Online Psychology Degree | ASU Online (2024)

FAQs

Are online psychology degrees legit? ›

Online psychology degrees are legitimate if they have one of the following accreditations: American Psychological Association. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council. National Association of School Psychologists.

Accelerated Online Associate in Psychology Programs

These programs take about two years to complete and cover general education classes and foundational psych classes. You might take courses like intro to psychology, developmental psychology, and human growth and development.

Know What You Want to Study

A B.A. in psychology focuses more on the humanities or liberal arts. This degree includes more electives, allowing students to take classes in various fields. Alternatively, a B.S. in psychology concentrates more on applied psychology, research methods, natural sciences and math.

While a graduate certificate in psychology can enhance your knowledge and skills in a specific subfield, it may not be a sufficient qualification for certain roles. Many positions in psychology, especially those with clinical or counseling aspects, require a master's or doctoral degree and relevant licensure.

A psychology degree can help prepare you for higher education or provide you with skills applicable in any field. If you are interested in a career working with people, such as education, human resources or counseling, a psychology degree might be worth it for you.

Associate Degree in Psychology

This is the fastest degree in psychology. Most programs take just two years. This also makes it the most affordable psychology degree.

On one hand, it might be considered “hard” because students are required, as with any subject, to do lots of reading and analysis. In particular, many students may have difficulty with subjects like advanced mathematics, statistics, and research methods. You will also be expected to conduct experiments.

Overall, psychiatrists are trained in both medicine and mental health, while psychologists focus solely on mental health.

Is psychology BS harder than BA? ›

in Psychology is that a B.A. program enables students to explore more of the social sciences and humanities alongside the core psychology curriculum. By comparison, the standard curriculum for a B.S. program is more rigorous when it comes to courses like statistics, quantitative research, and data analysis.

For those thinking of majoring in psychology, it is important to consider the degree and the curriculum. For example, some schools offer both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science. A BA allows students to take more electives in the humanities, while a BS focuses more on applied psychology and research methods.

The best free online psychology courses are typically offered by reputable institutions such as accredited universities or organizations like the APA. Take a look at who is teaching the class and make sure they have the appropriate professional qualifications.

Take a psychology 101 class to learn the most basic material. If you want to take a class that offers the most general introduction to psychology, try to find a psychology 101 course. Courses with a 101 course number are usually designed for students with no prior education in the topic.

Most accredited colleges and universities include a link to their accreditation details somewhere on their homepage or on their "About Us" page. Alternatively, you can look for accreditation information using the school's search function or by searching "[School Name] accreditation site:.

Experts say employers are largely more interested in the person than the degree. They generally won't recognize immediately if that person's degree was obtained online or in person. Some schools are fully online while others offer online programs in addition to their traditional in-person options.

Check the Accreditation Status of the School or Program

When choosing an online degree program, prospective students should ensure the school is accredited by an organization recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the nonprofit Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Ultimately, the viability of an online college degree depends on your unique situation. However, the degree itself can be just as valuable as an in-person degree.