Graduate Schools in Phoenix, Arizona

By 1868 a colony had formed, and soon after, a rapid influx of pioneers arrived in what is today called Phoenix. By the turn of the century, the population of Phoenix had reached 5,554 and horse-drawn carriages had been replaced by Model Ts.

The National Reclamation Act of 1902 and the construction of the Roosevelt Dam meant that substantial water and electric power could be delivered to the area. Arizona’s statehood came not long after, and Phoenix grew to became the state’s hub for distribution, business, and industry.

Award-Winning Phoenix

Today, the City of Phoenix is a recipient of many honors and awards. Some of the more recent accolades are listed below.^iv

• Carl Bertelsmann Award for being the best-run city government in the world (1993)
• Named an All-America City five times by the National Civic League
• Won the Alliance for Innovation’s Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award (2017)
• Leader in the Use of Alternative Fuel (2015)
• Environmental Excellence Awards (2015)
• Ranked as a top ten digital city in the 2014 Digital Cities Survey for its technology initiatives and projects (2014)

Phoenix’s Cost of Living^v

Prospective graduate students in Phoenix, AZ might pay less than the national averages in annual expenses for housing, transportation and food. Per BLS data, households in Phoenix spend 32.2% of their income on housing, 15.1% on transportation and 12.1% on food. This contrasts to national averages of 32.9%, 16.4% and 12.6% respectively.

Explore the Neighborhoods of Metro Phoenix

The Phoenix Metro area is large. It’s made up of 15 urban villages, each of which is governed independently.

Arcadia – Between the Arizona Canal and Camelback Mountain, Arcadia is where you’ll find well-maintained ranch-style homes. Some have lush fruit trees as this was once home to hundreds of citrus groves.

Biltmore – The financial district with upscale shops, restaurants, and the Camelback Corridor, which extends into the resorts, spas, and golf courses of Scottsdale

Anthem – Reputed as family-friendly, with numerous walking and bike trails.

Robson Historic District – Nearby the Mesa Arts Center, Arizona Museum of Natural History and downtown hotspots.

Las Sendas – Located in the East Valley, here you could find easy access to hiking and biking trails, panoramic mountain views, golf and parks.

Central Corridor – For those who want to walk, bike or ride more than they drive, this area is eco-urban. Central Avenue has light rail, plus there are things to do, places to eat, drink and shop.

Downtown – The central business core, as well as home base for major sports league activities, as well as live concerts.

North Phoenix – Where you could find many urban villages such as Paradise Valley, Desert View, and Deer Valley.

Roosevelt Row – Cool home to galleries, mural splashed walls, and a monthly art walk

Getting Around Phoenix, AZ

To get around, Phoenix residents do need to rely on cars, especially during the hot summers. On average, locals report a 25-minute commute.ⁱⁱⁱ Aside from an extensive freeway system, there is also rail and bus service.

The city also has a “Bicycle Master Plan” that aims to improve the bicycling facilities within Phoenix.^vi Look for racks of the lime-green Grid Bikes, which is the local bike share.

Things to Do in Phoenix

Phoenix is the epicenter of the state of Arizona and has plenty to offer the Foodie, the Shopper, the Culture Fiend, and the Sports Buff. Here are 10 fun ways to balance graduate study with fun in Phoenix.

1. Take a trip to the Heard Museum and explore Indian American history and culture
2. Listen to live music at one of the many venues: Rock, pop, jazz, blues, country and more
3. Play bocce ball while you hang out and sip a cocktail at The Vig
4. Visit the Desert Botanical Garden to learn about local plants and wildlife
5. Get a massage at one of the many upscale resort hotels’ spas
6. Do a Light Rail pub crawl or explore local breweries and wineries
7. Take a Grid Bike art tour
8. Ride a sky cycle on a tightrope at the Arizona Science Center
9. Attend one of the many festivals in Phoenix like the Phoenix Festival of the Arts or Street Eats Food Truck Festival
10. Check out one of the ‘microhoods’ where generic strip malls have been redeveloped into places locals come to eat, drink, shop, take a yoga class, and chill out with friends and family

What Food Is Phoenix Known For?

Phoenix is often associated with cowboy steaks and Mexican food. Other things that score points on people’s ‘to-eat’ lists? Salted Dulce de Leche milkshakes, breakfast corn dogs, coffee-rubbed BBQ short ribs, and Navajo Fry Bread tacos.

Check out the restaurants in downtown’s Heritage Square or head to Old Town for Southwestern arts and hip eateries.

DID YOU KNOW?
The median age in Phoenix, Arizona is 33.8 ^vii

Enjoy the Outdoors in Phoenix

Whether you prefer to watch sports or take part, Phoenix has both.

For spectators, Phoenix is home to several professional sports franchises and also enjoys car racing and pro golf tournaments. For outdoor adventure, keep in mind, you are in the Grand Canyon State. Fish for trout, golf, go white water rafting, kayak, paddle board, rock climb, camp, swim – there are a wide range of options in the Sonoran Desert.

Fitness buffs could find numerous trails to hike, bike, horseback, run, or walk amidst breathtaking desert views.

• Camelback Mountain has trails for all levels.
• Usery Mountain Park even has an outdoor archery range and offers nature classes, yoga and a challenge hiking series.
• Papago Park is just minutes from downtown. This is the home to red rock buttes looped with trails, a scenic view from hikeable Hole-in-the-Rock, golf, the Botanical Gardens and more.

List of Graduate Schools in Phoenix

Explore the handy list of partner Graduate Schools in Phoenix, Arizona below. Then, conduct your own search to see many others.

• Grand Canyon University (GCU)
• Argosy University, Phoenix AZ.

Psychology Graduate Programs in Phoenix

Do you want to study the brain and behavior? Why not study to earn a Masters, PhD or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree in Phoenix?

For those who are driven to help others improve their athletic performance, the natural beauty, climate and rich outdoor lifestyle in Phoenix could pair with a Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology. Students at Argosy University might learn how to help others meet physical wellness goals and diminish psychological blocks.

Students with a desire to study the psychology of criminal behavior and its impact on the legal system could gravitate to an MA in Forensic Psychology. Curriculums cover maladaptive and ethical behavior, as well as the psychology of perpetrators and victims.

MBA Programs in Phoenix | DBA Programs in Phoenix

Would you like to refine your managerial skills and business acumen? There are a variety of campus and online MBA programs in Phoenix that could be of interest.

One example is a MBA in Finance. GCU’s College of Business’ Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Emphasis in Finance stacks a core of functional business topics with courses in investments, managerial finance, portfolio management and accounting. Students analyze the elements of business decisions such as financial forecasting and raising funds in capital markets.

There are also some interesting MBA concentrations at Argosy. MBA students could focus on human resource management, organizational leadership or public health.

Already an executive with a Masters degree? Study to earn a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree in Phoenix. A DBA program is typically built to help students fine tune their leadership skills and learn ways to effectively manage projects, teams and organizational change. At Argosy, DBA students could also choose an area of strategic focus in accounting, international business, marketing and management.

Christian Counseling Programs in Phoenix

Do you hope to counsel others through Christian faith-based practices? There are a variety of Christian Counseling Graduate Programs to choose from.

For instance, there is Grand Canyon University’s Masters in Christian Counseling degree program. MS students could study how to guide others with scripturally based solutions to various issues.

Curriculums often stack biblical concepts onto courses such as crisis and trauma, pharmacology and counseling theories. Aside from didactic courses, students are required to take a supervised pre-practicum and internship to graduate.

Ministry Graduate Programs in Phoenix

Do you hope to develop the skills necessary to lead a ministry? Search instead for a Ministry or Theology Graduate Program in Phoenix.

GCU, for instance, offers an online Master of Divinity (MDiv). This professional masters program is designed to prepare graduates to pursue a career in the ministry. The curriculum often melds theology with Christian history. Students could also study methods to deliver sermons and lead congregations.

Another option is to pursue a Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary. Students could take courses in topics such as ministerial ethics, practical theology and stages of development. In tandem, curriculums often feature in-depth studies of the Old and New Testaments.

Education Graduate Programs in Phoenix

Are you a current or aspiring educator? Partner school, GCU offers three distinct Masters in Education Programs.

• MEd: A Master of Education is tailored for college grads who want to pursue initial certification to teach in the K-12 system
• MA: A Master of Arts in Education appeals to certified teachers who want to study further to earn a PhD in Education
• MAT: An online Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Choose a Graduate School in Phoenix, Az

Excited to look for Graduate Schools in Phoenix? You might use the examples from partner universities (above) in Phoenix as a guide. Then, set filters for degree level (masters, doctorate, certificate), subject and program format (online, on campus) to yield results aligned to your preferences.

See a few grad programs you want to apply to in Phoenix? Easily contact schools through the on-page form.

[i] citymayors.com/gratis/uscities_100.html | [ii] census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/cb17-81-population-estimates-subcounty.html | [iii] census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/phoenixcityarizona/PST045216 | [iv] phoenix.gov/pio/city-recognition | [v] bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerexpenditures_phoenix.htm | [vi] phoenix.gov/streetssite/Pages/Bicycle-Master-Plan.aspx | [vii] datausa.io/profile/geo/phoenix-az/