Community Track - Psychology, MA

Community Psychology Track

The Department of Psychological Science offers the Master of Arts in Psychology with a specialization in Community Psychology. The graduate program is designed to train students to be active practitioners in prevention and community-based research and to prepare them for further graduate study. The program is available for both part-time and full-time students. Most courses are offered in the evening.

Community psychology uses an ecological systems approach to understand individuals and communities within their context. The field focuses on advancing theory and research to increase empowerment, promote action research, advance social justice, and prevent the development of social problems. A major focus of the program is on developing and evaluating preventive interventions in the community with an emphasis on using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Collaborating with community members is considered essential with the recognition that they are the experts and by working together as research partners, solutions are more contextually-grounded and sustainable.

To learn more about community psychology, visit this website: http://www.scra27.org/

Work Settings of Community Psychologists

Community psychologists work in a wide variety of settings, including local and state government, non-profit organizations, foundations, consulting and evaluation agencies, and schools. Most work at the program planning and development level although some of our graduates also work in direct service positions. 

To learn more about careers in community psychology, visit https://academic.oup.com/book/26935 or check out the book from Burritt Library.

Community Psychology Graduate Students

Erica Dewey, "The Community Psychology Master's program at Central has allowed me to expand my research skills by learning how to form community partnerships with organizations on and off campus. Applying values like empowerment and social justice to research with communities has also given me a greater sense of purpose when designing research projects and collecting data."

Cailee Sheehan, "The Community Psychology Master's program here at Central has allowed me to grow both professionally as a researcher and personally as an individual who strives for equality and social justice. Through the program, I've had the opportunity to form community-based partnerships and collaborations in order to create meaningful change and empowerment both in the community and within myself. I've formed lasting relationships with community members, faculty members, and my cohort in the program that have shaped my learning experience and truly feel that I have found a place where I belong."