MA in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology

Redefining what it means to practice psychology

For more than 50 years, the Adler School of Professional Psychology has been committed to educating and training socially responsible graduates, defined as people who embrace diverse perspectives; who work to build and maintain bridges across social, economic, cultural, racial, and political systems; who empower others to identify and address shared problems; and who foster the development of social equality, justice, and respect through compassionate action throughout the global community. Degree programs ground students in research and theory about the impact of structural and systemic factors on the well-being of humanity. Programs also provide training for impacting social policies, addressing community issues, and solving the ills of society. Adler School students can expect:

- A mission-driven curriculum designed to train socially responsible practitioners

- Stimulating and academically challenging programs of study

- High caliber faculty members

- A unique blend of theory and practice

- Real-world skills developed through practicum and volunteer experiences with over 800 community partners

MA in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology (Online)

The discipline of military psychology provides improvement in a variety of ways:

- Improving the overall mental health of military personnel, veterans, and their families.

- Developing prevention and intervention programs that address challenges such as suicide or alcohol and drug abuse.

- Evaluating how the military interacts with larger social, organizational, cultural, and technological systems.

- Providing research and evaluation to help select recruits for the armed forces.

- Determining suitability for various military occupational specialties.

- Performing analysis on humanitarian and peacekeeping missions to determine procedures that can save military and civilian lives.

The Master of Arts in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology is designed to equip students with the knowledge needed to help military personnel with stress, fatigue, and the psychological trauma suffered as a result of military operations. Students learn how to apply basic psychological principles of military psychology to the interpersonal, managerial, and organizational dimensions of military and supporting civilian environments.

Graduates of this program are prepared for a range of positions within behavioral and medical health systems (government and non-government), advocacy and policy organizations, and community-based consumer organizations serving military personnel, veterans, retirees, and their families.

The Adler School is poised to offer this program beginning fall 2013, pending approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Online Delivery

This 36-credit program is offered entirely online and can be completed in less than 24 months, making it an attractive option for students who may be currently employed. The asynchronous learning model allows for convenience and flexibility. All components of this program can be accessed through an Internet browser running on an IBM PC (Windows or Linux) or Apple Macintosh (Apple OS). Students must have access to a broadband Internet connection and a personal computer manufactured within the last 3 years.

Admission Requirements

At the Adler School, faculty members and staff members take great pride in the diverse student body. Students represent a wide range of professional interests, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and academic and work histories. Adler admits individuals with records of outstanding academic achievement and commitments to social responsibility.

To be considered for admission, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

- Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited US institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution.

- Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for graduate and undergraduate coursework. Exceptions may be granted for applicants who demonstrate improved academic performance or academic ability in other ways.

- Complete the following prerequisite courses with grades "C" or better: general or introductory psychology.

- Relevant volunteer and professional experiences are also taken into consideration.

Approved applicants will be invited to interviews as the final step in the application process.

Degree Requirements

For each student, completing the program and earning a degree requires:

- Satisfactory completion of all required credit hours, including all required courses

- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and no more than 2 grades or 6 credit hours of "C" or "C+"

- Completion of application for graduation and full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees

- Faculty member approval and recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the conferral of the Master of Arts in Psychology, Military Psychology Specialization Program

The Adler School Difference

The National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology (NCSPP) recognized the Adler School of Professional Psychology with its 2011 Advocacy Award for its significant contributions in the education and training of advocacy and public interest issues.

In 2010, The Corporation for National and Community Service acknowledged the Adler School with a coveted spot on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The Honor Roll is the highest acknowledgment an institute of higher learning can receive from the federal government in recognition of its dedication to service learning, volunteerism, and community engagement.

In 2007, the school received the American Psychological Association Board of Educational Affairs Award for Innovative Practices in Graduate Education in Psychology. This is a significant and prestigious recognition for the school's commitment to educating and training socially responsible psychologists through innovative programs that combine service learning in the form of the Community Service Practicum and coursework.

In addition to continuous research and community outreach and engagement, the Adler School's Institutes for Social Change advance social justice for underserved and disadvantaged communities. The Adler Institute on Social Exclusion (ISE) was created in 2005 to introduce the concept of "social exclusion" into the national discussion about social disadvantage. The central theme of the work of the ISE is the notion of "structured" disadvantage -- the idea that human welfare is heavily influenced by social, political, and economic context and that addressing disadvantage requires identifying and tackling its underlying structural origins. The Adler Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice was created in the winter of 2009 to increase awareness of socially just policies and practices within the realms of law enforcement and homeland security, and to actively encourage others to adopt such practices through public dialogue and community involvement.

Institute Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, www.ncahlc.org).

Contact the school now through the following link: http://www.adler.edu/page/landing-pages/military-psychology