FAQs | Online Master of Applied Positive Psychology Degree | PCOM
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Learn More About the MAPP Program
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Frequently Asked Questions 
Online Master of Applied Positive Psychology Degree

Learn more about PCOM's Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program including details regarding admissions, program length and course delivery.

What can you do with a degree in positive psychology?

Students with this degree can pursue doctoral-level work in psychology and/or work as wellness coaches, health navigators, care coordinators, organizational consultants, research coordinators, teachers, institutional wellness program directors, project managers and wellness consultants within organizations. The positive psychology degree also can enhance existing skill sets for physicians, nurses, therapists, teachers and HR professionals.

Why choose PCOM for positive psychology?

There are many reasons to choose PCOM for positive psychology, including our commitment to evidence-based practice and an osteopathic tradition that embraces mind-body approaches to wellness. Our student-focused faculty are highly accomplished in the fields of positive psychology and/or health psychology. We also are the home of A Happier You, an innovative 7-week positive psychology program to help people adopt new skills to enhance joy and meaning in life. MAPP students will have a unique opportunity to learn this program and facilitate it with participants as part of their curriculum.

Additionally, PCOM’s three healthcare centers offer MAPP students, under licensed supervision, the additional opportunity to facilitate health, wellness, psychoeducational and mindfulness/stress reduction groups for primary care patients.

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Will the Master in Applied Positive Psychology degree prepare me for doctoral-level studies?

Yes. Students will take a Positive Psychology Research methods course and complete a Capstone project with a program evaluation component. Additionally, every class will help students think critically, explore scholarship in the field, and hone their scholarly writing ability using APA style.

One of the advantages of earning a MAPP degree prior to receiving a doctorate in clinical psychology is that it lays the foundation of a scholarly and applied understanding in the field of positive psychology, allowing students to see their doctoral training through a human flourishing lens, an enhancement perspective. This enables students to bring a clearer orientation and grasp of theory and research around optimal functioning into their advanced studies.

Is the entire applied positive psychology degree program online?

Yes. The 30-credit program is offered entirely online and can be completed in one year of full-time study.

When are courses held for the online applied positive psychology degree program?

Courses will have both a synchronous and asynchronous component, but no less than 90 minutes of synchronous time (live instruction with faculty via Zoom) per class session. Synchronous meetings typically begin at 5:15 p.m. EST and are scheduled Monday through Thursday. Additional practicum time is required during the days on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (typically no more than an hour on those days).

Can the MAPP program be completed on a part-time basis?

Yes. Students can elect to complete the program over two years.

Can I work full-time while completing the degree?

The MAPP degree is designed to allow students to work while completing the degree. It should be noted that full-time MAPP students can expect to devote a minimum of 20 hours a week to their coursework, which includes synchronous and asynchronous activities, reading, and studying.

Where will I complete my practicum?

Students will complete a practicum over three terms (fall, winter, spring) through PCOM’s Happier You program and/or Health Support Programs. Those programs will serve the school’s community, PCOM’s healthcare centers, and community organizations like CBH, PHMC, and others who provide the program to their staff.

Is a thesis required to obtain a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree?

No. PCOM’s applied positive psychology program requires a capstone project. The capstone experience is a one-term (spring) development, implementation and evaluation of a positive psychology intervention at a systems, group or individual level.

Is the MAT or GRE required for admission to the MAPP program?

No. PCOM does not require the MAT or GRE for admission to the applied positive psychology program.

Who would be a good candidate for this program?

Students who have majored in psychology or related fields and are interested in wellness, life coaching, public health, organizational development and leadership, care coordination and/or health sciences would be good candidates for the PCOM MAPP program.

This program is also ideal for students seeking an advanced degree to prepare them for doctoral-level studies by providing the writing, scholarship, and psychology foundation they need in order to be more competitive applicants.

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