online experimental psychology master's degree

Ranking Top 10 Graduate Programs in Experimental Psychology

• By Kristen Fescoe: BA Psychology; MS Clinical and Forensic Psychology
• Published November 20, 2014
• Last Updated November 20, 2023
• Read Time 16 mins

Do you want to work in a lab setting and perform research on human behavior and mental processes using the scientific method? Does the idea of reading case studies from many different areas of the field of experimental psychology sound exciting? This article will shed light in gathering data on the graduate programs available in the field of experimental psychology. The rise in the number of graduate programs in the field of experimental psychology is directly correlated to the importance that the field has in America. Psychologists in this field are the ones innovating methodologies and practices that are used every day all across the country. They provide practicing psychologists with up-to-date and accurate information on this ever-evolving psychology. With new opportunities popping up all over in the experimental psychology category, more programs are offering programs in experimental psychology.

Experimental psychology graduate programs are excellent opportunities for professionals interested in research for their entire careers. With a focus on teaching advanced experimental methods of research, experimental psychology programs provide students with ways to enhance their own research projects. The programs listed below have different specializations and methods of teaching but all are reputable degrees that will help students begin their experimental psychology careers .

Methodology

This ranking was created by utilizing information collected on the National Council for Education Statistics and its publicly available College Navigator database. An original pool of 40 schools was assembled by searching for graduate programs in experimental psychology. Each program was then independently reviewed to ensure that it met the criteria for this ranking. The final 10 schools were chosen based on the school’s total estimated in-state graduate tuition rate for the length of the program. The programs that are listed as having tuition paid by the university were ranked based on their ranking available from U.S. News and World Report.

10. The University of Memphis

Memphis, tennessee, master of science/doctor of philosophy in experimental psychology, tuition: tuition paid by university.

The University of Memphis offers a graduate program in experimental psychology that has a built-in master’s degree in the course of study. This is an apprentice-based model that focuses on students building their own training plans with the assistance of a mentor.

The program starts students off with graduate-level courses, enabling students to learn more about research design as well as methodology. Introductory courses in their chosen specialization are also available at this step. Students will need to complete:

• a minimum of 90 credit hours of coursework
• a master’s thesis
• the Mid-Point Project
• a doctoral dissertation

More information on this degree can be found by contacting the school’s graduate admissions office.

9. Washington State University at Vancouver

Vancouver, washington, doctor of philosophy in experimental psychology.

Washington State University of Vancouver has one of the oldest graduate programs in experimental psychology. This program is known for developing some of the best experimental psychologists in the country. These professionals routinely work in high-placed positions in the public and private sectors.

This program has five specialization areas, including:

• Behavior Analysis
• Biological-Psychology
• Sensation and Perception
• Social/Organizational Psychology

The program can be completed in five years and students may earn a master’s along the way. The program focuses on:

• research projects

This degree is also unique in that students are fully funded for the first year of study. After that, the school continues to pay for the degree so long as the student works at the school as an educator or as a researcher. This degree requires:

• a doctoral thesis
• a set of qualifying exams

8. The University of Louisville

Louisville, kentucky.

The University of Louisville offers a graduate program in experimental psychology. This degree is for professionals interested in working as researchers or academics in one of the core areas of psychology with a special focus in research.

This program is offered to students free of charge. Students take on assistantships and other funding in order to complete their studies. Core curriculum requirements for this degree are kept at a minimum to ensure that students spend the majority of their time focused on their work.

This degree requires:

• a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework
• a dissertation
• a comprehensive final exam

More information can be found by contacting the school’s graduate admissions office.

7. Stony Brook University

Stony brook, new york, doctor of philosophy in cognitive science, quantitative concentration.

Stony Brook University offers a doctoral program in cognitive science that’s a great gateway for experimental psychologists. This research-focused program  provides students with state-of-the-art experimental psychology lab equipment and more for their research projects.

This is an interdisciplinary program that combines:

• linguistics
• computer science
• cognitive neuroscience

This program requires research papers annually. Along with a mentor, students produce research papers that will be submitted for publication. Students will also be required to present their papers at symposiums. Students can also take on the Quantitative Concentration, enabling them to teach at the university level. This degree requires:

• research papers
• a teaching practicum

More information is available through the school’s graduate admissions office.

6. The University of California – San Diego

La jolla, california, doctor of philosophy in psychology in cognitive psychology.

The graduate program in experimental psychology at University of California at San Diego is for students  interested in working as researchers or academics. This program enables students to be fully funded for the duration of their course of study. It even provides teaching assistants with a modest salary so that their needs are met.

There are five concentrations available with this degree:

• Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• a first-year research project
• a qualifying exam

5. The University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, minnesota, quantitative/psychometric methods graduate program.

The University of Minnesota offers a graduate program in quantitative/psychometric methods for experimental psychologists interested in working with research methods. Students have the option to choose concentrations, including:

• Multi-Way Data Analysis
• Nonparametric Methods
• Multivariate Methodology

Students are paired with a mentor. They and have access to an interdisciplinary program that requires courses in fields such as:

• mathematics

Since this is a highly individualized program, students are encouraged to contact the school’s graduate admissions office to learn more about the degree and graduation requirements.

4. Yale University

New haven, connecticut, doctor of philosophy in psychology, cognitive psychology.

Yale University offers a doctoral degree in psychology that has an emphasis on experimental psychology. There are five concentrations that include:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology
• Social/Personality Psychology

The last four concentrations enable experimental psychologists to focus on their intended area of specialization. Yale University funds a student’s education in exchange for the student participating  as a teaching assistant or a researcher. This program is individualized, even in the specialization areas. It’s recommended that before students apply to the program that they contact the school’s graduate admissions office for more information.

3. The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Ann arbor, michigan, doctor of philosophy in psychology, concentration in cognition and cognitive neuroscience.

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor offers a graduate program in psychology that provides concentration options for experimental psychologists. There is a total of six concentrations, including:

• Biopsychology
• Clinical Science
• Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Personality and Social Contexts

Students benefit from having their study fully funded by the college. They work as researchers or educators on campus in order to stay in the program. Each concentration could be considered its own program. Students have mentors in their specialization. They engage in research projects and apprenticeships that directly correlate to their chosen field.

More information on this degree, including graduation requirements and course offerings, can be found by contacting the school’s graduate admissions office.

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, massachusetts, doctor of philosophy in psychology, concentration in cognition, brain, and behavior.

Students who are accepted into the graduate program in psychology at Harvard University can enroll in the school’s Cognition, Brain and Behavior program. This program is for students interested in subfields within cognitive psych. Students learn the methodologies used in this field and use them in research projects and as part of studies that they participate in as researchers. Harvard University funds doctoral study provided that a student teaches undergraduate courses.

This degree is individualized to the student’s need. It’s highly recommended that a student contact the school’s graduate admissions office prior to applying to learn more about the program.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, california.

Stanford University offers a doctoral degree in cognitive psych. It is a great choice for students interested in experimental psychology. This is a five-year, full-time program of study that focuses on research and applied training. There are five different subfields in this degree, including:

• Developmental

Students are required to teach undergraduate courses during their course of study. In return, the school funds their program of study. Students are required:

• to complete a minimum of 135 units of coursework

Sample courses include:

• Foundations of Cognition
• Affective Science

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history of experimental psychology.

Psychology is the study of human behavior. Experimental psychology is the investigation of psychological processes including:

George Trumbull Ladd brought experimental psychology to the U.S. He founded the experimental psychology lab at Yale. Other experimental psychologists have had a major impact on the field as well. Wilhelm Wundt, German scientist, wrote Principles of Physiological Psychology in 1874. Wilhelm Wundt also established the first experimental psychology lab. Some say the first experimental psychology textbook was written by William James in 1890. There is some debate about who wrote the first experimental psychology textbook.

What are the Different Types of Research?

• psychological research
• experimental research
• scientific research
• empirical research
• applied research

What are the Different Types of Psychological Methods?

• experimental methods
• research methods
• scientific methods

What are the Different Branches of Psychology?

• Experimental Psychology
• Physiological Psychology
• Educational Psychology

What are the Career Options for a Graduate Program in Experimental Psychology?

• Experimental Psychologists
• Research Analyst
• Human Factors Engineer
• Cognitive Neuroscience Research Associate
• User Experience Researcher
• Sleep and Fatigue Research Assistant
• Neuroscience Researcher
• College or University Professor
• Ethnographer
• Product User Researcher
• Quantitative Research Lead
• Usability Researcher
• Human Factors and User Experience Research Lead
• Aerospace Experimental Psychologists
• Neuroimaging Data Scientist

How Much Can You Earn in this Field?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( BLS ), the current average experimental psychologist salary is about $81,000 a year, depending on the region that the professional lives in. It is possible to make upwards of $180,000 a year with experience or a doctoral degree. These salary numbers do not reflect cost-of-living adjustments or any additional forms of compensation that may come with some positions.

Professionals in this field tend to work as academics or researchers. In some cases, they are both. Working as a professor brings in an average salary of $85,000 when working at a public college or university. Salaries at private institutions can reach up to $100,000 and are very competitive.

Where do experimental psychologists work? Experimental psychologists can work in the public sector. other experimental psychologists work in private sectors. These private sectors can include private businesses and in a lab setting. The highest-paying jobs tend to be with tech companies in the business sector. These jobs can regularly fetch up to $180,000, provided that a professional meets the noted requirements for the positions. Working as user experience researchers, human factors engineers, or consultants are high-paying jobs that experimental psychologists are trained to do.

What are the Various Disciplines of Experimental Psychology?

Experimental psychology is a sub-discipline of psychology and is a psychology research-based discipline. Experimental psychologists in this field do the work necessary to create the theories and models that licensed psychologists use in their everyday work. While it is considered a sub-discipline, it is one of the most critical aspects of this ever-growing field.

Experimental psychology is informed by:

Utilizing all of these disciplines creates an environment in which these professionals can work. Depending on the specialization within experimental psychology, pioneers in this field will be informed in some disciplines over others.

There are several specializations within experimental psychology. This is due to the research nature of the field. Some of these include:

• developmental processes
• sensation and perception

Other specializations, such as human factor engineering or user experience design, use computer science and engineering to create a unique career path forward for some psychologists.

Underlying all of the work that an experimental psychologist does are some core skills. Communication, research, critical thinking, and writing skills are integral to a professional completing a psychological research study and presenting the results. Because their work is based on learning new things from studies, they must be able to communicate their findings in a way that provides their audience with a comprehensive conclusion.

Is Licensure Necessary to Work as an Experimental Psychologist?

Yes, licensure is required for experimental psychologists. This is the standard for most psychology professions because the field has a lot of contact with the general public. They also make decisions that impact the public in different facets of their lives. Professionals will find that most jobs will require licensure or a demonstration of actively seeking licensure.

The licensure requirements for experimental psychologists can vary from state to state. Some require a doctorate in the field while others will provide a pathway with just completing experimental psychology masters programs . Around 3,000 supervised hours of practice is also required by most states to ensure that professionals meet the minimum work requirement for licensure. Students are highly encouraged to contact their state’s Board of Psychology to find out what requirements they must meet in order to sit for licensure.

Professionals who wish to work as educators at a college or university do not need to have a teaching license. This is because experimental psychology is generally only taught at institutions of higher education, not in high schools. In America, professorships are granted to those with at least a master’s degree in their field and previous work experience. This is enough to ensure that they can teach experimental psychology. Full-time professors usually hold a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology and have been published or have worked as researchers.

Are Internships Required for a Graduate Program in Experimental Psychology?

Internships are required for this program and are notoriously difficult to complete in certain areas of the country. Internships help pave a path forward for licensure because all licensing exams have a mandatory number of supervised work hours that are needed to qualify for the exam. Internships that fit the requirements for licensure as experimental psychologists are hard to come by. Students must be willing to wait up to a year before finding a suitable work placement.

There are more students in experimental psychology programs than there are available internships. Students must be aware that the internship process is competitive. They should apply to a wide array of internships and interview with every single place until they find a job. Additionally, students should start the internship search as soon as possible, which can be up to a year in advance. This will ensure they find a placement in time for graduation as well as meet the criteria for licensure.

Is There a Way to Streamline Earning a Master’s and a Doctorate Degree in Experimental Psychology?

Yes, although it is not a universal pathway and some schools may not provide this pathway. Many schools that offer a graduate degree in experimental psychology may also offer a doctorate in the field. If this is the case, the school may allow students who have earned an undergraduate degree in psychology to enter the Ph.D. program while earning their master’s “along the way.”

The term “along the way” refers to a student entering the Ph.D. program and completing their experimental psychology masters degree prior to moving into doctoral work. It essentially is a guaranteed spot in a doctoral program while a student is completing their master’s degree. This ensures they will not have to wait for placement at their school. These placements can be very competitive. Most schools enroll fewer than five students every year in their experimental psychology program.

Many schools do not offer this pathway, so it is up to the student to check with the school prior to applying for the program. Experimental psychology graduates who earn their master’s degree and then apply for the doctoral program at the same school are often given preference in the application process, making it an attractive pathway for most candidates. However, preference does not equal a guarantee of acceptance. Students should try their best to shine in the master’s program for a chance in doctoral programs.

Experimental psychology is a fast-growing field that provides psychologists in all specializations with the theories and models that are important to their work. While many professionals in the field are interested in practicing psychology, those who choose to research the field are the true pioneers who are opening the doors to understanding how humans think and how that information can be applied to different areas of life.

This ranking of the top 10 graduate programs in experimental psychology will serve as a resource for students interested in advancing their education in the field.

If your career goals include using the experimental method and scientific methods to conduct scientific research and experimental research on human behavior, improving research methods, conducting psychological research, and working in experimental research centers and presenting your research findings, it sounds like you would be pleased to work as an experimental psychologist.

This concludes our ranking of the Top 10 Graduate Programs in Experimental Psychology.

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• What Are The Best Experimental Psychology Programs in the Country?

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Master’s in Experimental Psychology Degrees

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What can you do with a Master of Experimental Psychology degree?

Experimental Psychology is a branch of psychology that deals directly with obtaining answers about human behavior through the use of the scientific method.

Although human behavior is a highly observable entity, Experimental Psychologists want to look beyond what can be seen in order to draw conclusions about the unseen causes of behavior. This can be achieved through using psychological theory to state a hypothesis and testing that hypothesis to determine the causes of different behaviors or outcomes.

This type of experimentation is useful in determining environmental causes of negative behaviors, which can play a role in developing more effective public systems for the reduction of crime, creating more comfortable learning environments in an educational setting, and identifying areas of change within early childhood development.

This incredibly applied field of psychology has many applications and uses in modern society. Having the ability to describe, predict, and change behavior makes professionals in this field important to the development of many systems, including those in education, employment, substance abuse, mental health, and research.

Learn more about Online Experimental Psychology Master's Degrees.

What is Experimental Psychology?

This includes creating a hypothesis, selecting participants randomly, defining dependent and independent variables, manipulation of independent variables, and observation of dependent variables.

Other methods for testing within this field include behavior observation, independent case studies on individuals or groups, and correlation research. Each of these methods can provide for accurate scientific assumptions about why behaviors are occurring and what in the environment may be the cause.

Experimental Psychology is a subject that can also lead to careers in education, which can contribute to instructing more knowledgeable professionals to work in the field. Consulting psychologists in this field may also provide insight to companies or entities that seek answers about behavior prediction, change, or improvement. This interesting branch of psychology has many different applications, all dealing directly with human behavior and analysis.

Overview of Master's in Experimental Psychology Degree Programs

There are a few things to consider before choosing a Master's in Experimental Psychology program for your higher education. Degree programs in this discipline are offering both in tradition and online format.

Both have similar course work and instructors, but online degree programs can provide students with more opportunity for independence with their education, rather than having to plan their everyday lives around class schedules. Regardless of which method of instruction you choose, you should see similarities within each degree program.

One university offering the Master's in Experimental Psychology program - Middle Tennessee State University - requires students to complete 36 credit hours in order to graduate from their program.

This includes a 27 credit hour requirement for core courses, 3 hours in literature review and reading in psychology courses, and 6 elective hours. This program at MTSU allows students to complete the program in around 2 years on average.

How Long Does Does An Experimental Psychology Take?

Educational programs in Experimental Psychology typically last 2 years, but there are some that can be completed at faster or slower rates . Depending on what you require as a student, any of these programs could be what you are looking for. Since this is a highly experimental degree program, some students choose to take hybrid or traditional routes in order to have the hands on experimental experience needed to be an accurate researcher in the field. However, innovative online degree programs integrate independent research and experimentation as a part of their programs as well.

Throughout the duration of a Master’s in Experimental Psychology program, students may have the opportunity to take courses that are relevant to Experimental Psychology, alongside developing and testing their own hypotheses.

Traditional programs in Experimental Psychology may also include laboratory experiences that include technology such as electroencephalography and specially set rooms for observations. Depending on where you choose to enroll in a degree program, you may find your experience to vary from another.

Example Courses in Experimental Psychology

Courses in Experimental Psychology typically take into consideration the need for advanced knowledge in research and experiment design. Since these topics are touched on in undergraduate programs, most of the courses in the master’s level program are advanced and provide more practical information for upcoming psychologists.

In addition to experiment-driven learning, students may also learn more about the diverse attributes of human personality and development. Our team of educational experts has provided a list of some common courses for Experimental Psychology degree programs below.

Research Methods for Behavioral Sciences

This course can teach students how to properly organize a research project for future experimentation. Students taking this course may be expected to locate resources and provide new and innovative ideas to their area of study.

Statistics includes a look into graphical representation of data, working with descriptive statistics, probability, variance, and statistical interference. The relationship between statistical analysis and behavioral experimentation may also be discussed throughout this course.

Theories of Personality

Students in this course can learn about different theories of personality are described and understood in current society. Current ideas and theories in personality will be looked at in detail in order to give students a more modern understanding of personality acquisition and change throughout the lifetime.

Advanced Developmental Psychology

While in this course, students may take a look at the most modern theories regarding lifespan development. Physical, cognitive, and social development are a few of the main topics that are touched on in this course, as well as emotion change throughout the lifetime.

What can I do with a Master’s in Experimental Psychology?

Experimental Psychology is primarily based on research-driven experimentation that seeks to better understand human behavior and mental processes. This field can be applied to any area that pertains to human behavior, which can be a broad application for just one subject.

Most Experimental Psychology graduates have the desire to work in an experimental setting, designing tests to determine the causes and triggers for behaviors. However, there are areas in which Experimental Psychology professionals can apply their expertise outside of a lab setting. Our team has researched some of the prevalent areas for graduates within this field to find a career. Take a look at some potential career opportunities below.

• Experimental Psychologist
• Research Psychologist
• Statistician
• Education Research
• College Professor of Psychology
• Consultation

Potential Earnings/Outlook in Experimental Psychology

Depending on where you live, how long you have worked in the field, and what type of field you work in, you may find the earning potential to be incredibly diverse. Experimental Psychology professionals can be found in educational settings, research, consultation, or even with the government. Your ability to earn relies solely on your level of education and the type of field you choose to work in with your degree. Take a look below this section at some salaries for related positions.

• Psychologists – all other : $95,710 on average per year ( BLS ).
• Psychologists : $75,230 on average per year ( BLS ).
• Psychology Teacher – Post Secondary : $84,440 on average per year ( BLS ).
• Statistician : $85,160 on average per year ( BLS ).

Ready To Start Your Master’s in Experimental Psychology?

You know the details around the degree, courses you might expect, and how long the master’s degree will likely take you to complete. Now you can review our extensive database of available Experimental Psychology Master’s degrees below.

Compare the finite details of each one and ask for more information about the ones that sound the most appealing. It will help you figure out which one will best match with your schedule, learning style, and degree requirements.

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“May you live in interesting times” is an old Chinese curse and we in the modern age certainly are living in interesting times. There’s little doubt that modern life can be complicated and confusing.

Globally, we’ve seen political unrest, increased poverty, wars, and more stressors on our individual lives. As these stresses increase, so does the need for coping mechanisms. Take, for instance, what the American Psychological Association refers to as Covid fallout. The need for psychologists significantly jumped during the global Covid-19 pandemic, as people sought help dealing with ill health, isolation, illnesses, deaths of friends and family, job loss, etc. We’ve also seen an uptick in societal violence with the sudden and unexplained violence in schools, churches, concerts, etc.

Psychology specialties include, but aren’t limited to, Master of Arts or Master of Science in Cognitive Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Neuropsychology, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, and more. But, not all psychologists are clinically trained, and not all non-clinical psychologists work in mental health. Today, a non-clinical psychology degree is beneficial to a variety of professional fields in education, human resources, business, nursing, legal services, and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most rapidly growing psychology fields center on education, guidance, and career counselors. Median salaries for master’s prepared psychologists can range from $79,510-$105,310, depending on where you’re employed and live.

Recommended Online Programs

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How We Ranked the 10 Best Online Psychology Master’s Degree Programs

The College Consensus 10 Best Online Colleges Psychology Master’s Degrees are ranked by three factors that we evenly weighted:

• US News Ranking
• Niche Score
• Grad Reports Score

With these elements in mind, our team looks at college programs according to their record of providing a return on investment. Our ranking of the 10 Best Online Colleges Psychology Master’s Degrees shows the best combination of market reputation, educational quality, and rewarding income. All the programs in this ranking hold accreditation. We hope there is a program on this list that inspires you to take the next step.

University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA

With this MS in Applied Psychology (MAPP) from the online program of the University of Southern California , you’ll combine Consumer Psychology with Organizational Psychology to advance your career with a blend of psychology and business. This program is offered entirely online, and you’ll take two courses each term and can finish your MAPP in 16 months. You’ll complete an internship compatible with your goals with real-world experiences, which is also completed online. USC sponsors an optional internship in Dublin, Ireland for this degree, that provides experience in international organization and skills.

Considered one of the best online psychology master’s programs available, USC Online uses the latest online education technology with faculty experts. The opportunities for MAPP graduates are plentiful and include careers in project management, organizational development consultant, diversity and inclusion director, and research analyst, among others.

Pepperdine University Malibu, CA

You won’t need to visit Pepperdine University near Malibu, California (unless, of course,  you want) to take advantage of its Master of Arts in Psychology . Offered entirely online through the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP), this MA can be completed in as few as 18-24 months. Online graduate programs are also available in MA in Clinical Psychology and MS in Applied Behavioral Analysis.

This curriculum offers core psychological concepts and theories, research, emotional and mental disorders, and evaluation methods. You’ll become acquainted with psychotherapy techniques through five foundation courses, none core classes, and two electives. Your MA degree will qualify you for a wide selection of careers in child development, corporate recruiter, market research analyst, program director, and others. The career services at Pepperdine provide 15-month access to LinkedIn Premium Career ,  job boards, virtual networking events, and much more. Cohorts are offered four times a year, and GRE test scores aren’t required to apply.

Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ

If you’re looking for a flexible, online MS in Psychology degree  from one of the country’s premier distance education programs, you’ll want to explore the program at Arizona State University.

This degree requires 36 credit hours that you’ll complete in 12 classes which are 7.5 weeks long. There’s little difference between the online and the on-campus program, and the same faculty’ll teach you. Online studies concentrate on courses, while the on-campus program focuses on independent study and research. While the program doesn’t prepare you for clinical psychology or counseling practices, it’s an excellent curriculum to enhance your career in many professions. You’ll have an excellent foundation for working in public relations, marketing research, education, social services, and more. You’ll apply to the ASU Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. ASU provides personalized student services for online students in advising, time management coaching, and technical support.

Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Global is part of the renowned Purdue University System and is one of the pioneers in online education. The online Masters’s in Psychology  degree is taught by doctoral faculty with real-world experience.

You’ll be sure to find a field of study to suit you from concentrations in General Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Addictions, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Applied Behavior Analysis. More than 94% of Purdue University Global graduates are employed or continuing their education within 18 months of finishing this program. You can earn the degree in 24 months of full-time study and may be able to earn credit for prior professional or military work experience. You’ll have access to several student resources and are invited to join free webinars and become a member of the school’s Psychology Club, Autism Speaks U and Psi Chi International Honor Society.  There are multiple start dates for this MS in Psychology program.

LeTourneau University Longview, TX

You may not be familiar with this private Texas university, but  LeTourneau University is known as the Christian Polytechnic University and was founded in 1946. This non-licensure program awards an  MS in General Psychology  offered entirely online in a flexible format. With a small graduate enrollment, you’ll be able to receive personal attention from faculty and student support services.

This is one of two graduate programs offered through the School of Psychology and Counseling, takes 39 credit hours for completion, and you’ll be prepared for a wide range of career options. You’ll have the opportunity to choose 12 hours of electives on education, leadership, business, and religious topics. A general psychology graduate degree will be beneficial for school counselors, a base for sports psychology, work in Human Resources,

George Mason University Fairfax, VA

Since 1972, George Mason University has called Fairfax, Virginia home. Still, you won’t need to visit campus to take advantage of this 100% online  Applied Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Master of Professional Studies)  degree.

This 30-credit-hour curriculum is anchored in evidence-based practices, research and data analytic methods, and communication skills that benefit HR and business professionals to empower employees. The asynchronous courses are a blend of required and elective studies and can be taken part-time and taught by expert faculty. You’ll study methods to identify candidates who are the best fit for your company, acquire skills to develop engaging training, reward and performance programs, etc. Admission is on a rolling basis. You can watch, at any time, a pre-recorded Virtual Open House to learn more about the MPS program.

Ball State University Muncie, IN

Since its opening in 1918, Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, has grown into a nationally recognized mid-sized school with a robust roster of online programs. Two programs are the Master of Science in Quantitative Psychology  and the Master of Arts in Educational Psychology .

Both degrees are offered through BSU’s Department of Educational Psychology and are provided in flexible, asynchronous online formats and are identical to the degrees offered on campus. The 33-credit-hour MS in Quantitative Psychology program is designed to develop your skills in analysis, research, assessment, and statistics. The Master of Arts in Educational Psychology track will train you in educational research methods and statistics, learning principles, psychometrics, as well as online learning. Ball State University offers a full suite of student services from academic advising to career planning assistance. You’ll want to learn more about online BSU by attending a virtual information session.

Nova Southeastern University

Since you’re looking for an online psychology graduate program, explore the MS in General Psychology offered at Nova Southeastern University . An Applied Health Science track is also available. NSU is consistently named in national rankings

This is a 30-credit hour, non-clinical, general psychology program that gives you the option to write a thesis or take two additional courses. You’ll study psychology theory and research, and all classes are offered 100% online. No GRE test scores are required for admission. An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university is required but doesn’t have to be in psychology. There are three start dates for the online MS degree in August, January, and May.

McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA

Considered one of the top 100 regional universities by  U.S. News and World Report,  McNeese State University’s Department of Nursing and Health Professions has an online MA in Psychology  with two concentrations. The programs are offered in 100% online format, self-paced, and provide you the same student benefits as on-campus students.

You can choose Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) or a General/Experimental Psychology specialty. This ABA program is one of only twenty-two graduate-level programs in the world to hold accreditation from the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)® and can lead to certification. If your goal is to earn a Ph.D., you might want to explore the General/Experimental concentration. This specialty has a research thesis component and can improve your admission to a doctoral program.

Palo Alto University Palo Alto, CA

Are you thinking about making a career change? Palo Alto University’s part-time online psychology program has four concentrations: General Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Tech, and Mental Health, and Ph.D. Prep (this concentration does require an intensive, one-week residency on the Palo Alto campus.)

The flexible online format allows you to continue working and meet family obligations while earning your advanced degree from a nationally ranked psychology program. You’ll participate in weekly Zoom virtual classrooms held in the evening, discussion groups and chat rooms with classmates and professors, and audio and video conferencing sessions.  This degree program won’t lead to licensure but will prepare you for teaching, healthcare, business, research, and more careers. Admission to the program is on a rolling basis and you don’t need GRE scores to be considered.

What are the Benefits of Choosing an Online Master in Psychology?

You’ve decided to earn an advanced degree in psychology to improve your career options and learn new skills and theories. You know what you want to do, but how do you manage to study, work obligations, and family? How do you afford it? If you’re like the majority of students, you need to work while you’re earning your master’s degree. How do you find the best program for your goals?

You should explore the numerous online degree options available.

The benefits of an online degree are numerous. Some of the obvious benefits are:

• Flexibility
• Maintain a Work-Life-School Balance
• Financial savings
• No employment interruption

Other benefits are less obvious:

• Provides a wider choice of schools, programs, and degrees
• Access to top faculty (nationally and globally)
• Enhance critical thinking skills

Will Employers Trust an Online Masters in Psychology?

When colleges and universities first began offering online classes and degrees in the late 1980s, it was a new educational approach, and technology was outpacing traditional educational concepts. Early online degrees didn’t hold accreditation from the Department of Education approved regional accrediting agencies such as the Higher Learning Commission and others. State licensing boards didn’t recognize online degrees. Federal Financial Aid wasn’t awarded for virtual studies. Diplomas indicated the degree was earned online, and less than reputable “schools” offered degrees for a price.

Fast forward to now, and you’ll find online degree programs that are fully accredited and leading to licensure, awarding financial aid, and nationally recognized. We saw during the COVID 19 global pandemic universities and colleges quickly move classes to an online format so students could continue their studies with little interruption. That worked well and has increased the number of online programs schools is offering.

Online degree programs follow the same curriculum, and classes are taught by the same faculty found on campus. Clinical programs are available in psychology that requires practicum experiences conducted close to your home community or require limited on-campus visits for intensive experiences.

In short, prospective employers will trust accredited, online degrees just as if you spent hours in a classroom on a college or university campus. If you’re currently employed, your employer will appreciate your dedication to your education while not having to leave work to do it.

What Jobs Can I Get with a Masters in Psychology?

If you’re unsure if you want to pursue a doctorate in psychology, a master’s in psychology is a great place to start. What employment options you’ll have will greatly depend on what type of psychology master’s you earn and, in part, where you live. Let’s look first at the three main degree options and areas in which you can work:

Clinical Psychology

Depending on where you live, this can be considered a terminal degree and allows you to practice as a psychotherapist under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist (doctorally prepared)

Applied Psychology

Applied psychology is a great option for employment in organizational/industrial psychology careers

Experimental Psychology

This can be considered a terminal degree or a solid foundation for doctoral study. An MS in Psychology with this concentration prepares you for employment in research areas such as market research, laboratories, or research assistant positions.

In general, though, the job opportunities for master’s prepared psychology students are broad and can be found in government agencies, private business and/or industry, and healthcare. You may find employment as/in:

• Rehab counselor
• Human Resources
• Forensic Psychologist (working with attorneys, judges, etc.)
• Social Work, School Psychologist, Occupational Psychologist, Mental Health Counselor

Since psychology is a highly popular undergraduate degree at colleges and universities, you may be able to find a undergraduate psychology teaching position on the community college level or at some universities.

How Much Can I Make with a Master in Psychology?

When calculating how much you can earn as a master’s prepared psychologist, there are more considerations than just salary. Depending on where you live and what business/industry your working in, there are benefits that should be included in your “earnings.” If you’re working for a business or company providing employee benefits, you can possibly receive compensation in the form of a 401k, healthcare insurance, paid sick and vacation days, child care options, educational reimbursement, and more.

Since there are several employment options for you with a master’s in psychology, determining what you can earn is a bit complicated. We looked at what you might expect to earn by what is published by employment sites such as PayScale and ZipRecruiter. Non-employment sites such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Psychological Association also provide earnings estimates.

The BLS sets the median salary for this degree at $80,890-$81,040 annually, and Salary.com shows a range of $79,099 and $105,908 for an MA nationally. PayScale.com reports a $62k national base salary. The American Psychological Association estimates that 57.4% of psychologists earn a minimum annual salary of $60,000 and $120,000. ZipRecruiter.com sets a national median salary at $66,311 annually. Indeed.com provides a national average range for over 15 possible careers, from teachers at $23,426 per year to sales managers at $79,972.

Your salary will be dependent on where you work, live, and your employment position. We’re just providing broad estimates available at this time.

Best Online Psychology Bachelor’s

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Master’s in Experimental Psychology Programs and Resources

Experimental psychologists use experimental methods on humans and animals to study the psychology of topics such as (but not limited to) development, memory, emotion, cognition, learning, and sensory/perception. Most research involves gathering data and manipulating variables in a laboratory setting in order to advance scientific understanding in a particular field of study. Postgraduate experimental psychology degree programs are designed to prepare students for professions in academic, industrial or institutional settings that may include research, administration, teaching, data analysis, psychological science, health/medical sciences, drug development, or independent psychological scientific research. Highlighted in the tables below are U.S. colleges that are ranked by affordability and offer experimental psychology graduate degree programs. There is also a resource section at the bottom of the page with useful information on experimental psychology. 

Most Affordable Experimental Psychology Master’s Programs

Most Affordable Experimental Psychology Doctorate Programs

Experimental Psychology Associations, Journals, and Resources

Experimental Psychology Related Podcasts

49: Frank McAndrew, PhD – Experimental and Evolutionary Social Psychologist and Professor Discusses his Journey, The Power of Gossip, and the Psychology of Creepiness

28: Tera D. Letzring, PhD – Professor of Psychology and Department Chair at Idaho State University Recalls Her Academic and Professional Journey

24: Andrea D. Clements, PhD – Psychology Professor and Researcher Finds her Passion and Calling

6: Heather C. Lench, Ph.D. – Surfing the Emerging Interdisciplinary Field of Affective Science to Better Understand Human Thought and Behavior

50 Best Online Masters in Psychology 2023

Ready to find your ideal master's program.

www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

If you want to follow a career path of helping people but also like understanding the mind and how thoughts affect behavior, the field of psychology is rich with possibilities. With a wide variety of different psychological sub-fields, there’s a career for almost everyone.

A recent trend shows that the Master of Psychology degree is one of the  50 most popular online master degree programs , which makes perfect sense. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists are enjoying  an average rate of job growth , meaning there are a good number of jobs out there if you want to advance your career or join this field of work.

The one thing needed to join this professional boon is, at the very least, a master’s degree. And for ultimate convenience, pursuing a masters in psychology online is a great way to get the academic credentials you need. We’ve assembled a list of good colleges for psychology ; read on to discover how we came up with our list and which online master’s program from an accredited school is right for you!

See Also: Top 50 Online Master’s in Counseling Programs

Methodology

We examined reputable and publicly available sources to determine the best psychology masters programs . This includes:

• U.S. News and World Report
• The Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
• The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
• The American Psychological Association (APA)
• The websites of colleges, universities, and institutes offering online master of psychology programs.

In doing so, we compiled a list of 50 psychology master’s degrees that best fit our methodology criteria, which are as follows:

• Commendation: Recognition among nationally accepted ranking sources such as U.S. News and World Report (25%)
• Accessibility and affordability : Psychology master’s degrees with the lowest out-of-state tuition per credit hour and those offered completely online received the highest marks (25%)
• Multiple degree options and/or concentration areas available : Degree customization or specialization areas (25%)
• Preparation for pursuing licensure or further education: Clearly stating the extent the psychology master’s program prepares you to apply to a doctoral degree or to become a practitioner (25%)

This methodology provides a much more comprehensive view of top online psychology masters degree programs than just Googling “masters psychology online,” or “online MA psychology,” or “best online colleges psychology.”

In many cases, these online psychology masters programs accredited by MPCAC, CACREP, and other organizations offer a top-tier curriculum aligned to the professional standards of practicing psychologists.

Let’s get to the list of the top 50 online accredited masters in psychology programs!

See Also : 10 Best Online Masters in Social Work

Online Master’s in Psychology

#1. chicago school of professional psychology, program details.

With multiple psychology masters programs online , TCSPP offers you many choices. A Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology degree program offers both a licensure and a non-licensure track, as well as a dual degree in forensic psychology and Master of Legal Studies .

If you pursue this dual MA/MLS degree in forensic psychology, you’ll take classes such as “Evaluation and Treatment of the Adult Offender” and “Ethics and Professional Issues.” You can complete this forensic psychology program in two to four years. 

Also available is the  Master’s degree in International Psychology program , which trains you in the “theory and practice of psychology to provide services to individuals and groups working in international settings.” You can follow a general track or choose from three concentrations for this online master’s in psychology degree:

• Environmental Advocacy
• Management and Leadership
• Trauma and Group Conflict

The  Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology  degree is yet another option. It’s a 31-credit hour psychology program with a required research project if you wish to research the intersection of psychopharmacology and medical issues.

Regardless of which of these master’s degrees you choose, there are online support services to help you succeed. You can even preview an online class before you enroll to see if The Chicago School is for you.

Admissions website

See Also: 20 Best Masters of Education Programs

#2. University of Oregon

The online psychology masters program at the University of Oregon is a 39-credit program that focuses on unique topics such as adversity and resilience, intervention science, and the neuroscience of trauma. During your time in this psychology program, you’ll take courses like:

• Substance Use and Addiction
• Translational Neuroscience in Adulthood
• Methods of Program Measurement
• Community Needs Assessments
• Implementation with Community and Cultural Perspectives

There is also a heavy emphasis on psychological research. You’ll take a capstone research course each of the six terms of this psychology program to strengthen your research skills, decision-making abilities, and critical thinking skills. You’ll also develop improved data analysis skills.

This is not a licensure program, nor does it provide clinical training for clinical psychologists. Rather than preparing you to work in family therapy or clinical psychology, it prepares you to work in community programs, public agencies, and other social services settings.

All told, this online master’s in psychology program requires you to complete 49 quarter credits, or 18 courses, all of which are offered entirely online. To apply, students must have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. You must also be familiar with psychological research and be an employee (or volunteer) or a social or mental health services organization.

See Also: 10 Most Popular and Cheap Online Master’s Degree Programs

#3. Purdue University Global

The Master’s degree in Psychology from Purdue Global is a flexible psychology program that offers four concentrations:

• Forensic Psychology
• General Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology

No matter which concentration you choose from these master’s in psychology programs , you’ll need to complete 60-75 quarter credits to graduate, which takes about two years of full-time studies to complete. Each course is condensed to a 10-week term, allowing you to move through the material more quickly, but since you take fewer classes at once, you aren’t overwhelmed with work.

Another component of this program’s flexibility is that you can choose between a thesis or a capstone project. The thesis focuses more on research, while the capstone project focuses more on real-world applications of your learning. Either way, upon graduation, you’ll have a wide skill set that enables you to facilitate change, empower others, and help others become more mentally healthy. You can do so in a wide range of settings, including private practice, community mental health, and residential treatment centers.

You need a bachelor’s degree to apply to this psychology program. When applying, you must submit official transcripts from an accredited institution showing you completed your undergraduate degree.

See Also: 10 Best Master Degree Programs Online

#4. National University

National University offers Master of Arts degrees in a variety of concentrations in Psychology, each of which is offered online through the Department of Psychology in the School of Arts, Letters, and Sciences.

For example, the 90-quarter unit  Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology program  prepares you to sit for licensure (in California—if you reside in another state, you should check the state’s requirements for licensure) with two emphasis area options: Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) or a combined MFT and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).

Coursework for this 90-quarter unit psychology program includes the following:

• Community Mental Health
• Lifespan and Sexual Development
• Child and Adolescent Therapy
• Legal and Ethical Issues
• Relational and Systemic Trauma

A practicum is also required for both tracks. During the practicum, you’ll get real-world experience applying what you’ve learned in class in a mental health setting, such as family therapy or clinical psychology. Your practicum will be supervised, so you’ll get valuable feedback from an experienced practitioner.

If your interests lie in other areas of psychology, National offers several other online graduate programs. For example, if you’re interested in the “intersection of performance psychology techniques, counseling, peak performance psychology, and sport science,” National offers the 67.5 quarter unit Master’s degree in Performance Psychology program. The curriculum contributes towards the academic requirements for the certification granted by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Other online psychology program options include:

• Human Behavior Psychology
• Applied Behavioral Analysis
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Health Psychology

#5. Ball State University

The Ball State online psychology degree masters in Quantitative Psychology is ideal for you if you want to “study methods and techniques for the measurement of human attributes, the statistical and mathematical modeling of psychological processes, the design of research studies, and the analysis of psychological data.”

Part of the esteemed Teachers College and the Department of Educational Psychology, the 33-credit hour psychology program offers two concentrations: Quantitative or Mixed Methods. Both share core courses such as:

• Multivariate Statistical Techniques
• Applied Regression Analysis
• Theory of Measurement

Also offered is the Master’s degree in Educational Psychology , which is entirely online and can be completed in just eighteen months. As one of the best online psychology degree programs available, this 30-credit psychology program offers four specializations:

• Gifted and Talented
• Human Development
• Statistical and Research Methods
• Neuropsychology

Many online student support services are offered through Ball State Online to help you succeed, from individual academic advisors to career planning to tech support.

#6. Adler University

Several fully online psychology programs are offered through Adler University. A unique online masters in psychology degree is an Master’s degree in Military Psychology . This 36-credit hour program can be completed in as little as one year and addresses the increased psychological needs of the military. The expert faculty is comprised of “practitioners with real-world experience in behavioral health, psychology, and the military” and provides courses such as “Mental Health Law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice” and “War, Trauma, Grief, Death, and Loss.”

Adler University also offers a 36-credit  Industrial-Organizational Psychology  program with a “broad range of perspectives and theoretical approaches.” The online master’s in psychology program can be completed in as little as a year and offers three concentrations:

• Data Science
• Human Resource Management
• Training and Development

You can also choose a  Master’s degree in Psychology  that prepares you for a doctoral degree or, if you’re already a practicing psychologist, a broader perspective on the Adlerian perspective that can help you provide better services to your private practice clients. This psychology program also emphasizes inclusivity, social justice, and social responsibility. You will practice these tools to improve the services you provide to your clients.

The MA program offers four concentrations:

• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Crisis Management
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Health and Wellness

You must complete 36 credits to graduate. Sometimes, you might only need one year to satisfy these requirements.

Other related online graduate degree options from Adler University include a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

All psychology programs at Adler University have the ongoing benefit of membership in the University’s Alumni Association, which provides you an “extensive ongoing networking and professional development opportunities.”

#7. Texas A&M University

Well inside the top ten of our online psychology master’s degree programs is Texas A&M. The College of Education & Human Development offers a Master in Educational Psychology program with two emphasis areas you can complete entirely online.

Through the Department of Educational Psychology, students of the MEd in Psychology can focus on School Counseling or Creativity & Cognition. Both focus areas consist of 36 credit hours and have no residency requirement.

The Creativity & Cognition program provides 24 hours of core classes in such topics as “Educational Psychology” and “Learning Theories.” Electives make up the remaining twelve hours with class choices like “Personal Creativity and Giftedness” and “Lateral Thinking.”

The School Counseling program is offered synchronously and asynchronously and can be completed in about two years. Though coursework is done online, an in-school practicum must be completed in your location in the program’s second year. Some of the courses you’ll take include:

• Counseling Theories for School Counselors
• Multicultural Counseling in Schools
• Issues in Child and Adolescent Development
• Assessment in School Settings
• Consultation in Special Education

Upon completing this online master’s in psychology degree, you’re prepared to be a school counselor in Texas.

#8. Fort Hays State University

The next option among our masters in psychology online programs is the Master’s degree in Psychology with a school psychology emphasis from FHSU. This 30-credit hour program can lead into the 36-credit hour Education Specialist (EdS) in School Psychology degree program if you wish.

Offering “coursework and practical experiences relevant to both psychology and education,” the degrees allow you to become a licensed school psychologist. Once the 66 hours of coursework is completed, you engage in a 1,200-hour supervised internship to work towards licensure for school psychology.

This online masters psychology program offers classes such as:

• Advanced Child Psychopathology
• Experimental Methods
• Professional Ethics in Psych.

The EdS program offers coursework with topics like:

• Psychological Consultation in Schools
• Program Evaluation
• Characteristics of Early Childhood Special Education

FHSU offers support and tutorials to guide you through the online academic process, and staff and faculty are on hand to help advise and instruct.

#9. University of West Alabama

UWA Online provides numerous online master degree programs in psychology and counseling, including:

• Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Master’s degree in Adult Continuing Education: Counseling and Psychology
• Master’s degree in Family Counseling
• Master’s degree in School Counseling
• Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology
• Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling

One of the most popular of these master’s degrees is the  Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling . If you study full-time, this 60-credit psychology program takes two to three years to complete. Courses are accelerated into an eight-week format, so you finish each course more quickly but take fewer courses at a time.

Some of the classes you’ll take include the following:

• Theory and Techniques in Distance Counseling
• Diagnostic Techniques in Counseling
• Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Counseling Multicultural Populations

This psychology program has practicum and internship components as well.

You must have a bachelor’s degree and submit a resume, official transcripts, and a professional goals essay to apply. You must also participate in a video interview.

See Also : Top 50 Highest Paying Masters Degrees

#10.   Pepperdine University

Pepperdine offers three online graduate degrees in psychology, each addressing a different purpose. The  Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis  is a 34-37 unit psychology program that prepares you to become a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA). You’ll learn applied behavioral analysis (ABA) techniques in asynchronous and synchronous classes like:

• Organizational Behavior Management
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
• Selecting and Implementing Interventions in ABA

This master’s degree, which can be completed in as little as a year and a half, also includes clinical practicum experiences. During these experiences, you’ll hone your practitioner-client skills under the supervision of an experienced Applied Behavior Analyst.

Pepperdine’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology is a 62-68 unit program that can be completed in as few as 27 months. During your time in this clinical psychology program, you’ll gain skills necessary to join the ranks of clinical psychologists, such as:

• Diagnosing clients
• Facilitating therapeutic processes
• Developing treatment plans
• Formulating clinical cases

Completing this clinical psychology program prepares you for licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or a Licensed Professional Counselor. You can work in clinical psychology, family therapy, or counseling psychology, to name a few.

Meanwhile, the online  Master of Arts in Psychology  from Pepperdine is a 36-48 unit program you can complete in as little as a year and a half. This general psychology program introduces you to many different aspects of psychology through varied coursework like:

• Trauma in Diverse Populations
• Industrial Organizational Psychology
• Research and Evaluation Methods for Mental Health Professionals
• Interpersonal Skills and Group Therapy
• Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy

In each case, you must already have a bachelor’s degree to apply. Pepperdine does not require GRE scores.

#11. Grand Canyon University

One of the  best online colleges for psychology , Grand Canyon University offers an online Master’s degree in Psychology through the  College of Humanities and Social Sciences . A 36-credit hour program, the General Psychology Emphasis provides courses such as:

• Learning, Cognition, and Motivation
• Psychopathology

In addition to the general track, other online emphasis areas include:

• Life Coaching
• Human Factors Psychology
• GeroPsychology

With such varied specializations, you can follow a very particular career path. The Life Coaching degree, for instance, provides you with the tools to “explore advanced cognitive theory, observe individuals inside or outside organizations, formulate recommendations based on feedback and ultimately implement efficient, ethical coaching strategies.”

The Emphasis in GeroPsychology, on the other hand, focuses on learning “best practices and strategies for elderly care.” All emphasis areas are VA-approved, allow you to transfer up to twelve credits, and culminate with a capstone course.

General admissions requirements for this program include having a bachelor’s degree and submitting official college transcripts and letters of recommendation as part of the application process.

#12. Nova Southeastern University

NSU’s College of Psychology offers two online master’s degrees: a 30-credit hour Master’s degree in General Psychology  and the 36-credit hour Master’s degree in  Forensic Psychology . Although neither degree leads to licensure, both provide rigorous and relevant coursework that can help you hone your psychological skills or go on to pursue a doctoral degree. This includes improved critical thinking skills, communication skills, and research skills, like data analysis.

Within the General Psychology degree, you can choose an Applied Health Science Track. This three-class track provides training through courses entitled:

• Psychological Aspects of Treating Disease
• The Business of Psychology
• Interviewing Techniques

The Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology program offers two areas of emphasis. The first is Forensic Psychology in the Legal System, which is ideal if you envision yourself working in the courts, for attorneys, or in victim advocacy. The second option is Forensic Psychology for Mental Health Workers, First Responders, and Disaster teams, which prepares you for social service work with people that have experienced emergencies, trauma, or other intense stressors.

And since these are online master’s degrees, you don’t have to live in the Fort Lauderdale area to enroll!

#13. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota’s Department of Psychology offers a unique Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology. It’s one of the best psychology degree online programs currently available. In fact, UND notes that this program is the number-one ranked forensic psychology master’s degree in the nation.

As a student in this forensic science and psychology online program, you’ll take courses like:

• Psychology and Law
• Behavior Pathology
• Eyewitness Testimony and Memory
• Diversity Psychology
• Advanced Social Psychology

You’ll explore issues of social justice, crime and punishment, victimology, and other issues in these and many other forensic psychology classes.

This program requires just 30 credits to graduate. You can complete the program in as little as two years of full-time study.

As is the case with many master’s degrees in The School of Graduate Studies, you are not required to take the GRE for admission to this forensic psychology program. Moreover, financial aid options are available to you to help offset the cost of your studies in forensic psychology, and UND provides career services to help you find employment upon graduation.

#14. Golden Gate University

The Department of Psychology at Golden Gate University offers an online Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology . The program is designed for professionals who want to gain insight into the theoretical frameworks of IO psychology and how you can use them to improve the functioning of small, medium, and large businesses and organizations.

This program prepares you for competent professional practice with both theoretical methods and research and practice models. The 33-unit curriculum requires core classes like:

• Conflict Resolution: Ethics, Theory and Practice
• Organizational Behavior and Development
• Leading Complex Change

You can also choose from various electives like:

• Acquiring and Retaining Human Resources
• Teamwork in Organizations
• Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills

This online psychology program does not require a thesis or fieldwork.

Webinars provide information about the program and the student services offered by GGU, apart from the individualized attention that you receive as an online student. In addition to praise for these services, past online students cite the knowledge gained through the program as continually useful in their professional lives.

As a graduate of this master’s degree program, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to pursue employment in many fields, including social service, human resources, and talent development. To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a 2.5 GPA or higher for your undergraduate studies.

#15. Union College

Union College offers two master’s degrees online. The first is a 36-credit hour  accredited online masters psychology  program in  General Psychology  offered through Union’s  Department of Psychology . Providing a “dynamic, challenging, and professionally relevant” curriculum, this program is crafted to help current psychologists advance in the field. It is also ideal if you wish to pursue PhD studies.

Core courses include topics like:

• Statistics for Mental Health Professionals
• Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
• Social and Community Psychology

You must also complete nine hours of elective courses. Six hours are dedicated to an Integrative Project final thesis.

Also offered completely online through the Department of Psychology is the 60-credit hour  Master’s degree in Substance Abuse Counseling  degree program. In addition to the foundational substance abuse coursework, you’ll engage in a substance abuse core of classes in subjects like:

• Biological Systems of Chemical Dependency
• Psychology of Addition
• Multicultural and Diversity Issues
• Recovery and Relapse

You are also required to complete practicum and internship experiences. The practicum is in counseling and psychotherapy, while the internship focuses on providing you with supervised clinical work in substance abuse counseling.

This program leads to licensure in the state of Kentucky, which enables you to work in community and private practice settings, social service settings, life coaching, and family therapy, to name a few. If you live in another state, you will need to check the requirements to become a licensed Substance Abuse Counselor.

You can start one of these master’s degrees by visiting the admissions link below and inquiring about the enrollment requirements. You can also visit the financial aid website to learn about scholarships and other sources of aid, including the university’s scholarship that covers 100 percent of tuition!

#16. Arizona State University

Arizona State University’s College of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences provides an  online masters degree in psychology  program that’s ideal if you want a research-intensive, academically-rigorous program that focuses on the development of critical thinking skills, data analysis skills, and problem solving skills.

You can complete this 36-credit hour program at Arizona State University in as little as eighteen months on a full-time basis. However, you have up to six years to finish if you need to study part-time.

Most of the curriculum is comprised of core courses, such as:

• Fundamentals of Quantitative Research
• Professional Issues in Psychology

Of the 36 required credits, nine are electives. This program also requires a capstone experience during which you review current psychological literature and make research and policy recommendations.

Also offered online at Arizona State University is a  Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology  program that requires 33 credit hours in forensic psychology and criminal justice to graduate. This program provides you with “an understanding of mental health issues and human behavior with respect to crime and the legal system.”

Several forensic psychology seminar courses cover topics in criminal justice and courts and sentencing. A final “Capstone in Forensic Psychology” course completes the degree.

These ASU online master’s degrees require that you have a bachelor’s degree before admission, though GRE scores are not required. Once enrolled, Arizona State University has many online student resources to support you in your distance education journey.

#17. Colorado State University

CSU offers an online Master of Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MAIOP) degree program for professionals who wish to examine the “behavior of individuals in businesses and organizations to determine how to improve performance and productivity.”

The 38-credit hour program is offered through the Department of Psychology and is generally completed in two or four years. You will work together with other students in “virtual consulting teams” on “real and embedded simulations to provide critical core industrial/organizational psychology knowledge and skills development.”

The curriculum for this master’s degree includes classes such as:

• Applied Industrial Psychology
• Workforce Training and Development
• Succession Planning and Leadership Development
• Applied Cross-Cultural Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Applied Measurement Theory

This curriculum provides the skills and support that result in graduates who sing the program’s praises. Flexibility, expert faculty-led courses, a solid grounding in quantitative analysis, and online resources combine together to form a rigorous yet supportive environment for online master’s in industrial/organizational psychology students like you who want to advance in the field.

You can use your education to work in human resources, consulting, and other settings in which you help advance organizational leadership, solve problems in the workplace, and make organizations more efficient.

You need a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher and satisfactory GRE scores to apply. You may also need to submit application documents like official transcripts, letters of recommendation, or a personal statement.

#18. Capella University

At Capella University, you can choose between four competency-based online master’s degrees:

• Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
• Master of Science in Psychology
• Master of Science in School Psychology

The  Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis  track is a scholar-practitioner program focusing on developing your competency as a psychological researcher and practitioner. You can choose from three specializations:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Behavioral Analysis in Education

The  Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology  option emphasizes developing mental and behavioral health skills, including performing psychological assessments, clinical psychology techniques, and psychotherapy theory. This clinical psychology track also offers three specializations: Applied Research, Clinical Counseling, and Forensic Psychology.

Capella’s  Master’s degree in Psychology  focuses on the science of psychology and its applications in helping improve human performance, address maladaptive behaviors, and using your skills to improve communities as well. There are five specializations in this track, including:

• Educational Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Sport Psychology

The  Master’s degree in School Psychology  program helps you develop the skills necessary to assist children in becoming better learners. Likewise, you’ll gain skills related to helping teachers to improve their teaching methods in developmentally-appropriate ways for their students. This is not a terminal degree program. Instead, you’ll need to continue your training in Capella’s  Ed.S. in School Psychology  or  PsyD in School Psychology .

Each of these master’s degrees requires that you have a bachelor’s degree prior to admission. GRE scores are not required.

#19. Penn State University

The  Master of Professional Studies in the Psychology of Leadership  degree program is a joint effort through Penn State’s World Campus and College of the Liberal Arts. Requiring 33 credit hours, the MPS in the Psychology of Leadership degree is crafted to develop students’ “awareness of the ethical issues that can arise when leading others and increase . . . knowledge about more specialized applications of leadership research and theory.”

Courses in the program include three required core classes in:

• Ethics and Leadership: Psychological and Social Processes
• Psychological Foundations of Leadership
• Foundations of Behavior, Motivation, and Attitudes at Work

The remaining credits are comprised of electives—you choose from classes such as:

• Psychology of Shared and Collective Leadership
• Leadership for Creativity and Innovation
• Positive Organizational Behavior and Wellbeing

As a result of your studies in this master’s degree, you’ll gain enhanced skills related to:

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Decision-Making

You can use these skills to advance your career in business, management, human resources, and many other areas.

Penn State has been providing distance education for more than a century and, as such, makes a wealth of online services available to help you succeed. You must have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher to apply. You must also submit official college transcripts, but GRE scores are not required for admission. You may also submit a personal statement to support your application.

See Also: 50 Best Online Master of Psychology Degree Programs

#20. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The  Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling  in UTK’s College of Education, Health & Human Sciences offers a  Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with two concentrations: Adult Education or Applied Educational Psychology.

This 36-credit hour, non-thesis “ EdPsych Online”  program includes synchronous coursework that can be completed in two years. If you choose the Adult Education concentration, you’ll study to join “reflective practitioners who actively participate in leadership and service to promote adult learning in a global community.” You’ll do so with courses like:

• Facilitating Change in Educational Environments
• Reflective Practice in Education and Psychology
• Adult Development
• Survey of Educational Psychology
• Non-Western Perspectives of Teaching and Learning

The Applied Educational Psychology concentration can be used as a path toward a doctoral degree or to fill  “ an educational role in schools, mental health centers, and business programs devoted to personal and professional development.” You’ll gain competency in this field by taking courses like:

• Motivation in Learning
• Introduction to Educational Research
• Program Planning in Adult Education
• Adult Learning in Social Context
• Ecology of Human Learning

As a student in one of these master’s degrees, you can apply for financial aid, join various clubs and organizations, and enjoy alumni events after graduation. You must have a bachelor’s degree to apply. You must also submit a resume, a letter of introduction, and a writing sample, among other documentation. GRE scores are not required.

#21. University of Alabama

This  accredited masters in psychology online  is an  Master’s degree in Educational Psychology  through the University of Alabama online. It’s offered with a specialization in Learning and Assessment.

The same experienced faculty teach the 30-credit hour program as the on-campus program. Your studies can lead to advancement in different fields. Conversely, this master’s degree can be the first step toward pursuing a doctoral degree.

The curriculum of this master’s degree explores a variety of areas related to cognition and the learning sciences, including:

• Advanced Educational Psychology
• Social and Cultural Foundations of Behavior
• Life-Span Development
• Statistical Methods in Education
• Evaluation of Classroom Learning

These courses are coupled with developing educational research and program evaluation skills to give you a well-rounded skill set for practicing educational psychology.

Instead of a final comprehensive exam, you’ll complete a capstone project to finish this online psychology masters . The capstone is a summative assessment that enables you to review and coalesce what you’ve learned throughout your time in the program.

The University of Alabama Online Student Services team will help you explore this or other master’s degrees if you’re considering enrolling. You must have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher to enroll. You must submit unofficial transcripts, a statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation with your application. GRE scores are not required

#22. Indiana Wesleyan University

If you want a relevant and expeditious experience as you pursue an  online Masters in Psychology , IWU offers a 30-credit hour master’s degree in Psychology program that can be completed in about a year. Two specializations are offered: Positive Psychology with an emphasis on Life Coaching and Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Core courses for both specializations are the same and include classes such as:

• History and Systems of Psychology
• Foundations of Interviews and Trends

Both tracks conclude with a Capstone in Psychology course. Electives are specific to each specialization and cover topics like:

• Life Coaching and Contemporary Positive Psychology
• Principles and Practices of Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The School of Service and Leadership offers this master’s degree and aims “to train students in the history, theory, and research methods of psychology from a Christian faith perspective.” You’ll develop psychological knowledge and skills, in addition to advanced critical thinking, problem solving, and human services skills.

Though these master’s degrees don’t lead to licensure, you can still work in many different settings. For example, you can start a private practice as a life coach or work as an IO psychology consultant.

You must have a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 GPA or higher to apply. You must also submit two letters of recommendation with your application.

#23. Touro University Worldwide

TUW offers an online master’s degree in Psychology through the School of Psychology. This program offers six specializations:

• Media Psychology

The unique Media Psychology concentration is provided completely online and can be completed in a year if pursued full-time. This is one of the best online schools for psychology because you can choose from six start dates that allow you to conveniently begin the 36-credit hour program when you desire.

The curriculum includes 27 core credit hours and nine concentration electives. Core classes include topics such as:

• Developmental Issues Across the Life Span
• Principles of Consumer Psychology
• The Psychological Impact of Media and Technology

One of the most popular programs is offered through the School of Business – an Master’s degree in Industrial & Organizational Psychology . This program also requires you to complete 36 credit hours. There are three concentrations to customize the degree:

• Coaching and Consulting
• Occupational Health Psychology

Although the industrial organizational psychology degree online does not lead to licensure, the “program is consistent with the values and guidelines of the Societies of Industrial & Organizational Psychology, Human Resource Management, and Consulting Psychology.”

If any of these master’s degrees interest you, you must already have a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 GPA or higher. You might be required to submit a resume or curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, or a personal statement when you apply.

#24. Liberty University

Liberty University’s online  Master of Arts in Applied Psychology  degree program is designed for you if you have the “heart for serving others by helping employees or organizations work through problems and create positive work environments.”

The 36-credit hour master’s degree is taught from a clear Christian perspective. It’s offered by the  School of Behavioral Sciences at  Liberty University. You can choose from four master’s degrees:

• Developmental Psychology
• Public Mental Health

Each concentration requires core classes in topics like:

• Psychology & Christianity
• Research Methods & Statistics in Psychology

Concentration courses for these Liberty University programs depend on the specialization. For example, you might take classes such as “Organizational Ethics” and “Human Resource Training & Development” for the Industrial/Organizational track and “Intervention & Behavior Support” and “Developmental Neuropsychology” for the Developmental Psychology track.

Most students complete the online masters program for psychology in about eighteen months, and  Liberty Online  makes sure that you feel fully supported during your time as a student in a Liberty program. As a student at Liberty University, you can transfer up to half of the credits required to graduate, which helps significantly reduce the time and cost needed to finish your degree.

#25. Southern New Hampshire University

As a Southern New Hampshire University student, you can complete a  masters of psychology online  degree program in as little as fifteen months. You will come out of the program with an “understanding of research methods, cognitive psychology, social psychology, personality, learning theory, and ethical practice.”

This 36-credit hour master’s degree offers three concentrations: 

• Child and Adolescent Development Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology

If you enter the program without an undergraduate degree in Psychology or a solid understanding of several necessary foundational classes, you may need to take several prerequisite courses.

However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, your classes at Southern New Hampshire University will begin with a core made up of subjects like:

• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Processes
• Theories of Personality

Elective courses vary from one specialization to the next.

For example, the Forensic Psychology track includes studies in “Assessment in Forensic Psychology” and “Psychology and Law.” The Industrial Organizational Psychology track includes courses in “Organizational Consulting” and the “Psychology of Leadership.” A final Capstone in Psychology completes this Southern New Hampshire University program.

As one of hundreds of online academic programs, this Master of Science in Psychology program provides plenty of student support services and resources from Southern New Hampshire University. This includes help finding financial aid to pay for your degree.

#26. University of Georgia

Our list of the  best online schools for psychology degrees  continues with the University of Georgia. UGA has an online  Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Psychology, Applied Cognition, and Development  degree program provided through the College of Education. The 34-credit hour program progresses in cohorts of ten students—together, you will take classes like:

• Foundations of Motivation for Education
• Nurturing Independent Learners
• Applied Statistical Methods in Education
• Foundations of Human Development for Education
• Methods of Research in Education

Focus areas are available to customize the degree. You can choose electives to satisfy tracks in:

• Learning with Technology
• Learning Across the Lifespan
• Qualitative Approaches to Education
• Development of High Intellectual Capability

In addition to the assistance and guidance offered by faculty members and fellow students in the cohort, UGA offers academic advising, disability resources, and financial aid advising for graduate students. You can also take advantage of tutoring, a career center, the UGA Library, and testing services.

To apply, you need a bachelor’s degree, satisfactory GRE scores or MAT scores, and letters of recommendation, to name a few requirements.

#27. Sacred Heart University

This  psychology masters degree online  is a unique program for two reasons. First, it’s a hybrid program with online and in-person requirements. Second, this master’s degree is offered as a standalone option or as a dual bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology.

The 12-course curriculum takes as little as one year to complete, making this one of the shortest online master’s degree options on this list. Courses are varied among psychology and business-related topics, like:

• Organizational Psychology
• Survey Research
• Diversity and Cross-Cultural Practice in Organizations
• Personnel Psychology

You must also complete a three-credit applied practicum that includes supervised fieldwork. This fieldwork must be in an area related to your professional interests.

Your time in this program will be spent learning from  expert faculty  who have real-work experience in industrial organizational psychology settings. You can use what you learn from your professors to pursue many different employment opportunities, including those in organizational psychology, human resources, and market research, among many others.

This program only admits students in the fall. To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited college or university. You must also submit two letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal essay, among other supporting documents. You can inquire about financial aid possibilities when you apply.t two letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal essay, among other supporting documents.

#28. City University of New York

The online  Master’s degree in Psychology  from the City University of New York is a flexible 36-credit program offering two specializations: Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Developmental Psychology, making this one of the  best psychology online schools . In both cases, you must complete a core of five courses that include:

• Cognitive Psychology and Learning
• PSY 605 – Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Social Behavior

If you opt for the Industrial Organizational Psychology track, you will take courses including:

• Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Organizational Development and Effectiveness
• Performance Management and Motivation

In the Developmental Psychology track, you’ll take courses including:

• Perspectives on Developmental Psychology

Upon completing this program, you can pursue employment in various fields, including human services, Human Resources, and data analysis. You can also go into psychological research, personnel training, or market research. An additional option is to continue your studies in a doctoral program.

To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. You must also have a 3.0 GPA or higher and provide documents like letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement. GRE scores are not required.

Admissions w ebsite

#29.  William James College

The  Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology  (MAOP) degree program at William James College is a good option if you want to build on your bachelor’s degree. The accelerated 30-credit hour program can be completed in less than a year (although you can pursue it part-time if desired–then the program generally takes up to two years).

Moreover, you can complete the degree completely online or participate in a “blended program,” which provides online coursework but includes intensive Weekend-in-Residence experiences each month. 

Classes include:

• Performance Development and Management Psychology and Training
• Diagnosis, Intervention
• Evaluation in Organizational Development
• Consulting Skills

You can also pursue an optional Talent Management concentration, taking courses such as:

• Talent Acquisition and Management
• Business Strategy
• Organizational Life Cycle

Another feature of this online master’s degree program is 80 hours of fieldwork. You can complete these hours at your current job site, if applicable to organizational psychology, or you can choose another organization or a William James College partner site if you prefer.

See Also : Best Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership

#30. Carlos Albizu University

Albizu University offers a fully online  Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology  that prepares you to be “a culturally competent I/O practitioner who develops and applies scientific knowledge to solve problems in the workplace.”

This program requires 42 academic credits and six capstone project credits to graduate. The relevant curriculum is taught by expert faculty members who are “active professionals” and practitioners in the field. Core courses explore various industrial psychology and organizational psychology topics, such as:

• Psychological Assessment Techniques in the Organization
• Employment Law
• Small Group Theory and Process
• Organizational Training and Development

This Master’s degree in I/O Psychology is one of only two completely online degrees offered through the  Carlos Albizu University’s Virtual Campus (CVC) . The degree offers you a solid grounding, and though it does not lead to licensure in the United States, you are provided with “practical training in the areas of selection and placement, training and development, performance measurement, organizational development, and quality of work life” to pursue your chosen profession.

#31. American Public University

The two-year, 39-credit hour Master’s degree in Psychology program through the APU  School of Arts, Humanities, and Education  offers you a grounding in “scientific theory and principles with academic research and applicable skills.”

The curriculum includes classes such as:

• Multicultural Issues in Human Behavior
• Professional Ethics and Standards
• Introduction to Scholarly and Technical Writing
• Quantitative Methods in Social Science Research
• Tests and Measurements

Monthly start dates allow you to begin your studies at your convenience. Added perks of the program include allowing up to fifteen credits to be transferred in and a grant for your studies if you’re in the military.

Online learning is a hallmark of APU, and, as such, many support services and resources are offered to online students like you. From an Online Lab Experience and blogs offering tips for online learning success to academic advising and a Help Center, APU has many avenues and opportunities to help online students have a smooth academic experience.

#32. Adams State University

If you want to go into the field of sports psychology and study in a proven online program in “applied sport psychology . . . . using a scientist-practitioner model,” the  Master’s degree in Applied Sport Psychology  at Adams State is a quality option. It is the first completely online degree program offered in this field in the United States. 

Housed within the Human Performance and Physical Education Department, the 36-credit hour degree program helps you work towards Certified Consultant licensure through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). This master’s degree requires about two years to complete. It allows you to ” gain applied experience and conduct research” through both coursework and hands-on experience.

The curriculum is AASP-approved and includes classes such as:

• Methods of Coaching
• Sports Psychology
• Mental Strength and Conditioning

Student testimonials attest to the support provided by faculty and staff who understand the challenges of distance learning. Adams State also has a financial aid office that’s ready and willing to help you find the resources you need to pay for your degree.

#33. University of North Texas

If you want to help assess educational programs and make them better, the  Master’s degree in Educational Psychology  at UNT has an online concentration in Research and Evaluation (R&E). This online master’s degree is a 33-credit hour program that can be completed in as little as fifteen months. 

The R&E degree trains you to be “the go-to person in your educational organization in understanding why and how your educational programs are working, for whom they work, and if changes are required.” Offered through the Educational Psychology department in the College of Education, classes include research-based topics like:

• Foundations of Psychoeducational Measurement
• Statistics for Educational Research
• Grant Proposal Writing Skills

The program is ideal for current educators—you can start in the summer and take four accelerated courses, take only two courses each fall and spring, and finish the following summer. This allows you to complete the program with minimal disruption to your work schedule.

College of Psychology students are eligible for a number of scholarships and other types of financial aid, so in addition to convenience, the degree can be affordable for anyone. You can apply to the program online. Note that UNIT requires you to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution for admission.

#34. Indiana Institute of Technology

Indiana Tech’s online  Master’s degree in Psychology  is a 33-credit program ideal if you want to advance in your career. This research-based program is also a good choice if you wish to pursue doctoral work.

The program offers a curriculum aligned “with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Commission on Accreditation Educational Guidelines,” making it easy for you to transition into a Ph.D. program after completing this degree. Coursework provides a solid foundation in psychology that can help lead to licensure as well. Classes include the following:

• Legal and Ethical Issues in Psychology
• Advanced Biopsychology
• Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
• Multicultural Psychology

A capstone course for this online master’s degree is also required. The capstone aims to measure your knowledge and understanding of the critical components of the curriculum. This is done with a comprehensive exam that tests you on learning outcomes throughout the program.

Offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, the program has expert faculty that gives you the grounding in “advanced psychological principles, theories, practices, and research” needed to succeed in the field.

#35. University of Memphis

The UofM Global  Master’s degree in Educational Psychology  program offers a comprehensive program for you, regardless of your academic background. Classes are offered completely online and taught by the same experienced faculty as the on-campus program.

The 36-credit hour curriculum provides core coursework covering topics such as:

• Qualitative Methods in Education
• Learning and Cognition

Part of the  Educational Psychology and Research (EDPR) Program  in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research, this online Master’s degree in Educational Psychology prepares you to be a practitioner or researcher.

UofM Global desires for each online student to succeed and provides many services to ensure that—from academic advising and tech support to career services and tutoring. UofM Global is invested in online education and the students who participate in the programs.

#36. California Baptist University

Our list of  psychology graduate programs online  continues with California Baptist University. CBU Online offers a  Master of Science in Counseling Psychology  (MSCP) degree program for students who want to pursue “either marriage and family therapy or professional clinical counseling with a firm understanding of psychological science from a distinctly Christian worldview.”

This graduate degree requires 60 major units. M students complete the program in just two years before beginning a social service career. Core course requirements include the following:

• Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling Theory
• Human Growth and Development
• Psychodiagnostics
• Human Communications in Group Process
• Human Sexuality 

An optional licensure component adds six units to the requirement. The Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Concentration satisfies the educational requirements set forth by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

To culminate the program, you take a comprehensive exam (either on-campus or with an approved location and proctor), which includes the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE). CBU Online provides many benefits, including support services to help you succeed.

Admissions Website

#37. Mercy College

Mercy College offers a  Master’s degree in Psychology  program through the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences that can be pursued entirely online. This graduate degree requires 36 credit hours. The program “surveys all aspects of advanced psychological study” and prepares you to work in advanced psychological employment or go on to doctoral work.

You have up to five years to complete the degree. While in the program, you’ll take core classes, including:

• Professional Issues and Ethics
• Group Experience
• Contemporary Theories in Psychology

The remaining credits are determined by your choice in a culminating comprehensive written exam or completing a master’s thesis.

As an online student, you can access all the online student resources and support Mercy College provides. In addition to the dedicated faculty members who aim to help all students succeed, services include a comprehensive online-learning orientation, an online learning center, academic advising, career services, and tech support.

#38. Harvard University

The hybrid-online  Master of Liberal Arts in Psychology  degree program through the Harvard Extension School offers you the convenience of online coursework and the prestige and exceptionality of a Harvard degree, easily making it one of the  best online college for psychology  options.

With the unique combination of both online classes and on-campus requirements, you are “immersed in a rich academic community and have access to extensive resources.” The program consists of twelve courses, at least three of which must be taken on campus. You choose between a final thesis or capstone project to complete the degree. Both options provide one-on-one guidance and support, and the capstone offers community support.

The Harvard Extension School also offers you access to resources such as advising, a Writing Center, and Career Services. The Extension School also offers articles, student testimonials and spotlights, and faculty highlights to provide prospective students with insight into the school and to provide resources and pertinent news.

#39. University of Idaho

Offered through the Psychology and Communication Studies Department within the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), the University of Idaho’s  Master’s degree in Psychology  program with an emphasis in Human Factors can be completed on-campus or entirely online. Either way, you’ll take classes such as:

• Sensation & Perception
• Human Factors in Engineering Design
• Ergonomics & Biomechanics

Graduates of this program move on to advanced careers in non-profit or industry settings or are prepared to pursue doctoral work. The program can be completed in about two years, and you learn from faculty members who are also practitioners.

A choice is offered between a comprehensive final exam or a Master’s Thesis. If you choose the thesis option, you must be prepared to defend it on campus. Additionally, if you desire to go on for doctoral work, this  psychology masters online  program leads into the IU  Ph.D. in Psychology  program.

See Also : 40 Fastest Online Master’s Degree Programs

#40. University of Northern Colorado

At 40th on our list of the best  online psychology masters programs  is the University of Northern Colorado. The online  Master’s degree in Educational Psychology  program with an emphasis in Teaching Applications is ideal for educators who want to study psychology to “develop student confidence and interest in learning.”

The program is offered by the UNC Online Extended Campus and housed in the School of Psychological Sciences. To graduate from this graduate degree program, you must complete 30 credit hours. Fortunately, you can do so in just nineteen months.

You enter the program at the same time and progress through the classes sequentially as a cohort. Coursework includes classes such as:

• Learning and Instruction
• Motivation in Education
• Cultural Issues in Educational Psychology
• Brain and Education
• Science of Creativity for Teaching

A final Comprehensive Examination completes the degree and includes a written paper in which students apply their “knowledge of Educational Psychology to a topic or issue that is relevant to their practice as teachers or in other educational settings.” However, you can complete a capstone research project instead of the exam if you wish. In either case, your program of study will prepare you well for a career in social services.

Online learning resources are provided, along with a list of “tips” for online learners and specific library services. Other services, such as financial aid, academic advising, and tutoring, are also available.

#41. Tiffin University

Tiffin University offers an online  Master’s degree in Psychology  program offering an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on a wide range of disciplines. The program is ideal if you are “innately curious about what makes people tick” and want a research-based, scientific approach to your psychology program as opposed to studying clinical or counseling psychology.

This graduate degree program requires 37 credit hours. The program’s courses are taught by faculty who have worked in the social service field and include topics such as:

• Advanced Theories of Personalities
• Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology

Two two-credit Capstone Research courses complete the degree program.

Multiple start dates are available (January, March, May, July, August, and October), and most full-time students can complete the degree in about eighteen months (part-time students generally finish in two and a half years). You will find that the online support at Tiffin is structured to help you succeed, whether you’re a full-time or part-time student.

#42. University of Louisiana at Monroe

The University of Louisiana at Monroe has a  Master of Science in Psychology  degree program that provides a completely online Forensic Psychology concentration. The program requires 36 credit hours to graduate. This includes three core forensic psychology courses:

• Quantitative Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
• Research Methods

Additionally, you’ll take classes in the forensic psychology concentration such as:

• Counseling in Criminal Justice
• Sociology of Law
• Minorities, Crime
• Criminal Justice

You can choose between a comprehensive exam or a master’s thesis to finish this degree criminal justice and forensic psychology-focused degree. Although not a requirement, the thesis option is recommended if you want to go on to doctoral work to achieve a Ph.D.

ULM declares a commitment to online students and recognizes that you are just as much a part of the University’s learning community as residential students. There are resources and services to assist you, with a specific webpage devoted to suggestions, tips, and “netiquette” to help guide you and find success in your academic journey toward a fulfilling social services career.

#43. Bellevue University

Bellevue University’s  Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology  guides you in the “scientific study of human behavior in the workplace . . . to improve the performance, motivation, job satisfaction, safety, and health and well-being of employees.” The program is offered in an accelerated format online, and you progress through the coursework with your classmates in a cohort format.

The core curriculum requires 36 credit hours in classes such as:

• Job Analysis and Performance Appraisals
• Organizational Development
• Applied Organizational Psychology
• Measurement and Design
• Personnel Selection

Both a practicum and a final research capstone project round out the program. These experiences, combined with your classroom learning, will help you graduate from the program with a high level of competency in industrial organizational psychology.

Bellevue is an ally of working adults seeking an education by providing “career-relevant degree programs” and has been for over 50 years. The university desires to ensure the online learning experience is just as enriching and positive as an on-campus experience. Online resources and services such as academic advising and a tech support desk are provided to you.

#44. LeTourneau University

Only offered online and in an accelerated format, the Master’s degree in Psychology at LeTourneau guides you to become “a compassionate Christian professional.” This 39-credit hour graduate degree program includes core classes such as “Group Counseling Methods” and “Family Assessment.” The remaining credits include electives like:

• Dynamics of Teams and Communities
• Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development
• Contemporary Psychology
• Organizational Behavior and Design
• Decision Analysis

You can transfer up to nine credits into the program to help reduce the amount of time you need to complete the degree.

Online master’s degree in psychology students like you will discover that the faculty and staff of the School of Psychology & Counseling are fully invested in your success and that there are many opportunities to find support and professional resources.

This Master’s degree in Psychology is not a licensure program. If you desire to pursue licensure, you can transfer the credits you’ve earned through this master’s degree into LeTourneau’s MA in Counseling program .

#45. Baker College

The  Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology  at Baker is a good option if you wish to “learn how principles of psychology can be utilized for organizational success.” The program is offered online through the College of Social Science.

This 36-credit hour graduate degree has a curriculum with required classes like:

• Psychology of Personnel Management and Human Resources
• Individual and Group Factors in the Workplace
• Organizational Development, Change, and Consultation

Through these and other classes, you gain the skills to transform workplaces “through the application of the theories, methods, and principles of psychology to individuals, teams, and organizations.”

Though this master’s degree does not lead to licensure, you build a solid foundation in the areas that make a successful practitioner in human resources, organizational development, and training in businesses and organizations of all sorts. In addition to plentiful on-campus Baker resources, many services are also available to online students.

#46. Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay’s entirely online  Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology  (MSIO) degree program offers the same rigor and support as any on-campus program. The program was developed following the Guidelines for Master’s Level Training established by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

This 34-credit hour graduate degree program “follows the scientist-practitioner model of graduate education” and offers foundation and core courses, electives, and a final comprehensive exam or thesis. Required coursework includes classes in topics such as:

• Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
• Performance Management
• Leadership and Organizational Change
• Foundations of Applied Psychology

Most students complete the degree in about two years. You will be assigned a specific MSIO academic advisor, with whom you meet at the beginning of each semester—online students “meet” virtually. This program is ideal for professionals who want to “contribute to the success of organizations by improving employee performance and wellbeing.”

You can apply using the link below. To do so, you must have a bachelor’s degree. You should have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher or higher-than-average GRE scores.

#47. National Louis University

Through its College of Professional Studies and Advancement, NLU “draws on expertise and subject matter” from the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Business and Management to form a comprehensive, interdisciplinary  Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology  program.

This graduate degree program is offered entirely online and was developed with the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s Guidelines for Education and Training at the Master’s Level. The degree is provided at an accelerated pace and can be completed in just 20 months.

Up to nine credit hours can be transferred into the program, which requires at least 39 and up to 42 credit hours for completion. Courses include:

• Psychological Statistics, Design and Analysis
• Work Motivation and Job Attitudes
• Measurement of Individual Differences

From Enrollment Specialists to help you begin the process to the caring and experienced faculty, online students like you are provided with all the assistance you need to have a positive educational experience.

#48. Angelo State University

The online-only  Master of Science in Applied Psychology  at ASU welcomes you to apply regardless of your undergraduate major. So long as you have a bachelor’s degree, you can apply!

This  online psychology master degree  is in the College of Graduate Studies and Research and consists of 36 credit hours. You have a choice between thesis and non-thesis options. Employing a “multifaceted approach to behavior” through the curriculum, you choose electives from classes such as:

• Applied Economic Psychology
• Social Perception
• Applications of Psychopathology
• Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience

Even though this is an online graduate degree program, you are free to take electives on campus if you choose.

If you haven’t taken at least eighteen credit hours of undergraduate psychology, you will need to take a foundational graduate-level psychology course. All core courses are taught by faculty members who have PhDs in psychology.

Once enrolled, you’ll have access to various support services such as academic advising, tutoring, and career development. These and other services will help you prepare for a rewarding social services career.

#49. Palo Alto University

The PAU Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling takes advantage of the nearly two decades of online academic experience the school has to offer, providing an “innovative and highly structured” program that can be completed part-time in just two years.

All coursework is online, and a one-week residency adds an enriching experience to the first summer of enrollment. This program requires 94.5 quarter units to graduate. You’ll begin the program in the fall and take classes such as:

• Ethics in Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Bases of Behavior

There is a practicum and internship component as well. You’ll complete 700 hours (or more), o which 280 hours must be direct contact hours with a client.

No thesis is required. The program does not lead to licensure. However, the program can transition conditionally to PAU’s Ph.D. in Psychology program if you desire.

In addition to other support services and resources provided for current students, prospective students can attend virtual information sessions to learn more about the program and if it is a good fit.

#50. Saint Leo University

The online  Master’s degree in Psychology  from Saint Leo University is a 36-credit program that takes two years of full-time study to complete. There are four concentrations available:

• Teaching of Psychology

No matter which specialization you choose, you’ll proceed through the curriculum with a cohort of students. Your classes will be student-centered and provide ample opportunities to be an active learner. The courses are eight weeks long. You take one course at a time.

In addition to traditional coursework, you’ll complete a capstone project in which you conduct psychological research. This project is in lieu of practicum or internship experiences. This program does not lead to licensure but prepares you well for other psychology applications or work in a doctoral program.

The  College of Education and Social Services  will help you progress through the program by connecting you with valuable resources for academic assistance, financial aid, and career services. 

See Also : 40 Best Online Masters in Education Without the GRE

Michael Templeton Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler Contributing Editor

Best Online Master’s in Psychology

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Are you ready to discover your college program?

A master’s in psychology prepares you for various careers helping others cope with life’s problems. It also provides a pathway to doctoral studies, the minimum requirement for becoming a licensed clinical psychologist. If you are juggling personal or work responsibilities, an online master’s in psychology offers an appealing alternative to traditional on-campus programs.

Check out the best online psychology master’s. Learn what to expect from this degree and what you can do once you graduate.

Popular Online Psychology Master’s Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Best Online Master’s in Psychology Programs

Mcneese state university.

• Campus + Online
• In-State $5,147
• Out-of-state $13,185
• Retention Rate 70%
• Acceptance Rate 81%
• Students Enrolled 7,295
• Institution Type Public
• Percent Online Enrollment 56%
• Accreditation Yes

University of Louisiana at Monroe

• In-State $5,788
• Out-of-state $17,888
• Retention Rate 73%
• Acceptance Rate 80%
• Students Enrolled 8,673
• Percent Online Enrollment 43%

The University of Alabama

• In-State $10,780
• Out-of-state $30,250
• Retention Rate 87%
• Acceptance Rate 83%
• Students Enrolled 38,100
• Percent Online Enrollment 13%

Southern New Hampshire University

• In-State $30,756
• Out-of-state $30,756
• Retention Rate 65%
• Acceptance Rate 88%
• Students Enrolled 113,514
• Institution Type Private
• Percent Online Enrollment 94%

Arizona State University

• In-State $8,867
• Out-of-state $19,282
• Retention Rate 74%
• Acceptance Rate 64%
• Students Enrolled 45,073
• Percent Online Enrollment 98%

Regent University

• In-State $17,220
• Out-of-state $17,220
• Retention Rate 78%
• Acceptance Rate 86%
• Students Enrolled 10,365
• Percent Online Enrollment 92%

Pepperdine University

• In-State $55,640
• Out-of-state $55,640
• Retention Rate 91%
• Acceptance Rate 32%
• Students Enrolled 8,824
• Percent Online Enrollment 18%

University of Idaho

• In-State $6,182
• Out-of-state $25,418
• Retention Rate 77%
• Acceptance Rate 78%
• Students Enrolled 11,926
• Percent Online Enrollment 32%

Fayetteville State University

• In-State $2,982
• Out-of-state $14,590
• Acceptance Rate 69%
• Students Enrolled 6,551
• Percent Online Enrollment 70%

Lynn University

• In-State $36,680
• Out-of-state $36,680
• Retention Rate 71%
• Acceptance Rate 74%
• Students Enrolled 3,247
• Percent Online Enrollment 46%

Fort Hays State University

• In-State $3,990
• Out-of-state $14,070
• Acceptance Rate 91%
• Students Enrolled 15,908
• Percent Online Enrollment 55%

Nova Southeastern University

• In-State $31,150
• Out-of-state $31,150
• Retention Rate 81%
• Students Enrolled 20,576
• Percent Online Enrollment 45%

Medaille College

• In-State $29,950
• Out-of-state $29,950
• Retention Rate 61%
• Acceptance Rate 62%
• Students Enrolled 2,002
• Percent Online Enrollment 29%

Indiana Institute of Technology

• In-State $26,990
• Out-of-state $26,990
• Retention Rate 68%
• Acceptance Rate 60%
• Students Enrolled 2,223
• Percent Online Enrollment 36%

Tiffin University

• In-State $25,710
• Out-of-state $25,710
• Students Enrolled 2,926
• Percent Online Enrollment 51%

How We Chose These Schools

At TheBestSchools, we pride ourselves on our proprietary ranking methodology to help prospective students like you find the best fit. Our ranking system uses data from the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate schools without bias while accounting for key factors like academic quality, online offerings, and affordability.

This ranking is from 2022. Learn more about how our formula works on our ranking methodology page .

Why Pursue a Master’s in Psychology Online?

A master’s requires a major investment in time and money but can lead to significant professional and personal rewards. Choosing an online program may make it easier to achieve your goals. Before enrolling in graduate school, consider how you might benefit from a psychology master’s and the reasons for getting your degree online.

Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Psychology

More career opportunities:, higher salaries:, foundation for doctoral studies:, personally rewarding work:, reasons to get your master’s degree online, flexibility and convenience:, wider access to degree programs:, cost savings:, time management skills:, what can i expect in an online master’s in psychology program.

Master’s in psychology programs train students in research methods, ethics, behavioral assessment, and experimental design. Learners take a mix of core courses and specialized courses in their concentration areas.

Most programs require clinical counseling or psychology work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or counselor. Graduate students may also complete master’s thesis projects or exams.

Earning a master’s degree in psychology typically takes two years for full-time students. Some programs offer part-time or accelerated options.

Concentrations

The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes 54 divisions of psychology . Many psychology master’s programs offer specializations in these divisions, such as those highlighted below.

• Behavioral Psychology : Graduates of these programs can pursue careers as marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and applied behavioral analysts.
• Forensic Psychology : Graduates of a master’s in forensic psychology program can pursue careers such as victim advocate, court liaison, or counselor for people in the justice system.
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology : With this concentration, graduates can pursue careers like training and development specialists, hiring managers, and human resources specialists.
• Child and Adolescent Psychology : This concentration helps graduates enter careers as school counselors, family counselors, and postsecondary psychology teachers.
• Counseling Psychology: Graduates with this concentration can pursue careers as mental health counselors, bereavement counselors, crisis response counselors, and substance use counselors.
• Counseling Theories and Therapy: This course covers psychoanalytic, cognitive, behaviorist, interpersonal, humanistic, existential, biological/genetic, and social psychological theories.
• Psychopathology: This overview of psychopathology includes behavioral, developmental, biological/neurological, and social/cultural approaches and the theories of the etiologies of psychopathology
• Developmental Psychology: This course explores the life span in human development from birth through death, examining physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
• Research Design and Analysis I: This introduction teaches students basic research design and the conceptual basis for statistical applications.
• Psychological Assessment: Students in this course learn to administer personality, intellectual, and industrial/organizational assessments and evaluate the use of assessment data.

Accreditation for Online Master’s in Psychology Degrees

Attending an accredited master’s in psychology program is essential to earning a valid degree that licensing boards, doctoral programs, and employers recognize. Failing to do so can create problems when you try to transfer credits, qualify for licensure, and compete for jobs.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs primarily accredits counseling degree programs. This organization accredits master’s and doctoral programs, while the APA only accredits doctoral psychology programs. You can use the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to verify that a school or program holds proper accreditation.

What Can Graduates of Online Master’s in Psychology Programs Do?

A master’s degree often serves as a stepping stone to a doctorate, preparing you to become a licensed psychologist. However, you can enter the workforce directly after earning a master’s to pursue careers in various areas, including counseling, social and community services, criminal justice and law, and industrial-organizational settings. A master’s also prepares you for careers outside psychology in human resources, marketing, and public relations.

A master’s in psychology offers concentrations that prepare you for careers that match your interests. While not definitive, this list of potential careers highlights the variety of professional opportunities you can enter with a master’s degree.

• School Counselor: School counselors provide guidance and support to help K-12 students create academic plans, overcome academic and interpersonal challenges, and explore career choices. Many school districts require a master’s to practice as a licensed school counselor; some states may require a teaching certificate.
• Behavioral Counselor: Behavioral counselors conduct assessments and develop treatment plans to help clients manage or change their behaviors, including conditions such as addictions, eating disorders, and phobias. This career requires a master’s in psychology and, depending on state regulations, a specific license to practice as a professional counselor or clinical professional counselor.
• Mental Health Counselor: Mental health counselors assess and treat clients with emotional and mental health disorders, using multiple techniques to address a wide range of issues such as anxiety, anger management, and depression. These positions usually require a master’s degree and the appropriate licensing examination to become a state-licensed mental health counselor or professional counselor.
• Training and Development Specialist: Training and development specialists create, plan, and administer training programs for businesses and organizations to improve employee skills and organizational performance. While you may enter this field with a bachelor’s degree, many employers prefer to hire master’s degree holders with training management or talent development certifications.
• Survivor Advocate: These advocates use their crisis intervention, advocacy, and case management skills to assist survivors of crime. They help clients find needed resources and accompany them through criminal justice proceedings. Earning a master’s degree and certification in survivor assistance or advocacy can qualify you for more advanced positions.

Salary and Career Outlook for Graduates of Online Master’s in Psychology Programs

The overall employment outlook for graduates of online master’s in psychology is promising, although earnings depend on several factors, including years of experience, type of employer, and location. Median salaries for the most common psychology careers employing master’s degree graduates range from $53,000 to $68,000 annually.

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Master’s Degrees

What’s the difference between a master’s in counseling and a master’s in psychology.

Graduate-level counseling and psychology programs both emphasize assessment and treatment plans. However, there are some key differences. A psychology degree focuses on behavioral research, psychopathology, and cognitive processes. Yet, a counseling degree might focus on community mental health, social justice, research, and the socio-emotional well-being of individuals, families, and groups.

What’s the Difference Between an MS or MA in psychology?

A master’s of arts in psychology rests on a strong liberal arts foundation, while a master’s of science focuses on the scientific method and empirical investigation. The M.A. emphasizes cultural and social approaches to clinical and counseling psychology, while the M.S. provides training in research methodology, statistics, and evidence-based inquiry.

Is a master’s enough to become a psychologist?

In most psychology fields, you need a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. degree to use the title of psychologist and practice as a licensed psychologist. However, you may qualify for positions as an industrial/organizational psychologist or a sports psychologist without earning a doctorate. Master’s degree holders find employment in various settings, including counseling, social services, human resources, and criminal justice.

How many years is a master’s degree in psychology?

Both the M.A. and the M.S. in psychology require approximately 60 credits and take about two years of full-time study. The curriculum covers counseling applications, theory and methods, diagnosis, assessment and treatment, and ethics. Most programs require a fieldwork or internship component.

How hard is it to get into a master’s program for psychology?

Gaining admission into a master’s in psychology has become increasingly competitive. At the best schools, the number of applications greatly exceeds the number of admitted students. A strong undergraduate record in science, math, and writing strengthens your chances for admission. A high GPA, above 3.5, and upper-tier GRE scores certainly give you a competitive edge. Clinical, research, or volunteer experience also distinguishes you from other applicants.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by TheBestSchools. Page last reviewed May 15, 2024.

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Experimental Psychology Degrees Programs and Online Schools

Find programs to become an experimental psychologist, what is an experimental psychology program.

Behind most solid research studies that influence change in the social sciences, you’ll find a carefully designed experiment. When you consider the impact of a psychological experiment, it’s clear that this specialty is one of the most crucial in the social sciences. Studying the experimental aspect of this subject involves carefully following the ethical guidelines of human experimentation, avoiding any biases that could tamper with an experiment’s results, and collaborating as part of a team.

Earning your Master’s or doctoral degree in this specialty gives you the chance to solve challenges that crop up in this field. Currently, psychologists who are focused on the experimental process are looking into new ways to conduct introspective research that can still be quantitatively studied ( New Ideas in Psychology , 2016).

To learn how to become an experimental psychologist, you should compare experimental psychology programs in your area and contact schools for more information.

Online Programs in Experimental Psychology

Perhaps because experimental psychology often necessitates time spent doing hands-on research, online degrees in experimental psychology are few and far between. The few that do exist are master’s-level programs that assume that a student will continue his or her academic pursuits by enrolling in a doctorate program. Programs tend to be geared toward nontraditional students who work during the day and can access online lectures and reading materials at night. Online programs in experimental psychology require a thesis, but not an on-site internship.

Coursework focuses heavily on concepts like intelligence measurement, research design, the nature of cognition, neuropsychology and the administration of psychological assessments.

Because online study opportunities are so limited in this field, most students who want to pursue an experimental psychology degree should make plans to physically attend any of the 130-plus colleges and universities that offer a concentration in experimental psychology. The brick-and-mortar programs in experimental psychology that are available range from undergraduate to doctorate studies.

Online Experimental Psychology Programs to Consider

University of Louisiana at Monroe : At this time, the University of Louisiana at Monroe appears to be one of the only schools that offers any kind of online degree in experimental psychology. That degree is a Master of Science in general experimental psychology. It is a 36-credit-hour program of study designed to make students more competitive when applying for doctorate programs. Even online students are strongly encouraged to participate in campus research programs.

University of North Dakota : The University of North Dakota offers an online Master of Arts in forensic psychology. Although the main thrust of this program is to teach students how to perform assessments for the social services and criminal justice systems, students do learn statistics and evaluation skills, both of which are helpful to those who plan to continue their education in experimental psychology.

Introduction to Experimental Psychology Careers

Recognition of psychology as a subject worthy of scientific study did not come easily. For years, it was thought that the vagaries of the human mind could not be reduced to patterns or formulas. Psychology was conceived as individualized-each mind thinks, works and responds to various stimuli in unique and unpredictable ways. That view eventually gave way when scholars began to theorize- make generalizations-about human psychology. These theories emerged, and gained traction because psychologists developed scientific methods to test their accuracy. That process of verification is the work of experimental psychology.

Useful Resources

• Society of Experimental Social Psychology
• Society of Experimental Psychologists

Experimental Psychology Job Description

Experimental psychology generally refers to a methodology of studying psychology, rather than a particular substantive branch within the field (such as developmental, child or social psychology). Experimental psychologists attempt, as the title suggests, to construct controlled experiments in which psychological theories can be empirically tested, effects documented and variables manipulated.

Experimental Psychology Requirements

As undergraduates, future experimental psychologists tend to major in psychology, and have considerable facility with science, psychology and statistics. Because experimental psychologists engage almost exclusively in research-not clinical practice-candidates for graduate programs often must demonstrate particular interest in the field. In some programs, applicants are selected for admission individually by faculty members with whom they share an academic interest. The most competitive candidates possess prior research experience, relevant undergraduate study and satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Students may pursue a master’s degree, which takes one to two years to complete, or the Doctor of Philosophy in psychology (Ph.D.), which takes approximately five years to complete.

Due to its methodological nature, there are few programs devoted in name to experimental psychology. Only a handful of schools confer degrees in “experimental psychology.” Instead, experimental psychology is often understood to be synonymous with the study of various forms of non-clinical psychology, such as cognitive, developmental and social. In this sense, many graduate programs that focus generally on research-as opposed to clinical practice-could be accurately characterized as experimental. These non-clinical research subjects all utilize the empirically-oriented methods of experimental psychology to collect data and test hypotheses. For the most part, experimental psychologists are not trained for and do not actually practice psychology with patients, and thus do not qualify for or obtain licensure. As such, students interested in pursuing a career in experimental psychology must pay close attention to the ways in which various graduate programs define that course of study, regardless of the actual name of the program.

Experimental Psychology Career Trends and Outlook

Although most people go into experimental psychology because of a desire to conduct experiments and study data, there are also positions that involve the educational side of psychology. Regardless of what your long-term career goals are, you should anticipate earning at least a Master’s degree, if not a PhD or PsyD. Although some employers may hire you for experimental work with just a Master’s degree, many places expect you to be actively working toward a doctoral degree.

The hands-on work you do in this field can be quite rewarding. The results that come from a well-conducted experiment can directly influence theoretical interventions, procedures and protocols in mental health care, and long-held beliefs in the social sciences. In conducting research, you create an environment that centers the patient experience and provides them with the most evidence-based care possible. The studies that come from this field can also influence experimental procedures. A 2015 study in Experimental Psychology found that simply instructing subjects to avoid or seek out a specific stimulus affected the subjects’ negative or positive perception of said stimulus (2016).

When if comes to experimental psychology salary, psychologists who conduct research currently bring in an average income of $95,710 per year (O*Net, 2017). A significant increase in job openings is predicted through the year 2024, with any where from 9-13% growth anticipated, which could result in over 5,000 new jobs for psychologists in the nation (O*Net, 2017).

As you ask yourself “what do experimental psychologists do?” consider the possibility of teaching. As an instructor, you may teach undergraduate students about the research process and prepare them for careers in psychology. Psychology instructors bring in an average salary of $73,140 per year, and job openings are expected to swell much faster than average by 2024, with almost 16K new jobs anticipated (O*Net, 2017).

Find out how you can utilize your education to contribute to psychological research. Request information from experimental psychology programs below.

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• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia

Experimental Psychology Master of Science Degree

Request Info about graduate study Visit Apply

Contribute meaningful work to multiple fields of psychology while you explore and apply scientific methods to human development, social interactions, and behavioral relationships in an experimental psychology master’s degree targeted toward your career aspirations.

Outcomes Rate of RIT Graduates from this degree

Overview for Experimental Psychology MS

Why study experimental psychology at rit.

• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible : The STEM-Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows F-1 international students to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
• Customize Your Program: Choose between two dynamic tracks: experimental psychology or engineering psychology.
• Flexible Options to Complete Your Degree: Choose between a thesis or capstone project to earn your master's in experimental psychology.
• Preparation for Advanced Study: Receive a strong foundation in human factors and/or experimental psychology to prepare you for further studies if desired.

The experimental psychology master's degree is a broad and flexible program that provides a solid stepping-stone into careers in experimental psychology or further study in psychology. A choice of tracks–in experimental psychology or engineering psychology–allows you to customize the program around your career goals and aspirations.

What is Experimental Psychology?

In experimental psychology, you are trained to apply scientific methods to basic psychological processes in perception, brain and behavior relationships, thinking, memory, learning, social interactions, human development, and related areas. RIT's master's in experimental psychology builds on the strengths of faculty research and student interests in experimental psychology broadly defined. The experimental psychology graduate program, as a whole, provides a foundation for further advanced academic study in human factors and/or experimental psychology.

Master's in Experimental Psychology Courses

The experimental psychology degree includes core courses, elective courses, and a thesis. It also offers two tracks to choose from: experimental psychology and engineering psychology.

The experimental psychology track embraces the application of the scientific method to the study of behavior. Faculty are experts in a variety of fields including addiction, attention, cognition, development, evolutionary psychology, forensic psychology, perception, psychopathology, and social psychology, among others.

The engineering psychology track examines human capabilities to sense, perceive, store, and process information and how these human factors impact interactions with technology. This knowledge is applied to the design, use, and maintenance of human-machine systems. Courses emphasize the role of human behavior and performance in both simple and complex human-machine systems. You are trained in both research methods of experimental psychology and the application of the results to contemporary problems in industry. This track prepares you to function as an effective engineering psychologist in industrial, governmental, or consulting organizations.

Electives:  If you choose the engineering psychology track, you must select two electives. Any graduate course at RIT can be taken as an elective, assuming prerequisites are met.

Capstone or Thesis:  As part of the master's in experimental psychology, you will choose either a capstone project or a thesis. Students who select the capstone project will embark on a range of projects to demonstrate their ability to apply this knowledge in various assignments. A variety of written projects (white paper, focused literature review, and a resume) and an oral presentation are required for you to show proficiency in your area of expertise.

Students who select to complete a thesis will select a thesis adviser in the first year, followed in the second year by a thesis topic and research proposal. You will conduct your thesis, including the collection and analysis of data, in the second year. Ongoing research activity is expected through the summer term of the program. At the completion of the thesis, you will publicly present your findings and defend your research before a thesis committee.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical job titles.

Cooperative Education and Internships

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

Co-ops take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. A liberal arts co-op  provides hands-on experience that enables you to apply your knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between course work and real-world applications.

The experimental psychology master's degree includes an optional cooperative education component. Co-op is generally completed in the summer after the first year of the program. The co-op experience provides experiential learning that integrates with classroom education and allows students to apply psychological principles to problems in a variety of work environments. Co-op may be completed in any business or industrial setting.

Featured Work and Profiles

Psychology professor named a Distinguished Member

John Edlund

Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, recently named RIT Psychology Professor John E. Edlund, Ph.D., a Distinguished Member, the highest honor the organization bestows.

“I love my job so much. I use the observational skills I learned through my graduate work with Dr. DeLong in the Comparative Cognition and Perception Lab every day when training my dogs."

...My experience at RIT has made me a really successful service dog trainer." — Irene Fobe, Experimental Psychology MS, '17

Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Experimental Psychology MS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

Experimental Psychology, MS degree, typical course sequence

PSYC Electives

Institute Electives

Students are also interested in

• Human-Computer Interaction MS
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Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Experimental Psychology MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application . 
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
• A recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Satisfy prerequisite requirements and/or complete bridge courses prior to starting program coursework.
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives .
• Submit two letters of recommendation .
• Entrance exam requirements: None
• Writing samples are optional.
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver .

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply   Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree .

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree

Additional Information

Prerequisites.

Applicants should have completed at least 15 semester hours of coursework in undergraduate psychology or a related field (e.g., engineering, computer science, information technology), including one course in experimental psychology and one course in statistics.

Joseph Baschnagel

Tina Sutton

Faculty in the department of psychology focus their research on a wide variety of topics across the discipline. They work closely with students to pursue their research and advise on thesis work. Learn more by exploring our psychology research areas .

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Psychology Online Degrees

How to Become an Experimental Psychologist

Become an Experimental Psychologist

Exploring the depths of human cognition and behavior, experimental psychologists embody passion, dedication, and knowledge. The journey begins with a bachelor’s degree to form a foundation in the field’s theories and concepts.

Master’s and Ph.D. degrees offer the chance to specialize in cognitive, social, or developmental psychology . To apply knowledge to real-world settings, hands-on research projects and internships are key.

Staying current on new discoveries is essential for experimental psychologists. Reading publications and attending seminars and conferences is a great way to stay informed.

In conclusion, it takes unwavering dedication to become an experimental psychologist. Academic pursuits, practical experience, and engagement with the latest advancements can lead to an exciting career fueled by boundless intellectual curiosity.

What is an experimental psychologist?

An experimental psychologist explores the ins and outs of the human mind. They use research methods to analyze behavior and cognition to gain new insights. By conducting experiments, collecting data, and analyzing outcomes, they contribute to our knowledge of human behavior and mental processes.

Experimental psychologists utilize different tactics to examine psychological phenomena. Through controlled experiments, they modify variables to observe their effect on behavior or cognitive processes. This lets them establish cause and effect relationships and draw scientific conclusions. Their work is not limited to the laboratory as they often collaborate with professionals in disciplines such as neuroscience or social psychology.

To become an experimental psychologist, a robust understanding of research methodology and statistical analysis is essential. Prospective researchers typically pursue advanced degrees in psychology, concentrating on experimental or cognitive psychology. These programs provide intensive training in conducting empirical studies and interpreting data.

In addition, gaining practical experience through internships or research assistantships can be advantageous for aspiring experimental psychologists. Working with experienced researchers allows individuals to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios while improving their analytical capabilities.

Educational requirements to become an experimental psychologist

To pursue a career as an experimental psychologist, one must meet certain educational requirements. These requirements typically include completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, followed by obtaining a master’s degree in experimental psychology.

• Bachelor’s Degree: A foundational step in becoming an experimental psychologist is earning a bachelor’s degree. This degree should ideally be in psychology or a closely related field, providing a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
• Master’s Degree: Once a bachelor’s degree is obtained, aspiring experimental psychologists usually go on to pursue a master’s degree in experimental psychology. This advanced degree allows for more specialized studies and research in the field.
• Research Skills: In addition to formal education, aspiring experimental psychologists should develop strong research skills. This includes familiarity with research methods, statistical analysis, and experimental design.
• Practical Experience: Gaining practical experience through internships or research assistantships can greatly enhance one’s qualifications as an experimental psychologist. This hands-on experience allows individuals to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings.
• Graduate Studies: For those looking to further their career and expertise in experimental psychology, pursuing a doctoral degree is a common path. A Ph.D. in experimental psychology provides the highest level of education and opens up opportunities for teaching, research, and leadership positions.

It is important to note that while these are general educational requirements, specific job positions and organizations may have additional or more specific qualifications. Always research and consult individual job postings and program requirements to ensure the necessary qualifications are met.

Here’s your chance to prove that all those hours spent pretending to analyze your friends’ behaviors actually paid off.

Undergraduate degree in psychology

A bachelor’s degree in psychology is the first step to becoming an experimental psychologist . This program gives students the knowledge and skills they need. Here are five important things about an undergraduate degree in psychology :

• Core coursework : Students study different areas of psychology, including cognitive, social, developmental, and abnormal psychology . These classes help understand human behavior and mental processes.
• Research opportunities : Undergraduate programs offer students chances to do research with faculty members. This helps them get practical knowledge and research skills.
• Statistical analysis : Learning to analyze research findings is key to a psychology degree. Students learn to use software like SPSS to analyze data from psychological experiments.
• Psychological assessments : Understanding how to give and interpret psychological tests is important. Students learn about tests like personality tests, intelligence tests, and behavioral inventories.
• Communication skills : Communication is essential in psychology. Courses in writing and speaking help develop communication skills for presenting research findings and working with clients.

An undergraduate degree in psychology gives many career options, such as counseling and social work. Sarah’s experience is a good example. She got a bachelor’s degree in psychology and did research on memory and decision-making. This deepened her understanding of experimental methods and showed her commitment to the field.

After graduating, Sarah got a job as a research assistant at a research institute, where she worked with experienced experimental psychologists. Her success story shows that an undergraduate degree in psychology can lead to great career opportunities in the field of experimental psychology.

Graduate degree in experimental psychology

A graduate degree in experimental psychology is essential for becoming an accomplished experimental psychologist. This advanced program gives students the knowledge and skills they need to research, analyze data, and develop theories in psychology.

Aspiring experimental psychologists delve into human behavior, cognition, and emotion during their studies. They learn cutting-edge research methods and experimental designs to investigate psychological phenomena with precision. By studying theoretical frameworks and empirical studies, students build a solid base in the scientific principles that underpin experimental psychology.

Plus, graduate programs in experimental psychology offer ample opportunities for hands-on experience. Many programs involve research projects or internships, where students can work with experienced researchers and put their knowledge to use. Such experiences help to sharpen their analytical skills and critical thinking abilities.

Also noteworthy, pursuing a graduate degree in experimental psychology opens up many career paths. Graduates may go on to be professors or researchers at universities or research institutions, or work in clinical, organizational, or forensic psychology. This degree gives individuals the flexibility to apply their expertise across various domains of psychology.

Pro Tip: To do well in a graduate program in experimental psychology, take part in research opportunities and seek mentorship from experienced professionals. Creating a strong network early on can lead to collaborations and professional growth after graduation.

Specialized training and research experience

Get ready to go crazy! To become an experimental psychologist , one must earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, and then pursue a master’s degree in experimental psychology or a specialized subfield.

Practical experience is also key – gain hands-on experience by working as a research assistant under experienced psychologists, and acquire practical knowledge through conducting experiments in laboratory settings. Statistical software and data analysis techniques are essential for interpreting findings.

Participate in conferences, workshops, and seminars to stay up-to-date on trends and research methods. Collaborating with other professionals can also be beneficial for enhancing one’s expertise. Independent research projects or partnering with professors can demonstrate dedication and passion for the field, while providing invaluable experience.

So, get ready to go wild and pave the way for a successful career in this fascinating field of experimental psychology!

Skills and qualities needed to excel as an experimental psychologist

To excel as an experimental psychologist, certain skills and qualities are required. These include:

• Proficiency in conducting controlled experiments using scientifically validated methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills to accurately interpret experimental data and draw meaningful conclusions.
• Critical thinking abilities to design research studies that address specific hypotheses and research questions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills to overcome challenges and implement effective solutions during experiments.
• Effective communication skills to convey research findings and methodologies to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Attention to detail and meticulousness in data collection, analysis, and documentation.

Furthermore, it is important for experimental psychologists to possess a deep understanding of statistical analysis techniques and methods, as well as the ability to use advanced research tools and equipment.

A unique aspect of excelling as an experimental psychologist is the continuous pursuit of knowledge through staying updated with the latest research in the field. By actively engaging in professional development opportunities, such as attending conferences and workshops or collaborating with fellow researchers, experimental psychologists can further enhance their expertise and contribute valuable insights to the field.

A true fact related to the skills required for experimental psychologists is that according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General , individuals who exhibit higher levels of cognitive flexibility tend to perform better in experimental psychology tasks.

Who needs a crystal ball when you can analyze minds and unravel human behavior as an experimental psychologist?

Strong analytical and research skills

Analytical skills help experimental psychologists make smart decisions about study design. They also need research skills to review the newest findings in the field. Analyzing data requires strong statistical knowledge and data interpretation abilities. Problem-solving and attention to detail are essential for an experimental psychologist. It’s also important to think creatively, so as to develop innovative questions and experiments. All of this contributes to advancing knowledge in the field and improving individual’s lives.

A great example of the importance of analytical and research skills is Dr. Jane Thompson . She was studying cognitive aging when she stumbled upon unexpected results. With her analytical skills, she identified potential confounding variables that impacted her findings. Resulting from her meticulous analysis and experiments, she discovered a complex relationship between physical activity levels and cognitive decline in older people – a breakthrough!

Attention to detail

Attention to detail is essential for experimental psychologists. Let’s look at some of the areas that require this skill.

Data analysis involves examining large data sets for patterns and correlations. Without careful attention, important information could be missed.

Experimental design requires considering every variable and controlling for confounding factors. Attention to detail ensures the results are valid and reliable.

Accurate record keeping is also crucial. Every observation, measurement, and result must be documented. Attention to detail guarantees nothing is overlooked or misrepresented.

It’s clear why attention to detail is valued in the field. In an age of information overload, detail-oriented researchers stand out. Focusing on the minutiae can lead to breakthroughs and a successful career. Embrace the power of attention to detail—it could be your ticket to success! Solving complex puzzles is the name of the game—just don’t expect to find the answers in a cereal box!

Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities

Critical thinking and problem-solving are key components in experimental psychology. Analytical skills, creativity, and flexibility are necessary for success.

Analytical skills involve breaking down problems and recognizing cause-effect relationships. Creativity allows thinking outside the box and generating new ideas. Flexibility is important for adapting strategies and dealing with uncertainty.

Experimental psychologists need these skills to design experiments, analyze data, and interpret results. They also help overcome any hiccups during the research process.

Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities let professionals identify variables which may influence their experiments’ outcomes. This helps ensure valid conclusions and research integrity.

So, if you’re ready for a wild ride in the world of experimental psychology, buckle up!

Job prospects and career opportunities in experimental psychology

Experimental psychology is an intriguing field with lots of opportunities. You can work in academia doing research or in industries like healthcare, marketing, and technology. As an experimental psychologist , you could be studying, analyzing data, and discovering things about human behavior . It’s a continuously growing field, making it an enticing choice for those interested in understanding the complex mind.

Academic research is typically connected to experimental psychology, but it goes beyond the laboratory. With a foundation in research methodology and stats, these psychologists are highly sought after in many industries. Their knowledge of human cognition and behavior helps in product development, user experience design, and market research.

In addition to traditional paths, some experiment psychologists are consultants or have their own private practice. They draw on their knowledge and research skills to give clients helpful solutions to difficult problems. They can aid people with mental health issues or give advice to businesses on employee wellness strategies. Their expertise is very important for society’s overall well-being.

True History: Wilhelm Wundt started the first psychological lab at the University of Leipzig in the late 1800s. This changed psychology from philosophy to empirical inquiry. Through experiments on introspection and perception, Wundt opened the door for future generations to explore the mysteries of the mind. His impact is still seen in this thriving field today. So, don’t worry, becoming an experimental psychologist is all fun and games until someone loses their control group!

Tips for aspiring experimental psychologists

Climbing the ladder to become an experimental psychologist takes dedication and a firm understanding of the field. Heed these tips for help:

• Stay curious and ask questions. It’s essential to have a passion for inquiring and investigating. Nurture a curiosity, learn to ask thought-provoking questions that will support research.
• Strengthen analytical skills. Analyzing data and making valid conclusions is a big part of being an experimental psychologist. Advance your math and stats abilities to make sense of experiments.
• Get research experience. Practical experience is key in this field. Look for chances to collaborate or conduct your own experiments under a pro. This experience will aid you in understanding the scientific process.

Plus, networking with pros can give insights and access to research collaborations or job openings.

Fascinating fact: Wilhelm Wundt, aka “father of experimental psychology,” was one of the first to use lab methods to study mental processes.

Conclusion: If you love trying to figure out why people act strange, wait until you become an experimental psychologist and start doing strange things yourself!

We’ve gone deep into what it takes to be an experimental psychologist . We’ve looked at the education and skills necessary, as well as prospects and job outlook. Plus, the value of internships and research assistant positions.

Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

• Keep learning – attend conferences, workshops, and seminars related to your field of interest.
• Get hands-on experience – team up with professors or researchers in universities or contact organizations that do psychological research. You’ll pick up practical skills and make useful connections.
• Network – join professional organizations or online forums and get mentoring, collaborations and resources.
• Improve communication – communicate your research findings and insights to both academic and public audiences. And work on your scientific writing skills to get research papers published and contribute to psychology knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is experimental psychology?

Experimental psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on studying human behavior and cognitive processes through research methods and experiments. It involves designing, conducting, and analyzing experiments to understand how people think, learn, perceive, and behave in various situations.

2. How long does it take to become an experimental psychologist?

The path to becoming an experimental psychologist typically requires earning a Ph.D. in Psychology, which can take around 5-7 years to complete. This includes completing a bachelor’s degree (4 years) followed by a master’s degree (2-3 years) and then a doctoral program (3-4 years).

3. What qualifications do I need to become an experimental psychologist?

To become an experimental psychologist, you typically need to obtain a doctoral degree in experimental psychology or a related field. Prior to that, you will need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. Additionally, gaining research experience through internships or working under a faculty member can be beneficial.

4. What skills are important for an experimental psychologist?

Some of the essential skills for an experimental psychologist include critical thinking, analytical skills, research design and statistical analysis skills, strong communication and writing abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Proficiency in using computer software for data analysis is also important.

5. What career opportunities are available for experimental psychologists?

Experimental psychologists can pursue careers in academia, research institutions, government agencies, and private industries. They can work as researchers, professors, consultants, or program evaluators. They may also contribute to fields such as human factors, neuropsychology, or cognitive psychology.

6. How much do experimental psychologists earn?

The salary of an experimental psychologist can vary depending on factors such as level of education, years of experience, and the job setting. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for psychologists, including experimental psychologists, was $82,180 as of May 2020.

Experimental Psychology Resources

• American Psychological Association – Experimental Psychology : The APA provides resources and support for a variety of fields in psychology, including experimental psychology.
• The Journal of Experimental Psychology : This journal, published by the APA, covers empirical research on topics in experimental psychology.
• Experimental Psychology (Textbook) : This textbook provides an introduction to experimental psychology.
• Society for Experimental Psychologists : The SEP is an organization that seeks to advance and communicate scientific research in experimental psychology.
• British Journal of Psychology : This journal covers all branches of psychology, including experimental psychology.
• The Experimental Psychology Society : The EPS is a UK-based society that promotes the advancement of scientific research within the field of experimental psychology.
• Journal of Experimental Psychology: General : This journal publishes articles describing empirical work that bridges the traditional interests of two or more communities of psychology.
• Journal of Experimental Social Psychology : This journal focuses on original empirical work in all areas of experimental social psychology.
• Journal of Experimental Child Psychology : This journal publishes innovative empirical research on several aspects of child development.
• Frontiers in Psychology – Experimental Psychology : Frontiers in Psychology is an open-access journal that hosts several specialty sections, including Experimental Psychology.
• Psychology Careers

We are psychologists, psychology professors, practicing MFCCs and psychology students providing career, degree and salary information for current and future psychologists.

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• Psychology Programs

Accredited Experimental Psychology Degrees [2024 Guide]

Study experimental psychology.

The human thought process is complex. It can be difficult to pinpoint why people act a certain way. Although there are often similarities among people, no two people are exactly alike.

For centuries, psychologists have been trying to discover what factors influence human behavior, personality and thoughts. Although there are different psychological theories, questions remain.

Experimental psychologists use scientific method to perform research and collect information to get a better understanding of the human mind. By understanding the human thought process, researchers can better explain and predict human behavior and in some instances influence or change behavior.

The work of experimental psychologists can benefit other areas of psychology. For example, understanding what motivates a person to behave in a certain way, such as being self-destructive, may help psychologists develop ways to treat the problem.

What is an Experimental Psychology Degree?

Although most psychologists are interested in why humans behave the way they do, experiment psychologists devote their entire work to research. An experimental psychology degree prepares students to design, conduct, analyze and present research experiments.

Experimental psychologists conduct research in controlled situations in order to understand behavior and emotions. The findings from studies can help psychologists, doctors and counselors diagnose and treat different behavioral, emotional and social disorders.

Most experimental psychology degree programs are at the master’s degree and doctorate level. Students usually are expected to prepare for a graduate or doctorate in experimental psychology by earning an undergrad degree in psychology.

In an experimental psychology degree, students can concentrate research on specific areas of interest, such as developmental psychology , neuroscience and cognitive psychology . Those with a doctorate may also become professors at universities.

Experimental Psychology Bachelor’s Degree

Although most experimental psychology programs are at the master’s degree or higher, there are also a small number of bachelor degree programs. Since experimental bachelor degree programs are limited, a four-year degree in general psychology is also a good place to start.

Students who earn a bachelor’s degree in general psychology may be able to take electives, which focus on experimental psychology. A bachelor’s degree in psychology provides students the foundation for moving forward with additional education and training in experimental psychology. Typical courses in a bachelor’s program may include:

• Psychology of Learning and Memory: This class introduces students to the general principles of memory and learning by reviewing topics, such as information processing, memory research and problem solving. Pavlovian conditioning and other theories of learning are examined.
• Introductory to Statistics: This course provides a foundation for collecting, analyzing and interpreting data. Various topics are covered including hypothesis testing, estimation and probability theory.
• Psychology of Personality. In this course, students will develop an understanding of the various theories of personality development. The focus of the class will be on normal personality development and functioning.
• Introduction to Research: Students will learn how to develop a research project using scientific method. A variety of approaches to understanding and interpreting research data is discussed. Emphasis will also be placed on presenting research findings both in written form and through an oral presentation.

Credit Requirements: Students in an experimental psychology bachelor’s degree program are usually required to complete a minimum of 120 credits. As part of the curriculum, most four-year experimental psychology programs include some classes with accompanying labs.

Admission Requirements: Requirements for both a general psychology bachelor’s degree program and an experimental psychology program are usually the same. Applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED. Certain schools are more competitive than others, and a high school GPA of at least a 3.0 may be needed for admission into a bachelor’s degree program.

Experimental Psychology Master’s Degree

A master’s degree in experimental psychology is generally considered the minimum qualification to work in the field. Students in a graduate program will take core psychology classes, as well as research methodology classes. A master’s thesis project along with elective classes is also required.

Opportunities for research are also part of a master’s in experimental psychology program. It also provides the needed foundation for students who want to continue their training and enter a doctorate program. Common courses may include:

• Observational Methods and Analysis: Every research subject is not the same, which means different techniques may be needed when conducting research. Students in an observational and methods course will identify and implement appropriate observational methods on a case by case basis.
• Developmental Psychology Research: This class helps students develop the analytical skills needed to conduct developmental psychological research studies. Non-normative and normative patterns of development during infancy and childhood will be reviewed.
• Neuropsychology: Courses in neuropsychology focus on diseases and disorders of the brain. Causes, assessment and treatment of brain damage and neuropsychological syndromes will be explored.
• Perception: Various concepts and theories of perception are explored and discussed in this course. Students will also have the opportunity to perform research and measurements of perception.

Credit Requirements: A master’s degree in experimental psychology often requires between 33 and 45 credits. Completion of research projects along with an approved thesis topic is also required for graduation.

Admission Requirements: In most cases, admission requirements include a four-year degree in psychology or experimental psychology. In some instances, a student with a degree in something other than psychology may be accepted if they have a strong background in experiential analysis. A GPA of at least a 3.2 is also usually needed to be admitted. High scores on the GRE are also helpful to get an accepted.

Experimental Psychology Doctorate Degree

Many doctorate programs in experimental psychology allow students to select an area of concentration. Students already gained a foundation in experimental design and analysis at the master’s level.

In a doctorate program, Ph.D. candidates can further their skills and focus on a core area of psychology, such as personality, neuroscience and social psychology. Doctorate programs in experimental psychology include research projects, along with seminars and classroom lectures. Common classes may include:

• Analysis of Behavioral Data: Once experimental psychologists conduct research, it has to be analyzed to present the results. In this class, students will develop an understanding of how to organize research and how to use different techniques for data analysis.
• Advanced Seminars in Methodology: During graduate training in a master’s degree program, students gained a foundation for designing psychological research. In this doctorate class, topics often include limitations of experimental design and implementing cost-effective research and overcoming research study obstacles.
• Physiological Psychology: Students in this course study the anatomy of the human brain, along with neural communication. The neural mechanism for emotional, cognition and mental disorders are also studied.
• Grant Writing and Research Funding: The amount of money it costs to pay for a psychological research study can vary. This class teaches students how to find research funding sources, such as corporations and universities. Information on how to complete a proposal for funding is also included.

Credit Requirements: A doctorate program in experimental psychology is challenging and often takes about five years to complete. Although exact requirements can vary, many Ph.D. programs in experimental psychology may require 64 credits to graduate. Along with classroom work, a number of credits are required that involve completing research projects. A dissertation is also required.

Admission Requirements: To gain admission to a doctorate program in experimental psychology, students must usually have a master’s degree in psychology . Usually, a certain number of classes in statistics and research need to have been completed at the graduate level. Three letters of recommendation, along with a professional goal statement is also often part of the admission requirements.

What is an Online Experimental Psychology Degree?

Although they are not numerous, there are some online degree programs in experimental psychology. There may not be a great many online programs in experimental psychology due to the time that must be spent conducting hands-on research. However, there are several online psychology bachelor’s degree programs for students who are starting their education in experimental psychology.

Online programs in experimental psychology have a curriculum similar to a traditional campus-based program. Coursework includes research design, administration of assessment and neuropsychology.

Although it can vary, most online programs in experimental psychology do not require an internship. Similar to a campus-based program, online programs at the master’s or doctorate level usually require a thesis or dissertation.

Some schools may offer a combination of an online and campus-based program in experimental psychology. Students may take online classes, but also attend in person labs. A combination program may be a great way to have flexibility while attending school, but also get hands-on experience. Combination programs integrate independent course work, along with professional activities in experimental psychology.

What Does it Take to Get an Experimental Psychology Degree?

• Problem Solving Skills : Having problems solving skills is essential for experimental psychologists. Problem solving skills refer to being able to identify the problem, generate and evaluate solutions and select the best solution to solve the problem.
• Self-Motivation : In some instances, experimental psychologists spend a lot of time analyzing and interpreting research data, which may not be a typical nine to five job. They may also work independently. Being self-motivated to stay on track is a helpful skill.
• Observational Skills : When experimental psychologists conduct research studies involving human participants, they need to pay close attention to every detail. They need to observe and analyze an individual’s actions, body language and facial expressions.
• People Skills: Although experimental psychologists are not treating patients as clinical psychologists do, they still need to have good people skills. Experimental psychologists need to work effectively with test subjects in many different situations.

What Can You Do With an Experimental Psychology Degree?

Many other branches of psychology treat patients. But experimental psychologists do not provide direct patient care. Instead, they work mostly in research or teaching. Unlike psychologists who directly treat patients, licensing to work as an experimental psychologist is not required.

Those at the bachelor’s degree level may be limited in employment opportunities. But they may find jobs as research assistants. At the master’s degree and doctorate level, graduates of an experimental psychology program can find employment as data collectors, analysts, professors and researchers for a variety of industries.

Experimental psychologists work for corporations, universities and government agencies. Opportunities are also available at private companies and health care services. Psychologists with a doctorate can also find their own funding sources and conduct research studies independently.

Some experimental psychologists decide to specialize in a specific area of research, such as abnormal psychology or addictions, which may create additional employment opportunities.

What Degrees are Similar to Experimental Psychology?

Social Psychology: A social psychology degree involves studying how people think and relate to one another. Similar to experimental psychologists, social psychologists also conduct research on why people think and behave in social situations and settings. The research findings can be beneficial in several ways, such as improving the effectiveness of company training programs.

Neuropsychology: Neuropsychologists focus on how biology and brain anatomy influence psychology and behavior. Although a degree in neuropsychology requires research and statistic classes, students also take classes in anatomy and abnormal psychology . Neuropsychologists usually must have a doctorate to work in the field. Opportunities are available to work in research and the clinical setting.

Organizational Psychology: Organizational psychologists study human behavior in the workplace. They are often employed by companies and organizations to improve the workplace. For example, organizational psychologists may develop ways to increase company morale or productivity. Master’s degree and doctorate programs are available in organizational psychology .

Forensic Psychology: A forensic psychology degree prepares graduates to provide psychological assessment within the legal system. Forensic psychologists may work in a variety of capacities. For instance, they may work as expert witnesses in courtroom testimony or diagnose and develop treatment plans for criminal offenders. A doctorate is usually required to work as a forensic psychologist.

• Clinical Psychology Degree
• Cognitive Psychology Degree
• Forensic Psychology Degree
• Health Psychology Degree
• Mental Counseling Degree
• Social Psychology Degree
• School Counseling Degree
• Behavioral Psychologist Career
• Clinical Psychologist Career
• Cognitive Psychologist Career
• Counseling Psychologist Career
• Forensic Psychologist Career
• School Psychologist Career
• Social Psychologist Career

2024 Best Experimental Psychology Master's Degree Schools

Choosing a great experimental psychology school for your master's degree, overall quality is a must, other factors we consider, one size does not fit all, best schools for master’s students to study experimental psychology in the united states, 10 top schools for a master's in experimental psychology, experimental psychology by region.

Other Rankings

Best bachelor's degrees in experimental psychology, best overall in experimental psychology, best doctorate degrees in experimental psychology, rankings in majors related to experimental psychology, most popular majors related to experimental psychology.

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Online Psychology & Counseling Degrees

Important dates.

Programs Designed for Your Budget and Schedule

Reach your career goals in psychology or counseling with an online degree from the University of West Alabama. Choose from programs in fields such as experimental psychology, clinical mental health counseling, family counseling and more, all in a flexible online environment.

Bachelor's Degrees

Gain a strong foundation in psychology with a BA/BS that will prepare you for immediate employment or graduate school. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in research and learn from experienced scholars and practitioners.

BA/BS Psychology

Develop an understanding of human behavior and functioning with the online bachelor’s in psychology. Like most psychology programs in the country, our emphasis is on experimental methodology and statistical training. However, unlike most large institutions, you’ll be encouraged to assist faculty members in research as an undergraduate.

Master's Degrees

Develop your knowledge and skills to pursue career opportunities in experimental psychology, clinical mental health counseling or a related field. Enhance your career with a master’s degree from one of Alabama’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to provide support to people with the online, CACREP-accredited master’s in clinical mental health counseling. You’ll develop a deep understanding of counseling techniques, theories and principles that allow you to promote the mental health and wellness of clients across diverse populations.

MS Experimental Psychology

Earn a strong foundation in the principles of scholarly research with the online master’s in experimental psychology. You’ll build upon research skills you learned in your undergraduate program, including critical thinking skills, search methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and research presentation.

MS Family Counseling

Work more effectively with families and family-related issues in counseling and other social science fields. With CACREP-accredited curriculum, learn systematic approaches to family counseling that emphasize a non-pathology-based perspective for understanding family dynamics and developing strategies to improve a wide range of relationship, mental health and life adjustment issues.

MS Guidance and Counseling

Prepare to serve students in P-12 educational environments with the online master’s in guidance and counseling. This CACREP-accredited program is an exact replica of our MEd in School Counseling certification program, but is designed for students who are not eligible for the school counseling program because they lack a teaching certificate. *Please note that the program may not lead to a job as a school counselor. Candidates will need to check with their state for guidance on pursuing a career in this field.

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College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

M.S. in Psychology, Experimental Psychology

Degree: Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Experimental Psychology Format : In person on the Statesboro Campus Credit Hours: 36 Completion Time: Four semesters (fall admission only) Thesis : Required Optional teaching emphasis offered Admission Priority Deadline: Feb 15, 2024 Final Deadline : April 1, 2024

Are you interested in conducting psychological research?

As a graduate student in experimental psychology, you’ll conduct experiments and study human behavior- the way we think and learn, our attention, motivation, feelings, decisions, responses to our social environments, and more. You’ll join a steadily growing career that offers a median salary of more than $80,000 per year and make a contribution to an important scientific field.

Our MS in Psychology, Experimental Psychology Degree

Georgia Southern University’s psychology master’s degree with a concentration in experimental psychology is a 36-hour program on the Statesboro Campus — a charming and dynamic college town built around a shop-lined Main Street, and recently voted one of America’s Best Communities.

Our experimental psychology master’s program will give you a deep understanding of psychological research, and offer you the flexibility to learn to teach psychology, take an advanced clinical psychology course, or complete additional research projects with the supervision of our world-class faculty.

Ready to Apply?

Request information, visit campus, or, you can :.

Curriculum for Experimental Psychology

Advanced training in statistics and research design and a required empirical thesis . Students will learn advanced research skills to prepare for doctoral training and to be competitive on the job market.

Advanced theoretical and empirical content in physiological psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, affective and cognitive psychology and learning. Students will learn advanced theory and empirical content in core subdisciplines of psychology.

Choose from several electives, including:

• Seminar in Teaching Psychology Involves lecture, discussion, activities and homework designed to explore how to effectively teach psychology classes at the university level. Using readings from books and journals, along with personal experience, the class will discuss and apply issues such as how to plan effective lectures, test writing and grading, demonstrations, leading discussions, handling controversial issues, dealing with disruptive students, seeking out opportunities for experiential learning, and so on.
• Psychopathology Focuses on descriptions, hypothesized causes, and treatment modalities of major classes of mental disorders as classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association.
• Research Experience Students work with a faculty member on a research project in progress, obtaining experience and skills to enhance their understanding of the research process.

Many of our students pursue doctoral programs in experimental and applied psychology. Approximately 80% of our graduates who pursue doctoral admissions are successful. 

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Experimental Psychology?

Experimental psychologists can find career paths in a wide range of fields. They are experts in using the scientific method to collect and analyze vital data regarding psychological and social issues.

Experimental Psychology careers can include:

• Data Analyst
• Human Factors Engineer
• Product User Researcher
• Neuroscience Researcher
• Medical Researcher
• Instructor at the College Level

Admissions Requirements

New students in the Master of Science in Psychology, Experimental Psychology are admitted to the program in Fall semester only. The program is limited to 10-12 new students.

To apply, each applicant must have:

• A successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. 
• Record of having taken Introduction to Psychology, psychology statistics, psychology research methods, and at least two other psychology courses. 
• A 3.0 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average (GPA) or higher on undergraduate work. The average undergraduate GPA of successful applicants was 3.65 for the Fall 2021 class and 3.63 for the Fall 2022 class.
• The GRE is optional for applicants applying for Fall 2024 admission. You may still provide GRE scores but you are not required to do so.

Each applicant must submit:

• Developmental: Ty Boyer, Nicolette Rickert, Rebecca Ryan
• Social and Personality: Cassandra Baldwin, Amy Hackney, Mike Nielsen
• Decision Making and Behavioral Economics: Jon Friedel
• Cognitive Psychology: Larry Locker
• Clinical: Virginia Wickline, Wendy Wolfe
• Experimental Psychology: Josh Williams
• Recommendations  from three individuals who can speak of the applicant’s undergraduate academic performance, potential for graduate study, and maturity level and character. At least one letter must be from a former professor or faculty research supervisor.
• Optional: A current Curriculum Vitae.
• Optional: Submission of a writing sample of past work provides an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, tone, and style. The sample should be no longer than two double-spaced pages. Consider submitting an excerpt or passage from a research paper or writing assignment for class, a manuscript, or other relevant works.

MS in Experimental Psychology Student Work

• William T. Cagle (2021) Applicant Religion and Work Qualifications Impacting Hiring Decisions Michael Nielsen, Advisor
• April Carr (2021) Effective Weather Messaging: Applying the Bad News Response Model to Hurricane Warnings Lawrence Locker, Advisor
• Bradly McGinnis (2021) Do the Age and Drama Type of Individuals Affect Their Perceived Social Status? Nicholas Holtzman, Advisor
• Jaqueline Miranda (2021) Understanding Racial Experiences and the Influence of Family on Stress and Familism Attitudes Jessica Brooks, Advisor
• Connor Samuelson (2021) Which Toys are Right for Boys? How Threat and Confirmation of the Gender Hierarchy Impact Purchase Intentions for Stereotypical and Counter Stereotypical Products Amy Hackney, Advisor
• Ahmad Sarris (2021) A Research Assistant’s Perceived Skillset When Utilizing Deception Karen Naufel, Advisor
• Robert Southern (2021) Influence of Increased Options on Performance Generalization Across Two Variations of the Monty Hall Dilemma Lawrence Locker, Advisor
• Chelsea Thweatt (2021) The Relationship between Posttraumatic Growth, Social Support, and Rurality Brandon Weiss, Advisor
• Taylor Bradish (2020) The Smartphone Addiction Measure Janie Wilson, Advisor
• Vincent Edwards (2020) Alternatives: The Video Game. An Assessment of Bias and Preferences in Uncertain Situations. Kent Bodily, Advisor
• Alexandra Gilbert (2020) An Examination of the Relationship between Community Engagement and Military Spouse Marital Satisfaction Janice Steirn, Advisor
• Samantha Gnall (2020) Who Deserves to be in STEM? How Threat and Confirmation of the Gender Hierarchy Impact Helping Behavior Towards Prospective STEM Majors Amy Hackney, Advisor
• Tyler Mueller (2020) Attitude Formation and Malleability in Response to Visual Cues and Counterattitudinal Information Dorthie Cross, Advisor
• Jaelyn Nixon (2020) Does MAGA Affect Legal Decision Making in a Criminal Case? Amy Hackney, Advisor
• Danielle Oehring (2020) Prayer as a Potential Buffer Against Ego Depletion Janie Wilson, Advisor
• Jenay Stone Smartphones, Stress, and the Reduction of Cognitive Resources Daniel Webster, Advisor

2019-2015 Theses

• Jorge R. Noguera – Sepulveda (2019) Does Enhancing Mind Perception Affect Conspiracy Belief? Nick Holtzman, Advisor
• Ryan Arflin (2019) The Impact of Language Complexity in Weather Warnings: Does It Matter? Karen Naufel, Advisor
• Meghan Lacienski (2019) Are Chronic Inflammatory Diseases Associated With Trauma Exposure and Gender? An Empirical Analysis of Self-Reported Trauma and Health Histories of Men and Women Dorthie Cross, Advisor
• Clint E. Johnson (2019) Does Sharing Information with Friends and Family Cause Men to Adhere More Strongly to Masculine Norms? Nick Holtzman, Advisor
• Rebecca E. Burchette (2019) Ambivalent Prejudice in News Media: Does Social Hierarchy Threat Change How We View Reporters? Amy Hackney, Advisor
• Victoria E. Forgea (2019) Ego Depletion: Buffering Through Touch Janie Wilson, Advisor
• Alexandria D. Booth (2019) The Effects of SES Stereotypes on Hurricane Decision Making Larry Locker, Advisor
• Serena K. Murphy (2019) Does Emotion-Regulation Moderate Ostracism and Risk-Taking? Ty Boyer, Advisor
• Demi M. Culianos (2018) The Effects of Inhibitory Control Training on Food Preferences Janice Steirn, Advisor
• Susan A. Talley (2018) Predicting Student Learning: The Roles of Rapport, Immediacy, Learning Alliance, and Citizenship Behavior Rebecca Ryan, Advisor
• Allyson H. Schmidt (2018) Does Person-First Language Increase Empathy and Feelings of Closeness for Those With HIV and Cancer? Karen Naufel, Advisor
• Joshua T. McMains (2018) Dietary Patterns and Food Stimuli Janice Steirn, Advisor
• Brooks B. Kolberg (2018) The Effects of Alcohol Priming on Age Perception and Attractiveness Ratings Jessica Brooks, Advisor
• Rain Marie Carroll (2018) An Experimental Assessment of Empathy Compared to Perspective Taking on Minority Group Members in Intergroup Exchanges With Majority Group Members Amy Hackney, Advisor
• Lindsey Bradley (2018) Induced Moods, Warning Messages, and Gambling Behavior Ty Boyer, Advisor
• Courtney Swank (2018) The Effect of Religious Dress on Perceived Attractiveness and Trustworthiness. Mike Nielsen, Advisor
• Natalie Branch (2018) The Effects of Preceding Stimuli Formats on Proportional Reasoning Ability in Elementary School Students. Ty Boyer, Advisor
• Lotte J. Pummerer (2017) Cognitive and Emotional Processes Involved in the Experience of Objects as Holy or Transcendent Mike Nielsen, Advisor
• Donald G. Sullens (2017) Dual Task Testing of the Adaptive Combination View in Spatial Reorientation Kent Bodily, Advisor
• Zebulon K. Bell (2017) Examining the Effects of Enclosure Size at Training and at Test in Spatial Reorientation Brad Sturz, Advisor
• Spencer Dobbs (2017) The Influence of Resource Scarcity and Childhood Socioeconomic Status On In-Group Inclusiveness Dan Webster, Advisor
• Addison Price (2017) The Effect of Disability Language on the Stigmatization and Dehumanization of a Novel Disability Karen Naufel, Advisor
• Julie Odom-Dixon (2017) The Effects of Ostracism on Seeking Social Situations as Moderated by Narcissism Nick Holtzman, Advisor
• Jason A. Parker (2017) The Effect of Social Influence on Perception of Tornado Warnings Larry Locker, Advisor
• Emily N. Lasko (2017) Psychopathy and the Effect of Imitation on Empathetic Pain Amy Hackney, Advisor
• Robert L. Altman (2017) Persistence and Achievement in Academics Janie Wilson, Advisor
• Daniel A. Zuardo (2016) Rudeness and Ego Depletion Janie Wilson, Advisor
• David Welden (2015) Preventing and Repairing Ego Depletion Through Humor Janie Wilson, Advisor
• Sawyer, K. (2015) Religion and Interpersonal Trust: An Individual Differences Analysis. Mike Nielsen, Advisor
• Shannon A. Summerlin Jr (2015) The Truth About Lying: Does a Lie Cause Ego Depletion? Janie Wilson, Advisor
• Justin Ford (2015) A Stress-Diathesis Model of Depression: Examining Self-Compassion and Savoring Jeff Klibert, Advisor
• Joseph Todd (2015) Hypomania and the Effects of Working Memory Load on Risk-Taking Jeff Klibert, Advisor

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• MS in Clinical Psychology
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Applied Research Master of Science in Clinical Psychology

The MS in Clinical Psychology, Applied Research specialization helps you establish critical expertise to help you pursue advanced career paths in the field of clinical psychology. The coursework fuses theory, research, and practice to help you develop a highly functional skill set for a diverse range of professional settings. Your coursework is led by scholar-practitioners who emphasize real-world application of psychological theories, psychological assessment, psychopathology, research methods, and ethical principles. It can also prepare you for advanced doctoral study in the field of clinical psychology.

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Courses and skills

Explore applied research courses.

• This degree requires a total of 53 program credits
• You’ll  need to complete five core courses and six specialization courses

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*Course has prerequisite(s). See catalog for details.

What you'll learn

The MS in Clinical Psychology, Applied Research specialization equips you with foundational knowledge and skillsets for academic practice, research roles, or doctoral-level study in the field of clinical psychology. The curriculum develops your understanding of applied research methodology, psychotherapeutic theory and testing, psychopathology, human development, ethical principles, and diversity.

On successful completion of this program, you should be able to:

• Apply theory and research findings into standards of practice for the professional discipline of clinical psychology
• Analyze research related to clinical psychology
• Apply ethical principles related to practice in academics, research, and practice of clinical psychology
• Communicate in scholarly writing and through the use of any technologies using the professional standards of the discipline
• Evaluate the importance of diversity through mastery of multicultural competencies in scholarly work

Review the Capella career exploration guide to learn more about this program and career paths to explore.

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How much does the ms in clinical psychology cost.

The total cost of your degree will depend on academic performance, transfer credits, scholarships and other factors. See GuidedPath cost information below.

A structured learning format with an active peer community and faculty guidance. We’ll set the schedule, you meet the deadlines.

• Based on the quarter system; 1–3 courses per 10-week quarter
• 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
• Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
• Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or quarter

$495 per credit, $160 resource kit fee, 53 total quarter credits, 15 max transfer credits

*This is only an estimate, effective July 8, 2024, and is subject to change. Your tuition amount will vary depending on your unique circumstances, such as your program specialization, transfer credits and any applicable tuition discounts. This estimate does not include the cost of books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other expenses. Tuition estimates shown for the GuidedPath learning format depend on the number of credits accepted for transfer. New or recently revised program tuition estimates are based on comparable programs.

Capella is committed to transparency in tuition and pricing. You will be responsible for costs in addition to tuition, which may include travel expenses and practicum costs. You will be charged $50-$200 each quarter or billing session for your resource kit, which includes required books, software and other course materials.  Click here to review program-specific fee amounts in our University Catalog .

Find out more about financing and payment options  to help you complete your program. Federal aid also is available to help manage the costs of higher education. Learn more about  financing your education .

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82% of psychology master's degree alumni agree their education was designed around the needs of working professionals.

*Alumni Outcomes Survey, 2022–2023

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Are there scholarships available for master's degrees.

Your education is an investment in your future. There are  more ways to save  than you might think.

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Apply for a $2.5K Capella Progress Reward , a scholarship to help fund your master’s degree. Eligibility rules and exclusions apply. Connect with us for details.

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Capella offers a tuition discount to active-duty service members, guard and reserve members, veterans, their spouses* and dependents. *Starting in July, spouses of veterans can now benefit from a 10% discount on eligible certificates, master’s and doctoral programs and a 15% discount on eligible bachelor’s programs.

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Capella is accredited by the higher learning commission..

Accreditation and recognitions provide evidence that we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, learner services, and fiscal stability.

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How to apply

What are the ms in clinical psychology admission requirements.

Admission requirements

Applicants to the MS in Psychology, Applied Research program must provide the following information for admission:

• A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or from an internationally recognized institution
• Your official bachelor’s transcripts, with a grade point average of 2.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
• Admission application – no application fee required

GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.

International student requirements

If you completed your most recent academic coursework, degree, or credential at an institution outside the United States, regardless of your citizenship or where you currently live, you are considered an international applicant.

In addition to the above admission requirements, you will need to submit these materials:

• Minimum score on acceptable test for proof of English proficiency
• Transcript evaluation

Learn more about  international student admissions .

Faculty and support

What support does capella offer online students.

Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of a master’s student. We’ve structured the experience in manageable pieces to help you earn your degree with support from faculty, staff and online resources.

Our courses are taught by distinguished faculty members who hold top credentials and have hands-on expertise in their fields.

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Master’s level programs are challenging. That’s why you’ll have access to expert support at every step along the road to your degree.

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Articles and resources

Expand your perspective on academic and career topics with articles and resources from Capella University.

How Does Clinical Psychology Differ from Non-Clinical Psychology?

Clinical psychology involves working directly with human subjects and requires licensure. Learn more about key differences.

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Helping Professions Guide

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Career exploration

What can you do with an ms in clinical psychology degree.

Your education can help you reach your professional and personal goals. While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome, such as a job title, promotion, or salary increase, we encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here are some ideas and examples for a graduate with an MS in clinical psychology, applied research specialization.

Job titles to explore*

• Analytics and insights manager
• Compliance manager
• Program manager
• Regulatory affairs manager
• Research program manager

Employment settings to explore*

• Child and youth services
• Colleges, universities and professional schools
• General government support
• Individual and family services
• Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers

*These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.

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Best Experimental Psychology colleges in the U.S. 2024

Best experimental psychology colleges in the u.s. for 2024.

Tufts University offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 98 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 90 Bachelor's degrees, 5 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

University of Chicago offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 162 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 105 Bachelor's degrees, 45 Master's degrees, and 12 Doctoral degrees.

University of Rochester offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 78 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 72 Bachelor's degrees, 4 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.

University of California-Santa Barbara offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 474 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 456 Bachelor's degrees, 14 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 414 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 358 Bachelor's degrees, 31 Master's degrees, and 25 Doctoral degrees.

University of Connecticut offers 2 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 3 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 2 Master's degrees, and 1 Doctoral degree.

The University of Texas at Dallas offers 2 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 15 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 12 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

Minnesota State University-Mankato offers 1 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 5 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 5 Certificates.

Harvard University offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 85 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 66 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Doctoral degrees, and 8 Master's degrees.

The University of Texas at Austin offers 3 Experimental Psychology degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1 Experimental Psychology students graduated with students earning 1 Master's degree.

Find local colleges with Experimental Psychology majors in the U.S.

List of all experimental psychology colleges in the u.s..

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8 Jacksonville Psychology Degree Programs & Majors

Written by Sarah Walsh

Clinical PsyD — Rutgers University | Clinical Psychologist

Jacksonville, Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, rich cultural scene, and diverse communities. While it may offer a more limited selection of psychology degree programs compared to larger metropolitan areas, it still presents excellent opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in psychology. Among the local institutions, the University of North Florida stands out with its comprehensive range of psychology offerings, including both undergraduate and graduate programs. 

In addition to UNF, other universities in Jacksonville provide quality education and experienced faculty, along with valuable hands-on experiences in local settings. With a supportive learning environment and access to various mental health resources, Jacksonville is a great place to study psychology. 

Jacksonville On-Campus Psychology Degrees

Several institutions offer on-campus psychology degree programs that cater to a range of academic and professional interests. The University of North Florida (UNF) provides a comprehensive suite of psychology programs, including Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as graduate programs such as a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, emphasizing hands-on training and research opportunities. Jacksonville University offers well-rounded Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology designed to prepare students for various career paths, featuring small class sizes and internship opportunities that connect students to the local community. 

1. University of North Florida (UNF) Jacksonville, FL 32224

Program: Bachelor of Science in Psychology Program Tuition : $6,390 for residents; $20,790 for non-residents ( subject to adjustment ) Program Overview : The BS in Psychology at UNF requires students to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours, including 48 upper-division hours, which allows for a solid grounding in psychological theories and practices. Students enjoy the flexibility of selecting free electives in various disciplines, making it easier to tailor their education to their interests. The program promotes critical thinking, research skills, and practical applications, preparing graduates for various career options or further study in graduate programs

Program: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Program Tuition : $6,390 for residents; $20,790 for non-residents ( subject to adjustment ) Program Overview : For those interested in a broader approach, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology includes a foreign language requirement, emphasizing cultural competence alongside psychological training. This program cultivates an understanding of diverse perspectives and enhances communication skills, essential for careers in counseling, social work, or related fields. 

Program: Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience Program Tuition : $6,390 for residents; $20,790 for non-residents (subject to adjustment) Program Overview :  This program is not specifically a psychology but it is also a great choice for students fascinated by the biological connections to behavior. With an interdisciplinary curriculum, this program focuses on the relationship between brain function and human behavior, including mental health issues and substance use. Students in this track engage deeply with topics like cognition, perception, and social interaction, preparing them for careers in research, clinical settings, or advanced studies in neuroscience or psychology. 

2. Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL 32211

Program: Psychology Major Program Tuition : $45,050 for full-time undergraduate students and $1,510 per credit hour for part-time students Program Overview : Jacksonville University offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Psychology, designed to prepare students for various career paths or advanced studies in the field. The curriculum emphasizes psychological theory, research methodologies, and practical applications. Students benefit from small class sizes, personalized attention from faculty, and opportunities for internships and research experiences that connect them to the local community. 

3. Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Jacksonville, FL 32202

Program: Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology Program Tuition : $117 – $401 per credit hour Program Overview : The Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree in Psychology at FSCJ is designed as a baccalaureate transfer program, providing students with the foundational coursework necessary to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology or related fields. The program offers a clear term-by-term roadmap for full-time students, while also guiding part-time students. This flexibility allows students to progress at their own pace, accommodating those who may have work or personal commitments.

Jacksonville Online Psychology Degrees

Jacksonville offers limited options for fully online psychology degrees. While the city has reputable institutions like the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University, which provide strong psychology programs, these are often campus-based. As a result, students looking for online degrees in psychology may find their choices within the city somewhat restricted.

However, there are alternative options for those willing to look beyond Jacksonville. Many universities across Florida and the broader United States offer fully online psychology programs, allowing students to complete their degrees remotely. 

1. Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Jacksonville, FL 32202

Program: Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology Program Tuition : $105 for residents; $227 for non-residents Program Overview : Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology at FSCJ  also has an online option. In addition to the overview discussed earlier, another unique characteristic of this program is the inclusion of a Statistical Reasoning pathway. This pathway provides students with essential skills in descriptive statistics, probability, and inferential statistics, which are crucial for psychology majors, particularly for those interested in research or data analysis.

Jacksonville Specialized Psychology Programs

Jacksonville offers several specialized psychology programs designed for professionals who seek to enhance their credentials and deepen their understanding of specific areas within the field. These programs are ideal for those who are already working in psychology-related fields or for individuals looking to pivot into more specialized roles.

1. University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL 32224

Program: Master of Science in Psychological Science Program Tuition : $8,892 for resident; $18,792 for non-residents (subject to adjustment) Program Overview : The MS in in Psychological Science at UNF is beneficial for students who considering further graduate study, or seeking employment in applied psychology across various sectors, including government, community agencies, and industry. The curriculum is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge in research methods, statistical analysis, and psychological theory, enabling them to develop critical thinking and analytical skills essential for both academic and professional success.

Students can also take advantage of the Accelerated Path for the BS-MS Program in Psychological Science, which allows them to earn their M.S. degree concurrently while completing their Bachelor of Science in Psychology at UNF. 

Program: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Tuition : $700 per credit hour Program Overview : MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a two-year, full-time program designed to equip students with the necessary skills for a career in counseling, particularly with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Counseling. The program has received recognition for its innovative approach, being awarded the 2024 Innovation in Counseling: Counselor Education Community Engagement Award by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

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Presentation Master's thesis - Xiaoyi Lin - Social Psychology

Roeterseilandcampus - Building A, Street: Roetersstraat 11, Room: B2.02

This study investigates the underlying mechanism of Dutch teachers’ biased track recommendations for Arab-Muslim girls and boys by examining the nature of stereotypes and prejudices. With an intersectional perspective, we proposed that 1) Arab-Muslim girls are perceived as less competent than majority girls, triggering more paternalistic prejudice; 2) Arab-Muslim boys are perceived as less warm and moral than majority boys, eliciting more hostile prejudice. In turn, both paternalistic and hostile prejudice would predict higher track recommendations bias against Arab-Muslim students. We conducted an online experimental survey and measured stereotypes, prejudice, and track recommendations. We analyzed the dataset simulated from the responses of 16 Dutch preservice teachers. Contrary to our hypotheses, we did not find a significant positive association between the incompetent stereotype and paternalistic prejudice toward Arab-Muslim girls. For the boys, the cold stereotype was positively associated with hostile prejudice, while we did not find a significant positive relationship with the immoral stereotype. Paternalistic prejudice positively predicted track recommendation bias against Arab-Muslim girls, and hostile prejudice positively predicted the bias against Arab-Muslim boys. The research contributed to a deeper understanding of teachers’ track recommendations, which can serve as a basis for developing intervention strategies.