Best Online PhDs In Psychology

Overview:

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Grand Canyon University is a proprietary institution that awards hundreds of degrees in a range of broad topics. As a nondenominational Christian university, the school emphasizes the importance of spiritual education intermixed with a strong liberal arts core. The College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon is comprised of an innovative community that connects faculty and learners with transformative learning experiences. The online PhD in Psychology comes with several options to allow students to tailor their studies toward their career plans.

Program Features:

In this degree, students have the ability to choose from multiple concentrations, including those in performance psychology, psychology and technology, learning and psychology, and cognitive psychology. These specializations allow students to gain greater proficiency in the areas they are most passionate about, while at the same time receiving a comprehensive education in teaching and conducting psychological research in any setting. The program requires 60 total credit hours, with each course lasting eight weeks. Required classes include:

• Theories of Cognition, Motivation, Collaboration and Learning
• Statistics
• Technologies for Learning and Communication
• Building Community and Social Networking

Notables:

Grand Canyon University is one of the most veteran- and transfer-friendly schools on this list. Allowing students to transfer in up to nine doctoral credits, students have maximum flexibility when designing their degrees. In addition, tuition starts at just $650 per credit hour, with flexible financing options available (including GI Bill compatibility). This convenient degree program is ideal for traditional students as well as busy working professionals seeking a more flexible degree completion option.

Overview:

Hampton University was founded in 1868 and is a private, historically black institution. Over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs are available. The online PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Hampton University is designed for licensed counselors, and prepares students by training them in foundational counseling principles along with supervisory and clinical skills. This versatile degree allows graduates to go on to better serve the counseling community.

Program Features:

This program is offered in an accelerated format, taking most students just a few years to complete. The program requires 64 credit hours, with concentrations available in school counseling and community mental health counseling also available. This degree prepares students to become agents of change by requiring them to take collaborative, innovative coursework such as:

• Ethics and Legal Aspects of Counseling
• Advanced Counseling Theory and Techniques
• Analysis of Behavioral data
• Research and Program Evaluation
• Grant Writing

Notables:

This affordable program provides financial aid to those who qualify. Combined with affordable tuition that starts at just $695 per credit hour, this degree’s value cannot be surpassed. Each course lasts just 16 weeks, allowing students to complete their studies in an average of three and a half years. As a result of this and the university’s other major hallmarks, it is recognized as one of the Best Online Colleges in Virginia by Affordable Colleges Online.

Overview:

Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Keiser University is ranked as one of the best Regional Universities South by U.S. News & World Report. Admitting students on a rolling admissions basis, this school has a commitment to providing diverse programs in both traditional and online formats. The university has 14 campuses within the state of Florida, as well as satellite campuses in both China and Nicaragua. The online Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology combines community partnerships, rigorous academic preparation, and cutting-edge research to create an award-winning degree program.

Program Features:

This program prepares students to enter into the profession by involving them in independent learning, research, and extensive academic preparation. Students will learn how to approach industrial and organizational psychology as a science, and use scientific research methods to apply psychology to the problems faced in a workplace setting. Required courses, leading to 81 total credit hours, include topics such as:

• Psychopathology
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Research, Ethics, and Scholarly Writing
• Cognitive & Affective Basis of Behavior

Notables:

Class sizes at Keiser are small, with over 95 percent of all classes containing fewer than 20 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is just 12:1, allowing students to interact with their fellow students and faculty members to the fullest extent possible. In addition, this school is affordable. Almost all students are offered some kind of financial aid package, with the average need-based scholarship or grant awarded at $6,219.

Overview:

A small private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University offers an impressive PhD program in Philosophy with an emphasis in Expressive Therapies. Classes at Lesley, including those offered online, are small and inquiry-based, including up to 650 hours of internships and field experiences that begin right in the first year of studies. The school offers significant research and study-abroad opportunities, supporting students in their learning both on-campus and off.

Program Features:

The doctoral program in Philosophy with an emphasis in Expressive Therapies at Lesley is designed to be a low-residency program, combining research with artistic expression and inquiry. The program is taught by world-renowned faculty who are committed to helping students explore the theory and practice of expressive therapies. The degree requires 45 total credit hours, with courses broken down into several key segments such as:

• Residency I
• Doctoral Seminar I
• Residency II
• Doctoral Seminar II

Notables:

The school is ranked as one of the best National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. With a student satisfaction rating of 79 percent, along with a small student-to-faculty ratio of just 12:1, this school is top on our list for the most hands-on PhD programs. Lesley was the first university in the country to offer a degree in Expressive Therapies, and it has offered one of the most profound degrees for well over 40 years.

Overview:

Liberty University is a leader in the field of online education, with online programs that rank in the top five of over 2,100 online colleges and universities. In particular, the school has been recognized for its academic quality, accessibility, and overall affordability. In fact, tuition for all doctoral degrees has not increased in three consecutive years. The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is just one of several high-quality doctoral degrees offered at Liberty.

Program Features:

This degree is comprised of 60 credit hours, which most students will take around four years to complete. It prepares students for a range of careers, including those as educators, clinical practitioners, researchers, and advocates. Each course implements a biblical worldview and prepares graduates to ethically serve diverse populations of patients. Featured courses include:

• Dissemination of Research and Scholarship
• Advanced Theory Application
• Teaching Internship
• Counseling, Research, and Leadership Internship

Notables:

In addition to the rigorous curriculum offered by Liberty University, each student is also required to complete several advanced field experience. These internships allow students to network with other professionals in the field and to gain the kind of hands-on experience employers want to see. The degree is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, giving students extra prestige when they apply for highly sought-after Counselor Education positions at colleges and universities.

Overview:

Michigan State was founded in 1855, and as a large public school offers some of the most affordable and high-quality online programs around. As one of the country’s first land-grant universities, it offers candidates exceptional opportunities to diverse research programs. Offered within the dynamic College of Education, the hybrid PhD in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology is a rigorous, five-year program of study that is completed almost entirely online.

Program Features:

This program is designed in a hybrid format to allow students the hands-on experiences of a Michigan State education while allowing for more flexible course completion. It includes extensive training in technologically sound pedagogies and prepares students to pursue roles in K-12 school systems and institutes of higher education. Students will take classes such as:

• Quantitative Methods in Educational Research
• Teachers and Technology
• Intellectual History of Educational Psychology
• Practicum in Research Design and Data Analysis

Notables:

Michigan State University offers enduring partnerships with top research organizations and medical facilities. As a result, students may engage in research at one of the top research universities in the world – even when studying from afar. Ranked as one of the Best National Universities by U.S. News & World Report, this school boasts an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of just 16:1.

Overview:

Northcentral University is a regionally accredited online university. This school is unique in that students work with highly credentialed faculty – all of whom have terminal degrees – via advanced course delivery formats, completing their studies in a one-on-one format. The university focuses on doctoral and master’s degrees, as well as a few online bachelor’s degrees. All classes are offered with personalized instruction and enhanced accessibility, and the online PhD in Psychology is no exception.

Program Features:

The online PhD in Psychology at Northcentral prepares candidates for exceptional performance in the profession by giving them applied experiential learning opportunities. These are provided in the form of scenarios, case studies, vignettes, and real-life situations that represent real-world issues faced in the psychology field. Students work with dedicated professors who serve as mentors throughout their coursework. The program requires 60 credit hours, with a total of 20 courses needed for graduation. Multiple specializations are available, including those in:

• Addictions
• Health Psychology
• Trauma and Disaster Relief
• Gerontology
• General Psychology

Notables:

Northcentral is unique in that students can start their studies at any time throughout the year – if it is on a Monday. Courses start fresh every Monday, and most students can complete their degrees in 48 months. The multitude of available concentrations allow students to pursue the topics about which they are the most passionate, without requiring them to enroll in separate degrees. This saves students both time and money, which is only part of the reason why Northcentral is regarded as one of the best online schools in the country.

Overview:

Located in Corvallis, Oregon, Oregon State University offers over a hundred different graduate and doctoral-level programs. Oregon State is ranked as one of the Best Colleges for Veterans and one of the Best Value Schools by U.S. News & World Report, offering both academic quality and affordability. The state’s largest public research university, this school was founded in 1868 and remains a leader in providing students with extensive academic research opportunities. The PhD in Counseling is a hybrid program that begins each summer and requires 150 credit hours to complete.

Program Features:

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, a testament to the program’s reputation and high-quality curricula. Courses are offered in a collaborative cohort model, allowing students to work with other professional and pre-professional counselors from around the world. Most students graduate in three to five years, following extensive coursework in topics such as:

• Diversity and Social Justice
• Counselor Education
• Group Counseling
• Career Counseling
• Advanced Theory and Practice

Notables:

Starting at just $567 per credit hour, this program is a bargain among its peers. The university has a commitment to affordability, and nearly half of all graduates leave school with absolutely no debt. Although it is not a teacher or professional licensure program, students can begin to work immediately on implementing learned solutions in their daily work setting and educational practices. Offering degree partnerships with every community college in Oregon as well as dozens of other schools across the country, this college is an ideal spot for new and transfer students alike.

Overview:

Regent University is a private institution in a suburban setting. As a relatively new university, founded only in 1978, this school offers one of the best PhD programs in Counseling and Psychological Studies – Research in the country. Requiring no GRE for admission, this program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. With financial aid offered to over 86 percent of all graduate students, it is an affordable option that cannot be overlooked.

Program Features:

This program recognizes the pivotal role that groundbreaking research drives in overall change, preparing students for careers in mental health counseling, education, research, and psychological science. This Christian-focused degree requires 150 hours of preapproved on-site experiences and human services work. Required courses, leading to 51 credit hours of study, include:

• Addictive Behaviors
• Research Methods in Psychological Sciences
• Indigenous Mental Health Care
• Grant Writing and Dissertation Proposal

Notables:

This degree is offered entirely online, with each course offered in 16-week sessions. All classes are taught by award-winning faculty located in Virginia Beach as well as around the country. The university offers related programs in topics like General Psychology (with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology), Human Services, and Counselor Education and Supervision. The average retention rate at this school is 78 percent, indicating high student satisfaction and academic success.

Overview:

Texas Tech is a top research university located in Lubbock, Texas, and has provided the best professional programs since 1923. The Educational Psychology PhD program is located within the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership. It trains students to apply both qualitative and quantitative research skills in a way that enhances academic discovery while maintaining and valuing diversity and collaboration at the same time. It was designed based on the standards set forth by the American Educational Research Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the American Psychological Association.

Program Features:

Upon graduation from this program, students may go on to a number of diverse, well-paying careers. Alumni currently work in educational research settings, as well as for government agencies and testing companies. The degree, which is offered online as well as on-campus and an intensive summer-based program, also includes options in school psychology and developmental and learning sciences. Required classes for the stand-alone degree, which lead to 91 credit hours of study, include:

• Foundations of Educational research
• Motivation in Academic Settings
• Human Development in Education
• Cognition and Instruction

Notables

Texas Tech is home to multiple research centers and institutes, including the world-famous National Wind Institute. This commitment to research and development means that students seeking professional degrees in psychology have some of the best access to academic resources and funding in the nation. Ranked as one of the top public schools by U.S. News & World Report, the school has an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of just 20:1.

Overview:

An independent private college, Touro is a comprehensive school under Jewish sponsorship. The Doctor of Psychology in Human and Organizational Psychology at Touro is offered entirely online, with zero residency requirements. With an accelerated admissions process, affordable tuition, and no GRE required, this degree is a highly sought-after credential by employers and industry professionals alike.

Program Features:

Although this degree does not lead to licensure, it is a high-quality option for any student seeking an affordable program in Psychology. Students have access to support systems that are dedicated to student success at the doctoral level, as well as an academic environment that fosters innovation, high quality research, and the use of technology and other hands-on learning opportunities. Required courses include:

• Applied Cognitive Psychology
• Applied Media Psychology
• Application of Research Methods in Professional Settings
• Survey Design

Notables:

Touro University has a lot to be proud about – it has been ranked by Money magazine as one of the best value-adding colleges, and with a global network of nearly 100,000 alumni, this school offers serious professional connections. An affordable option, Touro offers financial aid to 83 percent of all undergraduate students. With plenty of graduate and professional degree and certificate programs (well over 150) to choose from, this school is a smart choice for students seeking a high-quality PhD program in Psychology.