Best Graduate Schools for Psychology

If you are fascinated by the human mind and behavior patterns, enrolling in a Psychology Graduate Programs offers you the opportunity to delve into an area that you are keen about, and perhaps want to research. Psychology is one of the fields where advanced study may translate into a range of potential career paths. Why? One of the reasons is that in order to actually call yourself a “psychologist” you need to be licensed. Licensing laws vary by state and the type of position you are looking into, but, consider this: Most clinical and counseling psychologists need a doctorate in psychology, an internship, at least 1 to 2 years of supervised professional experience, as well as to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology[i]. Now, maybe the type of career you aspire to doesn’t require a PhD or PsyD, but it may require a Masters in Psychology, so take a look inside a Psychology Graduate Program to see what your options are after your undergraduate degree. Explore which Psychology Graduate Degree might lead you closer to your academic and vocational goals.

How to Choose a Psychology Graduate Program: On-campus or Online?

One of the ways to approach your search for a Psychology Graduate Program is to determine whether you prefer to study on a college campus or in an online format. Some Psychology Graduate Schools may actually offer both formats, while others may not. You want to consider whether you have time to commute to class, or whether you need to schedule studying at your own pace. Also, whether you prefer the hands-on and social learning atmosphere or the independence of a distance-learning format.

Once you have determined your program format, you can use these criteria on GradSchools.com to find online and on-campus programs. Graduate Schools can be found by location – so if you have always wanted to study in a specific city, state, or country, use these tabs to filter your results. Look for programs that are accredited.

Accreditation for Psychology Graduate Programs

The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits[ii]:

• Doctoral graduate programs in clinical, counseling and school psychology, as well as programs offering combinations of two or more of these areas. The primary professional degrees offered are the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and PsyD (Doctor of Psychology).
• Internship programs that are a required component of doctoral training
• Postdoctoral residency programs that provide professional preparation

Be aware that the APA does not accredit schools or universities, or programs at the bachelor’s or master’s levels. Also, accreditation applies only to programs — it is not a credential that individuals can attain. Nonetheless, the U.S. Department of Education should have a list of legitimate Masters programs, and you should always refer to a dialogue with a prospective graduate school to discuss requirements, pre-requisites and whether their program might lead to preparing you for licensure.

Choose an Area of Concentration Within Psychology

Psychology is an extremely broad field. Your undergraduate years may have brought you into contact with some foundational subjects, but graduate-level programs in Psychology allow you to get more focused, more experienced and research a field that really draws you in. For instance, if you have a passion for sports, you might choose Sports Psychology Graduate Programs. On the other hand, if you know you would like to work with industry, you might choose an Organizational Psychology Graduate degree program. Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs might be the right fit for someone interested in the criminal justice system, or in working with victims of crime.

We recommend you spend some time browsing the ‘Subject Selection’ to determine where your interests lie, or what the academic path is to practicing in that field. For many prospective students, it may come down to choosing between a clinical psychology graduate program or a counseling psychology grad program. Consider whether you are more of a researcher or aspire to a professional practice.

FUN FACT: The American Board of Professional Psychology awards specialty certification in 15 areas of psychology, such as clinical health, couple and family, or rehabilitation[iii].

What Types of Psychology Graduate Programs Are There?

We gave you a hint up top, but that only skims the surface. Psychology Graduate Programs are offered as Masters in Psychology, PhD and PsyD programs, as well as Graduate Certificates. There’s more?

Masters in Psychology Programs

A Masters Degree in Psychology is a graduate level degree that typically requires 2 to 3 years of study beyond the undergraduate degree. The most common types of Psychology Masters degrees are the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Master of Science (M.S.)

There are also Masters in Psychology Programs that prepare you to enter the workforce after graduate, and programs that prepare you for your doctorate degree. Thesis and non-thesis options are offered depending on your intentions. If you plan to study at the doctorate level, completing a thesis might be a good choice. If you plan to enter the workforce right away, a non-thesis option might be fine.

Some of the listings you might encounter may include: MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in Psychology, General Psychology MS, Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Forensic Psychology. Browse the Psychology Masters Programs .

Doctorate in Psychology Programs

Aiming higher academically? A Ph.D. or Doctor of Philosophy is one of the highest-level degrees achievable in the field of psychology. A doctorate degree might take between four to six years of additional graduate study after earning a bachelors degree. As an alternative to the Ph.D., students might choose a Psy.D. or Doctor of Psychology.

The main difference is that the Ph.D. in Psychology focuses on the scientific model, emphasizing research, while the Psy.D. in Psychology focuses on the practitioner model and emphasizes clinical practice.

Graduate Certificates in Psychology

A post-master's graduate certificate in psychology is designed to help you develop skills sets and knowledge in a particular area of psychology beyond the master’s degree level. Other graduate certificates might require a Bachelor’s degree and be a way to gain expertise beyond your undergrad degree.