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Master of Arts 
Psychological Sciences

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Department of Psychological Sciences

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

 

The NAU Department of Psychological Sciences emphasizes the scientific study of mind, brain, and behavior and seeks to advance evidence-based knowledge through high quality teaching, research, and service. Explore your future below!

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Master of Arts Psychological Sciences






YOUR PATH TO PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPERTISE

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​Our master’s in Psychological Sciences offers advanced training to prepare graduates for doctoral programs, careers in behavioral health, and positions requiring strong methodological, analytical, and quantitative skills. Northern Arizona University is located in a stunning mountain setting with four seasons, so you can benefit from our program’s rigorous academics as you enjoy the vibrant local outdoor lifestyle.

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Program Highlights

  • Small cohort class size(s)
  • Tailored professional development and mentorship
  • Competitive funding: Apply for graduate assistantships or tuition waivers
  • Award-winning faculty: Experts in research methods, statistics, teaching, and analytical procedures
  • Hands-on experience: Build community connections through an internship with local organizations
  • Research opportunities: Conduct research in faculty-led labs and present results at regional and national conferences

Labs and Research

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Healthy Aging Lab
Dr. Eric Cerino

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Community Impact Fellows
Dr. Laura Noll and Dr. Robert Wickham

The Healthy Aging Lab at Northern Arizona University applies a lifespan developmental approach to identify ways to maximize health and well-being for all individuals across the adult lifespan. We leverage microlongitudinal and measurement-burst methodologies using daily diary and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to study cognitive and emotional functioning in everyday life. We aim to identify the psychosocial determinants of normative and pathological cognitive aging using performance-based and self-reported markers of cognitive health. Students and faculty in the Healthy Aging Lab share a passion and commitment for advancing age-inclusivity in our communities through research activity and advocacy efforts.

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intergroup Behavior & Attitudes in Youth (iBAY) Lab 
Dr. Sonya Xinyue Xiao

We are an enthusiastic team (led by Dr. Sonya Xinyue Xiao) at Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University driven to breed innovation in the field of developmental psychology. Our team researches prosocial development, intergroup relations and attitudes (with a focus on gender and race/ethnicity) during childhood and adolescence. Inspired by ASU's charter that "measured not by whom we exclude, but rather by whom we include and how they succeed", our lab strives for inclusivity and diversity. It is not only an important standard in research, but also in personal practice. We ensure that we work to provide a safe outlet and environment for curiosity and inquiry. We pride ourselves in being ethical in our work while also advancing research in our field.

Working with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the research group is examining the sequences Arizonans move through before and after becoming homeless. They recently discovered that unpaid utility bills are a key canary in the coal mine—a sign that people could soon struggle to keep up with rent. In order to prevent these people from becoming homeless, Dr. Robert Wickham and Dr. Laura Noll are facilitating communication between utility companies and organizations that provide support for low-income families who may come up short on other necessities, like food or school supplies.

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Sexual Wellbeing in Family Transitions (SWIFT) Lab
Dr. David Allsop

The aim of the SWIFT lab is to strengthen family relationships by fostering sexual wellbeing during times of transition and stress through research, education while fostering the development of scholars and educators. Led by Dr. David Allsop, researchers contribute to studies and education materials for couples related to sexual well-being during times of transition and stress, such as the transition to parenthood, pregnancy loss, and infertility. Their research focuses on relational dynamics (e.g., changes to couples’ health and sexuality) and risk and protective factors of sexual well-being, as well as on advancing statistical methods. 

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Arizona Housing Analytics Collaborative (AzHAC) 
Dr. Robert Wickham & Dr. Laura Noll

The Arizona Housing Analytics Collaborative (AzHAC) is a multidisciplinary team of faculty, students, and staff from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona, that leverages cutting-edge data analytics and community-based evaluation methods to provide actionable insights into housing and homelessness service delivery systems in the State of Arizona.

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Planning Your Future

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A MASTER OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEGREE?

Graduates are well-prepared for doctoral

programs in psychology and related fields,

with advanced disciplinary training for

diverse career paths, including:

•  Clinical or counseling psychologist

•  Research analyst

•  Behavioral health professional

•  Market researcher

•  Health educator

•  Research specialist

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David Allsop, PhD

Research Interests: 

Sexual well-being; romantic relationships; couples; pregnancy; structural equation modeling; multilevel modeling; dyadic analysis 

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Rob Goodman, PhD

Research Interests:

Mindfulness; emotion regulation; disgust sensitivity; group polarization; social neuroscience 

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Jeff Stone,

PhD

Research Interests:

Social psychology; attitudes; stereotyping; prejudice; implicit bias in healthcare 

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Sonya Xiao,

PhD

Research Interests:

Prosocial and moral development; intergroup attitudes and relations; gender development and well-being; methodology and statistics  

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Eric Cerino,

PhD

Research Interests: 

Adult development and aging; daily psychosocial and cognitive health processes; longitudinal analysis; multilevel modeling

 

 

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Ann Huffman, PhD

Research Interests:

Work-family interface; occupational health; military psychology; workplace stress and well-being 

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Viktoria Tidikis, PhD

Research Interests:

Creativity; problem solving; decision making; cognitive psychology 

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Natasha Dmitrieva, PhD 

Research Interests:

Adult development and aging; longitudinal analysis; midlife health and well-being

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Eylin Palamaro-Munsell, PhD 

Research Interests:

Community psychology; qualitative methods, social psychology 

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Robert Wickham, PhD

Research Interests:

Program evaluation; psychological measurement; longitudinal analysis; dyadic analysis; close relationships; homelessness 

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Nora Dunbar, PhD

Research Interests: 

Developmental psychology; research methods; adult adjustment; emerging adulthood 

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Lauren Pierce, PhD

Research Interests:

Sports psychology; research methods; motivation and emotion 

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Chad Woodruff, PhD

Research Interests:

Neuroscience of empathy and compassion; EEG correlates of empathy & perspective taking 

Department News

“I found the faculty mentorship at NAU to be one of the primary driving forces behind my development as a graduate student. The importance of faculty mentorship in graduate school cannot be understated, and NAU’s Psychological Sciences department has no shortage of kind, knowledgeable, and supportive mentors.”

Mentorship Matters

Ryan Shallcross, MA Psychological Sciences

Class of 2024

Study Abroad with Psychological Sciences

Our Psychology Scholarship and Teaching Exchange Program (PychSTEP) connects NAU psychology graduate students with psychological scientists at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, offering you the chance to enhance your education and explore a new culture for a semester.

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