Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology
Online
The Adler University Master of Arts in Psychology: Specialization in Military Psychology program prepares students to support service members, veterans, and their families through focused training in trauma, resilience, ethics, leadership, and military culture.
- 38 credits
- 1-year program, full-time study
- Part-time opportunities
- Thesis + capstone options
Admission Deadlines
| Term | Final |
|---|---|
| Fall II 2025 | 10/6/2025 |
| Spring I 2026 | 12/1/2025 |
| Summer I 2026 | 4/1/2026 |
| Fall I 2026 | 8/1/2026 |
Program overview
Military service members, veterans, and their families face distinct challenges that call for specialized, compassionate, and highly skilled care. Adler University’s master’s in military psychology goes beyond theory, combining rigorous academic study, applied research, and supervised practica that directly reflect the realities of military life.
Guided by Adlerian principles, students examine military psychology through biological, psychological, sociological, and cultural lenses, gaining a holistic understanding of service-related experiences. Graduates leave prepared to create meaningful impact across healthcare systems, veteran organizations, and government agencies, bringing advanced psychological training and cultural insight to both military and civilian contexts.
Why choose Adler’s military psychology program?
- Specialized curriculum: The program weaves together trauma, resilience, leadership, ethics, and military culture with evidence-based practices.
- Faculty with lived experience: Courses are led by psychologists and military professionals who bring real-world insight from their ongoing research and practice. Their combined expertise ensures students learn from instructors who understand both the science of psychology and the unique realities of military life.
- Fully online format: Delivered 100% online, the program combines live sessions with self-paced coursework to maximize flexibility for working professionals across locations and time zones.
- Choice of pathway: Students can pursue a traditional thesis to advance original research or a capstone project that develops applied solutions for military settings. Both options provide rigorous training while allowing graduates to tailor their academic experience to career goals.
*This product or service has not been approved or endorsed by any governmental agency,
and this offer is not being made by an agency of the government.
Expand Your Credentials
Military psychology master’s students can pursue a concentration focused on the psychology of terrorism through additional courses that support their passions and career goals.
The Psychology of Terrorism concentration explores the bio-psycho-social-spiritual and political dimensions of terrorism. Students study contributing factors such as oppression, social injustice, and inequity, along with psychological consequence management and disaster response. The curriculum also addresses biodefense and security, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events, whether premeditated, accidental, or natural.
Careers That Strengthen military + veteran care
Today, mental health professionals equipped with specialized knowledge of military psychology are in high demand for working with the unique needs and trauma experienced by military personnel, retirees, veterans, and their families.
research, educational + medical facilities
Contribute in research, educational, and medical settings by designing and evaluating programs for military and veteran well-being, training staff on trauma and resilience, collaborating on interdisciplinary care, and supporting reintegration and crisis response with ethical documentation.
military schools + bases
Strengthen readiness and family well-being on bases and in schools through counselling, psychoeducation, resilience training, and transition support; coordinate with leaders and educators; respond to crises; and document services with care and confidentiality.
government agencies
Design and evaluate programs for service members, veterans, and families; analyze data; write policy guidance; and support prevention, resilience, and crisis response while coordinating across departments and safeguarding confidentiality.
Admissions requirements
Eligibility
Applicants of the master’s in military psychology program must meet the following requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree, by the date of matriculation, earned from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from an international college or university.
- A GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) in their baccalaureate degree.
- Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 will be considered for conditional admission by submitting two letters of recommendation from a current professor, supervisor, and/or someone who can attest to the applicant’s ability to be successful in a graduate program. Exceptions may be made for applicants with a conferred graduate degree.
- Applicants with a GPA below a 2.5 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application requirements
Applicants are required to submit the following items to be considered for admission:
- Completed application submitted via the online portal.
- Application fee.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (U.S. and Canada). International transcripts must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service.
- Two letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation may be waived based on cumulative grade point average from your degree-granting institution. Letters of recommendation should be submitted by professional references on letterhead.
Approved applicants will be invited to complete an interview with faculty.
Provisional Admission Status
Applicants admitted on a provisional basis must submit all outstanding collateral, as defined in their acceptance letter, prior to the end of their first course to achieve full admission status and continue in the program. Applicants not meeting this standard may be dismissed from the University.
How to Apply + Submit Transcripts
- Visit Adler University’s online application portal, create an account, and submit your application, fee, Statement of Intent, resume/CV, and and references’ details.
- Have official transcripts sent directly from each issuing institution or approved service to the Office of Admissions prior to the application deadline. Do not upload official copies to the portal.
Official electronic transcripts should be sent to admissions@adler.edu.
Physical transcripts should be sent to:
Adler University – Office of Admissions
17 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Curriculum | Internships | practicums
This 36-credit program is offered entirely online and can be completed in as few as 12 months, making it an attractive option for students who may be currently employed. Our asynchronous learning model allows for convenience and flexibility. All components of this program can be accessed through an Internet browser running on an IBM PC (Windows or Linux) or Apple Macintosh (Apple OS). Students must have access to a broadband Internet connection and a personal computer manufactured within the last three years.
Completion of the program includes the courses below, along with additional requirements outlined in the Adler University Course Catalog.
CORE COURSES
Survey of Military Psychology
This course introduces the student to the specialty of Military Psychology which aims to improve the lives of service personnel and is applicable to a wide range of areas within the military community
Operational Psychology
This course provides students with the opportunity to integrate socially responsible strategies with operational psychology in military environments.
Mental Health Law and UCMJ
This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of mental health law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the military justice system, and social justice as it relates to Adlerian principles
The Psychology of Conflict and Operations Other than War
This course introduces the students to the concepts, goals, strategies, ideologies, and psychological theories associated with terrorism and operations other than war (e.g. disaster relief, peacekeeping and enforcement).
Ethics, Morality, and Social Justice in the Military
This course is a comprehensive study of military ethics, morality, social justice, and is designed to benefit both the student seeking professional leadership development in the reserves or active duty and practitioners who seek to serve them.
War, Trauma, Grief, Death, and Loss
This course examines the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual impact of being in combat or experiencing a conflict.
THESIS OR CAPSTONE
Students select either the capstone course, or the three-course thesis series.
Capstone
The Capstone course provides students with a unique opportunity to complete a project that will reflect their learning and training experiences throughout the program.
Thesis 1
This course represents the first phase of the thesis. The MA Thesis is a student-directed study conducted in consultation with an assigned Chair in an area of applied psychology with relevance to the curriculum.
Thesis 2
This course represents the second phase of the thesis. The MA Thesis is a student-directed study conducted in consultation with an assigned Chair in an area of applied psychology with relevance to the curriculum.
Thesis 3
This course represents the third phase of the thesis. The MA Thesis is a student-directed study conducted in consultation with an assigned Chair in an area of applied psychology with relevance to the curriculum.
SOCIAL JUSTICE PRACTICUM
Your opportunity to create lasting change on local and global systems, almost from day 1.
The Social Justice Practicum (SJP) at Adler University is a first-year, non-clinical, community-based experience that reflects Alfred Adler’s concept of social interest. The practicum places students with mission-driven organizations where they complete a minimum of 200 approved hours across two semesters, typically 8–10 hours per week. Alongside their placements, students participate in required workshops. Each practicum is evaluated through midterm and final supervisor reviews, student self-assessments, and feedback on the site and project, with grades of High Pass, Pass, Remediation, or Fail. The experience culminates in a campus-wide presentation of outcomes, assessed by multiple evaluators, offering students both applied training and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful community change.
PSYCHOLOGY OF TERRORISM
Psychology of Terrorism
This course will introduce the students to the concepts, goals, strategies, ideologies, and psychological theories associated with terrorist groups. Emphasis will be placed on terrorist motives and on how terrorist actions have affected the course of history and current foreign and domestic policies.
Psychological Consequence Management
The purpose of this course is to educate the behavioral health professional in the mental health disaster response crisis counseling program model
Biodefense Security
This course will provide an introduction to the ongoing efforts to implement U.S. biodefense preparedness.
Faculty
Meet the faculty leading Adler’s online master’s in military psychology program.
Joseph E. Troiani, Ph.D.
Founding Director + Associate Professor
Military Psychology | Clinical Psychology
Financing your degree
Use our tuition calculator to help you start to plan your budget. Financial aid from the government, scholarships, or part-time employment can help you more easily afford your degree.
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Still wondering?
Do you want to know more about Adler University before applying? Learn more about the University, explore programs, view admissions requirements, and review available scholarships.