Online Psychology Degree Guide

Get an Online Degree in Psychology

The stigma attached to distance learning is fast disappearing. Strict accreditation guidelines for online schools and an increasing number of respected schools offering counseling and psychology degrees online have enhanced the quality of the online degree in psychology. Recent studies show that distance education programs overwhelmingly attract people who are self-disciplined, highly motivated and possess excellent time management skills. You'll find yourself in good company.

Choose an Online Psychology Degree

Online undergraduate and graduate degrees exist in a wide range of specialties, such as clinical psychology, counseling, organizational psychology, social services, marriage and family therapy, education psychology, sports psychology and many more.

Online Bachelor's Degrees

Completing a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field is the first step toward becoming a practicing psychologist or counselor. A bachelor's degree in psychology or counseling can also be stepping stone to a wide variety of careers in industries such as law, public relations, research or administration.

A bachelor's degree program usually takes four years of full-time study to complete, but many of the schools featured on All Psychology Schools offer accelerated or degree completion programs that give credit for prior learning and applicable work experience. This allows you to complete your education faster and for less money.

Online Graduate Degrees

Study beyond a bachelor's degree is a must for practicing psychologists and counselors. A master's degree is the minimum level of education required for employment as a licensed counselor or school psychologist. Doctorate degrees are increasingly required for employment and licensure as a psychologist.

Online graduate programs are a great choice for working professionals who would like to advance in their field or transition to a new career in psychology. You can hold down a full-time job while earning a degree in your spare time.

Different Types of Online Programs

Some online programs allow you to study at your own pace, with lessons pre-formulated and available at any time. These kinds of programs offer the ultimate flexibility, because there are usually no specific beginning or end dates. Other programs are more structured and scheduled in real time, where students are required to log on at a certain time every day, week or month and participate in a live session. Students taking these types of courses will generally complete the program together, taking the series of courses with the same group of people each time. These programs are geared toward students with more flexibility in their schedule or who desire more direct interaction with their professor or peers.

Online Hybrid Programs

Hybrid programs mix traditional on-campus classroom settings with online sessions. Requirements vary, but you may be traveling at least once or twice to the school's campus or designated location for orientations or special seminars. These classroom sessions are usually located in convenient proximity to your location. You may even be attending weekly or monthly classroom sessions. Read the descriptions on the featured schools fact sheets to get more detailed information about the residency requirements for specific programs.

Benefits of Online Education

A distinctive benefit of online psychology degree programs is a highly customized curriculum that is directly related to students' individual career goals. In addition, graduates of online psychology programs often rate the personal attention they receive from their professors, who are experienced, practicing psychologists or counselors, as far superior to their experience in traditional universities.

Licensure & Accreditation

Many states require that students earn their degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university in order to be eligible for psychologist or counselor licensure. The schools featured on All Psychology Schools are accredited secondary education institutions.

Schools can be accredited by one of seven regional accrediting bodies, which grant approval of an institution based on adherence to certain academic quality standards. Schools offering online programs can also be accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), an association formed specifically to accredit distance education and training schools. The DETC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Depending on the licensing requirements for the state in which you intend to practice, getting an online degree may affect your eligibility for licensure. Washington state, for example, requires that approved doctoral programs "involve at least one continuous year of full-time residency at the institution which grants the degree." Most online programs do not meet this requirement, even if the program has residency requirements, and are ineligible toward licensing requirements in that state.