Every year, more than 450 million people around the globe suffer from a mental health condition, but in many places fewer than 10% of them have access to mental health services. International psychology professionals seek to bridge that gap through understanding, education, and outreach.

They may work in a variety of organizational environments and cultural settings, conducting research to better understand socio-cultural differences; developing and applying culturally competent organizational practices; supporting mental health services to underserved populations or those suffering due to cultural crisis or natural disasters; launching grassroots initiatives to improve access to services; advocating and raising awareness about international mental health needs; and working with immigrant and refugee populations at home and abroad.  

• Offered in Chicago and online.
• A three year, post-master’s program offered in a unique format tailored to the needs of busy working professionals. Students take one course at a time, progressing through the program in a “cohort” fashion (i.e., with the same group of fellow students in each of their classes for the duration of the program).
• Students choose one of two concentrations:
  • Organizations and Systems, which is offered online
  • Trauma Services, which is offered in a “blended” format that includes both online classes and one weekend in Chicago during each of the four concentration-related courses.
• Students engage in two nine-day international field experiences (one in year two and another in year three) as well as two required weekend residencies that focus on research and dissertation preparation.
• Program is particularly appropriate for professionals who work or desire to work for multinational corporations, international non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations (e.g. UN organizations), governmental agencies, and faith based organizations with international missions.
• Graduates are equipped with advanced research and program evaluation skills coupled with a rich appreciation for the individual and group consequences of global events—preparing them to apply psychological principles in the development of policy; assist individuals and organizations with understanding and collaborating with diverse cultural populations and all levels of international organizations and functional systems; and design and evaluate the efficacy of international programs.

M.A. in Psychology

• Offered Online
• Completed in less than two years part time or 11 months accelerated
• Equips graduates with a broad, foundational knowledge of psychology as well as a specific concentration to support each student’s career focus
• Course work consists of nine credit hours in foundational psychology, six credit hours in an applied research project, and the remaining 21 credit hours taken within one of the following concentrations:
  • Child and Adolescent Psychology
    
  • International Psychology
    
  • Gerontology
    
  • Psychology Generalist
    
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Sport-Exercise
    
• Program is distinctive in that it applies learning directly to the workplace, using assessment, projects, and other measures to ensure practical, application-based learning.
• Students complete an Applied Research Project, applying program learning to an authentic workplace situation.
• Program includes a synchronous “virtual residency” component—a one or two-hour session (each term) in which all students are expected to be online simultaneously