It is true that the convenience of an online education can be quite alluring for many students, especially older students and those who work full-time. In today’s world, you can find a variety of traditional and fully-online colleges anduniversities that offer doctoral psychology degrees (Ph.D.).
If you are contemplating earning an online doctoral degree in psychology, there are a number of factors you should consider before enrolling.Some of the questions that you should think about include: “Will a doctoral degree help me achieve my career goals?” and “Do I need to be licensed and/or certified to accomplish those goals?”
Find a Legitimate Online Doctoral Psychology Program
Most doctoral degrees take between four and seven years to complete so if an online “college” or “university” claims that you can graduate with a doctoral degree in psychology in as little as a year or two, it is duplicitous.
Schools That Offer Online Psychology Ph.D. Programs
Capella University
Capella University offersdoctoral degrees (Psy.D. and Ph.D.) in clinical psychology,educational psychologyandindustrial/organizational psychology. Each program consists of 120 credit hours.
The best thing about Capella is that it is a fully-online accredited educational institution. This university even allows you to “try out” a free online course before officially enrolling in a doctoral program. Each course consists of 5 credit hours. Futhermore, Capella’s psychology Ph.D/Psy.D programsdo not require you to take GRE.
Contact information: Harold Abel School of Psychology, Capella Tower, 225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, Minneapolis 55402, 1-888-227-2736, capellauniversity.edu
Argosy University
Argosy University provides you with an opportunity to earn a Ph.D. in Education and Counseling Psychology online. This program typically attracts older (non-traditional) students who work full-time and who prefer the convenience of pursuing a doctoral degree in the comfort of their home.
As an Argosy online psychology doctoral student, you will be required to complete two or more thee (3) day residencies to graduate. You will also be required to complete 60 credit hours of psychology-related coursework.
Contact information: Argosy University, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601, 1-800-377-0617, online.argosy.edu
Walden University
Walden University is another accredited fully-online educational institution. This online university offers a variety of online doctoral (Ph.D.) psychology programs (counseling, general, clinical, health and organizational psychology).
Walden’s online clinical and counseling psychology doctoral programs consist of 160 credit hours. It is important to note, however, that health, general and organizational psychology doctoral programs consist of 121 hours instead of 160 credit hours.
As a Walden University student you are required to complete at least 500 hours of residency training at one or more of Walden’s satellite locations. These residencies give you an opportunity to meet and talk with psychology professors in a traditional college setting. Moreover, you are required to successfully complete a practicum, internship and dissertation.
Contact information: Walden University, 650 South Exeter Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, 1-866-492-5336, waldenu.edu
