M.S. in Psychology

The M.S. in Psychology (MSP) online degree program at Divine Mercy University equips students to use psychological knowledge and practical skills to promote flourishing in a vast variety of settings from business and leadership to various ministry settings. Students learn to integrate a Catholic-Christian vision of the person with best practices in psychological theory, research, and intervention.

This non-licensing program focuses on training for broad interventions and the development of work and ministry cultures that foster flourishing and well-being.

Contact Kayley Manarchuck, MSP Admissions AdvisorEmail: kmanarchuck@divinemercy.eduCall: (703) 949-4687Schedule a Meeting

Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2025

Students who enrolled prior to fall 2025 will continue under the concentration they originally selected, following their original degree plan.

Link to DMU catalog detailing the old program

The M.S. in Psychology online degree program at Divine Mercy University has several admission requirements. To get started with the admission process, contact an admissions advisor who can answer questions about the program and concentration selection.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2026

• Early Application Deadline: July 1, 2026
• Final Application Deadline (all admissions documents submitted): August 10, 2026
• Final Scholarship and Discounts Deadline: July 19, 2026

Admission Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education or an internationally recognized institution.
• Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA to be admitted. To be competitive, students should have at least a 2.75 GPA. Less competitive applicants may wish to submit GRE scores as well.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Resume including employment and other significant volunteer history.
• Written statement of intent indicating how your goals align with the goals of the program.
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (where applicable).

During the application process, applicants can contact an admissions advisor with questions. If you are seeking admission after the Primary Application Deadline has passed, contact Admissions for further assistance and to inquire about availability. Note that seating is limited and cohorts may fill to capacity prior to published deadlines.

All courses are three (3) credit hours unless otherwise specified.

PHT 508 The Catholic Christian Vision of Flourishing: Vocations and Virtues (Core Course)

The vision of human flourishing one adopts is crucial for understanding and concretely addressing human problems. This course develops the Catholic Christian vision of personal and interpersonal flourishing in terms of vocations and virtues, and human and spiritual resources. Students explore three levels of vocation and their discernment: (1) a call to goodness and holiness; (2) a call to being single, married, ordained or religious (consecrated); and (3) a call to work and to service to one's neighbors. Emphasis is placed on courtship and on marriage, understood as a natural and divine institution that serves to support and protect individuals, families, and society. Students explore the teaching on achieving personal growth and freedom through building up practical reasoning, moral character, and the spiritual life of faith, hope, and charity. The course identifies psychological theory, evidence, and interventions that support this vision of human flourishing, a life of virtue, and committed vocations.

PHT 510 Spiritual Growth and Discernment (Pastoral and Spiritual Care Concentration)

Examines the human person through the integrated lens of Catholic Christian anthropology and psychological science, emphasizing the inherent dignity, relational nature, moral agency, and spiritual vocation of every individual. Students explore God's plan for human flourishing as revealed in Scripture and tradition, including the effects of grace, sin, virtue, and vice on psychological and spiritual development. The course introduces the theological and psychological foundations of spiritual accompaniment, including the identity and role of the spiritual director, the history of the practice, and the dynamics of discernment. Particular attention is given to recognizing the movements of the Holy Spirit and distinguishing them from psychological or emotional phenomena.

PHT 543 Catholic Christian Marriage and Human Sexuality (Pastoral and Spiritual Care Concentration)

Introduces students to marriage as a natural and divine institution that serves the flourishing and protection of individuals, families, and society. Students examine sexual difference from biological, psychological, and theological perspectives focusing on the writings of St. John Paul II, particularly his Theology of the Body. Students analyze several contemporary challenges to marital flourishing and examine possible ways to strengthen the family as the domestic church in a diverse world through growth in virtue.

PSY 515 Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation (Core Course)

Introduces a basic understanding of the terminology, foundation, theory, and research of cognitive psychology and the neurosciences. Emphasis is on the interrelatedness of cognition, emotion, behavior, and motivation across the lifespan. Students evaluate concepts of self-agency and morality through a neuroscience lens integrated with the Catholic Christian vision of the human person.

PSY 550 Helping People Flourish: A Catholic Christian Approach to Psychology (Core Course)

Students explore the richness of understanding behaviors, emotions, and thoughts through the study of psychology — informed by philosophy and theology — to aid self and others in flourishing. Students engage in exercises in reflection and practical application, and learn to integrate a Catholic Christian vision of the person with best practices in psychological theory, research, and intervention. This holistic view affirms the person as possessing intrinsic dignity, as free and able to make responsible choices, relational and connected to others and society, and as seeking psychological well-being, moral character, and spiritual growth. Includes a mandatory 2-day virtual residency.

PSY 556 Helping Skills for Pastoral and Spiritual Care (Pastoral and Spiritual Care Concentration)

Prepares students to develop the core competencies necessary for effective pastoral and spiritual care within a variety of ministry and caregiving contexts. Emphasis is placed on cultivating essential interpersonal skills such as active listening, empathic presence, trust-building, and spiritual discernment. Topics include ethical decision-making grounded in Christian moral theology, multicultural and interfaith sensitivity, appropriate referral and case management practices, and de-escalation and conflict resolution.

PSY 560 Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan (Core Course)

Students explore the biological, psychological, and social factors of human growth and development through the lifespan from conception through aging and end of life. Topics include emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, moral, and spiritual development. This course presents a special focus on flourishing across the lifespan and the application of developmental insights to practical issues that arise within the helping professions.

PSY 575 Social Psychology, Groups, and Diversity (Core Course)

Students use the lens of social psychology and human diversity to examine social perceptions/thoughts and social behavior. Topics: forming impressions, stereotyping, social influence, attitude development and change, bias and discrimination, antisocial and prosocial behaviors, affiliation and attraction. The course emphasizes how diversity (culture, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, age, ability) impacts the helping professional and interventions chosen to assist clients.

PSY 577 Grief and Bereavement Across the Lifespan (Pastoral and Spiritual Care Concentration)

Explores the psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of grief and bereavement with particular emphasis on responses to death and loss across the lifespan. Grounded in a Catholic-Christian understanding of the human person, students examine the meaning of suffering, death, and hope in the context of eternal life and human dignity.

PSY 581 Theories and Models of Counseling and Personality (Core Course)

Introduces students to the primary theoretical models of personality theory and counseling practice, including psychodynamic, affective, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, existential, interpersonal, multicultural, integrative, and systems theory. A focus on evidence-based practices that incorporate diversity issues with population-specific approaches is a significant feature of this course.

PSY 586 Research and Evaluation (Core Course)

Introduces students to foundational research methods and designs, including reliability, validity, evidence-based practice, needs assessment, and critical evaluation of published studies. Students explore scales of measurement, descriptive statistics, and basic univariate inferential statistics commonly used in organizational, leadership, and pastoral care settings.

PSY 590 Leading People and Programs (Organizational Leadership Concentration)

Explores the psychology of an effective organization working with individuals and other organizations toward advancing personal flourishing and the common good. Students study the characteristics of effective organizations while developing skills in communication, planning and goal-setting, leading change, decision making, motivating others, and conflict resolution.

PSY 595 Transformational Leadership (Organizational Leadership Concentration)

Students analyze the principles and evidence base of transformational leadership from a Catholic Christian perspective. Develops authenticity and role modeling skills required to be a transformational leader; evaluates the importance of being a role model and a servant leader.

PSY 599 Academic Writing for Psychological Research (Core Course)

Students follow an individualized plan of study focused on the rigor of writing the capstone/thesis project. Students who transferred into the program or who require additional time and support for the writing of the different parts of their project will receive support in this course. Students who received a grade below a B- in any major capstone section will be required to take PSY 599 as a 1-credit course.

PSY 615 Applied Leadership Skills (Organizational Leadership Concentration)

Students appraise tenets of self-leadership by examining personal biases, using critical self-reflection, and evaluating self-regulatory behaviors affirming the fundamental goodness and innate dignity of the person. Students learn interpersonal skills relevant to a variety of leadership settings.

PSY 620.1–3 Psychological Research and Writing (Core Course)

Three-term sequence guiding students through the development of a graduate-level research paper that emphasizes applied science and is informed by the Catholic-Christian vision of the person. Students select a research topic, develop a full research proposal, and submit a final research paper. (1 credit per term, total 3 credits)

PSY 620.4–6 Psychological Research and Writing (Core Course)

Three-term sequence available as an elective for students interested in exploring research writing at a deeper level that guides them through all the phases of planning and executing a scientific project that results in a master's thesis. (1 credit per term, total 3 credits)

PSY 635 Organizational Financial Management and Resource Development (Organizational Leadership Concentration)

Equips students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in financial planning, budgeting, fundraising, and grant writing within non-profit agencies and organizations. Special attention is given to the financial responsibilities of leaders in non-profit agencies and organizations.

PSY 640 Advanced Statistical Analysis for Psychology and the Social Sciences (Core Course)

Provides an in-depth exploration of statistical techniques used in psychological and social science research, with a particular focus on applications in leadership and organizational settings. Topics include advanced univariate and introductory multivariate methods including t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, and factor analysis. Emphasis is placed on interpreting statistical findings, using statistical software, and communicating results clearly.

M.S.P. – Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Psychology degree, students must complete 33 credit hours as outlined in the curriculum, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students in the Organizational Leadership or Pastoral and Spiritual Care concentration must complete seven core courses (21 credits) and four elective courses (12 credits). For the Bioethics Concentration, students must complete eight required core courses (24 credits) and three elective courses (9 credits). PSY 550 Helping People Flourish: A Catholic Christian Approach to Psychology is the required first course in the program.

M.S.P. Core Curriculum

1. PHT 508 The Catholic-Christian Vision of Flourishing: Vocations & Virtues (3 credits)
2. PSY 515 Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation (3 credits)
3. PSY 550 Helping People Flourish: A Catholic-Christian Approach to Psychology (3 credits)
4. PSY 560 Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
5. PSY 575 Social Psychology, Groups, and Diversity (3 credits)
6. PSY 581 / COUN 520 Theories and Models of Counseling and Personality (3 credits)
7. PSY 586 Research and Evaluation (3 credits)
8. PSY 620.1-620.3 Psychological Research and Writing (3 credits)
9. PSY 620.4-620.6 Psychological Research and Writing (3 credits)
10. PSY 640 Advanced Statistical Analysis for Psychology and the Social Sciences (3 credits)
11. PSY 599 Academic Writing for Psychological Research (1 credit, as needed)

Capstone Project Courses

The MSP program includes a required capstone project woven throughout the core curriculum. Students begin the capstone process in their first course (PSY 550) and progressively develop their project through a series of required academic components.

The following courses incorporate the required capstone assignments:

• PSY 550 Helping People Flourish — Capstone Introduction Paper
• PHT 508 The Catholic Christian Vision of Flourishing — Integrative Literature Review Paper
• PSY 515 Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation — Decision-making and Motivation Paper
• PSY 575 Social Psychology, Groups, and Diversity — Target Population and Cultural Perspective Paper
• PSY 586 Research and Evaluation — Psychological Literature Review and Evaluation Paper

Capstone development is a required and graded element in each of these courses. Students who receive a grade below B- in any capstone paper will need to rewrite the paper and take PSY 599 as a 1-credit course.

In addition to the capstone project, the MSP program offers an optional thesis track for students who wish to pursue more intensive research preparation, particularly those considering doctoral-level study.

M.S. in Psychology Concentrations

Organizational Leadership Concentration (4 courses, 12 credits)

1. PSY 590 Leading People, Programs, and Organizations (3 credits)
2. PSY 595 Transformational Leadership (3 credits)
3. PSY 615 Applied Leadership Skills and Conflict Management (3 credits)
4. PSY 635 Organizational Financial Management and Resource Development (3 credits)

Pastoral and Spiritual Care Concentration (4 courses, 12 credits)

1. PHT 510 Spiritual Growth and Discernment
2. PHT 543 Catholic Christian Marriage and Human Sexuality
3. PSY 556 Helping Skills for Pastoral and Spiritual Care
4. PSY 566 Grief and Bereavement Across the Lifespan

Bioethics Concentration (9 credit hours)

NCBC Certification Program in Bioethics (9 credits):

• Foundations of Catholic Health Care
• Ethical Challenges at the Beginning of Life
• Ethics Committees, Research, Vaccines, and Gender
• Ethical Challenges at the End of Life

Postgraduate Certificate in Catholic Christian Psychology and Bioethics

This postgraduate certificate provides supplemental training for healthcare providers, mental health professionals, chaplains, and others guiding and caring for those facing challenging ethical situations. Built on a Catholic Christian vision of the flourishing person, the certificate helps students evaluate complex ethical issues in healthcare and other settings while developing empathetic relating skills. Students complete their bioethics studies through the NCBC's certificate program (9 graduate credits) and take the remaining 10 credits as part of the M.S. in Psychology program.

Core: PSY 550, PHT 508, PSY 556, PSY 599 (Capstone Writing Course)

Electives: NCBC Bioethics certification (9 credits)

Discontinued Concentrations

Effective Fall 2025, the University will discontinue offering Marriage and Family Studies and Human Service Counseling (non-licensed) concentrations for new student enrollment. Currently enrolled students may complete their program under the original curriculum or request to change concentrations subject to advising review.

Program Information

• 33 credit hours · Minimum GPA 3.0
• 100% online
• Jan / May / Aug start dates
• Full time (approx. 2 years) or part time
• Non-licensure program