Our practitioner-scholar approach is designed to teach you to apply theoretical and research knowledge to the practice of psychology. Your program begins with foundation courses from faculty who are also seasoned professionals in the field. Some specializations include residency and clinical experiences, where you can apply what you’ve learned.
Outcome goals and graduates proficiency levels
These results show recent Capella graduates’ proficiency levels in the expected learning outcomes for the School Psychology specialization and for all other psychology specializations combined. Faculty make this assessment in the capstone course the final course in which Capella students demonstrate what they’ve learned.
2017-2018 Demonstration of Program Outcomes
Master of Science in Psychology
- Non-performance
- Basic
- Proficient
- Distinguished
- 5 %
- 16 %
- 38 %
- 41 %
- 0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
Applies ethical principles and standards of psychology to academic and professional activities.
- 1 %
- 9 %
- 30 %
- 59 %
- 0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
Applies theoretical and research findings from the discipline of psychology to professional and academic activities.
- 3 %
- 6 %
- 18 %
- 73 %
- 0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
Communicates psychological concepts effectively using the professional standards of the discipline.
- 2 %
- 8 %
- 30 %
- 61 %
- 0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
Determines the scientific merit of the professional literature.
- 3 %
- 12 %
- 38 %
- 47 %
- 0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
Embraces, respects, and responds to individual differences and diversity in the practice of psychology.
- 6 %
- 12 %
- 28 %
- 54 %
- 0
- 20
- 40
- 60
- 80
- 100
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological profession.
Outcome Demonstrations
Source: Aggregated faculty judgments of learner demonstration of program outcomes from Q2 2017 – Q1 2018 capstone courses
Master of Science (MS) in Psychology specializations
- Applied Behavior Analysis2
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Educational Psychology
- General Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Sport Psychology
Quality and Professional Relevance
- The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc. has verified a seven-course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination. Applicants will have to meet additional requirements to qualify. http://bacb.com.
- All psychology faculty members have a graduate degree.
- Capellas five-course Play Therapy Certificate program addresses the core academic content areas required by the APT to earn its Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and Supervisor (RPT-S) credentials.
1Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, certification, or endorsement. State regulations vary regarding professional licensure and salary benefits. It is the learner’s responsibility to understand and comply with requirements for their states. Where applicable, teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether a program may qualify for salary advancement. For more information on licensure, see the Licensure section on the School’s website (Washington state learners are advised to go to: for more information).
2Check state licensure requirements. The license to practice as a professional psychologist or counselor is regulated independently in each state or province. Learners who intend to seek licensure or certification should check the program requirements in the state or province in which they hope to practice. This program is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- Throughout the course, the diversity of interests, opportunities, and challenges within the field of psychology has been emphasized. A common foundation for all psychologists, however, is an understanding of, and adherence to, ethical principles. Whether you are researching in the field, practicing in one of various settings, or teaching psychology, professionals in our field must adhere to the highest standards of ethics.
TO DO LIST
- What You Need To Know: Review ethical issues in psychology practice and research.
- Discussion: Discuss ethical issues in a case study.
- Plan: Devise a plan for finding and interviewing a psychology professional in preparation for activities in Week 8.
- Prepare: Review resources for improving organization skills in the writing process.
- Prepare: Begin working on the final writing assignment due in Week 9.
- Research Identify the competencies needed for the specialization you are most interested in.
- Research Familiarize yourself with different career options within the field of psychology.
- Discussion OverviewDiscuss an ethical issue in psychology that is relevant to your career. Note: Initial discussion posts are due on Wednesday, while responses to discussions are due on Sunday.
- What You Need to KnowEthics Case Studies and Activity
Complete the following in preparation for this week’s discussion:
- Read one case from that is applicable to your future career vision in the field.
- Complete the activity. This activity asks you to evaluate some situations that may present ethical issues.
- Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct
The APA has created a set of principles and a code of conduct that are applicable across disciplines and domains in psychology. Underpinning this code is a set of ethical concepts that will help you understand your responsibilities as a professional in the field of psychology: competence, informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and avoiding harm. The BACB also has a set of ethical principles that are specific to behavior analysts. To familiarize yourself with these principles in preparation for this week’s discussion, complete the following: - Review on the APA’s website.
- Review from the BACB (only required for ABA specialization learners).
- Locate additional ethical standards related to your discipline in psychology. For help locating this information, read the library guide.
- Ethics in Research and Information Gathering
Ethical research applies to both your role as a professional in psychology and your role as a graduate learner. You may encounter opportunities to interact with human participants for both formal research and for information gathering throughout your program. It is of utmost importance to understand the ethical principles involved when interacting with others and to uphold standards for professional research practice. To help you distinguish between scholarly research and information gathering, complete the following: - Read the provided by Capella.
THIS IS MY DISCUSSION TOPICE-
Ethics Case Studies by Specialization Applied Behavior Analysis
Situation 1: Jamie is a BCBA. For the past year, she has been working with children with autism, ages 58 years, in their homes. She enjoys her work, but it is tiring to travel from home to home. She was recently offered a job as a BCBA for a local nursing home, providing behavioral support to senior citizens with dementia. What are the ethical concerns with Jamie accepting this position?
