Yes, You Can Get An Online Psychology Degree

The world has become almost entirely digital. Things that used to be done physically are now done from the comfort of our homes and behind our computers and laptops. Even our shopping is all done online.

Think back to when you needed something, you'd physically go out and get it. It was such a long time ago that now it almost seems like too much effort. With this digital shift, even educational courses have moved to digital platforms. Getting degrees online has become a norm, and we will soon have a generation of predominantly online qualified individuals.

In terms of obtaining a psychology degree online, this is an extremely viable and accessible method of obtaining your degree. An online degree is a great option for those working and studying, or those with commitments to their families who cannot attend a physical lecture.

Let us take a deeper look into online psychology degrees and whether this is an option for you to pursue.

Is An Online Psychology Degree Any Good?

When you think about college, perhaps you think of frat parties, or perhaps you think of echoing lecture halls. And while both are accurate to some extent, this was the normal of the past. In recent years, people have found the joy of multitasking when you don't need to be physically present.

In the past, online courses were left for those who had long passed the prime years of study, those who were working and had well-established careers and families, but who sought to learn something new or expand on previously obtained qualifications.

Now, online degrees are accessible to anyone with a secure internet connection.

Online psychology degrees are just as good as traditional degrees, provided the institution you will attend is properly accredited as an academic institute. For the most part, many employers and other learning institutes accept online degrees as they would accept traditional degrees.

Getting an online degree in some cases is beneficial to an employer as their employee can complete their studies while still working a full-time job. Employers may be deterred from considering someone with an online degree because of a lack of hands-on and practical experience.

However, particularly in psychology, you can work as a counselor or a psychiatrist aide while working towards a higher online psychology degree, meaning you are gaining qualifications and experience simultaneously.

Compared to a traditional degree and attending traditional courses, campuses that offer both traditional and online seem to hold higher rankings in terms of the validity that the online degree is seen to hold.

But those campuses that only offer online degree courses and no traditional degree courses is seen to hold less credibility for some reason.

Which Online School Is Best For Psychology?

The University of Florida-Online appears as the front runner for an online psychology degree, followed by the University of Central Florida, and Florida International University.

One of the benefits of online degrees is that it is not bound by time and space. This means that you could actively pursue a degree from a prominent and recognized university, while not being near that particular university.

This makes choosing an institute based on reputation and costs a lot easier.

Are Online Psychology Master's Degrees Respected?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that you must obtain a master's degree or doctorate to become a practicing clinical psychologist.

Master's degrees obtained online are respected, provided they have been obtained from an accredited institution. There is no reason to look down on an online degree and with the shift that the world is seeing, online degrees are expected to become more common.

Is It Cheaper To Get An Online Degree?

Getting an online degree is more affordable than a traditional one for various reasons. Firstly, you don't need to take as many student loans as you would if you obtained a traditional degree. This is because you can work while studying and a portion of your earnings can pay for your studies.

Second, universities and academic institutes tend to have lower online fees than their traditional fees because, with online courses, there are fewer overheads. No electricity, no payments for time, and no use of physical space saves the institution various costs.

Lastly, you will also save travel costs to and from the institute if you were obtaining a traditional degree, or you would save yourself on residential expenses that you would spend if you were living closer to the institution.

FAQs

How Long Does It Take To Become A Clinical Psychologist?

As we know, you cannot become a practicing clinical psychologist without a doctoral degree. This can take anywhere between seven to 10 years to achieve from completing a bachelor's degree and then moving on to post-graduate master's and doctoral degrees.

What Is The Fastest Way To Become A Psychologist?

The quickest way to become a psychologist is through an accelerated program. This program can take up to 18 months to complete a bachelor's degree in psychology. While this may seem appealing, accelerated programs are only granted to those who can prove that they can cope with the workload of an accelerated program.

These programs are quite intense as they require candidates to complete the same amount of work in a shorter period of time.

Accelerated programs are available in traditional and online programs and can be beneficial for those who wish to begin working a lot faster.

Is It Possible To Be A Psychologist Without A Degree?

No, it is not. You can only become a psychologist without a degree by using accredited courses that count towards a recognized psychology qualification.

As a psychologist, you play an intricate role in the minds of many individuals. This is not something that you can take for granted or practice if you do not have the relevant qualifications or experience. People will trust you with their secrets and weaknesses, and it is up to you to handle them with the utmost respect and professionalism.

How Do I Start A Career In Psychology?

As with all careers, it starts with a simple decision or a deep seeded passion. You need to decide that this is the career path you are hoping to follow and then do the research required to find the best way to achieve this goal.

There are also a variety of fields within psychology that one can pursue, and you would need to decide which is the career path in psychology you are hoping to follow. Your research will also include identifying and deciding what type of environment you will be working in as a psychologist, the minimum requirements, and what kind of salary you may be earning.

You can then work towards a specific goal and work towards gaining the optimal requirements for your role.

As with most careers, your journey starts in high school, and you gain direction at a higher education level when you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate degree.

What Should I Do If I'm Interested In Psychology?

If you are interested in psychology, you should pursue a career path in psychology. However, if you are afraid of committing, Bachelor of Arts degrees or Bachelor of Science degrees allow you to choose a variety of related and unrelated minor subjects.

This can either propel you towards your career in psychology or give you a few other career options that you could pursue if you are not leaning towards psychology in the long run.

Conclusion

Overall, online degrees are a great option for those whose lifestyles don't allow for traditional degrees. The world is changing, and people should not be limited in their career prospects just because they are already working, or they already have families.

Online degrees are a great way of showing you that it's never too late to pursue a degree, or that you shouldn't have to wait to be qualified before you start living your life. Online degrees give you the flexibility that most need to live their most fulfilling lives.