Psychology: Health and Wellness Concentration, (M.A.)

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Psychology is a nonclinical degree program designed to prepare socially responsible professionals and leaders to devise practical solutions to complex problems within a multitude of public and private sector employment settings. The program incorporates Adler University’s social justice mission, emphasizing inclusiveness and culturally competent practices that prepare passionate agents of change to meet the ever-evolving needs of dynamic workplace settings and thriving diverse communities. Students will master core competencies in socially responsible practice, applied research, business and community applications, and varied skills for leadership, program management, and global communication.

Experienced faculty members will guide students through a rigorous curriculum that focuses on building academic knowledge and developing professional skills. Students will apply real-world problem solving and develop solutions that apply the principles of applied psychology and demonstrate a commitment to social justice within a wide variety of environments. Students will also complete a thesis or capstone project that will reflect the culmination of their learning and training experiences within the program and will serve to advance their preparation to contribute to the field.

Graduates of this program will use the knowledge they have gained to implement effective solutions, resolve practical problems, improve the experience of individuals and groups, and participate in their field of interest within a diverse global community. Program graduates will be poised to practice and lead within diverse fields and occupations such as business and industry, government and nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit systems, public and behavioral healthcare systems, human resource management, sports psychology, addictions, family and domestic violence, veteran’s affairs, public safety and emergency management systems, and nonclinical youth and older adult services.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of this degree program, graduates will be able to:

1. Analyze principles and theories that impact individuals, systems, and groups within diverse global communities.
2. Evaluate ethical standards in a variety of environments and social systems as they relate to practical problem solving within the practice of applied psychology.
3. Devise evidence-based qualitative and quantitative research strategies that are responsive to diverse system needs within the field of applied psychology.
4. Advance cultural competence by evaluating dynamic problems of human experience and proposing socially responsible solutions.
5. Provide critical analysis of local and global systems within the professional practice of applied psychology.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all required credit hours, including all required courses.
2. Satisfactory completion of the Social Justice Practicum.
3. Successful completion of capstone or thesis.
4. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
5. Submission of completed Graduation Application and full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees.
6. Faculty approval for graduation and recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the conferral of the Master of Arts in Psychology.

Social Justice Practicum

The Social Justice Practicum (SJP) is a nonclinical and non-discipline-specific experiential practicum. Students gain the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to utilize collective power and social justice strategies to build a more equitable society.

The SJP is designed to help students learn how to work alongside different communities as agents of social change and serves as the catalyst for students to realize and understand their strengths and responsibility to contribute to social equity.

The SJP unites the academic institution and larger communities and is an anchor of student learning at Adler University. This experiential learning process includes attending monthly workshops to explore civics, intersectionality, and community organizing and completing a practicum at community-based organizations to work on projects that will strengthen the social justice missions of our community partner members.

All students must complete the SJP before advancing onto any clinical or discipline-specific training, respective of the program in which they are enrolled. SJP requirements include:

- Completion of a minimum of 200 hours at an approved SJP site.
- Completion of online modules. 

- A formal SJP presentation at the Social Justice Symposium. 

- Students must receive a grade of “Pass” for the midterm and final evaluation to receive credit for completing the SJP.

The SJP may not be waived, and life credit is not admissible to meet this requirement.