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Online Master of Science in Applied Psychology Program (MAPP)

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Overview

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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.

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Learning Outcomes

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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.

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Applied Psychology Careers

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What Can I Do with a Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology?

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What really drives a business? People. All too often, however, businesses misunderstand their people. Recognizing people’s behavior and the psychology behind their decision-making is essential to business success — from winning over consumers to attracting talented employees. That’s why USC’s online Master of Science in Applied Psychology (MAPP) program will teach you to leverage psychology tools and principles to support strategic organizational decision-making.

Through an intensive curriculum that combines theory and practice, you will learn how to better understand organizations and consumers by conducting research, analyzing organizational culture and studying consumer behavior. Courses focus on both organizational and consumer psychology, allowing you to understand the complexities and challenges of human behavior and how it impacts organizational efficiency and consumer decision-making.

As a MAPP graduate, you will be transformed into an innovative thinker who seeks creative solutions and puts psychology to work, using the right tools and strategies to better connect with both consumers and employees.

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Applied Psychology Career Paths

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A Master of Science in Applied Psychology can be a catalyst for success in a wide range of professional roles, including:
  • Research analyst (consumer or employee insights)
  • User experience (UX) researcher
  • Organization development consultant
  • People operations consultant
  • Director of research
  • Gaming insights manager
  • Product marketing manager
  • Senior human resources manager
  • Director of culture
  • Learning and development specialist
  • Talent development manager
  • Consumer insights consultant
  • Diversity and inclusion director
  • People analytics researcher
  • Technical recruiter
  • Shopper insights specialist
  • Director of change management
  • Talent acquisition coordinator
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Benefits of Studying Applied Psychology

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Psychology is often constrained to clinical contexts, but it is so much more widely applicable. Businesses can and should tap psychology in both consumer and organizational settings with the aim of ensuring that customers and employees are loyal, motivated, satisfied and engaged. The MAPP program will give you an in-depth understanding of psychology’s potential as a tool in business strategy, allowing you to creatively develop solutions that can lead any organization to a better future.

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4 Common Careers in Applied Psychology

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Research Analyst Career and Salary

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Research analysts collect and analyze data to help their organizations make strategic decisions about how to market products and services. They research competitors to gain insights about their organizations’ positions in the marketplace and conduct interviews, market analysis surveys and focus groups to better understand what marketing materials will be most effective. Research analysts also track market trends to help their organizations identify the products that consumers want and how to price those products. The median annual salary for research analysts was $65,810 in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with the top 10% of analysts earning more than $127,410.
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Talent Development Manager Career and Salary

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Talent development managers play a key role in helping organizations attract and keep talented employees. They design and implement programs that monitor and assess the work of employees, with the aim of creating an environment that allows people to do their best work. Talent development managers also recruit skilled employees, develop training programs, and identify talent gaps and retention risks. The median annual salary for all human resources managers, including talent development managers, was $121,220 in 2020, according to the BLS, with the top 10% earning upward of $208,000.
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Director of Diversity and Inclusion Career and Salary

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Directors of diversity and inclusion develop and oversee programs that promote diversity and inclusion in their organizations. This role involves measuring the diversity of an organization and crafting policies that cultivate supportive work environments for all employees. It also involves addressing any harassment or discrimination issues. Directors of diversity and inclusion ensure their companies engage in fair and inclusive hiring practices. They also train human resources personnel to recruit, assess and manage a diverse workforce. The median annual salary for directors of diversity and inclusion was about $92,000 in February 2022, according to PayScale, with the top 10% earning more than $160,000.
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Senior UX Researcher Career and Salary

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UX researchers analyze consumer motivation and behavior to help organizations uncover what people want out of products and services. They work with user experience teams to help them understand what makes products more accessible, appealing and intuitive to consumers. Their work also involves using surveys, interviews and usability tests to make recommendations to design teams about how to improve products. According to PayScale, senior UX researchers earned a median annual salary of about $100,000 as of February 2022, with those in the top 10% earning upward of $138,000.
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What Types of Professionals Can Benefit From USC’s Applied Psychology Degree?

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You don’t need a background in psychology to excel in the MAPP program or put applied psychology to work in your organization. The MAPP program is suited for creative problem solvers, professionals aspiring to reimagine their definition of successful organizational management, and business leaders who want to truly understand their customers and employees.

It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at in your career, what industry you come from or how big your organization is; if you want to dive into the human psyche and develop a holistic understanding of human behavior to drive growth in your organization, then you can benefit from our applied psychology degree.

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Master of Science in Applied Psychology Curriculum

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The online Master of Science in Applied Psychology is project-based and real-world focused so you can immediately transfer what you learn in the online classroom to challenging workplace scenarios. The program blends content in consumer psychology and organizational psychology to create a universally relevant academic experience. The curriculum is broken down into four semesters and can be completed in as few as 16 months. The program includes 20 units of foundational coursework, 8 units of advanced application coursework and 6 units of practicum coursework.
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Required Courses

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PSYC 505 Research Methods in Applied Psychology / 4 Units
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Research Methods in Applied Psychology will introduce students to mixed methods research, which is used in a number of applied settings and academia. This course will examine quantitative and qualitative methods and their application in real-world research projects. To simulate professional situations, this course will provide opportunities to present work in front of other classmates. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to utilize some of the research methods most commonly used in business settings.
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PSYC 509 Qualitative Research Methods / 2 Units
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This course examines qualitative research in applied settings. Students will learn to design, execute, and report qualitative research in response to stakeholder needs. Lectures are designed to provide background on leading theories, methods and best practices. The majority of in-class time will be spent sharing the results of research projects and presenting student perspectives and experiences related to various techniques within qualitative methodology.
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PSYC 550A Proseminar in Human Behavior: Foundations / 4 Units
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This course provides the foundation for approaching the business world through the lens of applied psychology. This course will ask: How can psychology illuminate real-world problems faced in consumer marketing, employee management and organizational dynamics? Students will examine issues facing companies/organizations and then review contemporary psychology theory and research, seeking intersections between theory and practice. We will broadly review psychological concepts such as social, social-cognitive, personality and motivation, neurobehavioral, cross-cultural and developmental perspectives.
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PSYC 552 Consumer Psychology / 4 Units
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Consumer Psychology will explore the factors that influence consumer behavior in the marketplace. Emphasis will be placed on individual (or internal) factors and group (or external) factors that help explain how and why buyers behave as they do. Understanding of consumer psychology will be tied to the development of effective marketing strategies. This course provides a transition from prior psychology coursework to the pragmatic practices of business.
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PSYC 565 Organizational Psychology / 4 Units
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Organizational Psychology examines people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior in organizational contexts. This class explores scientifically-based psychological principles and research methods to study topics important to understanding human behavior in many different types of organizations. As such, this course is relevant to virtually all work settings (and many non-work settings). The goal is to provide you with an overview of the main theories, concepts and research in this field.
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4 Unit Electives (Choose 2)

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PSYC 517 Group Dynamics and Leadership / 4 Units
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Organizations are made up of individuals and leaders who form groups and teams. This course will deepen your knowledge of leadership styles and the manner in which different leadership approaches affect group dynamics. Students preparing to become organizational psychology practitioners will learn key tools to help organizations identify and develop effective leaders and managers. Additionally, students will enhance their understanding of their own leadership potential and capabilities.
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PSYC 521 Cross-cultural Psychology in Applied Settings / 4 Units
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This course examines the major theoretical frameworks mapping worldwide cultures and values with a focus on applying that knowledge in organizations. It will provide students with tools to become more culturally competent, and also provide a guided, hands-on opportunity to adapt existing communication strategies to multicultural settings and audiences. Students should be able to identify the main value systems of different cultures and become aware of their own cultural biases; and analyze and synthesize knowledge relevant to culture, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disabilities to plan, intervene, and act as better leaders in any kind of organization.
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PSYC 523 User Experience (UX) Research / 4 Units
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User experience (UX) research is an applied discipline that employs a wide variety of methods from psychology and other social sciences to better understand the individuals who engage, or may engage, with a product or service. This understanding is often used to support the end-to-end design process, from early, strategic investigation of context, wants, and needs, to later, tactical testing of usability and examination of competitive sets. Increasingly UX research is interacting with other applied disciplines such as organizational psychology and market research and stretching beyond the design process, impacting decision making in human resources, facilities management, customer support, and even the C-suite. This course will provide a broad introduction to the social science methods UX researchers most commonly use, including qualitative approaches, such in-depth interviews, usability tests, heuristic reviews, ethnographic in-context interviews and observation, and quantitative approaches, such as surveys, benchmarking, card sorting, and tree testing, with an emphasis on experiential learning. Additionally, students will learn about current debates and emerging questions in the field, with diverse perspectives provided by guest presenters from industry and academia.
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PSYC 556 Psychology of Interactive Media / 4 Units
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The course will focus on how media marketing has provided new opportunities for maintaining consumer loyalty and purchasing behaviors, as well as company cohesion and reputation. This course will draw on historical underpinnings of media, marketing and consumer behavior; quantitative and qualitative research studies; and real-world experiences and campaigns to better understand how interactive media can innovate and improve marketing strategies and affect consumer behavior and organizational effectiveness.
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PSYC 566 Psychology of Employee Selection and Assessment / 4 Units
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Selection and assessment is the critical first step in driving organizational strategy. The purpose of the course is to develop an understanding of assessment and selection practices, processes and approaches. It is designed with both a theory and applied approach – examining both the research related to assessment and selection and its practical implications in the workforce. Students will develop insight, awareness and appreciation into the strategic role that assessment and selection plays in determining organizational success. The course will enable them to diagnose organizational situations, identify where assessment and selection can significantly enhance organizational success, and understand the tools and techniques that can be leveraged to meet an organization’s strategic objectives.
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PSYC 578 Workshop in Quantitative Methods / 4 Units
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The course will introduce you to advanced techniques in data analysis, study design and survey research as they are applied to business problems. The application of these techniques will primarily be focused on marketing and market research, though they are equally applicable to organizational behavior. Applications for both quantitative and qualitative data will be covered, as both are important to making business decisions.
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2 Unit Electives (Choose 1)

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PSYC 550B Proseminar in Human Behavior: Applications / 2 Units
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This course provides students with practical skills and tools grounded psychological theory that can be directly applied in the business world while actively involving each student in personal professional development. A different workshop or professional development activity will be conducted each week. Workshops will be facilitated by a content specialist with experience teaching in business environments. By their nature, workshops depend on learning-by-doing as the primary method of instruction. Some of the workshops in this course are Mediation Skills, Strategic Communication, Creativity Workshop, Multimedia Brand Development and Storytelling, and Emotional Intelligence.
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PSYC 599 Special Topics / 2 Units
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This course provides support for independent research leading to your master’s degree. The course will meet throughout the semester to provide specific guidance on topics related to the Treatise journey that are not covered in PSYC 592, topics will be selected depending on the needs of the cohort and their stage in the treatise process. Moreover, students will be required to meet or check in (via email) with the instructor 1-1 early and mid-semester. This course provides students a head start on their capstone treatise, allowing them to consider topics, ideate on research designs, develop a treatise proposal, and draft a treatise protocol.
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Practicum Required

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PSYC 591 Internship in Applied Psychology / 4 Units
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This course enables students to apply concepts studied in prior MAPP coursework through an internship experience of the student’s choosing. Internships, whether paid or unpaid, may be in any industry and must be approved by the program director. During the internship, students will learn real-world skills through on-the-job training in their chosen area of interest (e.g. market research, marketing, recruiting, human resources, social media, organizational consulting, sales, advertising, etc.). In course meetings, students will evaluate, reflect and extend their internship learning through journals, presentations and structured experiences. To fulfill the internship requirement for this program, students must log 240 hours of work time.
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PSYC 592 Treatise Capstone / 2 Units
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The Treatise requirement is an applied research project essential to all students for graduation with an M.S. in Applied Psychology. Treatise topics with the approval of the program director can be wide ranging and as creative as the student’s professional interest. All Treatise projects must relate to a real-world issue or circumstance in one of the topic areas taught in consumer psychology, organizational psychology, marketing, market research, advertising, human resources or a communication-related field.

The principles and practices in each of these areas have applications not only in commerce, but also in government, public service organizations and for advancing political and social causes. A core principle of the M.S. in Applied Psychology program is that knowledge of human behavior contributes to effective practice in each of the above fields, and the paper should provide an illustration of that tenet. Data collection to help answer a real-world business problem, as well as discussion of recommendations to apply the results in a business setting, are typically expected.

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Admissions Criteria

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The Applied Psychology program is seeking students who have excelled in their academics and who show exceptional promise for professional success. While highly selective, our program includes a diverse group of students from across the U.S. with varied professional experiences.

Although there is no required major for admission to the Applied Psychology program, most of those who are admitted will have completed coursework in the social sciences. Additionally, success in the program will require a working understanding of major concepts and research methodologies associated with the study of human behavior. Students with interdisciplinary backgrounds are also appreciated for their unique contributions to the classroom.

To initiate your application, please contact an Enrollment Advisor by calling us at 888-836-4681 or reaching out via email at admissions@appliedpsychologydegree.usc.edu.

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Admission Requirements:

  • USC Application: Please complete all fields of the application, including paying the $90 non-refundable application fee.
  • Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions previously attended are required. Transcripts and other academic records must be issued directly by the registrar’s office of your previous school(s) and bear the official registrar’s stamp/signature. They must be sent directly to your Enrollment Advisor as anything received by the applicant first is considered unofficial.
  • Personal Statement: Personal statements are used to evaluate your personal and professional experiences and your ability to effectively and clearly communicate ideas. Please submit an essay answering the following questions:
    • How does your background, experiences and interests lead you to seek ways to apply psychology in organizations for the benefit of consumers or employees?
    • Why do you believe the USC MAPP program can help you achieve your career goals?
    • Your essay should be 750 words maximum and be submitted as a single document.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation:
    • At least one recommendation should come from an individual who has been a supervisor in an employment setting or leadership activity and who knows you well.
    • Recommendations should be from professional and academic sources only.
  • Resume: Please submit a current professional resume that highlights your academic achievements, work history and skills.
  • Enrollment Deposit: If you are admitted into the Master in Applied Psychology program at USC, students are required to pay a non-refundable commitment deposit of $500 to reserve their spot in the incoming class. This deposit is credited towards tuition upon registering for classes.
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Academic Calendar

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Spring 2026

Application Deadline:
November 24, 2025

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University Details

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Student Experience

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The online Master of Science in Applied Psychology is project-based and real-world focused so you can immediately transfer what you learn in the online classroom to challenging workplace scenarios. The program blends content in consumer psychology and organizational psychology to create a universally relevant academic experience. Our faculty are experienced practitioners who are active in their field, and have regular, close interaction with students during live video chat sessions.
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Master’s in Applied Psychology Program Faculty

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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.

Small Class Size

Small classes between 15-25 students foster a highly engaging learning environment of mutual respect in which ideas, knowledge and experiences are readily exchanged.

Diverse Roles

Within each cohort there is a diverse mix of professionals from a variety of organizations — all of whom have a passion for making a difference in organizations around the world using applied psychology.

Team Collaboration

Through group discussions, activities and projects, students engage deeply and gain insights from each other.

Tight Community

From the first week of classes through years after graduation, students rely on their tightly connected community for camaraderie and professional and personal support.

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Practical Experiences: Internship and Capstone Treatise

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The Internship

During the first semester, students participate in planning and writing exercises to help identify special interests and topics they wish to pursue as part of their internship and capstone project. Classroom exercises in resume creation and interviewing skills are incorporated to assure students are skilled and prepared to attain a quality internship match.

During the internship semester, students register for an Internship course (4 units) in which they share their experiences with their peers while processing their internship through structured assignments.

Students have held internships in market research, marketing, human relations, talent acquisition, organizational development and social media communications in many corporations, nonprofits and start-ups throughout the country and now abroad (through our Dublin, Ireland Summer Internship Opportunity), seeking out opportunities that match their unique interests.

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Dublin Summer Internship

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Gain valuable experience and learn to apply your education to real-world situations in the Silicon Valley of Europe. The online M.S. in Applied Psychology offers an optional summer internship program in Dublin, Ireland, giving you the opportunity to experience an international organization and practice cross-cultural skills.
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Get to Know Our Students and Alumni

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Robbi Spencer, M.S.

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USC MAPP Online Graduate, Class of 2020

Project Manager, North America Skin Health PMO

Johnson & Johnson

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“When I considered applying to USC MAPP, I knew I would have access to a world-class education taught by world-class professors, but as a 2020 graduate my expectations were far exceeded. I transferred from another graduate program so I had something to compare it to, and I must say that making the move to USC MAPP was probably the greatest professional gift I could have given myself! From the director (Dr. Leggett) down to every one of my professors, I felt cared about. The MAPP family has been an amazing foundational springboard into the career of my dreams!”
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Samantha O’Mara

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Samantha O’Mara is a current student in the MAPP Online program. She graduated from University of Maryland in 2020with a B.A. in Human Resources minoring in Business Administration.
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FAQs

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How do I start applying psychology in my career?
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Individuals interested in applying psychology principles in their chosen fields need to cultivate the right skills and knowledge. By earning a master’s degree in applied psychology, professionals learn to use concepts such as cross-cultural perspectives and neurobehavior to solve problems in the business world. Establishing a strong foundation in organizational and consumer psychology concepts, along with polished research skills, can prepare professionals to apply psychology in their careers in various ways.
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What industries can I work in through applied psychology?
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Applied psychology degree holders have a myriad of options when it comes to choosing which industry to work in. No matter their career path, professionals can benefit from an improved understanding of consumer behavior in the marketplace and the role of psychology in employee management. That means industries ranging from aviation and manufacturing to technology and retail seek out applied psychology experts.
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How much do applied psychology graduates make?
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While the median annual salary of applied psychology graduates was around $67,000 as of May 2021, they can earn upward of $131,000 a year, according to PayScale. Incomes depend on position types and geographic location. Professional experience also plays into an applied psychology salary. Certain positions, such as director of diversity and inclusion and UX researcher, tend to offer more lucrative salaries compared with positions such as social media manager, for instance.
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Is a degree in applied psychology worth it?
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To measure the value of the degree, prospective students need to appreciate what applied psychology is and how it can propel their careers forward. Regardless of the industry, an applied psychology degree program teaches professionals how to apply theories about human behavior to real-world situations. This empowers professionals in the management of group dynamics, conflict resolution, and the selection and hiring process of new employees. It also helps professionals apply consumer behavior patterns to effective marketing strategies. The versatile skills the degree offers give graduates a competitive edge in many lines of work.
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Tuition & Financial Aid

Per Unit Cost: $2,467*
Total Tuition Cost: $83,878 (34 units)*

*Transfer credits are not accepted for this program. Tuition is subject to change each academic year. Tuition is based on a full-time student’s course load.

The ability to pay for your education is always an important consideration. Many organizations offer tuition assistance to employees and, in some cases, cover 100 percent of tuition costs. Programs and policies vary among employers. Consult your human resources office to learn more about tuition assistance at your organization.

Many options are available to fund your graduate education. The USC Financial Aid Office administers federal and private programs to assist you.

For more information on applying for financial aid, please visit USC Financial Aid.

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