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If you have recently graduated with your undergraduate degree in psychology and are thinking about going tograduate school, then you have probably noticed the abundance of onlinemaster’s programs in psychologythat are available. Could one of these online programs be right for you?

There are a number of things to consider before you decide, and there are several things that you should look for in particular when it comes to an online master’s degree in psychology program.

Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you might choose, or sometimes not choose, to enroll in one of these online programs.

Things to Consider Regarding Online Masters Degrees

The convenience of online education makes it a very attractive option for many students, especially those who work full-time. Today, you can find many online master’s degrees in psychology from a wide range of academic institutions, including fully online schools and more traditional universities. If you are thinking of earning an online master’s in psychology, there are a number of factors to consider before you make this important decision.

Learn more about some of the most frequently asked questions about online master’s degrees in psychology.

How to Find Legitimate Online Master’s Programs in Psychology

One way to ensure that a program is legitimate is to check for accreditation. By going through the accreditation process, a school must prove that its program meets specific requirements and standards of quality. Below are the main organizations to find out about accreditation:

What Can You Do With an Online Masters In Psychology?

Before you invest the time, money, and effort into earning an online master’s degree, ask yourself one question: “How will this degree help me achieve my goals?”

10 Reasons to Major in Psychology

What you ultimately do with your online master’s degree in psychology will depend upon a number of different factors; geographic location, thetype of degreeyou earn, andjob demandin your field will all play a role.

You may decide you want to be a counselor for abused children, work in aresearch lab, or be aschool psychologist. Graduates from online psychology master’s programs often find work in fields such as government, mental health services, hospitals, and business organizations.

The most important thing you can do before you enroll in any program is to check that the degree provides the training and any potential licensure or certification that you may need to work in your chosen field. Some programs provide the necessary coursework to earn the degree, yet they do not offer any sort of path to certification or licensing that might be required to work in your state.

Check carefully with each program to ensure that you will actually be able to put your degree to use once you graduate.

Reasons Not to Pursue an Online Master’s Degree in Psychology

While distance education is a great option for some people, it is not the best choice for everyone. Before you enroll in any online program, it is important to make a realistic assessment of your goals, skills, and interests.

Are you comfortable with technology? Programs may vary in terms of specific technical requirements, but you should be capable of sending emails, emailing attachments, participating in online discussions, and searching for information online. In some cases, you might also be required to download podcasts, view online videos, contribute to a class wiki or blog, or utilize an instant messaging service.

An online degree mightnotbe the right choice if you:

Finally, make sure that you are earning an online degree for the right reasons. If you decide to enroll in a master’s program just because you feel like you should be “doing something” or you want to avoid seeking full-time employment, you might find yourself disappointed with your degree later on. Instead, take some time to really think about your future and decide whether a master’s in psychology can make your vision a reality.

80+ Jobs in Psychology to Consider

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Littlefield J.What you need to know about diploma mills. ThoughtCo.American Psychological Association.Database of APA-accredited psychology programs.Council for Higher Education Accreditation.Regional accrediting organizations.U.S. Department of Education.Accreditation in the United States.Baker R, Evans B, Li Q, Cung B.Does inducing students to schedule lecture watching in online classes improve their academic performance? An experimental analysis of a time management intervention.Res High Educ.2019;60(4):521–552. doi:10.1007/s11162-018-9521-3Rueter JA, Dykes FO, Masters S.Employing a community of inquiry framework to understand graduate students' perceptions of supports in asynchronous online courses focused on assessment.J Hum Serv Train Res Pract.2019;4(2):4.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Littlefield J.What you need to know about diploma mills. ThoughtCo.American Psychological Association.Database of APA-accredited psychology programs.Council for Higher Education Accreditation.Regional accrediting organizations.U.S. Department of Education.Accreditation in the United States.Baker R, Evans B, Li Q, Cung B.Does inducing students to schedule lecture watching in online classes improve their academic performance? An experimental analysis of a time management intervention.Res High Educ.2019;60(4):521–552. doi:10.1007/s11162-018-9521-3Rueter JA, Dykes FO, Masters S.Employing a community of inquiry framework to understand graduate students' perceptions of supports in asynchronous online courses focused on assessment.J Hum Serv Train Res Pract.2019;4(2):4.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Littlefield J.What you need to know about diploma mills. ThoughtCo.American Psychological Association.Database of APA-accredited psychology programs.Council for Higher Education Accreditation.Regional accrediting organizations.U.S. Department of Education.Accreditation in the United States.Baker R, Evans B, Li Q, Cung B.Does inducing students to schedule lecture watching in online classes improve their academic performance? An experimental analysis of a time management intervention.Res High Educ.2019;60(4):521–552. doi:10.1007/s11162-018-9521-3Rueter JA, Dykes FO, Masters S.Employing a community of inquiry framework to understand graduate students' perceptions of supports in asynchronous online courses focused on assessment.J Hum Serv Train Res Pract.2019;4(2):4.

Littlefield J.What you need to know about diploma mills. ThoughtCo.

American Psychological Association.Database of APA-accredited psychology programs.

Council for Higher Education Accreditation.Regional accrediting organizations.

U.S. Department of Education.Accreditation in the United States.

Baker R, Evans B, Li Q, Cung B.Does inducing students to schedule lecture watching in online classes improve their academic performance? An experimental analysis of a time management intervention.Res High Educ.2019;60(4):521–552. doi:10.1007/s11162-018-9521-3

Rueter JA, Dykes FO, Masters S.Employing a community of inquiry framework to understand graduate students' perceptions of supports in asynchronous online courses focused on assessment.J Hum Serv Train Res Pract.2019;4(2):4.

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