It used to be that to earn a master’s degree in psychology, you had to participate in an on-campus program. In West Virginia, that meant you had to attend classes at institutions like West Virginia University in Morgantown or Marshall University in Huntington. That’s no longer the case, though.
Colleges and universities throughout West Virginia and the surrounding states now offer online graduate programs. Though West Virginia schools don’t currently offer online psychology graduate degrees, institutions in the surrounding region and across the nation do. This means that no matter where you live in the Mountain State, you can get the degree you need to pursue your career goals.
If you’re unsure of which online program to enroll in, consider the popular options described in this guide!
Online Master’s in Psychology Programs in West Virginia
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online psychology master’s degrees in West Virginia:
Franklin University
AtFranklin University, you can pursue a Master of Science in Business Psychology that requires 36 credits to graduate. This is a fast-track program that typically takes 14 months to complete. With no GRE or GMAT scores necessary to apply, this program not only offers quick enrollment but a high level of business psychology coursework to prepare you for the next step in your career.
At the heart of this program are studies of managerial issues ranging from finding ways to motivate employees to improve productivity to enhancing a company’s ability to recruit top-level talent. This program even dips into neuroscience research as a means of identifying strategies for boosting on-the-job performance.
To complete this degree, you’ll take nine required courses (there are no electives). Each course is worth four credits, and you enroll in one course at a time. Initially, your coursework is fairly basic. A good example of this is Introduction to Business Psychology. This class offers a broad overview of business and psychology and helps you understand how the two can be seamlessly integrated. You’ll study many different topics, including the following:
Next, you’ll take another introductory course: Managerial Psychology. This class examines how psychological factors affect the behavior of organizational leaders. Again, you’ll discuss many different topics, including biases, strategic decision-making, nature versus nurture, and groupthink, to name a few.
The Individual and Organizational Intelligence class fits hand-in-hand with the two courses described above. You’ll learn about social psychology, systems theory, and organizational life cycles and how each process affects both individuals and organizations. Additionally, you’ll review essential business concepts like organizational intelligence, emotional intelligence, and organizational DNA.
A range of other subjects are required to earn this degree. These include the following:
The final course in this degree program is Business Psychology Mastery Demonstration. This is an integrative course meant to help you collate what you’ve learned into a personally meaningful paradigm that’s also organizationally meaningful. A further purpose of this class is to provide you an opportunity to highlight what you’ve learned and your master of the necessary material prior to graduation.
To earn this degree, you must successfully pass all required courses and do so with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Franklin University also requires that you complete at least 24 credits of the 36-credit degree requirement.
To apply, ensure you meet the following requirements:
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University offers a strong option for obtaining your online master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on forensic psychology. This program prepares you for various careers in the fields of psychology and law enforcement. After completing this degree, you may pursue a career in areas such as:
The program covers criminal behavior, its origins, social influences on crime, and the effects of crime on society. You’ll also study topics related to the U.S. legal system, criminal justice, and psychological research.
Your coursework begins with an Introduction to Graduate Studies in the Liberal Arts course, which provides an overview of what to expect while studying at Grand Canyon University. This course also helps you develop skills that will enhance your performance as a graduate student.
Another important course is Theories of Criminal Behavior, which examines both historical and modern theories of criminality. This class addresses the developmental, psychological, and social causes of crime, helping you understand why certain individuals are more likely to engage in illegal activities.
In addition, you’ll take a course titled Psychology and the Legal System, which will provide insight into the role of forensic psychologists within the criminal justice system. You’ll explore the functions of various agencies, the roles of professionals in forensic psychology, and different elements related to crime.
You are also required to complete the following courses to earn your degree:
The final requirement is a professional capstone course. This project allows you to apply your learning to a specific issue or challenge in the field of forensic psychology. You’ll conduct thorough research and present your findings, while also exploring career options and developing a plan to achieve your professional goals.
To apply to Grand Canyon University, you may begin the application process online at any time. The admission requirements are as follows:
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland’sonline Master of Professional Studies in Industrial and Organizational Psychology is another top option for completing your degree as a student in West Virginia. This fast-track program requires just 15 months to complete. You’ll work through the requirements for graduation in five 12-week terms, during which you’ll take a variety of classes focusing on the application of psychology in business and organizational settings.
The courses you’ll take are synchronous, meaning you “meet” with your professors and classmates for class each week. However, your classes meet just once a week in the evenings to give you the flexibility you need to attend to work and life obligations.
In terms of the content you’ll study, you’ll begin with Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology, which surveys various topics in this field. For example, you’ll discuss the following:
You’ll then take a Research Methods at Work course that teaches you about the various types of research you can use in the workplace. You’ll examine the strengths and weaknesses of common approaches while also learning about the best practices for conducting workplace research. You’re also required to take a Statistical Methods at Work course to go along with your studies of psychological research.
Talent development is just one part of this job, though. You’ll also learn how to identify potential issues in the organization and methods to resolve those issues. The Selection and Classification of Issues in Organization course explores everything from government regulation to psychometric problems to issues of recruitment.
Another key course you’re required to take is Business Fundamentals and Legal Issues Facing Organizations. As part of this class, you’ll learn how to successfully run an organization, from product development to marketing to finance. Then, you’ll explore the ethical considerations of doing business. For example, you might analyze an organization’s code of conduct and provide feedback to make it a more actionable document.
You’ll take several other interesting industrial-organizational psychology classes, too:
The practicum component is especially important because it gives you real-world experience working in an organization. You’ll get to apply what you’ve learned in your classes while getting valuable supervision from an experienced industrial-organizational psychologist. The final component of the practicum is a reflection paper in which you discuss what you’ve learned, how you’ve applied your learning, and how you’ve developed as a pre-practice psychologist.
You must meet the following criteria to apply:
If you like, you may also submit supporting documentation like a portfolio, writing samples, or a description of your research or work experience relating to this field.
Capella University
Another option for pursuing a master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology isCapella’sMaster of Science Program. As you’d expect, this program focuses on how to improve the workplace environment using psychological techniques and strategies.
This 53-credit online program includes four core courses and six specialization courses. The core courses explore fundamental topics in industrial and organizational psychology. For example, you’ll take Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology Learners. In this class, you’ll learn the fundamentals of studying psychology online, like how to take advantage of Capella’s many resources, such as their online library and writing center.
But, the remaining core courses focus on research and writing in psychology. For example, Survey of Research Methods teaches you how to critically analyze psychological research. You’ll learn how to evaluate the research others have done, apply research methodologies, and design research of your own. Meanwhile, Quantitative Design and Analysis examines statistical methods, including computation, logic, and the interpretation of statistics.
The next core course is Tests and Measurements. This class examines the basic issues of psychological testing, including social and theoretical issues to consider when conducting testing. You’ll learn how to use aptitude tests, achievement tests, and personality tests. This course also provides you with insights into the best practices for testing in educational and business settings.
The six specialization classes focus specifically on industrial and organizational psychology topics. One of the first specialization classes you’ll take is Principles of Industrial/Organizational Psychology. This class teaches you about the different psychological mechanisms that influence individual, group, and organizational behavior. You’ll learn about workplace diversity, ethics, and different assessment methods, too.
Speaking of ethics, you’ll take a dedicated course on Ethics and Multicultural Issues in Psychology that touches on many contemporary topics, such as the influence of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and gender on ethical behavior. This class also addresses various multicultural issues as they pertain to ethics in the workplace and organizational settings.
A variety of other specialization courses help you hone your skills in IO psychology. These include the following:
Wrapping up this program is an integrative project. This class serves the purpose of allowing you to showcase what you’ve learned. You must show that you’re proficient in IO psychology knowledge, skills, research, and scholarship. Additionally, you must propose new research ideas for this field and demonstrate your ability to write and apply for research grants.
This program is available in two formats. GuidedPath is a more traditional sequence in which you have consistent deadlines to meet and weekly online interactions with your professors and classmates. The FlexPath option gives you more flexibility in that you set your own deadlines and work on the courses described earlier at your own pace. Support is available when you need it, but there are no scheduled online meeting times with your professors. Either option allows you to work toward your master’s degree as you see fit.
Capella University accepts applications year-round. The following criteria are required to apply:
If you wish to pursue the FlexPath option, you must have a 3.0 GPA or higher. However, Capella will consider admission to this track if your GPA doesn’t meet this requirement. You’ll be required to submit additional documentation supporting your case for enrollment in FlexPath.
University of Tennessee
The Master of Science in Educational Psychology from theUniversity of Tennesseecombines synchronous and asynchronous online coursework that results in a highly flexible graduate program that also offers the support you need for your success. The program isn’t age-specific, either. In other words, this degree prepares you to work with students of all ages, from young children to older adults.
Your coursework examines many different areas of educational psychology. For example, the Motivation in Learning course gives you insights into how and why people are motivated (or not motivated) to learn. You’ll analyze the motivation factor for different age groups across the lifespan and discuss how motivation plays into learning in both formal and informal settings.
Another key course is Theories of Learning in Applied Educational Psychology. This class introduces you to the major theories of learning and provides details about research that supports each theory’s efficacy. You’ll evaluate various models of learning, learn how to apply theory and research, and explore how one’s emotions and affect can impact learning, too.
This program also explores assessment in learning. The Assessment in Applied Educational Psychology course introduces you to test construction, item analysis, and standardized tests. In fact, you’ll learn about many different standardized tests, from aptitude and intelligence tests to personality and vocational interest tests.
You’ll also learn how to use your learning to bring about change in education. The Facilitating Change in Educational Environments class examines the factors related to change in education. You’ll spend time learning about internal and external change agents, and you’ll become familiar with strategies for facilitating change in education, too.
What’s interesting about these and other classes is that they are structured to give you the most flexibility. For example, all classes are on Monday-Thursday evenings. This frees up your Fridays and weekends to focus on your social life or other obligations.
Also, as noted earlier, you’ll take part in synchronous and asynchronous classes. These classes are held via Zoom and Canvas to give you the live classroom experience. What’s more, being able to see and hear your professors and classmates makes your learning process much more active and allows you to get to know your cohort on a deeper level.
The admissions requirements for this program are as follows:
