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A Guide to Psychology Degrees Online

Our psychology specialties guide makes it easy for you to find a field of study and get your psychology degree online.

psychology in dictionary

Psychology takes into account many aspects of human development, studying the mental and behavioral facets of human nature and social dynamics from the internal (personal physical and genetic composition) and external (impacts of society, family and conditions on an individual or group) points of view.

With such a wide range of studies—from physiological and neurological to sociological and developmental, it's no wonder these sometimes overlapping disciplines can become a little murky and difficult to distinguish. We've created a "quick" guide if you're looking to earn a counseling or psychology degree online.

 

Specialties at a Glance

  • Cognitive Psychology—Cognitive and perceptual psychologists study human perception, thinking and memory.
  • Developmental Psychologist—Developmental psychologists study human development—the physiological, cognitive and social development that takes place throughout every stage of our lives. They study the biological and environmental aspects that shape who we are.
  • Educational Psychologist— Educational psychologists study how children and adults learn in educational settings, in a continual effort to improve upon current teaching methods.
  • Experimental Psychologist—Experimental psychologists use a methodological approach to conduct experiments in controlled situations in order to examine or establish hypotheses about human behavior. Experimental approaches are used in the fields of clinical, educational, social and child psychology as well.
  • Forensic Psychologist—Forensic psychologists apply psychology to the criminal justice or legal system. Forensic psychologists perform both forensic duties, which are related to the courts, and clinical duties as they personally treat clients with counseling and therapy.
  • Geriatric Psychologist—Geropsychologists deal with the special problems faced by the elderly. The emergence and growth of these specialties reflects the increasing participation of psychologists in providing direct services to special patient populations.
  • Industrial Psychologist—Industrial-organizational psychologists work to boost employee satisfaction, performance and quality of work life in offices and organizational settings by applying psychological principles and research methods.
  • Marriage and Family Therapist—Marriage and family therapists treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of the family. They also evaluate and resolve relationship problems, behavioral problems, health issues and other conflicts that impact trust, love, communication and general well-being within family relationships.
 
  • Mental Health Counselor—Mental health counselors offer guidance to individuals, couples or families dealing with issues that affect their mental health or well-being.
  • Neuropsychologist—Neuropsychologists study the relationship between brain function, behavior and psychological processes. Their work is founded in scientific research and methodology, and shares many similarities with cognitive psychology and cognitive science.
  • Rehabilitation Counselor—Rehabilitation counselors guide people with mental, physical, developmental and emotional disabilities through the complete rehabilitation process—from the diagnosis or injury stage through personal recovery, independence and employment.
  • School Counselor—School counselors, otherwise known as guidance counselors, help guide our nation's youth through the primary and secondary education systems (K-12 grades) as well as continuing education programs in colleges, universities, technical and trade schools.
  • School Psychologist—School psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools or school district offices to resolve students' learning and behavior problems.
  • Social Worker—Clinical social workers provide mental health services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental, behavioral and emotional disorders in individuals, families and groups.
  • Social Psychologist—Social-personality psychologists observe individual quirks and personality traits while studying how people interact with others on a social level. Social psychology examines how human beings react to and are affected by social conditions, while personality psychology studies how people differ from each other.
  • Sports Psychologist—Sports psychologists study the psychological and mental effects of participating in sports, as well as the way an individual participant's own mental state impacts their performance.
  • Substance Abuse Counselor—Substance abuse counselors are professionals who specialize in helping people with alcohol, drug, gambling and eating disorders.
  • Vocational Counselor—Vocational counselors, also referred to as career counselors or employment counselors, provide educational and career counseling to individuals and groups of people of all ages and backgrounds—from high school students to ex-convicts.