Master of Science / Graduate Certificate in Psychology
Faulkner University’s Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers a master's degree in psychology, as well as a graduate certificate. Students in the master’s program can select between two different tracks depending on their educational and career goals. All three programs are offered fully online.
Program Options and Courses
Faulkner University strives to provide affordable, accessible online graduate education in the field of psychology. Programs are designed to help students expand their skill set in psychology and human services while preparing for careers in diverse fields. All courses are taught by accomplished faculty members who draw on their experiences to foster learning and engagement. The department offers three graduate program options, including:
Master of Science in Psychology – General Track
The M.S. in Psychology (General Track) is designed to be completed in one or two years, depending on the student’s schedule. The curriculum consists of 36 credits and includes:
- Foundational courses:
- PSY 5310: Foundations of Psychological Science
- PSY 5315: Spiritual Perspectives of Human Development and Behavior
- PSY 5341: Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Psychology or PSY 5381 ABA: Philosophical Underpinnings of Behavior
- Psychology core courses:
- PSY 5345: Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology
- PSY 5350: Applied Research Methods and Analysis
- PSY 6310: Principles of Psychopathology
- PSY 6320: Principles of Psychometric Evaluation and Assessment
- Elective courses:
- PSY 6315: Human Psychology in Social Systems
- PSY 6322: Psychopharmacology
- PSY 6325: Advanced Educational Psychology
- PSY 6335: Holistic Human Psychology
- PSY 6347: Psychology of Music, Creativity, and The Arts
- PSY 6355: Psychology of Addiction
- PSY 6371: Neurodiversity and Concepts of Disabilities
- PSY 6372: Assistive Technologies in Disability Services
- PSY 6373: Legal and Sociocultural Aspects of Disability Services
- PSY 6374: Disability Services Administration and Application
- PSY 6377: Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- PSY 6399: Special Topics in Psychology
Master of Science in Psychology – Disability Services Track
The M.S. in Psychology (Disability Services Track) also can be completed in one or two years. The program consists of 36 credit hours. Foundational core and psychology core courses are the same as the general track program. Specialized courses include:
- PSY 6371: Neurodiversity and Concepts of Disabilities
- PSY 6372: Assistive Technologies in Disability Services
- PSY 6373: Legal and Sociocultural Aspects of Disability Services
- PSY 6374: Disability Services Administration and Application
- PSY 6377: Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Graduate Certificate in Disability Services
The Graduate Certificate in Disability Services consists of 15 credit hours across five courses. The program can be completed in less than one year and is offered fully online. Students in this program complete the same five specialized courses offered in the Disability Services Track.
Tuition Information
Students in our Master in Psychology degree and certificate programs benefit from an all-inclusive tuition structure that includes fees, textbooks, and other resources.
Tuition/Cost
The tuition for the Master in Psychology programs is “all-inclusive”, including all tuition, fees,
and textbooks/resources (electronic).
Students may purchase physical copies of textbooks at their option through the Faulkner
E-Campus bookstore.
All Inclusive Tuition (Tuition/Fees/Books):
| M.S. Psychology (General) | M.S. Psychology (Disability Services) | Certificate (Disability Services) | |
| Per Hour | $695 @ 36 hours | $695 @ 36 hours | $695 @ 15 hours |
| Fees | Included | Included | Included |
| Textbooks | Included | Included | Included |
| Total | $25,020 | $25,020 | $10,425 |
Master of Science in Psychology Admissions Information
To be eligible for admission to the M.S. in Psychology program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Applicants must submit:
- A complete graduate application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended, showing successful completion of prerequisite courses
- A personal essay in APA format
Students who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission may qualify for the Provisional Admissions path. Complete information is included in the Graduate Catalog.
Prerequisite Coursework
Applicants to the Master of Science in Psychology program must show successful completion of the following prerequisite courses, or have an approved plan for completing this coursework within the first semester of their program:
- One course in Introduction/General Psychology (Faulkner University equivalent: PY1310)
- One course in Human Development (Faulkner University equivalent: PY2301)
- One course in Research Methods (Faulkner University equivalent: PY3350)
- One course in Statistics (Faulkner University equivalent: PY3330)
Please note: These course requirements do not apply to the Certificate in Disability Services.
Transfer Credit Policy
Students may be permitted to transfer up to two equivalent courses (or six credits) toward the Master of Science in Psychology degree. Transfer credit is subject to approval by the program director or department chair.
Technology for Online Learning
Students enrolled in an online degree or certificate program at Faulkner University should have access to the following technology resources:
- Mac computer or PC that is less than five years old with storage and unrestricted access
- High-speed internet and a supported Internet browser
- Windows 10 or higher
- Webcam (720p minimum; 1080hd recommended)
- Microsoft Word Additional details are available in our Online Student Handbook Supplement.
Requirements for Graduation
A student who has completed all required coursework must meet the following conditions before a degree or certificate will be awarded:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0
- No grade below C in any courses
- No more than one C grade in the program of study
- No holds on any financial accounts
Please note: Students may retake a course up to two times to earn a passing grade.
How to Apply
To apply for the Master of Science in Psychology degree or certificate program, you must submit a completed online application with all required supplemental materials. Additionally, you will need to fill out an Official Transcript Request form and submit it to any schools you previously attended with the appropriate fee. All transcripts should be mailed to:
Faulkner University
Attn: Graduate Enrollment
5345 Atlanta Hwy
Montgomery, AL 36109
Apply to a Graduate Psychology Program Today
At Faulkner University, students will find a supportive academic environment where they can take the next step in their education or career. If you are interested in furthering your knowledge of social systems, human behavior, and disability services, consider applying to one of our online psychology degree or certificate programs. To learn more about online education at Faulkner University, request info today.
Admissions Requirements
- A completed graduate application
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from an accredited university.
Applicants with a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours, and in the major will be considered.
[Students may be admitted from any major, but preference will be given to those with a
degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other Human Services related field]. - Official transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted. Hand-delivered
copies, photocopies, and printouts of a grade report are not acceptable. - A short 500-600 word personal essay in APA professional format (with title page) briefly
discussing the following:- Why do you want to pursue this degree? How will it fit with your personal or
career goals? - How is a degree from a Christian university such as Faulkner a good fit for you
(consider Faulkner’s mission statement in your answer)? - How have you navigated challenges that have come in your life, academics,
career, etc. What do you anticipate may be the most difficult adjustment you will
need to make as you pursue this degree? - What is one thing about yourself you wish everybody knew, but you are often
reluctant to share?
- Why do you want to pursue this degree? How will it fit with your personal or
- Three letters of recommendation from former professors, work supervisors, or others
who can attest to the student’s preparation for success in the program. - Successful completion of pre-requisite courses, or approved plan for completion within
the first semester (See pre-requisite requirements below; Does not apply to Certificate in
Disability Services). - Students not meeting the minimum admissions requirements may be considered under the Provisional Admissions path.
Provisional Admissions
Applicants not meeting all minimum requirements, will be considered by department admissions
committee for provisional admissions. The following items may be helpful to the department
admissions committee in considering provisional admissions.
- GRE or MAT scores; no minimum score is specified as they will be considered in
conjunction with other admissions information - Professional Resume/Vita
- High School transcripts
- Other voluntary information relevant to your ability to be successful in the program
Pre-requisite course requirements for the Master degree
Note: Pre-requisite course requirements do not apply to students pursuing only the Certificate in Disability Services.
Applicants who have not completed prerequisite courses can be conditionally admitted
to the program with an approved plan to complete prerequisites within the first semester of
starting the Master degree program. Some courses require a prerequisite to be taken before the
Master degree level course. Students needing prerequisites are encouraged to inquire about offerings
in Faulkner’s online undergraduate psychology program which will meet the requirements.
(Grade of “C” or higher)
- One (1) course in: Introduction/General Psychology [Faulkner equivalent: PY1310]
- One (1) course in: Human Development (any human development across the lifespan [Faulkner equivalent: PY2301]
- One (1) course in: Research Methods (any discipline; psychology/behavioral sciences
preferred)* [Faulkner equivalent: PY3350] - One (1) course in: Statistics (any discipline including behavioral statistics, mathematics,
business statistics, etc.)* [Faulkner equivalent: PY3330]*A combined course in Research and Analysis covering content from both areas
including basic statistical measures may be accepted.
Transfer Policy
- Up to two (2) graduate transfer courses (six graduate semester hours) may be accepted
toward the degree. Courses must be essentially equivalent, or relevant to degree (for
electives) and approved by the department chair or program director. - Students may transfer some or all courses from the Certificate in Disability Services to
one of the Master’s degrees, but must first apply and be accepted to the degree
program. Grades earned in courses in the certificate will be considered in admissions,
and students in the certificate program may be given priority ranking.
Technology Requirements
In order to be successful, students must have regular access to a home or laptop computer with the
following minimum requirements. Technology requirements are essential to successful
participation and completion of online courses, and completion of timely assignments. The
use of mobile devices may be sufficient, but they are generally less predictable.
- P.C. (i5 minimum; i7 recommended) or MAC (OS10.14 or higher) less than 5 years old
with a minimum 4GB of ram and unrestricted access/downloads - High speed internet with a minimum of 512kbps
- Latest supported internet browser (https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Basics-Guide/What-are-the-browser-and-computer-requirements-for-Instructure/ta-p/66)
- Windows 10 or higher
- Webcam (720p minimum; 1080hd recommended)
- Microsoft Word or ability to convert Pages documents to a pdf (Canvas does not accept Pages documents)
Graduation Requirements
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the degree or certificate
- No more than one (1) “C” grade and no grade of “D” or “F” in the entire program of study
- Students may retake a course up to two (2) times. The highest grade earned will be
considered for graduation requirements. - No holds on any financial accounts. All financial accounts must be cleared by the
Student Accounts and/or Financial Aid offices prior to receiving a diploma or certificate.
Apply Now
- Submit a completed online application.
- Complete and print the Official Transcript Request form and submit it to all previously attended schools with the appropriate fee.
- Send all additional items via mail to:
Faulkner University
Attn: Graduate Enrollment
5345 Atlanta Hwy
Montgomery, AL 36109
Degree Plans
- M.S. PSYCHOLOGY (GENERAL TRACK)
- M.S. PSYCHOLOGY (DISABILITY SERVICES TRACK)
- CERTIFICATE (DISABILITY SERVICES)
M.S. PSYCHOLOGY (GENERAL TRACK)
Foundational Core [9 hours]
PSY 5310 Foundations of Psychological Science
PSY 5315 Spiritual Perspectives of Human Development and Behavior
PSY 5341 Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Psychology
Psychology Core [12 hours]
PSY 5345 Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology
PSY 5350 Applied Research Methods and Analysis
PSY 6310 Principles of Psychopathology
PSY 6320 Principles of Psychometric Evaluation and Assessment
Elective Options [15 hours]
PSY 6315 Human Psychology in Social Systems
PSY 6322 Psychopharmacology
PSY 6325 Advanced Educational Psychology
PSY 6335 Holistic Human Psychology
PSY 6347 Psychology of Music, Creativity, and The Arts
PSY 6355 Psychology of Addiction
PSY 6371 Neurodiversity and Concepts of Disabilities
PSY 6372 Assistive Technologies in Disability Services
PSY 6373 Legal and Sociocultural Aspects of Disability Services
PSY 6374 Disability Services Administration and Application
PSY 6377 Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
PSY 6399 Special Topics in Psychology
*Or other approved electives in PY/ED/COU/ABA or related
(At least 9 hours must be PSY or ABA courses)
Total Hours…………………………………………………………………36
M.S. PSYCHOLOGY (DISABILITY SERVICES TRACK)
Foundational Core [9 hours]
PSY 5310 Foundations of Psychological Science
PSY 5315 Spiritual Perspectives of Human Development and Behavior
PSY 5341 Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Psychology
Psychology Core [12 hours]
PSY 5345 Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology
PSY 5350 Applied Research Methods and Analysis
PSY 6310 Principles of Psychopathology
PSY 6320 Principles of Psychometric Evaluation and Assessment
Disability Applications [15 hours]
PSY 6371 Neurodiversity and Concepts of Disabilities
PSY 6372 Assistive Technologies in Disability Services
PSY 6373 Legal and Sociocultural Aspects of Disability Services
PSY 6374 Disability Services Administration and Application
PSY 6377 Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Total Hours…………………………………………………………………36
CERTIFICATE (DISABILITY SERVICES)
PSY 6371 Neurodiversity and Concepts of Disabilities
PSY 6372 Assistive Technologies in Disability Services
PSY 6373 Legal and Sociocultural Aspects of Disability Services
PSY 6374 Disability Services Administration and Application
PSY 6377 Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Total Hours…………………………………………………………………15
Apply to Our Graduate Psychology Degree Program
Furthering your knowledge and skills in psychology or disability services will be rewarding for you, your family, and your contributions to society. Apply Today.