Program Overview
Discover our online M.S. in Psychology – Mental Health program
Gain valuable insight into human behavior and how it is shaped by life experiences ranging from everyday workplace relations to traumatic events in our 100% online Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health. In this mental health psychology master’s program, you will develop an advanced understanding of how addiction, trauma, and stress present challenges to people of all backgrounds.
Our supportive faculty works closely with you and provides quality, individualized feedback. Serve your community and apply what you learn through a hands-on, faculty-guided capstone project that addresses the needs of a nonprofit organization. You can use this online psychology master's degree as a pathway to continue into a doctoral program.
Career opportunities:
- Postsecondary Instructor
- Case Manager
- Children’s Division Worker
- Postsecondary Instructor
- Case Manager
- Children’s Division Worker
Tuition
Tuition is affordable for our mental health online master’s degree
The online M.S. in Psychology – Mental Health program tuition is the same, affordable, pay-by-the-course rate for all U.S. residents. Fees are included in the total tuition, and financial aid may be available. Choosing Avila University means choosing a top 10 affordable online master's program, according to Forbes (2024).
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Total Tution |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSP – Mental Health | $600 | $1,800 | $21,600 |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Find the start date that works for you
Ideal for working professionals, the M.S. in Psychology – Mental Health online program features 8-week courses and multiple start dates each year so you can begin at the time that works best for you. View the full calendar for all upcoming starts and corresponding deadlines.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 2025 | 1/6/25 | 1/2/25 | 1/2/25 | 1/3/25 | 1/6/25 | 3/2/25 | 8 weeks |
| Spring 2 2025 | 3/3/25 | 2/26/25 | 2/26/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/3/25 | 5/4/25 | 8 weeks |
| Summer 1 2025 | 5/5/25 | 5/4/25 | 5/4/25 | 5/6/25 | 5/5/25 | 6/21/25 | 8 weeks |
| Summer 2 2025 | 6/30/25 | 6/29/25 | 6/29/25 | 7/1/25 | 6/30/25 | 8/23/25 | 8 weeks |
| Fall 1 2025 | 8/25/25 | 8/24/25 | 8/24/25 | 8/26/25 | 8/25/25 | 10/18/25 | 8 weeks |
| Fall 2 2025 | 10/20/25 | 10/19/25 | 10/19/25 | 10/21/25 | 10/20/25 | 12/13/25 | 8 weeks |
Now enrolling:
Ready to take the next steps toward earning your degree?
Admissions
Application is quick and simple
We’ve simplified the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. You can find all requirements for admission to the Avila mental health master’s degree online below.**
Admission Requirements:
- No GRE required
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution**
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
In order to be eligible to receive a psychology master’s degree from Avila University, you must have the following:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- GPA requirements for unconditional admission: 2.75 cumulative grade point average at the completion of the undergraduate degree
- GPA requirements for conditional admission: 2.5 cumulative grade point average at the completion of the undergraduate degree
- Students admitted provisionally must achieve a 3.0 GPA on the first nine (9) credits in their program of study
- Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended
Submit all official transcripts to:
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Avila University
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145
**Undergraduate degree in psychology not required, but some students may need a leveling course if they have not had courses in developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, and social psychology.
Courses
Browse our online mental health psychology master’s curriculum
In order to earn the M.S. Psychology – Mental Health online degree, you will complete 12 courses for a total of 36 credit hours. Students who are provisionally admitted or do not have a bachelor’s degree related to psychology will need to complete an additional leveling course (3 credit hours).
Learning Outcomes:
- Master a strong foundational knowledge base regarding the key ideas, people, concepts, facts, principles, methodologies, perspectives, theories, philosophies, findings, and trends in contemporary personality psychology
- Develop a psychologist’s mindset and cognitive discipline regarding the application of personality psychological research in everyday life
- Hone their social and cultural intelligence skills, demonstrating an understanding of diversity and individual differences
- Discover, articulate and enact the qualities that make for strong team building and teamwork
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand and evaluate the danger (physical, psychological, and societal) of psychoactive drugs
- Understand the mechanisms of drug action in the brain and body
- Understand the complicated relationship between the brain, behavior, and drug use/abuse
- Understand the behavioral mechanisms associated with drug use and abuse
- Discuss policies and societal approaches to drug use and treatment
- Scholarship: thorough grounding in psychological theory and foundations, application of knowledge and practice, understanding of assessment instructions, and the ability to write in a scholarly manner and demonstrate critical thinking
- Professional Behavior: This outcome relates to the ability to comport oneself professionally at all times, including the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, to give and accept feedback, and to analyze one’s own needs, values, strengths, weaknesses, feelings and motivations. It also involves behaving in accordance with academic and professional ethical standards
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain familiarity with the stress response, dynamics and brain regions involved in traumatic stress response
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain an improved understanding of the different types of traumatic experiences and effective interventions
*Students may need a leveling course if they have not had courses in developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, and social psychology, increasing the total program credit hours to 39 and total tuition to $23,400.
If you are interested in becoming a licensed professional counselor, you will need to enroll in the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program.
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