Acquiring psychology degrees online can prove to be an emotionally rewarding and financially lucrative choice for you. However, given the vast career options in this field, there are various choices of degrees available as well. Such diverse options may confuse you and therefore, in this article, we shall discuss the best online psychology degrees. We are sure that once you’ve read this completely, you will get a clear idea of the kind of psychology program that is most suitable for you.

First, let us understand the different levels of best online psychology degrees available to prospective students across the United States.

• Associate Degree

Comprising of introductory classes that essentially cover the fundamentals of psychology, an Associate Degree serves as a stepping stone to fulfill a bachelor’s program. This program at least requires a high school diploma or GED and takes around two years to complete. If you enroll in this degree prior to your bachelor’s, then it will prepare you well for all kinds of higher-level study in psychology.

• Bachelor’s Degree

A Bachelor’s Degree takes about four years to complete. In this level, the coursework revolves around application of theories and principles learnt in an Associate’s Degree.

• Master’s Degree

Master’s program involves a narrow specialization that can take up to two years. Students would be expected to conduct a psychological research or to complete a Master’s thesis as a part of this program.

• Doctorate in Psychology

This is the highest level of online course available in psychology. Interestingly, students who wish to pursue a doctorate program can choose to enroll in PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) or ED (Doctor of Education) programs. The difference lies in the focus of the program; one is research-oriented while the other is practice-oriented.

Now let’s focus on the best online psychology degrees according to the specialization choices most popular amongst students across the country.

1. Child Psychology

If working with children seems desirable to you, then an online degree in child psychology could be a promising program. It primarily involves the study of children’s behavior and how this behavior impacts their adult life. You can expect job opportunities in pediatric hospitals, educational settings, outpatient clinics or even in a private practice.

1. Clinical Psychology

This specialization is concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illnesses, abnormal behavior and psychiatric problems. If you desire a challenging and financially sound career, then this could be a suitable path for you. Most often clinical psychologists work under medical settings.

1. Counseling Psychology

If you’re mainly interested to analyze people’s problems and to verbally suggest solutions for the same, then go for counseling psychology. It will give you the opportunity to practically apply foundational psychological theory into research or therapeutic behavioral treatments. Additionally, you will be equipped to facilitate positive behavioral change process in individuals, families and groups.

1. Experimental Psychology

Online programs in experimental psychology are structured to train students how empirical research functions. Scientific research methods are used to learn about varied psychological phenomena and to properly comprehend the ethical dilemmas that arise when studying living beings. Their main work revolves around monitoring research in universities, government centers and research facilities; they may also be involved in the teaching profession.

1. Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology imparts knowledge about research and design, general forensic skills and contextual and legal issues of crime scenes. Through this program you can also work alongside the criminal justice system or directly get involved with victims or offenders

Recently, psychology has transformed into a rapidly growing industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an expected 19% growth in the field of psychology in the next decade. So, if the subject interests you, then now is the prime time to pursue psychology degrees online. But do research well before enrolling into any accredited university as this subject contains a variety of career options!