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Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology

Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Tuition & Aid

A Lipscomb M.S. in psychology will allow you to build your identity as a psychological researcher while giving you the clinical knowledge needed to be successful at the next level. A range of electives & an individualized thesis project allow you to tailor this program to your specific clinical & research interests. Because of this, most of our graduates receive acceptances into prestigious Ph.D. programs across the country. Others apply what they've learned to advance in their field or land their dream job in areas like human resources, public relations and law enforcement.

Through this program you will mature both as a person and as a psychological scientist by crafting a thesis project based on your own interests. Our faculty have diverse research backgrounds and can help you design a thesis project that deepens your knowledge and feeds your passions. You will work 1-on-1 with your faculty thesis advisor throughout the process to make sure you have a successful thesis experience.

Through your classes you will have the opportunity to grow in a community of like-minded students. Small classes allow you to receive personalized attention from faculty while opportunities for competitive internships & research assistantships will help boost your career.

Are you a current Lipscomb undergraduate psychology major interested in pursuing your M.S.? Learn how you can get ahead with our bridge program.

Program Foundations

Prep for Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs in clinical or counseling psychology.
Build a strong foundation of research methods and statistics knowledge.
Gain important clinical knowledge that will prepare you for future clinical training.
Work collaboratively with students across mental health disciplines.
Explore your interests & passions by completing a personalized thesis project.

Capstone Projects

You will work one-on-one with a faculty member to design and carry out a research project that fits your individual interests. This project will take place over the course of your degree and will include learning & reviewing the relevant psychological literature, identifying gaps in our current knowledge, designing a study to investigate those gaps, collecting and analyzing the relevant data and preparing the results for presentation and/or publication. Our students are strongly encouraged to present their research at state, regional, and national conferences and to submit their research for publication in top academic journals. This kind of research experience is what doctoral programs in psychology are looking for!

Examples of past thesis projects:

The effects of experiencing shame on executive functions.
Diagnostic Accuracy In Distinguishing Bipolar Disorder from ADHD in Pediatric Populations
Social Emotional Cognition in Depression and Anxiety
Development of Complex PTSD : Adult Survivors with Prior Domestic Child Sexual Abuse
Familial Social Support Following Deconversion: Perceived Parental Openness, Intrinsic Religiosity, and Impact of Familial Repair

Admissions Requirements

Please submit:

Lipscomb University's online application
A two-page (500-750 words) essay detailing your goals and why you are applying to Lipscomb
Three letters of recommendation
Official transcripts from all schools in which a degree was conferred
GRE scores*
- GRE scores are waived if you already hold a master's degree or if your undergraduate GPA is 3.0 or above
- GRE scores are required if your GPA is below a 3.0
Interview

Deadline to apply for Fall 2023 will be June 1, 2023.

All Interviews are on a rolling basis.

International Students

Courses

The 39-hour M.S. in psychology is for degree-seeking students who will not seek licensure as a counselor. If attending full-time, this degree could be completed in four semesters. The courses are listed below.

Core Courses (30 Hours, 3 hours each)

PSG 5103 - Theories of Counseling and Personality
PSG 5203 - Introduction to Psychopathology and Adaptive Behavior
PSG 5303 - Lifespan Development
PSG 5603 - Research Methods and Statistics
PSG 5803 - Integration of Psychology and Christianity Seminar
PSG 6713 - Biological Psychology
PSG 6613 - Statistics I
PSG 6623 - Statistics II
PSG 6933 - Thesis I
PSG 6943 - Thesis II

Elective Courses (select 9 Hours)

COUN 5903 - Introduction to Counseling Skills
COUN 6003 - Grief and Crisis Counseling
COUN 6053 - Multicultural Issues in Counseling
COUN 6253 - Career Counseling
PSG 6403 - Psychopharmacology
PSG 6603 - Advanced Psychopathology
PSG 6653 - Assessment Techniques
PSG 6503 - Human Sexuality
PSG 675V - Psychological /Counseling Topics
PSG 685V - Research Practicum
COUN 6303 - Substance Abuse Counseling
Other courses, as approved by the Psychology program director

Suggested course sequence for Full-time M.S. in Psychology (39-hour program) students entering in Fall:

Note: Some of the classes listed below are only offered once per year. If a student deviates from this plan, it may delay graduation. Students should consult with their advisor about any deviation from this course sequence.

Fall 1:
¹Theories of Counseling & Personality (Tuesday)
¹Research Methods and Statistics (Monday)
²Biological Psychology (Thursday)

Spring:
¹Introduction to Psychopathology and Adaptive Behavior (Tuesday)
Lifespan Development (Thursday)
¹Thesis I (independent)

Summer:
Spiritual Competencies (Monday)
^1,2Statistics I (Wednesday)
Elective 1 (TBA)

Fall 2:
²Statistics II (Wednesday)
Thesis II (independent)
Elective 2 (TBA)
Elective 3 (TBA)

¹Prerequisite for later classes. (Theories of Counseling and Intro to Psychopathology are needed before many electives in our department; Research Methods before Thesis I; Statistics I before Statistics II; Thesis I before Thesis II)

²Only available once per year, during the semester listed

Tuition & Aid

Program tuition is currently $962* per credit hour.

*Note: The graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective each summer semester.

Types of Aid

Assistantships and Scholarships

Student Loans

As a graduate student, you are still able to file the FAFSA—and you should. By filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you may be eligible for a number of student loans.

Federal Stafford Loan

A borrower must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least six semester hours and must be working toward a degree or certificate. Loans must be actively accepted in myLipscomb in order to be applied as an expected payment to the student bill. Stafford Loans will not pay until the student has completed both Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note at studentloans.gov. Loans will not be credited to accounts until 30 days after classes begin or when a student begins the sixth credit hour, whichever comes last.

Graduate PLUS Loan

The Graduate PLUS Loan is available to independent graduate students. Both loans require credit approval by the Department of Education, as well as a FAFSA submission. Apply.

Private Loans

In addition to the federal loans outlined here, you may consider private loans made by banks and other financial institutions. It is recommended that private loans only be considered in instances where funding is needed in addition to any federal loans, as interest rates may be higher. Eligibility for these loans requires a credit check and students are often required to have a cosigner to qualify.

Veteran Aid/Yellow Ribbon Program

Through an agreement with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Lipscomb University will guarantee some level of graduate tuition funding, applicable to all Lipscomb University graduate programs, for graduate students who qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Depending on program tuition rates, the graduate tuition funding may or may not cover the total tuition cost of the program.

The Yellow Ribbon Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses. View eligibility requirements.

Any questions concerning eligibility or benefits should be directed to the VA school-certifying official located in the lower level of Bennett Campus Center, Suite 140, or visit their website.

Contact Information

Graduate and Adult Admissions, Admin

Kathi Johnson
Director of Graduate Enrollment
(615) 966-5237
kathi.johnson@lipscomb.edu

Networking

Both our deeply connected faculty and our experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. These connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

Higher Education

Many individuals pursue a Master of Science in Psychology with the goal of obtaining a Ph.D. We have implemented a rigorous program to ensure that any student who graduates from our program is a competitive candidate for any APA accredited doctoral program. Many of our students are successfully pursuing a Ph.D. or other post graduate program at institutions including Virginia Tech, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Mississippi State and Notre Dame.

Nashville, TN

A big city. An even bigger opportunity. We consider Nashville, Tennessee an extension of our classroom, and as a leading city in many industries, that means you’ll gain experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else.

Small Class Sizes

You’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion, receive one-on-one faculty mentorship and ask difficult questions in our small class sizes. Plus, you’ll feel supported in a tight-knit learning community.

Our Faculty

A.J. Heritage

Director of Graduate Psychology

A.J. joined the Lipscomb faculty full time in January of 2021 after several years as an adjunct faculty member and faculty fellow with Lipscomb Online. A.J. earned his Ph.D. in...
Meet A.J. Heritage
Shanna Ray

Associate Dean for Academic Programming & Student Services

Shanna Ray has a B.S. in Psychology from Lipscomb University, M.A. in Experimental Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and a Ph.D./M.S. in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University. Ray joined...
Meet Shanna Ray
Katie Spirko

Assistant Professor

Meet Katie Spirko
Jackie Spivey

Associate Professor

Dr. Jaclyn Spivey is originally from Las Vegas, NV. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Loyola University New Orleans and a Ph.D. in Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience) from the University...
Meet Jackie Spivey

Career Paths

Social science research assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

Psychologist

Our program prepares you to move into a Ph.D. psychology program where you will prepare to teach or work on research in psychology.

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.