Online Psychology PhD Programs

Online psychology PhD programs usually take five to seven years of study after completion of a bachelor's degree. A dissertation based on original research completes the PhD. Several programs, including a clinical psychology PhD and counseling psychology PhD, require a year of internship.

Featured Colleges with Online Doctorate in Psychology Programs

Walden University

• PhD in Psychology - Clinical Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Counseling Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - General Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Health Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Educational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Social Psychology

Capella University - some of Capella's graduate psychology programs are designed to lead to state licensure or endorsement.

• PhD in Psychology - General Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Educational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Addiction Psychology
• PsyD - School Psychology

Northcentral University offers the following accredited online psychology PhD degrees:

• PhD in Psychology - Gender Diversity Studies
• PhD in Psychology - General Psychology
• PhD in Psychology - Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine
• PhD in Psychology - Industrial Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Business Administration - Industrial Organizational Psychology
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

University of Phoenix

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Argosy University

• Doctor of Education - Counseling Psychology

PhD in Psychology Education and Training

PhD programs offer general psychology or specializations such as clinical psychology (PsyD), school psychology, counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, or business psychology. Other doctoral programs focus on executive coaching, non-profit management, organizational research, or evaluation statistics. A doctoral program may focus on a particular approach to psychology, such as behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, or biological.

If you want to work in private practice or in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or school psychology you will need a license or certification in addition to the doctoral degree. Requirements for the licensure vary by state.

Admission into PhD psychology programs is very competitive. All PhD programs require a master's degree from an accredited college or university. Some programs require an undergraduate or masters degree in psychology, while others prefer some coursework in basic psychology plus courses in physical sciences, social sciences, math, and statistics.

In addition to mastering your coursework, PhD in psychology graduates must be sensitive, compassionate, mature, patient, and stable especially if they plan to work directly with people. To work as a research psychologist, one must be detail-oriented and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Online Psychology PhD Programs

An online PhD psychology degree program allows you to advance your career without disrupting your life. You can continue to work while you study online at a university in a distant city. In addition, studying online gives you access to the most current research in your field. The time it takes to complete an online psychology PhD degree will depend on the specialization, course load and may differ from one online college to another.

Online PhD psychology degree specialties are the same as the ones offered through on-campus programs. Many PhD psychology programs offer students the opportunity to create an individualized multidisciplinary course of study that combines psychology with education, business, or human services. In addition most online psychology PhD programs have some residency requirements. Certain schools offer the residency programs at locations around the country, while others offer them only at their main campus.

Careers with a Psychology Doctoral Degree

The best psychology jobs require a PhD. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects faster than average employment growth for psychologists, especially those with a doctoral degree in an applied specialty such as school psychology or counseling psychology. Psychologists trained in quantitative research methods and computer science will have an additional competitive edge. About one-third of psychologists are self-employed.

Graduates with a PhD in psychology may teach at universities; work in hospitals, physician offices, or clinics; or enter into private practice. They may provide clinical services or work in consulting, research, or program evaluation. They may pursue administrative positions in higher education, business, or the military.

Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists provide direct services to individuals and groups.

Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychology principles to the workplace in order to improve productivity and work life.

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