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.

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 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 the easiest way to advance one’s education and career without sacrificing income and while maximizing personal efficiency.

While the classroom experience in person and online may be different in some ways, top universities work diligently to ensure their online master’s in psychology programs match up with their in-person counterparts. The knowledge and skills you will gain in an online psychology master’s program mirror the ones taught in a traditional program and can be applied in many ways. Depending on the online program, your experience may vary, but none should require more than a built-in camera, a microphone, and a strong Wi-Fi connection. These are basic technologies that most people have access to, but they cover the majority of online classroom needs.

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.

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:

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 credits to 60 credits. Specific subject areas depend on the program in question. However, a typical online master’s in psychology program includes courses in:

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 2021) that students enter into upon graduation:

All data pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022 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.

Comparing online master’s in psychology programs is the best 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.

Teach.com has compiled a list of the online master’s in psychology programs in the United States along with their GRE requirement information, degree type and credit requirements. While looking for the best online psychology master’s program to fit your needs, carefully consider the structure of the coursework and the admissions requirements to make your decision. Find a school that interests you and find out what it takes to graduate with an online Master of Psychology.

Last Updated August 2023