A Master of Arts or Science in psychology can lead to employment as a therapist in a community clinic, a school counselor, an administrator or therapist in a residential treatment facility, or in testing and assessment. Master's programs generally require an internship, most of which are unpaid. The median annual salary for a master's graduate, as of 2008, was $40,000. Private universities that offer master's degrees in psychology include Boston University, St. John's University, New York University, William Paterson University, Antioch University Seattle, Golden Gate University and Stanford University.
Doctor of Philosophy holders tend to attain the highest salary levels in the field, especially when establishing a private practice. In 2008, the median annual salary for a doctorate holder was $70,000. Doctorate degrees generally take from four to six years and include completion of original research. About 3,500 Doctor of Philosophy degrees in psychology were earned in 2008, most of which emphasized clinical work. Private universities that offer Doctor of Philosophy degrees in psychology include Boston University, St. John's University, New York University, Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Notre Dame, Yale University and Duke University.
The Doctor of Psychology degree, or Psy.D., prepares students for a clinical career. Programs generally take four years to complete and include a one-year, full-time internship. Unlike Doctor of Philosophy programs, Psy.D. programs do not emphasize research but instead focus on applying research and theory in a clinical setting. About 1,800 Doctor of Psychology degrees were earned in 2008. Private universities that offer Doctor of Psychology degree programs include St. John's University Antioch University Seattle, George Washington University, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Pepperdine University.
Some schools offer graduate degrees in what commonly are known as "alternative" fields, or topic areas outside mainstream psychology. These can include depth, which explores the relationship between the conscious and subconscious; expressive arts, which incorporates music, dance and artwork into therapy; feminist, which explores the influences of gender; Jungian, based on the theories of Carl Jung; and spiritual or transpersonal approaches, which incorporates religious, philosophical or spiritual theories and method into therapy. Private universities that offer graduate degrees in alternative psychology fields include Saybrook University, which offers a Master of Arts in Jungian Studies; the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, which offers a Doctor of Philosophy and M.A. in Transpersonal Psychology; Pacifica Graduate Institute, which offers a M.A./Ph.D. program in Depth Psychology; and Antioch University Seattle, which offers an M.A. in Art Therapy and Psychology.