Pepperdine Master of Arts in Psychology | OnlinePepperdine Master of Arts in Psychology | OnlinePepperdine Master of Arts in Psychology | Online

Gain a thorough understanding of human behavior and psychological principles.Gain a thorough understanding of human behavior and psychological principles.Gain a thorough understanding of human behavior and psychological principles.

  • 20,000+ Inspired Alumni — Our community is vast, yet closely connected and passionate about making a difference in psychology fields.
  • Complete in as Few as 18 Months — Graduate in just a year and a half with knowledge you can apply to the human services field or further academic pursuits.
  • No GRE Required — You’re not a number, but a person with experiences and interests. We evaluate applicants based on these qualities instead of test scores.

Pepperdine Master of Arts in Psychology | OnlinePepperdine Master of Arts in Psychology | OnlinePepperdine Master of Arts in Psychology | Online

Gain a thorough understanding of human behavior and psychological principles.Gain a thorough understanding of human behavior and psychological principles.Gain a thorough understanding of human behavior and psychological principles.

  • 20,000+ Inspired Alumni — Our community is vast, yet closely connected and passionate about making a difference in psychology fields.
  • Complete in as Few as 18 Months — Graduate in just a year and a half with knowledge you can apply to the human services field or further academic pursuits.
  • No GRE Required — You’re not a number, but a person with experiences and interests. We evaluate applicants based on these qualities instead of test scores.

The online Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology program from the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) will give you a broad understanding of human behavior and the fundamental principles of the psychology field. Structured by a clinical framework, the program will expose you to essential psychological theory and practice through online classes and course work.

Whether you want to enter the human services field, advance your career in a related field, or pursue doctoral study in psychology, you will be prepared to apply your psychological expertise to your next professional or academic endeavor.

Earn Your Degree in as Few as 18 Months

No GRE Scores Required to Apply

Online Master of Psychology Program Highlights

The online master’s in psychology program can be defined as the gateway to understanding human behavior and the foundational practices that accompany the psychology vocation. You will gain a deeper understanding of psychological diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

Depending on your decision to study part time or full time and the number of transfer credits you receive, program length ranges from:

4–8

sessions

36–48

units

18–24

months to complete

After you’ve completed the program, you will be ready to pursue a variety of careers in the field of psychology in a range of professional settings.  

On-Campus MA in Psychology Program

Pepperdine’s MA in Psychology empowers you for personal growth and meaningful service. Pursue your passion in the field of psychology, change lives as a leader in your industry, or set yourself toward earning a doctoral degree in clinical psychology (PsyD). No GRE required.

Visit our on-campus site to learn more and apply to the on-campus program. Note that on-campus and online MA in Psychology program applications are separate. Access the online application here. 

Admissions Overview

OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine seeks students who are committed to cultivating a deep understanding of human behavior while advancing their capability to serve those in need. We accept applications on a rolling basis and offer you the option to start earning your psychology degree at various times throughout the year.

  • A bachelor’s degree is required to apply.
  • GRE scores are not required.
  • Application fee waivers are available for those who meet the priority deadline.

Visit our Application Requirements page for further details.

Cohorts start four times per year in winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Tuition and Financial Aid

You will need to complete 36 to 48 units to graduate. To help you better understand the total cost of your degree, Pepperdine offers a calculator tool to approximate the cost of tuition.

Financial aid opportunities are available for Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology students. Students may utilize employer tuition assistance, federal student loans, private loans, or scholarships to assist with program expenses.

For more information, visit the Tuition and Financial Aid page.

Pursue Your Purpose

Learn more about the online master’s in psychology program from Pepperdine University.

Request Information

Access Your Application

Now is the time. Advance your career with Pepperdine. Take the next step today.

Online Master’s in Psychology Curriculum Overview

Our online master’s in psychology curriculum teaches you core psychological concepts and introduces you to the theories clinical practitioners apply in real-world situations. As a student, you will explore mental and emotional disorders, conduct research, and evaluate methods as you learn how psychological principles can be used to assess personality and intelligence.

The curriculum is designed to address a wide range of practical and clinically oriented subject materials. You will have the opportunity to select multiple electives, allowing you to customize your plan of study to focus on the topics and areas that most interest you.

Online Program Courses

Pepperdine’s online content and course work reflect the academic complexity and reputation of the on-campus option. Courses will introduce you to a range of psychotherapy techniques while providing insight into a broad spectrum of topics.

Students will complete:

  • five foundation courses
  • nine core courses
  • two electives

Courses include:

Course Spotlight: Multicultural Counseling

Consider how people’s identities and backgrounds relate to mental health and treatment. Explore how counselors can take into account clients’ race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender, and ableness.

Course Spotlight: Social Psychology

How do individuals and social environments shape each other? Explore the dynamics of interpersonal influence in diverse contexts, including attitude formation and change, stereotyping and prejudice, altruism and aggression, and political and health psychology.

Foundation courses are offered as part of the master’s program and may be waived if you have earned a B or better in classes covering the required course work within the past seven years.

Read course descriptions for the online psychology master’s program.

Curious to know what your schedule might look like? Check out a sample course sequence (PDF).

Antiracism and Antidiscrimination Statement

The MA in Psychology program and GSEP psychology division stand in solidarity against racial inequities and injustice and other forms of discrimination and oppression. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment that is enriched and strengthened by diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity and national origin, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class, age, ability status, and religion. GSEP also encourages all community members to engage in critical learning and reflection to strengthen our capacity for being effective, active, and outspoken against all forms of racism and intersectional oppression.

Passionate and Purpose-Driven Faculty

GSEP faculty are active clinicians and experts in their disciplines who are dedicated to helping you grow as you pursue your degree. The purpose-driven practitioners and professors you’ll collaborate with work in all segments of the psychology landscape and have a deep passion for inspiring future leaders.

Learn more on the GSEP Meet Our Faculty page.

Career Paths After the Online Psychology Program

With a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine, you’ll be empowered to align your career with your passion for helping others. You will be prepared to pursue doctoral study or employment within a human services-related setting, such as public mental health, education, healthcare, government, or the corporate sector.

The job market is diverse and includes both independent and team-oriented career options.

Here are some of the roles you may be qualified to pursue after earning your master’s in psychology online:

  • care coordinator
  • child development specialist
  • community outreach specialist
  • corporate recruiter
  • executive coach
  • grant writer
  • group facilitator
  • market research analyst
  • program manager/director
  • research assistant

Learn more about careers you can pursue after earning your MA in Psychology. Visit our Psychology Career Paths page to explore how the degree and Pepperdine’s courses apply to particular industries.

Earn Your Master’s.
Help People and Organizations Thrive.

Access Your Application

Now is the time. Advance your career with Pepperdine. Take the next step today.