Careers for Prospective Graduate Students

Graduates of our master's program have a bright job future. They are qualified for and are successful in finding high-level positions in many service fields, including as:

• Executives in the nonprofit sector, where they may become managers, supervisors or directors of a variety of human service and community organizations;

• Policy planners, program developers or evaluators for local or state governments;

• Specialists in the criminal justice system, health care and or mental health field;

• Educators or educational administrators in settings ranging from preschools to graduate programs;

• Researchers working at university or medical research centers or for government and non-profit organizations; and

• Human resource administrators in the community service or public relations side of corporate life.

Alumni Profiles
Here are the job titles of some of our graduates (specific locations omitted):

• Program effectiveness and research coordinator for a non-profit educational consulting group
• Acting director of a Department of Social Services Area Office
• Marketing, consumer satisfaction and employee engagement/retention consultant for a private consulting firm
• Coordinator of children and family ministries for a 5,000 member church
• Associate director of a county office for the American Jewish Committee
• Director, Area Agency on Aging
• Community liaison, mid-sized city police department
• Director of admissions at a community college
• Assistant director, university research center
• Recreation coordinator for a public school system

Whatever their chosen field, the placement record of our graduates is both varied and particularly strong. Why? We think it's because our graduates have well-developed skills in communications, research methods, organizational change, team-building and community development. These skills are useful in a wide variety of job situations; they always are highly valued by employers.

Our program also provides excellent preparation for students who choose to go on to pursue a doctorate degree. Some of our students have gone on to earn a Ph.D in psychology, while others have pursued doctorates in such fields as sociology, social policy and education.

Our program is not designed for students who plan to pursue careers as mental health providers. Most states require licensure for the mental health professions, and our program does not meet the educational requirements set by most state licensing boards.

The Community Social Psychology (CSP) program is committed to helping all our students develop satisfying and rewarding careers. Faculty maintain contacts with many potential employers, and through their field work students develop invaluable relationships in the community that can lead to career opportunities. Many of our alumni choose to work in the greater Lowell or Boston areas where they serve as resources and contacts for current graduates just leaving our program.

The University also has a very active Career Services Office that offers a wide range of services to students.