While there are several online psychology degrees, it is important for you to find and pursue a degree that is accredited. Accreditation, whether for the institution or for the program, in particular, is an indication that the institution or program lives up to a certain standard of quality. It is recognized that you will be getting a quality education.
While the American Psychological Association (APA) is one of the most significant bodies for psychology courses, the body does not accredit any online courses. You can take a look at their database here. But even if you will not find an online psychology degree accredited by APA, there are plenty of other accreditations that recognize a university or a course. We’ll be taking a look at these accredited degrees below.
Top Accredited Online Psychology Degrees
The following is a list of accredited online psychology degrees:
Ashford University
Ashford University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This is a regional accrediting body that is formally recognized by the US Department of Education.
The university offers nine different degrees that come under the online social and behavioral sciences degrees. Some of the degrees more closely related to psychology include B.A in Psychology, B.A in Applied Behavioral Science, B.A. in Cognitive Studies, Doctor of Psychology and M.A. in Psychology. All these degrees are carried out in the online mode and allow you to explore a variety of career opportunities. All the undergraduate courses cost $485 per credit, though the credit requirements for individual courses are different. The M.A. in Psychology requires 36 credit hours and costs $635 per credit.
Adams State University — Colorado
The Adams State University in Colorado offers a Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs, which are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, CACREP and the Colorado Department of Education. The Clinical Mental Health program is to train counselors to work in this field. After graduating from this course, you can seek employment in mental health clinics, at hospitals, at private hospitals and a variety of other caregiving establishments. Completing the MA is the first step in applying for a state license to become a clinical mental health counselor. The other two involve sitting for a state-mandated exam and completing 2,000 hours of work experience after the M.A. The School Counseling program also prepares you to apply for state licensure. Both programs require you to complete 60 credit hours and cost approximately $20,456 per year.
Antioch University
Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is one of the six recognized and respected regional institutional accreditors in the country. The university offers an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which is a CACREP-accredited course. It will equip you with the skills to engage as a practitioner in the field and work as a councilor in hospitals, clinics, private practices, etc., once you get your license in the state you want to practice in, of course. The program typically takes three years to complete, which also includes a two-week-long residential course. You will be expected to complete 39 credit hours in total. There is also the need for a practicum of a minimum of 100 hours and an internship where you must log 900 hours. The program is priced at $650 per credit hour, in addition to $75 per semester for a student services fee.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Associations of Schools and Colleges. The university offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program which will familiarize you with a variety of fields, theories and practices of psychology. You will also be acquainted with interdisciplinary fields like health psychology and law psychology. Through this undergraduate course, you will be able to develop your writing skills, think critically and apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to your fieldwork. The course covers 40 classes in total and each class takes 7.5 weeks to complete. The estimated tuition fee for a full-time, 12 hours per semester in the academic year, is $13,360.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
The Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This is one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the United States. The university offers a three-year Educational Specialist in School Psychology graduate program, which is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The course is a mix of full-time and part-time field experiences and at the end of three years, you will be equipped to apply for a license as a school psychologist. The first year will include online classes in addition to one face-to-face class once a month. The first year will also involve school experience.
The second year will involve the same method of online and offline method of instruction, along with field experience. The final year will comprise of a full-time internship. This course is better suited for somebody who lives in the state and can make themselves available for classes on campus once a month and can also devote time to fieldwork and internships. The course costs $625.60 per credit hour, inclusive of the student service fee.
If you’re interested in learning even more, be sure to read our other articles on accredited online doctoral programs in psychology and accredited online master’s in psychology.
Final Thoughts
An online psychology degree accredited by APA may not exist, but as has been illustrated above, there are enough and more universities and programs that are accredited by respected, recognized and relevant accrediting agencies. These are typically regional accrediting agencies that are recognized by the US Department of Education and by the federal government. These accrediting agencies are extremely rigorous and hold institutions and programs to high standards. With the name of any of these accreditation agencies attached, you can rest assured that your education is in good hands.
The course mentioned above also provides a diverse plethora of options when it comes to specializing in any one field of psychology. The undergraduate degrees also open your mind up to what you may want to pursue after you graduate. An online degree is the best way to continue your education even if you cannot relocate or cannot afford a full-fledged, on-campus college experience.