ALVA, Okla. — Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Master of Science in General Psychology (MGP) program has earned the No. 2 spot in Oklahoma, according to the 2027 rankings from CounselingPsychology.org.
The annual list recognizes the top colleges and universities offering psychology-related degrees across the state.
Northwestern was specifically recognized for its distance-friendly format, which allows students the opportunity to pursue graduate education while balancing work and other responsibilities.
Program Format and Three Graduate Psychology Pathways
The 36-credit-hour program may be completed remotely through a combination of online coursework and live Zoom instruction.
The curriculum includes 18 hours of required core coursework and 18 hours within one of three approved pathways:
- General Psychology: Provides students with a broad foundation in psychological science, with elective opportunities in areas such as ethics, psychopharmacology, family systems, assessment and multicultural counseling.
- Human Development: Emphasizes human growth and development across the lifespan, including child and adolescent development, trauma, psychopathology and individual differences.
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Focuses on the application of psychological principles within workplaces and organizations, incorporating coursework in industrial psychology, organizational change, social theory and professional communication, along with an internship experience.
Psychology Department Chair on the Program’s Pathways
“One of our priorities has been making sure our graduate program reflects the different directions students want to take with a degree in psychology,” said Dr. Bailey Lancaster, chair of the Northwestern Department of Psychology and assistant professor of psychology. “With three distinct pathways, students can build a strong foundation in research and psychological science while pursuing an area that aligns with their academic and professional goals.”
Lancaster also noted that this ranking reflects the hard work of Taylor Phillips, instructor of psychology, who has worked to continuously enhance the curriculum, creating new opportunities for Northwestern students.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology Pathway and Graduate Certificate
The addition of the industrial/organizational psychology pathway represents an important expansion of the program, providing students with opportunities to explore how psychological principles apply to organizational development, workplace behavior and communication.
Northwestern also offers a separate, embedded 24-credit-hour graduate certificate in this field.
“As a graduate of Northwestern’s MGP program, I’m passionate about expanding opportunities for students who want to apply psychology beyond traditional counseling or doctoral pathways,” Phillips said. “By offering specialized pathways, including Industrial/Organizational Psychology, we can better prepare students with practical skills for a variety of careers and meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce. This expansion allows us to make graduate education more accessible while helping students connect their education to meaningful professional opportunities.”
Individualized Faculty Mentoring for Graduate Students
In addition to its expanded curriculum, Northwestern’s MGP program emphasizes individualized faculty mentoring.
Students work directly with graduate faculty to develop plans of study that support their interests and goals, whether they intend to pursue doctoral education or professional opportunities in education, research, human services, administration or other related fields.
About the CounselingPsychology.org 2027 Oklahoma Rankings
According to CounselingPsychology.org, its 2027 Oklahoma psychology rankings consider factors intended to help students compare programs based on affordability, accessibility and educational opportunities.
For the Oklahoma rankings, the organization identifies four primary considerations:
- Affordability and net price: The cost of attending an institution after financial aid.
- Online and hybrid access: The availability of flexible learning formats for students who need alternatives to traditional, in-person classes.
- Degree-level offerings: The range of psychology-related educational opportunities available.
- Institution-level completion: Measures such as graduation and retention rates.
The organization identifies these data sources:
- The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
- The National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
- Internal program records
- Original research
The rankings are intended to help prospective students compare educational options as they determine which program best fits their academic goals, schedules and budgets.
Contact Information for the Graduate Psychology Program
For more information, visit Northwestern’s Master of Science in General Psychology program page.
Ranking Source and Methodology
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