Online Psychology Degree Programs

Online psychology degree programs are designed to provide you with the tools you need to understand the mental processes involved in human behavior. In fact, more and more careers outside of traditional psychology require the skills you will learn in a psychology degree program. Many government and non-profit organizations desperately need people with psychology skills to help them manage their human resources optimally.

Online Psychology Degree Programs and Specializations

Online psychology degree programs, counseling degrees and related courses are available by distance learning in these and more areas of study:

Clinical Psychology Degree
Forensic Psychology Degree
Sports Psychology Degree
Masters Degree Counseling Psychology
Doctorate Degree in Counseling
Industrial / Organizational Psychology

What can you expect from a psychology degree?

Psychology degrees focus on providing you with skills in human behavior, human development, group behavior and thought, and personality. Newer concepts in online psychology degree programs include the genetic component of behavior, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

About Online Psychology Degrees and Programs

Many students pursue their psychology degree through an online psychology degree program. Accredited online colleges focus on providing online education and psychology courses at a learner's convenience. Some distance learning universities offer accelerated psychology degrees online for faster program completion. You should be careful to make sure that the online psychology degree program you attend is accredited to ensure that it will be accepted by employers and other colleges and universities, and to protect yourself against fraudulent degree programs and diploma mills.

Associate's Degree in Psychology

An associates degree is an undergraduate degree that can open many doors for an aspiring psychologist, but state laws usually require at least a master's degree to practice psychology, and most require a doctoral degree in psychology to become a licensed psychologist. Associate's degree training includes introductions to human behavior, psychology, counseling techniques, and legal and ethical issues in psychology. An associates degree in psychology is typically a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

A bachelor's degree is psychology an undergraduate degree that provides greater depth and breadth to your understanding of psychology. There are many high-quality online schools offering a bachelors psychology degree program. In addition to more coursework in human behavior and psychology, you will also receive instruction in childhood and adult growth and development, social psychology, personality, health psychology, abnormal psychology, and psychology research methods. Your problem-solving skills will be sharpened and challenged through actual case studies of psychology problems and solutions.

Master's Degree in Psychology

Many people choose to continue their psychology education in a master's degree in psychology program. Online masters degree in psychology programs are designed for busy professionals who want to take their careers to the next level. A master's degree in psychology provides you with in-depth training you will need to specialize in sports psychology, forensic psychology, organizational psychology, child psychology, criminal psychology, or family counseling. By the time you have completed your master's degree in psychology, you will be ready to continue on to your doctoral degree in psychology.

Doctoral Degree in Psychology

For those who are oriented toward research, a PhD in psychology program can be pursued online at several accredited colleges. Completion of a Ph.D. is a major undertaking, requiring additional coursework that analyzes psychology in great detail. You will also write and defend a dissertation which will include an original piece of research you have conducted. If you are interested in a clinical career, an online doctoral degree in psychology will provide you with the training you need to apply new revelations in research to a clinical setting. A doctorate degree in psychology (Psy.D.) requires much of the same education required by a Ph.D. program, but also requires an internship in a clinic working with a licensed, experienced psychologist.

Continuing Psychology Education

Clinical psychologists must be licensed by the state in which they practice psychology. Psychologists are required to participate in continuing education to maintain their license and keep current with advances in psychology practice.

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Careers and Salaries for Graduates with a Degree in Psychology

Psychologists often specialize in research and in clinical practice. Some of the specialties available to you as a psychologist include:

Sports psychology: A sports psychologist works with athletes who wish to improve their performance. Techniques such as visualization and positive mental self-talk have been shown to improve an athlete's performance significantly. Sports psychologists help athletes at all levels break bad habits, create positive self-talk, and practice visualization techniques to help them meet their performance goals.
Forensic psychology: A forensic psychologist works with the justice system to help courts answer questions about the competency of a defendant to stand trial, child custody issues, and assist victims of crimes with psychological services.
Organizational psychology: Organizational psychologists help businesses and governments manage and train their employees. They help managers improve the workplace environment and help employees improve their productivity.
Child psychology: Child psychologists specialize in the mental health and development of children and adolescents. As a child psychologist, you will evaluate children who may have been abused, assist adolescents who have behavioral problems or suffer from depression, and counsel children who abuse drugs or alcohol.
Criminal psychology: Criminal psychologists work with law enforcement agencies to help identify and locate criminals. Criminal psychologists work with prison inmates to reduce prison violence, help them understand and control their criminal behaviors, and reintegrate into the civil population when they are released from prison. The field of criminal psychology has become increasingly popular because of TV dramas such as "Criminal Minds", "NCIS" and "Lie to Me".

Psychology jobs require a minimum of a bachelor's degree. All states require psychologists to be licensed. Licensure usually requires a Ph.D. or Psy.D., but in some cases psychologists with a MS are eligible for state licensure to practice psychology. The federal government will hire you to practice psychology if you posses a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of psychology coursework.

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What can you do with a degree in Psychology?

When you graduate with a degree in psychology, you may find employment working with children and families, in the medical and public health sphere, as a mental health counselor or substance abuse counselor, forensic psychology, organizational psychology in industry or labor unions, or as a researcher. You could teach psychology in a college or university. Schools, public health offices, prisons, medical facilities, and government social services departments hire psychologists to provide services or develop psychology services policies. As a psychologist, you could also set up your own practice or consulting firm.

Psychologists do not prescribe medicine except in one or two states and only in a limited set of circumstances.

Salaries for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists range from $48,000 to over $68,000. Industrial psychologists can earn up to $115,000. Counselors with a BS or MS degree can expect to earn between $35,000 and $55,000. Most psychologists who have their own practices earn over $120,000. Your salary will vary depending upon where you live and for whom you work.