Psychology (Positive Psychology), MS
ASU Health - 1 year, Behavior, Intervention, MASTERS, Prevention, Psychological, Psychology, Research, Wellness, behavioral sciences, social
Do you have a passion for bringing out the best in yourself and others? Do you want to help promote psychological strengths within families, workplaces and communities? Gain positive psychology knowledge and skills to develop optimal well-being and life satisfaction within yourself and others.
In the Master of Science program in psychology with a concentration in positive psychology, students are prepared to apply their knowledge and skills to find meaning and fulfillment in their own lives as well as contribute to transformational practices in communities and organizations that can lead to optimal well-being and more harmonious, equitable and inclusive societies.
Through the lens of historical and contemporary research in positive psychology, students in the program gain a solid grounding in the basic tenets of the field, the methodologies employed, and the development and effectiveness of interventions that seek to improve people's lives and enable them to thrive. Coursework emphasizes a theoretical, evidence-based and experiential focus on key factors that contribute to psychological well-being and optimal functioning, such as gratitude, joy, love, optimism, inspiration, compassion, creativity, resilience and mindfulness.
- College/school:
New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
- Location: West Valley or Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours including the required capstone course (PSY 553)
Required Core (3 credit hours) Research (6 credit hours) Concentration (12 credit hours) Electives (6 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
PSY 502 Professional Issues in Psychology (3)
PSY 500 Research Methods (3)
PSY 513 Fundamentals in Quantitative Methods (3)
PSY 550 Advanced Social Psychology (3) or PSY 577 Advanced Developmental Psychology (3)
PSY 565 Psychology of Mindfulness (3)
PSY 585 Advanced Positive Psychology (3)
PSY 586 Emotion (3)
PSY 553 Capstone in General Psychology (3)
Students are enrolled in a section of PSY 553 designated specifically for the positive psychology concentration. The capstone project requires students to synthesize and organize the prior research related to a positive psychology intervention, identify a gap in the prior research, and develop a research study proposal that addresses the identified gap.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirement of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- statement of purpose
- one letter of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
It is recommended that applicants have a background in psychology, sociology, business, education or another closely related field. Required coursework assumes a basic understanding of social science statistics and research methods. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed a statistics course or a research methods course.
The statement of purpose should be a concise and well-written response that describes the applicant's academic or career goals, and how a master's degree in psychology with a concentration in positive psychology will help them achieve those goals.
It is preferred that the letter of recommendation come from a faculty member who knows the applicant's work well; if this type of reference is not available, the recommendation should be from an individual in a supervisory or professional role.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Studying abroad is possible for graduate students, and it enables students in the psychology program to stand out in many career fields. Students are exposed to distinct differences in the human condition worldwide, are able to improve language and cross-cultural skills for effective communication, and are challenged to adapt under new social and cultural circumstances.
There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent. Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students. Taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Graduates leave the program with an in-depth understanding of this growing field. They may pursue professional research careers in psychology, education, health care or marketing. In addition, the positive psychology coursework benefits graduates working in supervisory or management positions, in training or teaching roles, or in any social services profession.
Careers in which the positive psychology concentration is beneficial include:
- equity and inclusion officer
- individual life coach
- positive coach in sports or organizations
- positive psychology research assistant
- social and community services manager
Graduates can also find careers in the following industries:
- business --- sales and marketing manager, human resources manager, employee assistance program manager
- community health and wellness professions --- prevention specialist, youth development specialist, community health educator
- education --- high school psychology teacher, character strengths educator
- government --- health and wellness policy specialist, state department of public health or mental health program coordinator
- social services --- family interventionist, warm line worker, occupational analyst
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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FAB N101
ncgradadvising@asu.edu
602-543-3000
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
