Inform and Lead Change with a Master’s in Research Psychology and Data Analysis

Azusa Pacific’s Master of Science in Research Psychology and Data Analysis program prepares you with the necessary experiences to be competitive for doctoral programs and pursue careers in psychological research. In this program, work one-on-one with faculty research advisors in a number of psychology-related areas, including substance abuse, social, clinical, cognitive, and more. Through faculty mentorship, relevant coursework, and the completion of a master’s thesis, you will acquire the research and statistical methods necessary to lead change in psychological research.

Choose to add an optional 9-unit concentration to further hone your expertise:

• Counseling Psychology Concentration
  Combines an emphasis on evidence-based research with extensive clinical training, preparing students to work with children and adolescents using a wide scope of practice, and considering their development physically, psychologically, and socially.
• Data Analytics Concentration
  Focus on statistical and data visualization techniques as you develop skills in statistical programming, including R and SAS, data visualization using Tableau, and data mining. This concentration helps prepare you for careers in business and data analytics.
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration
  Organizational psychology, often called industrial/organizational psychology, considers the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors of people in the workplace. At the intersection of business and psychology, courses in this concentration help you discover your ability to diagnose organizational health; develop and implement change initiatives; administer and create job satisfaction surveys; increase employee morale and expand retention strategies; advance performance management programs; hire, train, and develop talent; and advise, coach, and build successful teams.
• Marketing Research Concentration
  Market research skills are in high demand. Prepare for applied psychology careers related to marketing as you learn conceptual and applied knowledge of marketing processes and the evaluation of products, services, and consumer behavior. Courses focus on marketing strategy and applying quantitative research methods and data analysis techniques within business and marketing contexts, using relevant marketing terminology and statistical software.
• Public Health Concentration
  This concentration equips students with conceptual and applied knowledge of the public health field. Students learn important areas of public health, including how health and diseases are influenced by social, economic, and political risk factors; ethical considerations and healthcare policies; epidemiological procedures; and issues in environmental health.

The cost per unit for the concentration is based on the cost of the concentration courses, and may be different from per-unit cost for the MS in Research Psychology and Data Analysis.

Graduates of the program are:

• Scholars who bring together theory, research, statistics, and a concern for helping people.
• Difference makers capable of communicating and implementing data-driven decisions that positively impact people’s lives.
• Researchers competent in conducting advanced research projects that develop theoretical perspectives, address knowledge gaps, and further the field of psychology and related fields.
• Ethical leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and a commitment to justice in their academic, organizational, business, and applied settings.
• Deeply informed in regard to how to integrate the discipline of psychology with the Christian faith.

Growing Career Opportunities

Top companies are increasingly employing individuals with sophisticated skills in quantitative methods and data analytics, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting employment rates to increase by 12 percent for survey researchers and 19 percent for market research analysts from 2014 to 2024. LinkedIn.com listed “Statistical Analysis and Data Modeling” as Number 2 and “Data Presentation” as Number 8 among Top Skills of 2016.

Program Highlights

• Earn your master’s degree in as little as 11 months (18- and 24-month options available).
• Learn to analyze data with confidence using popular statistical software, such as SPSS, R, and JMP.*
• Receive hands-on, individual training with faculty research advisors.
• Prepare for PhD programs and the workforce by gaining research experience and collaborating on a publishable manuscript.
• Optional JMP/SAS Joint Certificate in Research Methods.
• Pursue your career and calling at a top Christian university.

School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

University Reputation

U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2023 edition named Azusa Pacific to its list of top national universities and several other significant lists, including First-Year Experiences and Top Performers on Social Mobility. The Princeton Review designated APU as 1 of 126 institutions in the “Best Western Colleges” section of its 2023 Best Colleges guide. APU’s School of Nursing was named a top nursing school in California for 2023 by College Factual and Niche. APU was included as a top-100 degree producer by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Azusa Pacific is also a Military Friendly School and Yellow Ribbon University, serving more than 500 military-connected students and families, and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral Research University.