Best Online Master’s in Psychology

Your didactic coursework will be online, but there’s a one-week attendance requirement on the Palo Alto, California campus. This is a Master of Science in Psychology and doesn’t include a clinical component.

You’ll choose from a Master of Science in: General Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Child and Adolescent Development, Educational, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or Sport Psychology. The program can be completed in 12 months. A bachelor’s degree is required for admission.

Offering online psychology since 1979, this specialized school has over 20 programs in psychology. Eight concentrations are available in: Generalist, Child & Adolescent, Forensic, International, Public Health, Social & Community. Depending on the specialty, you may need to complete an online residency.

You can choose between Clinical or Transpersonal Psychology tracks. The Clinical track will require six-residency intensives over three years. Practical experiences in your home community are required for the Transpersonal specialty.

You’ll receive a Master of Arts in Psychology with this online program. Coursework focuses on counseling, social, and developmental psychology. The program includes a capstone project on identified issues in psychology and application of your studies.

A hybrid National University Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree can lead to a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor or Marriage and Family Therapist specialty. You’ll need to complete prerequisites in foundations for your major. Field experiences are required as well.

You can choose between a General Psychology or Gender Diversity Master of Arts degree at Northcentral University. These degrees can be completed in 18 months. Be aware, however, that NCU psychology programs do not qualify you for licensure.

If you’re looking for an MA in Psychology that follows current trends, American Public University is worth consideration. Four psychology concentrations are available: Development/Personality, Military and Trauma, General, and Industrial/Organization. APU is a military friendly school.

There are two options for this MS in Psychology at Walden University. You can pick the course-based options (instructor led studies) or competency-based (more flexible learning option). Expect to complete a capstone project prior to graduation.

Pick from General Psychology, Addictions, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Forensic, or Industrial/Organizational specializations. This Master of Science program allows you to choose between writing a thesis or passing a comprehensive exam. The school offers multiple start dates.

The City University of New York online MA in Psychology has two tracks: Developmental and Industrial/Organizational. A bachelor’s degree is required for admission (in any discipline) with coursework in statistics, research methods, and introductory psychology. A capstone project is required for completion.

This is an MS degree in General Psychology. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA, access to a research library, and a current or past employment record. You take one course at a time and complete a capstone project.

An MS degree at the University of Southern New Hampshire offers three concentrations in Forensic, Industrial Organizational, and Child & Adolescent Development psychology. This is not a licensure program.

You may want to consider the MS in Psychology from Tiffin University if you’re looking for an interdisciplinary program. The program offers broad studies in the areas of neuro-, cognitive, social, and developmental psychology.

Mercy College provides an online MS in Psychology that offers both clinical and research opportunities. You’ll participate in supervised internships. The School of Education also offers online MS degrees in Psychology and Early Childhood Education.

The Department of Psychology at this Bourbonville, Kentucky, college offers an online MS in Substance Abuse Counseling and an MA in General Psychology. A hybrid Clinical Psychology MS degree is available. An undergraduate degree in psychology and a signed curriculum contract are needed for admission.

If you’re currently in a leadership position, the online Master of Professional Studies in Psychology of Leadership may be attractive. You’ll examine research and theory in leadership effectiveness of the leader-follower, social, and cultural aspects of leadership.

You’ll choose between an online MS in Forensic Psychology or General Psychology at ULM. Core coursework includes neuropsychology, research, and quantitative methods. A thesis isn’t required, but you may be required to complete a practicum.

Here’s an online/hybrid MA in Psychology with an Applied Behavior Analysis concentration. Coursework includes psychopathology, applied research methods, human development, ethics, and methodology. You’ll also be required to write a thesis with this program.

Grand Canyon University has an online MS in General Psychology degree which requires a capstone project. A baccalaureate degree with a 2.8 or higher GPA or GMAT or GRE scores are needed for admission. General course topics include ethics, research, development, psychopathology, etc. 

If you live in the Chicago area, this might be a good choice if you want to teach or you’re interested in research. The MA in Psychology covers quantitative analysis, assessment techniques, ethics, and a thesis. A 2.85 undergraduate GPA or GRE scores are required for admission.

The MS in Psychology degree at IndianaTech follows American Psychological Association guidelines. It doesn’t lead to licensure but you’ll build a foundation of theories, practices, and research in psychology. You’ll also examine behavior, communication, and ethics.

Located in Buffalo, New York, Medaille College’s online MA in Psychology has recently added a Sport Psychology option. Courses are seven weeks long and you can complete the degree in about one year. Admission requests a personal statement, resume, and two professional references.

The Fort Hays State University virtual School Psychology graduate program allows you to pursue an MS or EdS degree. There is an on-campus, one-week requirement in the summer semester for this program. Coursework includes behavioral therapy, advanced child psychology, developmental psychology, practicum, etc. While the in-state and out-of-state tuition usually differ, this online graduate program is the same, $287.75 per credit hour.

This degree is titled an MS in Psychology: Human Factors. Coursework includes cognitive psychology, research methods, human-computer interactions, ergonomics & biomechanics, etc. You’ll need an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field for admission.

The University of North Dakota offers a hybrid MA in Forensic Psychology to prepare you to work in law enforcement or the criminal justice system. An undergraduate degree with a social science major is required for admission. There is a one week attendance required over the summer.

This is a MA in Administration with a concentration in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Coursework includes workplace assessment and testing, organizational diversity, personnel psychology, etc. You’ll be eligible to sit for the Society for Human Resource Management exam with this degree.

You can choose from Gender and Sexuality Studies, Crisis Management, Child and Adolescent Development, or Health and Wellness with this MA in Psychology. A Social Justice practicum is required in your home community with a nonprofit, social justice-oriented agency. You have a thesis or capstone project option.

Golden Gate University has an online Industrial-Organizational Psychology Master of Arts degree. This program will provide theoretical and assessment tools to analyze organizational activity. Courses include organizational development, conflict resolution, strategic planning, and more.

If you’re interested in a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis to allow you to work with children, you may want to explore this program. You’ll study a wide spectrum of behavioral concerns, along the autism spectrum, neurodevelopmental issues, and more. A field practicum is part of this curriculum.