Become A Change-Agent


Individuals with a background in Community Psychology use their education and skills in roles that serve the community and advance social justice.

Tuition & Fees

36-37 credits

$825 per-credit

$3,415 Graduate Assistantships available per semester
(enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits per semester)

Length & Format

2 years
to graduate

In-Person
Evening program

About The School of Health Sciences

Russell Sage College is the region’s premier institution for health professions, offering the most comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

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About our Community Psychology Master’s Program

This master’s program in Community Psychology is ideal for individuals working in community agencies, who seek a graduate degree but do not wish to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor (LMHC).

If your goal is to become an LMHC, please see our Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology program.

Focus on prevention and community-based research via coursework in community psychology; a research-methods sequence; electives in health services administration and areas of interest to you; and an externship and capstone research.


Our community psychology master’s program is an in-person evening program. You can complete your degree in two years while you work full time.

You will put your intervention, facilitation, and program evaluation skills into practice at an externship. Recent externs have developed outreach programs and designed and implemented program evaluations. You will also conduct original research that you present at Russell Sage’s Graduate Research Symposium. You may be eligible for research funding from Russell Sage College’s Broughton Graduate Fellowship or Paul Search Research Award in Community Psychology

A certificate in Forensic Mental Health includes coursework in abnormal psychology, evaluation and treatment of adult offenders and court involved youth, family and juvenile law, and related electives.

Easily Apply

Priority deadline for fall admission is March 15. Final deadline for fall admission is June 1.

Applicants should complete Russell Sage’s graduate program application and provide:

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended; applicants who didn’t major in psychology should have completed undergraduate courses in statistics, history and systems of psychology, and three additional courses in behavioral sciences.
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A 1- to 2-page career goals essay: We want to hear your voice. Russell Sage College values authenticity, critical thinking, and personal expression. We ask that all application essays be written solely by the applicant with only ethical use of AI technology, such as tools that support but do not generate content.
  • Current resume
  • GRE scores are not required
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Course Requirements

The 36 or 37 credit Master of Arts in Community Psychology focuses on the systems, practices and tools needed to effectively address mental health and community welfare issues.

View Program Catalog
Psychology Graduate Programs Handbook 2025-2026
Personal advising, experienced faculty

Our community psychology master’s program comes with a deep, Russell Sage-level of support from an assigned faculty advisor who works with you to ensure your success.

Alicia
Harlow, Ph.D.

Chair and In-Person Program Director, Associate Professor of Psychology

Learn more about Alicia
Gayle Morse
Gayle
Morse, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology, Internship Coordinator

Learn more about Gayle
Justin
Kimber, Ph.D.

Online Graduate Program Director, Assistant Professor of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology

Learn more about Justin

“We hear from people who hire our psychology master’s students, that [our graduates] are prepared, they know what they’re doing, they are professionals.”

Gayle Morse, Ph.D., Professor
Community Psychology

Your Future Career with a Master’s in Community Psychology

This psychology master’s degree will prepare you for rewarding and meaningful work that builds a stronger community.

Individuals with a background in Community Psychology are hired by state and county agencies, health care systems, universities, school districts, human service agencies and more.

Frequently Asked Questions – Master of Community Psychology (M.A.)

A Master of Community Psychology degree can prepare students for careers and leadership roles in New York’s Capital Region with local government agencies, universities, school districts, and a range of other organizations. [GU1] As holders of master’s degrees, graduates of a community psychology program are well-prepared to enter leadership roles. Russell Sage College community psychology graduate Jordan Johnson noted that the degree gave them “a broader understanding of the healthcare system” as well as a foundation in “systems-level approaches to community health and well-being and health equity.”[1] This knowledge allows graduates to launch careers that benefit their communities. Examples include project manager, director of operations, community health educator, and outreach coordinator.

[1] https://www.sage.edu/profile/jordan-johnson-23/

The Russell Sage Community Psychology program is extremely flexible for professionals who need to balance work and graduate studies. The MA program consists of in-person evening courses that are designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals. Most students work while completing their Master’s in Community Psychology degrees, but they are still able to finish their coursework in two years. Students put their newfound skills into practice in externships that grow their professional networks and can be scheduled around existing work and life commitments.

The publication Inside Higher Ed notes that there are advantages to being a working professional while attending graduate school. For instance, students who already work in the industry that they are studying are advised to “take advantage of [their] anecdotal evidence and professional experience to guide [their] writing and research.”[1] As a result, graduate studies can support professional development and vice versa.

https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2021/06/03/career-strategies-balancing-grad-school-and-full-time-work-opinion

Students in the Sage Community Psychology Master’s program are required to complete an externship as well as conduct original research. The required research methods sequence gives you the skills you’ll use to design and carry out your project, with courses such as:

  • Behavioral Research: Methods & Analysis
  • Program Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Grant Writing

Students conduct original research and present it at the Sage Graduate Research Symposium. Some students are eligible for research funding from Russell Sage College’s Broughton Graduate Fellowship or Paul Search Research Award in Community Psychology.

Sage externs have developed outreach programs and designed and implemented program evaluations for the organizations where they work.

Community psychology and clinical mental health counseling are both concerned with the overall mental health of individuals as well as using evidence-based research and techniques to address concerns. According to one study from the Annual Review of Psychology, “Community psychology has historically focused on understanding individual behavior in sociocultural context, assessing high-impact contexts, and working in and with communities to improve their resources and influence over their futures.”[1] On the other hand, clinical mental health counseling typically focuses on the individual and offers treatment and assistance in a one-on-one setting.

Russell Sage College’s master’s program in Community Psychology is ideal for individuals working in community agencies, who seek a graduate degree but do not wish to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor (LMHC).  Many graduates go on to work within organizations in program development, project management, and other positions that do not require licensure.

[1] https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163517

A master’s in Community Psychology equips professionals to apply their skills in community-focused roles that promote social change and serve the public good. For instance, the demand for community health workers, which could include community psychology graduates, is expected to grow by 11% between 2024 and 2034, with an average median salary of $51,030 per year. The median salary for all community and social service specialists is $54,940, although exact demand expectations for these categories are not available.

Russell Sage College’s master’s program in Community Psychology prepares students to engage in social justice, advocacy, and community-focused work by combining theory, research, and practical experience. Students learn to understand systems-level approaches and strategies for prevention and intervention that can be applied across a range of social issues, including health and well-being, education, social services, and more. The program emphasizes skills in program development, evaluation, and grant writing, equipping graduates to create meaningful change in community agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Graduates put their education into practice in roles such as employment specialist, educational equity advocate, life transition coach, or nonprofit project implementation coordinator, addressing systemic challenges and advancing social justice in the communities they serve.

Still Exploring Your Options? Consider Related Graduate Programs:

Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology
Explore Program
Online Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology
Explore Program
Forensic
Mental Health
Explore Program
Criminal Justice and Community Corrections
Explore Program
Need help?
Alicia Harlow, Ph.D.
Chair and In-Person Program Director, Associate Professor of Psychology
harloa2@sage.edu
518-244-2223

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