Prepare to unlock insights into human behavior, cognitive neuroscience, and more by earning your Master of Science in Psychology with the Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. This full-time program offers research experience and academic qualifications for advancing toward PhD and MD programs, along with career opportunities in fields where experimental psychology expertise is an asset.
Application Deadline
The priority application deadline for Fall 2026 candidates is March 15th, 2026, and the final deadline is May 15th, 2026. We strongly encourage applicants to apply by our priority deadline if possible.
Key facts
- Duration: Two years
- Mode of study: On campus with hands-on research
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Entry terms: Fall
- Requirements: 28 courses
- Credit hours: 48 – 49.5
- Tuition: Learn more about tuition and fees
- Visa eligible
Establish a foundation for success in psychology research
Take the next step toward a future in experimental psychology with one of the world’s preeminent research institutions. Johns Hopkins’ psychology master’s degree combines rigorous coursework with immersive research experiences, deepening your understanding of research design, statistical analysis, and a broad range of psychology and neuroscience concepts.
The capstone project is a key feature of the master’s in psychology program, as you’ll engage in practical research with the opportunity to earn authorship on a presentation of your findings. You may present at a conference, produce an article for a professional journal, or share your work at Johns Hopkins’ annual research symposium, helping you stand out to PhD mentors.
Additional program highlights include:
- World-class institution: Conduct research in state-of-the-art facilities with support from renowned faculty and leaders in the field.
- Insightful seminars: Explore current issues and innovations in psychology through interactive discussions and presentations.
- Personalized mentorship: Benefit from one-on-one guidance from faculty at the forefront of psychology research.
- Tradition of excellence: Johns Hopkins offers one of the 20 best psychology graduate programs in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Explore topics included in the master’s in psychology curriculum
Johns Hopkins’ rigorous psychology curriculum covers an array of foundational topics, such as biopsychology, cognitive psychology, and statistical methods. Alongside the coursework, you will complete scientific research within faculty-led laboratories to build specialized competencies in one of the following areas:
- Cognition
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Vision (philosophy and psychology)
- Computational approaches
- Cognitive development of infants and children
You will pursue the master’s in psychology as part of a cohort, accessing opportunities to collaborate with your peers and extend your professional network.
What can you do with a master’s degree in psychology?
Our master’s in psychology degree is ideal for students wanting to build research experience and strengthen their academic profile before pursuing a PhD or an MD. The capstone project provides opportunities to present your findings in high-profile settings, improving your visibility as a candidate for advanced study.
This master’s program also appeals to students interested in acquiring research and data visualization skills to accelerate their careers. Graduates are well-prepared for roles in consulting, marketing, and industry research.
As a Johns Hopkins student, you will access a wide range of career services, including the Life Design Lab. Through these resources, you can receive career planning guidance, network with other students and alumni, and seek connections with employers.
Program director
Justin Halberda, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions/FAQ
Do I have to choose 1 faculty member to specify on my application?
Applicants may specify more than one faculty member of interest, but should provide a separate justification for each faculty member cited: What about each faculty member’s work interests you, and what background in research or coursework do you have that relates to that faculty member’s research? Note that it is not required to specific more than one faculty member. If accepted into the M.A. program, students will concentrate their work in the lab of just one faculty member.
Is there funding available on a need or merit basis?
There is no funding available for this program.
If I’m accepted to the Hopkins Master’s program in Psychology, am I likely to be admitted to the PhD program upon completing my Master’s?
Completion of the Master’s program at Johns Hopkins does not guarantee admission to the PhD program at Johns Hopkins. However, students enrolled in the Master’s program will receive rigorous training in coursework and laboratory research, thus increasing their competitiveness for PhD programs generally, and helping them to build and nurture relationships with JHU faculty who can provide letters of recommendation.
Can I receive credit for courses that I have taken at my undergraduate institution or at other universities near Johns Hopkins?
Students must complete the coursework and research components within the Psychology Master’s program; transfer credits are generally not accepted.
Can I take more than 2 years to complete my Master’s at JHU?
The 2-year curriculum is standard for all full-time students. Permission for an extended Master’s training curriculum is at the discretion of the Department and the School.
What achievements can Master’s students expect to leave with?
It is our goal that every successful graduate of the Master’s program will leave the program with published work, be it a journal paper, a conference poster, or a conference talk. For a conference talk or poster there are two routes (submitting to and presenting at a recognized regional/ national/ international conference, or presenting in the “Advances in Mind and Brain” conference held each year at Johns Hopkins). These publication routes are not mutually exclusive, i.e., a very successful Master’s student might have presentations at conferences as well as a submitted manuscript to list on their CV.
Will I interact with other students?
The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences is a highly interactive community of undergraduates, graduate students, post doctoral fellows, faculty, and staff. Master’s students will have opportunities to interact with multiple faculty, research staff, and PhD students each week throughout the academic year at department talks, lab meetings, and other events. Typically, Master’s students will also be working side by side with other Master’s students and/ or PhD students within the laboratory in which they are receiving training.
Which Faculty Members are currently available to mentor MA students?
Our MA Program focuses on Psychological and Brain Sciences (Neuro, Bio, Cog, Cog-Neuro, etc) and as such, all Faculty Members listed as “Primary Faculty” on our People Page are available as mentors. Affiliated Faculty listed as “Primary Teaching Faculty” on this page are currently not available as mentors nor as co-mentors. When applying, please ensure that you design your application to highlight available mentors. (Note: applicants interested in careers in clinical, social or other areas of Psychology can still benefit from our program, even if their mentors focus on research topics from a different orientation; e.g., a student with clinical interests in children and families (a possible future PhD focus) would benefit from our MA Program and working within one of our Developmental Labs (e.g., Drs. Feigenson, Liu, Halberda, etc)).
What’s it like to live in Baltimore?
Like any major U.S. city, Baltimore is home to a variety of neighborhoods that vary in the sense of safety they provide. The neighborhoods surrounding the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus (such as Charles Village and Hampden) are generally safe and inviting, and are home to large numbers of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. For more information, we encourage you to review the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences’ Living in Baltimore page. Free transportation (the Hopkins Shuttle) connects multiple Baltimore neighborhoods and campuses throughout the day and night.