Online Master of Science in Applied Psychology Program (MAPP)

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USC’s MAPP Degree at a Glance

Understanding human behavior is more than the basis of psychology — it is an essential component of virtually every organization and business.

The USC online Master of Science in Applied Psychology program (MAPP) delivers a unique blend of consumer psychology and organizational psychology to help you develop an edge in consumer insights; talent management and recruitment; industrial and organizational (IO) psychology; user experience (UX) research; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); organizational development and a wide variety of related fields.

Why Choose USC for Your Master of Science in Applied Psychology?

Streamlined & Flexible

Graduate in as few as 16 months with a relevant and universally applicable degree. Use 100% online classes to balance academics with family and professional responsibilities.

Supported

Succeed with the help of dedicated enrollment advisors, USC staff and an accomplished faculty of active practitioners.

Relevant

Build key professional skills such as problem solving, data collection and synthesis, research efficiency, strategic thinking and communication.

Global

Put your education to work with an optional summer internship in Dublin.

Community

Become part of the world-renowned Trojan family. Our program’s alumni comprise more than 900 diverse and accomplished professionals.

USC MAPP - US News National Universities

In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked USC #22 among the top colleges in the country.

USC MAPP - WASC

USC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

USC MAPP - GoAbroad

The Dublin internship was a 2018 finalist for GoAbroad’s “Innovative New Program – Intern Abroad” award.

USC MAPP - The Pie

The Dublin Internship was a 2019 finalist for the “Real Life Learning Award” from the Professionals in International Education organization

Why Get a Master’s in Applied Psychology?

Today’s top employers are in search of professionals who can manage change, drive innovation and effectively lead an organization’s most precious asset — its people. USC’s online master’s in applied psychology program can help you build these skills alongside your understanding of IO psychology principles — so you can learn to approach business leadership from a people-focused position.

This program is designed to empower you with the well-rounded skill set to be an asset in any type of organization — whether you’re pursuing a career in corporations and startups or nonprofit organizations and government institutions.

If you’re looking to maximize your impact at your current organization or upgrade your salary potential as you make the next move in your career, USC’s applied psychology degree online can help you get there. Our immersive curriculum is consistently updated by some of the industry’s leading professionals, so you can get a cutting-edge education that sets you apart from the pack.

Learning Outcomes

Cultivating the most productive business environment possible requires a sophisticated understanding of employee behavior and consumer psychology.

Earning your MAPP degree can give you the insight to optimize efficiency and achieve business goals in your organization. This program focuses on skills and learning outcomes that can help you use organizational psychology to craft effective employee training programs, assess employee performance and influence consumer behavior.

The program covers crucial areas in business and psychology to help you thrive in any organization. Topics covered include consumer psychology, organizational psychology, research methods, group dynamics, leadership, UX research, interactive media, cross-cultural psychology and human behavior.

Join a Tradition of Pride and Excellence

As one of the world’s leading private research universities, USC has built its reputation on a standard of excellence. Here, students are encouraged to cross disciplinary and geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.

As a student in the online applied psychology program, you can collaborate with a diverse mix of professionals who share a passion for making a difference in the increasingly global marketplace.

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Alumni Insights

The online master’s in applied psychology program is uniquely structured to explore human behavior in great depth to inform real-world business decisions that affect both organizational and consumer behavior.

The areas of MAPP that were most rewarding were those related to consumer areas of study…it solidified that I made the perfect choice in choosing a graduate program. I was challenged along the entire journey, not just in classwork but also in learning to master time management, collaborating in virtual group settings across various time zones, and working with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Robbi Spencer, 2020 Graduate, Project Manager, North America Skin Health PMO, Johnson & Johnson

"Beyond the curriculum - which is fantastic - MAPP affords you the opportunity to meet remarkable faculty and students, and gets you access to professional networks."

David Giardino, 2018 Graduate, Senior Director of Marketing Strategy, NBCUniversal

"From developing a full marketing plan using consumer psychology to designing research and conducting analyses of data, we leave the program with a solid portfolio of applied work to showcase our competencies."

Nicole Cavanaugh, 2018 Graduate, International Admissions Recruitment Leader, Blyth Academy

Master’s in Applied Psychology Online Curriculum

The online master’s in applied psychology program is project-based and real-world focused, so you can immediately apply what you learn in the online classroom to challenging workplace scenarios.

The program blends content in consumer psychology and IO psychology to create a universally relevant academic experience.

Explore the Curriculum

Master’s in Applied Psychology Program Faculty

The professors who deliver our online applied psychology master’s program are active practitioners who speak the language of business and understand the science of applied psychology, offering expertise from executive-level experience.

Meet the USC MAPP Faculty

What Can I Do with an Online Applied Psychology Master’s Degree?

The online applied psychology degree can be your guide to understanding the human thought process as it pertains to your professional background — yet it is so much more than that. This program is designed to empower you with the knowledge and practical abilities to become a leader in your field.

Career opportunities that could be available to you include the following.

Training and Development Manager
Median Salary: $120,000

Marketing Manager
Median Salary: $140,040

Human Resources Manager
Median Salary: $130,000

Director of People
Median Salary: $92,700

Diversity Director
Median Salary: $92,000

UX Director
Median Salary: $148,600

Median salary statistics compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) and Payscale (January 2024)

Explore MAPP Careers

Dublin Summer Internship

Gain valuable experience and learn to apply your education to real-world situations in Dublin, Ireland — sometimes called the Silicon Valley of Europe. Our online master’s in applied psychology program offers this optional internship to help you build a more well-rounded, real-world understanding of applied psychology in a diverse business setting.

Internationally recognized in 2018 by Go Abroad and in 2019 by the Professionals in International Education, the USC MAPP program can allow you to experience an international organization and practice cross-cultural skills.

Study Abroad with USC

Global Immersion Trip

Want an opportunity to build your international experience even further? Through the Spring Global Immersion Trip, you can travel abroad with our expert faculty to grow your insights and perspectives on applied psychology through new social and cultural lenses.

The trip takes students to exciting and diverse locations like Dubai and Tokyo, where they get an immersive, culturally enriching experience focused on internationally relevant subjects like cross-cultural leadership, consumer marketing and organizational change. The trip further enhances students’ understanding of consumer psychology and organizational psychology through guided, on-site company tours and curated shopping experiences.