Master of Science in Psychology (Online)

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology is a 36- credit hour, 100% online graduate program that is designed to be completed in two years of enrolled study. The online masters in psychology program provide professional competency in psychology while developing an integrative understanding of the human person in application to service delivery. This online master in psychology program seeks to exhibit advanced professional skills such as communication, interpersonal, leadership skills, budgeting, program evaluation, and cultural awareness in order to enable growth as a transformational leader in a service-delivery setting. Through DMU’s unique curriculum, you will become a transformational leader, strengthened by Catholic-Christian teachings on human dignity and informed by foundations in modern psychology. DMU specializes in a Psychology curriculum that roots every course in a Catholic-Christian understanding of the human person. How will this online master in psychology program impact your career or vocation? By understanding the whole person and not just their behaviors, you will be prepared to - Help people to flourish in their personal vocations and daily life. - Build and maintain relationships with clients, manage cases, and facilitate groups. - Act effectively in situations where de-escalation, negotiation, and crisis intervention are needed. - Examine in-depth theory and research associated with the diagnosis and treatment of common psychological problems. - Recognize the integrity and dignity of each person you encounter. - Recruit and lead a volunteer team. - Integrate research and program evaluation data to improve your practice and the delivery of services.

Degree Requirements

36 credit hours as outlined in the curriculum, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Length

5 Terms per year/approximately 2 years. Start dates in January, May, and August. Full-time and Part-time enrollment available.

Format

Fully online coursework

Licensure Eligibility

This program does not lead to licensure.

Program Philosophy, Goals, and Objectives

The University has identified nine core program outcomes embodying the competencies that are the foundation of the M.S. in Psychology Program curriculum. 1. Analyze the major concepts, theories, and methodologies in psychology. 2. Develop a thorough understanding of the Catholic/Christian vision of the person. 3. Synthesize the Catholic/Christian vision with contemporary psychological theories, research, and interventions. 4. Synthesize findings from research to develop relevant interventions and direct services in a variety of workplace settings. 5. Appraise the impact of diversity factors on the administration of teams and the delivery of services to various populations. 6. Evaluate ethical, legal, and administrative decisions and practices in the design and delivery of services. 7. Evaluate critically one’s own biases, assumptions, attitudes, etc., and their effect on decision-making, planning, interpersonal communication, and working in teams. 8. Exhibit effective communication and other interpersonal skills, necessary for client relationships and workplace leadership. 9. Evaluate the attitudes, skill sets, and strategies for being a transformational leader in a service-delivery setting.

Curriculum

DMU’s Unique Model – which roots every course in a Catholic understanding of the human person — is forming students to meet the growing demand in today’s culture for professionals who recognize the dignity and uniqueness of each man, woman, and child. DMU students learn to look beyond demonstrated behaviors and see the whole person, helping them to grow spiritually, emotionally, and biologically. A DMU education not only provides a firm foundation in psychology, but also the knowledge and skills necessary to help people develop virtues and flourish as human beings. The Institute for the Psychological Sciences’ M.S. in Psychology is an online program prepared specifically to help students to grow in their careers, both after the degree’s completion as well as throughout the coursework. Students will be able to apply acquired practical skills to their workplace or ministry as they learn them. A non-therapeutic degree, this M.S. in Psychology enables students to increase their competencies as professionals in psychology-related fields, while, at the same time, to make an impact on those they serve, strengthened by the knowledge of a rich body of Catholic teachings on the human person. - PSY 550 Helping People Flourish: A Catholic-Christian Approach to Psychology - PSY 555 Relationship and Intervention Skills Theory and Application - PHT 507 The Catholic-Christian Vision of the Person - PSY 560 Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan - PSY 565 Common Psychological Problems and Their Treatment - PHT 508 The Catholic-Christian Vision of Flourishing: Vocations & Virtues - PSY 570 Statistical Analysis for Psychology and the Social Sciences - PSY 575 Social Psychology, Groups, and Diversity - PSY 580 Personality, Individual Differences, and Intelligence - PSY 585 Evidence-based Practice and Program Evaluation - PSY 590 Leading People and Programs - PSY 595 Capstone: The Transformational Leader in the Helping Professions

Divine Mercy University

Divine Mercy University (DMU) is a Catholic graduate school of psychology and counseling, founded in 1999 as the Institute for the Psychological Sciences. The University is dedicated to the scientific study of psychology with a Catholic understanding of the person, marriage, and the family. The University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctoral (Psy.D.) degrees in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Psychology and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Divine Mercy University (DMU) is governed by its Board of Directors, which has complete and final governing authority over the University. The Board consists of the Bishop of Arlington, Virginia, seven lay Catholic leaders and three members of the Legion of Christ. The Legion sponsors the University by providing a President and a Chaplain and helping to maintain the Catholic identity of the institution.

Vision

Divine Mercy University (DMU) will be an international center for scholarship and professional training dedicated to the development of a psychology grounded in an integral Catholic-Christian view of the human person. Maintaining the highest academic standards, it will educate new generations of psychologists as well as professionals in psychology-related fields and open new areas of research for psychological theories that explore the relationship of psychology and the Catholic-Christian understanding of the human person.

Mission

Divine Mercy University (DMU) is an institution of higher education offering Master and Doctoral degrees. It is affiliated with the Legionaries of Christ. The University is dedicated to the renewal of the Catholic-Christian intellectual tradition and the integration of the theoretical and empirical bases of psychology and a Catholic-Christian view of the human person. Divine Mercy University (DMU) seeks to provide students an effective academic and educational environment that supports the integration of the psychological sciences and a Catholic-Christian understanding of the person through teaching and learning both knowledge and critical skills. It assists students intellectually and professionally as they prepare themselves to respond to their vocation as mental health professionals or as men and women in helping professions. The University’s mission also involves dialogue about its integrative approach with practitioners and scholars, nationally and internationally.

The DMU Model

Divine Mercy University (DMU) is forming professionals in the mental health field and other psychology-related careers to meet the growing demand for men and women who respect the dignity and uniqueness of every client. As a result of our clinical programs, DMU clinicians go beyond simple symptom relief to facilitate true healing and growth for clients and their families. Every one of our programs educates students so that they will help clients develop virtues and flourish as human beings. To assist in articulating this integrated understanding of each client’s complete reality (spiritual, emotional, temporal), the DMU faculty – clinicians and theoreticians, sociologists, philosophers, and theologians – meet regularly in a research group called the Faculty Integration Project. A decade of this multidisciplinary work has resulted in “The DMU Model” of integration. This DMU Model brings together scientific psychology’s theoretical and empirically-based knowledge with philosophical and theological insights about the person from the Catholic faith.

Student Testimonials

“The professors provide an invaluable perspective on the compassion crucial in addressing mental health issues. Moreover, the focus on psychology in terms of man’s physical and spiritual existence equips each student with a full understanding of what it means to be psychologically healthy.” Anna Adams, USA “My education has been invaluable in my day-to-day experience of therapy with college students. I learned to look at the whole person: spiritually, intellectually, physically, and psychologically; to both distinguish issues in each area as well as identify the overlap that exists between the categories in any given person. IPS gave me the tools necessary to continue the integration of faith and psychology in my career as a therapist.” Kate Ebeler, USA