Accelerated Psychology Master’s Degree

Save time and money with a fast-track psychology master’s degree and get a head start on your career.

If you’re serious about earning a master’s or Ph.D. in psychology, Oakland University’s psychology 4+1 program provides an affordable, accelerated path to a master’s degree in psychology. Our fast-track psychology master’s degree integrates undergraduate and graduate coursework, so you can complete both programs in five years—at least one year less than you’d spend if you earned the degrees separately. The undergraduate portion of the accelerated master’s in psychology features graduate-style seminar courses and advanced faculty guidance. You’ll learn from nationally recognized experts and enjoy robust research opportunities that give you an advantage in the Ph.D. applicant pool and the job market. All these benefits make Oakland’s 4+1 program one of the top psychology master’s degrees for committed students. 

If you’re serious about earning a master’s or Ph.D. in psychology, Oakland University’s psychology 4+1 program provides an affordable, accelerated path to a master’s degree in psychology. Our fast-track psychology master’s degree integrates undergraduate and graduate coursework, so you can complete both programs in five years—at least one year less than you’d spend if you earned the degrees separately. The undergraduate portion of the accelerated master’s in psychology features graduate-style seminar courses and advanced faculty guidance. You’ll learn from nationally recognized experts and enjoy robust research opportunities that give you an advantage in the Ph.D. applicant pool and the job market. All these benefits make Oakland’s 4+1 program one of the top psychology master’s degrees for committed students. 

4+1 Psychology Master’s Degree: The Oakland University Advantage

Oakland created the accelerated psychology degree to give students an edge with job recruiters and Ph.D. admissions committees.

You’ll enjoy the kind of benefits offered by the best psychology master’s programs, including:

  • Advanced academics. Our 4+1 psychology master’s degree lets you take graduate-level courses as an undergraduate. You’ll learn alongside other high-performing students, acquire deep subject-matter expertise, and develop high-level skills in writing, analysis, and communication.
  • Hands-on research opportunities. At Oakland you’ll gain direct experience in all aspects of psychology research, from study design to data collection, statistical analysis, and conference presentation. The accelerated psychology master’s program’s faculty includes leading experts in behavioral health, evolutionary psychology, social-personality psychology, and other research frontiers.
  • One-on-one faculty relationships. The 4+1 master’s degree is designed to foster close interaction between undergraduate students and senior professors. You’ll receive mentoring that supports your success in the classroom, plus career guidance that helps you get established after graduation.
  • Accelerated professional opportunities. Whether you enter the workforce right after graduation or continue your education in a Ph.D. program, our psychology master’s degree offers practical training that prepares you to take the next step in your career. 
  • Cost savings. In addition to condensing the undergraduate and graduate programs into five years, the accelerated psychology master’s degree reduces your costs and limits your debt by pricing some of your graduate credits at undergraduate rates.

What Can You Do With a Psychology Master’s Degree?

For students who plan to seek a Ph.D in psychology, the pyschology 4+1 degree is a great place to start. If you opt to enter the workforce after graduation, the fast-track master’s in psychology is extremely marketable, qualifying you for managerial roles in a wide range of industries. You’ll be competitive for jobs in areas such as:

  • Corporate training and education
  • Organizational behavior
  • Social services
  • Human resources
  • Child and family services
  • Marketing
  • Healthcare
  • Nonprofit leadership
  • Teaching

4+1 Psychology Master’s Degree Curriculum

This program awards a psychology bachelor’s degree and psychology master’s degree in five years. 

The undergraduate psychology major requires 48 course credits in psychology. You’ll begin graduate classes during your senior undergraduate year, taking required master’s courses in research methods and statistics. Including those two courses, the graduate portion of the accelerated master’s degree requires 36 credit hours. Graduate course options cover a broad range of subjects; samples include:

  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Behavioral health
  • Sexuality
  • Cognitive development
  • Animal behavior
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Psychopathology
  • Social cognition and interpersonal relations

Finally, the fast-track psychology master’s degree includes a required master’s thesis or capstone project.