Psychology in Education: General Track MA

The Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Teachers College is a world-renowned training ground for researchers and clinicians, particularly known for innovation in research, pedagogy and clinical practice. Students within the M.A. program experience the demands of a graduate-level education in Clinical Psychology while also exploring the multiple avenues available in the ever-growing mental health field beyond. Our mission is to provide students with a platform to clarify their interests and then direct themselves toward their next professional goals. The M.A. program exposes students to diverse perspectives and populations, and supports them with intensive academic advisement, so that they may discover the best fit for their unique abilities as they prepare for the next major step in their career development.

Most commonly, students will spend two years in the program, taking 3 courses per semester and completing a capstone "Integrative Project" in their second year. If your timing is faster or slower, that's okay!  We offer extensive academic advisement to help you chart your course.  We also offer daytime and nighttime courses to accommodate working students. Our focus is on in-person instruction here at TC's historic campus, but we do offer a growing list of online courses as well.

Many students seek out research assistant positions to build their research CV in labs both on Columbia's campus and at institutions across New York City. Guidance through this process is essential, so our program provides one-on-one advising in three layers: a faculty advisor, a research advisor, and our team of peer advisors, who are PhD students who just graduated the program.

By the end, our students develop the critical thinking skills needed to interpret scientific knowledge, review traditional and contemporary treatment models, and engage in innovative research at research centers throughout New York City. They are abundantly prepared for the transition to doctoral education in their chosen area of expertise.

A master's degree in psychology is a critical step toward the attainment of a doctoral degree. Our M.A. program is intended to focus a student's passion for clinical psychology in a direction that will help to realize that goal. Our 10 concentration areas allow students to find and focus on a research and/or treatment area that can carry them into the field, whether as a doctoral student, in public service, or industry. The Integrative Project allows students to provide evidence of expertise in a chosen topic.

This 36-credit program does not lead to licensure in New York State, or elsewhere in the U.S. ; our students often become licensed clinical psychologists after completing their PhD or PsyD. For licensure at the Masters level, check out our sister program, the Ed.M in Mental Health Counseling.

Students have the option to concentrate their studies in any of ten areas of study. Whereas most students choose one specialization, some organize their coursework around more than one.

• Child & Family (Bodnar)
• Clinical Psychology & Technology (Nitzburg)
• Community Psychology & Integrated Health Services (Rosa)
• Forensic Psychology (Mantell)
• Global Mental Health & Trauma (Verdeli & Bonnano)
• Neuropsychology (Waxman)
• Psychotherapy (Farber)
• Research Methods (Richardson)
• Sexuality, Women & Gender (Athan)
• Spirituality & Mind/Body Practices (Miller)

We are truly a global crossroads, with up to 40% of students coming from outside the U.S. in many years. We're also a career crossroads; while many students have undergrad Psychology experience, we also welcome people with no prior experience in our field. Some students use the program to enhance their current work (e.g., going deeper in neuroscience, forensics, or global mental health), while others use it to figure out which part of the field they belong in. The M.A. program celebrates that our students are not of one voice. This diversity of perspectives is necessary to solve the real-world problems they will encounter after graduation. Each student has a unique contribution to make.