Why You Need To Rethink Your Online Psychology Degree Before Applying

Getting a B.A. or B.S. in Psychology can prepare you for a number of roles including counseling, lab technician jobs, and marketing positions. Online degrees can be a great option for those who need to study more flexibly, and courses are offered by many different universities throughout the United States.

What it offers

The degree offers a comprehensive knowledge of basic psychology, scientific methods, and theories about human behavior. Many psychologists who obtain a B.A. then go on to do their doctorates.

Studying online offers a flexibility that that the traditional classroom setting does not. Typically classes consist of weekly readings and assignments that need to be completed by the end of the week, to your own time schedule.

What to look for

Not all courses are 100% online, so you need to check if that would be a problem for you. Different courses also have varying emphases and specializations, so you need to do your research to find one tailored to your needs.

Accreditation

Accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA), is the gold standard for psychology degrees, but that are currently no such accredited programs for psychology that use online methods only.

Students should ensure that any accreditation agency is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education.

Costs

Although students may save on room and board fees when studying online, they are not immune from the other myriad fees and expenses associated with earning a degree. Fees for online tuition vary greatly with some costing the same as a public university and others being nearly twice as much.

Students can pay more if they earn their degree bit by bit, taking one class here and one class there. There may also be separate rates for students who live in the state and those who don’t.

Students can only receive federal student aid for schools accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Government.