cultural factors that influence substance use; assessment and intervention with substance abusers and their families. Emphasis is put on diagnosis, treatment planning and referral to appropriate resources including self-help groups. Students will have the opportunity to participate in simulated interviews and experiential exercises. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: c: Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement, and their treatment. f: Techniques for communicating and working with families and school and community personnel. g: Knowledge of the criminal justice system with particular reference to the juvenile justice system and organizations. i: Federal and state regulations addressing the legal rights of students and families. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Counseling: f: Knowledge of strategies used for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence in PreK-12 students.
Career Development
CCP 639 3 credit(s)

This course provides an experiential approach to career development for mental health, school and rehabilitation counselors to support clients with and without disabilities across the lifespan in both individual and group settings. Orientation to key assessment instruments, online resources, labor market information, transferable skills analysis, job placement strategies and work-related supports will be made to support the career guidance process and to develop comprehensive plans of action for clients.
This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Counseling: i. Career counseling.

Perspectives in Cross Cultural Counseling
CCP 754 3 credit(s)
This course focuses on the role of culture in the development of psychological health and in psychopathology. Variations among diverse cultures in defining mental health and deviant behavior are discussed. The importance of understanding the cultural context is emphasized, both in the prevention and in the resolution of psychological problems. Students become aware of their own cultural beliefs regarding mental health issues, and the impact of their perspective in working with culturally different people. Techniques for working with families and schools are also discussed. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: Standard f: Techniques for communicating and working with families and school and community personnel. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: m. Development of skills for consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators
Psychological Studies/SOPC Electives
21
Credits

Choose seven electives (students may select other elective courses with approval of the program chair).

Research Design and Evaluation
CCP 518 3 credit(s)
This course provides students with a foundation in research and evaluation methodologies and strategies, program evaluation and needs assessment. Students will gain an understanding of different types of research and research design, procedures for data collection and analysis, analysis of both hard and soft data, and ethical and legal considerations associated with research. Students will leave the course prepared to conduct and be discriminating consumers of research.
Biopsychosocial Dimensions of Aging
CCP 600 3 credit(s)
Students explore the biology, psychology and sociology of aging, with an emphasis on how these issues manifest in clinical settings. Students will explore the biology of aging, including Ònormal aging,Ó common physical changes, medical conditions, and related functional impairment. Psychosocial issues will also be addressed, including multigenerational family dynamics, aspects of adult development (e.g. generativity, successful aging), and common late-life stressors (e.g. financial strain, bereavement, housing changes). This course will also explore sociocultural trends in aging such as cohort differences between generations, multicultural concerns, ageism and discrimination. Students will also obtain an overview of public health policy, advocacy and case management, as they relate to counseling work with older adults. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.
Ethics & Professional Issues for School Counselors & Mental Health Practitioners
CCP 622 3 credit(s)
This course explores several models of school counseling and mental health counseling and the relationship to relevant ethics, federal, state, municipal, state laws, and standards and regulations. The course emphasizes best practices and strategies for dealing with ethical and legal dilemmas, including the ability to apply and practice ethical and legal standards in school counseling. School counseling and systems models are examined along with consultation, harm prevention and reduction, and the evaluation and utilization of community resources. Focal areas include professional roles and functions, ethical standards including accountability, responsibility, client/student welfare, emotional health, laws and regulations, institutional policies including crisis/disaster preparedness and response, cross cultural, cross social class practices and their impact on mental health and school counseling. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: h: Federal and state laws and regulations addressing the legal rights of students and families. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Guidance Counseling: i. Federal, state, municipal, and school laws and regulations.
The Counselor in the Forensic Environment
CCP 631 3 credit(s)
This course explores forensic settings, the counselor’s roles within these settings, and appropriate counseling and systems skills. It introduces concepts of addiction, relapse prevention, and stages of personal change, as they relate to forensic counseling. Students are introduced to the continuum of forensic settings including court clinics, juvenile detention and rehabilitation facilities, houses of correction, jails, prisons, pre-release and post-release centers. Students explore the stages of the judicial process, legal and procedural issues during incarceration, the offender’s transition to release and community life, and the dynamic tension between the goals of rehabilitation and punishment. Students then survey counseling and systems skills appropriate to such settings and engage in realistic role-plays in order to develop or improve their skills. The course then surveys approaches to addiction, relapse prevention, and stages of personal change, with an overview of appropriate counseling techniques. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.
Death and Dying
CCP 634 3 credit(s)
In this course, students will explore an overview of common end-of-life issues that arise when counseling dying clients and their family, e.g. discussion of goals of care (e.g. DNR/DNI), psychological treatments for pain, multicultural factors, familial conflict, anticipatory grief, bereavement, and death anxiety. Students will also learn about palliative care, hospice care, and the complex bioethical issues that can arise in this work. Lastly, students will explore what it means personally to work with this population, with discussion of compassion fatigue and burnout prevention. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.
Counseling Adolescents Transitioning to Adulthood
CCP672 3 credit(s)

In this course students will develop strategies to effectively counsel adolescents. This course will address the stages of development in the adolescents’ transition into adulthood, with a focus on the tasks of differentiation, autonomy, relationships, family, work, post-secondary education, military service, and other developmental challenges. Collaboration and consultation with parents/guardians, community collaterals, school support staff, and employers, as well as access to resources will be addressed. For those adolescents considering entry to higher education, the college/post-secondary training program and its funding will also be discussed. Special emphasis will be placed on ways to help those who traditionally face substantial barriers to success, including low-income students, minority and ELL students, and students with disabilities. The fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction are emphasized throughout the course.
This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: m. Development of skills for consultation with parents, teachers and administrators. n. College counseling and use of college and other post-secondary resource materials (grades 5-12).

Family Treatment of Substance Abuse
CCP 606 3 credit(s)
This course bridges the gap between substance abuse counseling and family therapy. It examines the specific interactional patterns that help to maintain addictive behavior within the family. Case examples illustrate how to intervene in addictive families. The following topics are covered: a systemic perspective on addictive behavior; assessing substance abuse and setting treatment goals; the over-responsibility/under-responsibility dynamic in families; the Family Intervention Model; treatment needs of young children and adult children of addictive families; and facilitating family adjustment to sobriety. Course requirements include class attendance, reading, participation in experiential exercises and role play. Includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: d: Prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence in PreK-12 students.
Mind, Body, & Emotion: a Holistic Perspective
CCP 681 3 credit(s)
This course reviews literature in animal and human behavior to provide a basic biological and behavioral framework for considering the relationship between the mind, body, and emotions. The historical view of emotion as an instinctual force that should be controlled is contrasted with an emerging understanding of emotion as an adaptive intelligence that deeply informs our relationship to the world. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.
Psychopathology
CCP 615 3 credit(s)
This course deals with the nature of neurotic behavior, abnormal behavior and the psychoses, as well as the nature of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development and learning in childhood and adolescence. Particular attention is given to ego-defensive, adaptive and sociocultural aspects of behavior, health and wellness, and ways in which adaptive behavior becomes symptomatic. This course organizes disorders according to the organization of the DSM-5. Historical contexts in which psychopathology has been diagnosed and viewed from early medical concepts through the currently used Diagnostic Criteria in the DSM-5 are presented. Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement and their treatments are investigated. Attention is focused on differential diagnosis, treatment planning and best practices in applied settings. Discussions focus on psychopharmacology, knowledge of medical conditions and medication related to physical disabilities and learning disorders, prevalent psychotherapies, and theories of abnormal behavior and development. Case studies provide experience in classifying, diagnosing and categorizing various mental disorders from childhood throughout the lifespan. Discussions of treatment of mental illness include psychopharmacology, prevalent psychotherapies used in individual, family, couple and group psychotherapy and current research findings related to treatment. Discussions also focus on health and wellness, multicultural issues, plus variables related to resiliency and student learning. Additionally, the effects of abuse, violence, theories of normal and abnormal behavior and development are examined. Current research that can assist the school counselor in developing a plan of action for referral and treatment that relates to personal, social and academic functioning of students will be procured through the online library. This course utilizes films, tapes, case studies, class presentations, lectures, and group discussions. It includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course also includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standard for School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker: h: Knowledge of medical conditions and medication related to physical disabilities and learning disorders. c. Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement, and their treatment This course addresses the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Guidance Counseling: c. Psychology of learning. d. Understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of learning and behavior disorders. e. Theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development.
Terror, Trauma and the Sacred: Psychological and Spiritual Perspectives
CCP 657 3 credit(s)

This course will examine the ways in which spirituality and faith impacts a person’s response to crisis. We will examine case examples of individuals and communities dealing with issues of grief and loss; death and dying; natural disasters; and trauma and victimization.  The course will explore a wide-variety of spiritual and faith-based frameworks for the perspectives they provide on suffering, hope and healing.  Students will develop skills and techniques for crisis management and counseling from a faith-based perspective. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction.

Program Chair

Core Faculty

Senior Instructor

Admissions

  • Admission Test:

    No standardized graduate school tests required for admission into non-licensure programs

  • Admissions Office:
    1-800-829-4723
  • Application Form:
  • Application Fee:
    $50 ($100 for international students)

Health Requirements for Massachusetts Students 

The Massachusetts Health Department and Cambridge College require the following of students in Massachusetts:

Immunizations – All students in Massachusetts are required to get certain immunizations before you can register for your first term. See form

Health Insurance – In Massachusetts, undergraduate students taking nine or more credits/term and graduate students taking six or more credits/term must enroll in the College’s health insurance plan. Students who have insurance with comparable coverage may request a waiver. See information and enroll or waive.

 

School Requirements

International Students 

International students need to provide supplemental documentation:

  • Official demonstration of English language proficiency
  • Supplemental documentation for issuance of I-20
  • International transcripts, evaluated by an accepted evaluation service

Transfer Credit 

Please complete the transfer credit request form if you wish to have prior course work evaluated for transfer. Learn more.

 

Tuition

  • Credits:
    36
  • Cost per credit hour:
    $609
  • Application Fee:
    $50 ($100 for international students)
  • Health Insurance Fee:
    $3,962 - Required for Massachusetts students only. See waiver details on Tuition & Fees page.)
  • Internship/Practicum Fee:
    $400

Note: Rates are as of July, 2022, and are subject to change without notice. Rates apply to all students, unless otherwise noted.

Financial Aid

Cambridge College offers financial aid to students in our degree programs who are enrolled at least half time. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits each term. Graduate and doctoral students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits each term. Learn more

Grants, Scholarships and Loans

Cambridge College welcomes the opportunity to support your efforts to pay for college.  Federal, state and local resources in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study, including Cambridge College Scholarships, are available to help defray the cost of tuition. Learn more

Getting Your Company to Help

Many companies have tuition assistance programs, designed to help their employees with their professional development. Learn more

Take the Next Step Toward Your Psychological Studies Degree