Advance your career; enhance your community

The MS in Community Psychology has been developed in response to interests expressed by community groups and organizations for assistance in addressing the needs of their most vulnerable members. The program prepares students to work at the master’s level in the field of Community Psychology in a variety of community, government and consulting work settings.

Students will learn how a community-based social justice perspective recognizes inequalities and promotes the exercise of greater power (i.e., access to resources and decision-making) for communities that have been marginalized, and creates ties to advocacy work with oppressed populations. The program leads to an applied, terminal MS degree.

Students are required to complete 48 quarter hours to confer the MS degree. Within this 48-hour program, students must also complete a fieldwork-based internship or, in selected cases, a traditional master’s thesis or a capstone research project. The curriculum is below:

Research Core Courses
(three courses, 12 quarter hours)
PSY 410 Advanced Statistics I
PSY 411 Advanced Statistics II
PSY 421 Applied Research Design

Graduate Basic Core
(two of three courses, eight quarter hours)
One Cognitive Seminar Course
One Developmental Seminar Course
One Social Seminar Course

Community Psychology
(four courses, 16 quarter hours)
PSY 492 Consultation
PSY 493 Principles of Community Psych
PSY 520 Diversity
PSY 569 Program Evaluation

Elective Courses (three courses, 12 quarter hours)
Students may choose from a variety of electives across multiple disciplines based on individual interest.

Culminating Experience PSY 585 Fieldwork

Request More InfoAdmission EventsApply

Make an impact in the community

DePaul’s extensive connections with community organizations across Chicago allow for a variety of opportunities to enhance your applied and research skills in a hands-on way. You’ll learn about the needs of community organizations and contribute to shared solutions.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for fall admission is May 1. Final admission decisions will be completed by May 15.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, resume, personal statement, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, psychology or related course history list, and community psychology-related volunteer or employment.

Learn More

Required Courses

You will complete three research core courses, two basic graduate core courses, four Community Psychology courses, three elective courses, and a culminating experience course such as a fieldwork placement.

Learn More

 

93%

of College of Science and Health graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Faculty with innovative impact

Professors LaVome Robinson and Leonard Jason designed a personalized intervention program called Success over Stress to help Chicago teens navigate unique social and emotional challenges. The professors and their graduate students will have worked with about 350 Chicago Public Schools ninth-graders over the course of their NIH-backed five-year study of the program. Watch our faculty talk about their research labs, their approaches to mentoring students and program expectations in these videos.

Alumni Network

DePaul psychology alumni work in a variety of industries, such as Advocate Health Care, Cisco, McDonald’s Corporation and United Airlines. You will be connected to a large network of more than 201,000 DePaul alumni, the majority of whom live in the Chicago area.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Community Psychology Admission Requirements

Admission into DePaul's Community Psychology MS program is competitive. Each year we admit a cohort of qualified students to this two-year graduate program. The Community Program is designed for students interested in working within communities to affect changes that enhance the opportunities of all members, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable.

Please read through the general instructions before filling out the online application. When completing? the online application select the Psychology Graduate Programs application, not the College of Science and Health application.?

International Admission

Students educated outside the United States must present proof of English proficiency. The college requires a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT, or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, or a minimum Duolingo score of 115. The program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 96 on the TOEFL iBT, or a minimum IELTS score of 7.0, or a minimum Duolingo score of 125.

For additional information for international students please visit our International Student Admission Process page.

Application Evaluation

Community MS faculty evaluate all application materials carefully and emphasizes the following criteria:

1. Completeness of Credentials: Faculty will only review complete applications submitted before the May 1? deadline. The review process begins shortly after this date, and applicants will be notified if they are accepted into the program as soon as possible after this date, but by May 15.

?2. Undergraduate Preparation: Students are expected to have had courses in statistics, experimental psychology or research methods, and other upper level courses to permit advanced study in this field. Although not required, psychology history & systems, social and community psychology, computer, and math courses are viewed positively. In addition, applied and research experience will be an important consideration in the selection process. Download and fill out the Course History List form.

3. Three ?Letters of Recommendation: Faculty carefully review letters of recommendation. Selected recommenders are encouraged to address the applicant’s academic abilities, potential for conducting research, and ability to work with others.

4. Personal Statement: No specific prompt is provided in order to allow applicants the freedom to express themselves as they deem appropriate. Applicants are encouraged to highlight their interests in the Community MS program. A guideline of two to three pages is advised.

5.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Grade Point Average (GPA): Due to current circumstances, the GRE is not required for Fall Admission but it is highly recommended. Please submit scores directly through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). A GPA of 3.5 or higher is advised. If an applicant is particularly strong in one area, but not another, these criteria may not be rigidly followed?.?

6. Underrepresented Status: Community faculty encourage applications by students from underrepresented groups.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 48 quarter hours and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. 

Quantitative Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PSY 410	ADVANCED STATISTICS I	4
PSY 411	ADVANCED STATISTICS II	4
PSY 421	APPLIED RESEARCH DESIGN	4

Graduate Core

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Select one class each from each seminar listed:		8
Developmental Seminar
PSY 439	COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
PSY 554	EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PSY 555	SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Social Seminar
PSY 430	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SELF
PSY 435	SPECIAL SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
PSY 556	PREJUDICE AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS
PSY 560	SOCIAL COGNITION

Community Core

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PSY 492	PRINCIPLES OF CONSULTATION	4
PSY 520	PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN DIVERSITY	4
PSY 569	SEMINAR IN PROGRAM EVALUATION	4
PSY 585	FIELDWORK IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS	0
PSY 654	COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY	0

Graduate Psychology Electives

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
3 courses		12

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.

????