Guide to Online Master's in Psychology Programs

A Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology is a graduate degree that teaches psychological concepts and the skills to apply them in clinical settings. A master’s degree in psychology can have a variety of specialties, including educational psychology, forensic psychology and counseling psychology. At the core of any traditional master’s in psychology are key lessons in psychological principles and psychotherapy techniques.

The program cards/tables featured on this page were last updated in March 2022. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.

A master’s degree in psychology may prepare students to enter a variety of fields. Some students use the degree as a stepping stone to obtain their doctorate degree and become psychologists, while other students choose to pursue careers in healthcare, education or human resources. In the digital age, it is common for students to seek out online master’s in psychology programs to advance their psychology education. Online learning has become one way to advance one’s education and career without sacrificing income and while maximizing personal efficiency.

The Online MA in Psychology Experience

While the classroom experience in person and online may be different in some ways, universities often work diligently to ensure their online master’s in psychology programs match their in-person counterparts. Depending on the online program, your experience may vary, but most require nothing technical more than a built-in camera, a microphone and a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Many online psychology programs feature the following elements:

• Virtual live classes
• Interactive course content
• Learning management system
• Access to tech support
• Mobile/offline access

Checking with your university of interest to see if their online master’s in psychology program contains some of these elements is a good way to set yourself up for success. If you favor face-to-face interaction but still want to earn your master’s degree online, you might consider an online program which includes on-campus immersion programs. Immersions place you in a real-world setting of your concentration area along with a cohort of peers. For many online MA in psychology programs, these immersions might include clinical or nonprofit volunteering experiences.

Online Master's in Psychology Programs

Before you begin the application process, be sure to contact your accredited institution for information about any prerequisites you may need to fulfill—institutions often have courses that must be completed before enrollment in an online master's in psychology program. Although admissions requirements vary by program, here are some common requirements that need to be met before admission is granted:

• Completed application (either paper or online)
• Bachelor’s degree
• Transcripts
• Resume/CV (summary of professional history)
• Letters of recommendation
• Test scores (if the GRE is required)

Online Master's in Psychology Curriculum

The curriculum and number of credits required to complete an online master’s in psychology program vary widely depending on your school and specialization. The majority of programs can be completed in 12 to 24 months and require anywhere from 30 to 60 credits. Specific subject areas depend on the program in question. However, a typical online master’s in psychology program may include courses in:

• Personality assessment
• Diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders
• Physiological psychology
• Community/clinical research

Psychology Career Outlook

Recent MA in psychology graduates have a wide variety of career options to choose from. Below are just a few of the common careers (and their average salaries as of 2023) that students enter into upon graduation:

• Industrial-organizational psychologist – median annual salary of $147,420
• School psychologist – median annual salary of $84,940
• Marriage and family therapist – median annual salary of $58,510
• Social worker – median annual salary of $58,380

All data pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Although the psychology careers outlined above are common jobs for psychology graduates, graduates can also pursue options like market research or teaching. Thinking about working in a school setting? Learn more about the difference between school psychologists and school counselors.

Finding the Best Online Master's in Psychology for You

Comparing online master’s in psychology programs is one way to choose a degree program that will work with your schedule and provide the best return on investment. When comparing programs, it is important to take into account the specific type of degree being offered, the GRE requirements of the program and the number of credits needed to graduate.