How To Get a Psychology Degree

Students looking to earn a bachelor's degree might be wondering about earning an education in psychology.

The field of psychology is the study of the human mind and how it functions, making it an excellent major for many different professional applications.

If you're curious about how to get a psychology degree, continue reading to learn about certain steps and requirements along the way.

Educational Requirements for a Psychology Undergraduate Degree

Most psychology undergraduate degree programs share some common educational requirements. You will find that certain coursework requirements revolve around the general field of psychology, including an introduction to specific focus areas.

Find an Accredited School Offering a Psychology Undergraduate Degree Program

When a university receives accreditation, it means that its courses have gone through rigorous examination by a third party to ensure their value and accuracy.

Look for universities with accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), a national third-party accreditation that reviews a specific psychology program in a university.

Depending on the degree programs offered by the school, students can choose from many areas within psychology. The common types of psychology degrees include:

• developmental psychology
• abnormal psychology
• clinical psychology
• forensic psychology

Meet the Admissions Requirements and Apply

Depending on the type of degree, whether it's an associate degree or a bachelor's, you'll need to consider prerequisites and other requirements. Most universities will, at minimum, require their students to have a high school diploma or GED.

Make sure to review the university specific admissions requirements, which may also include high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a college essay. A certain GPA may also be required.

Enroll in a Psychology Degree Program

Once you find the college of your choice, the next step is to enroll in the psychology degree program. You will first need to complete the admissions process and get accepted. Then, choose whether you prefer a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts.

The BS degree has more emphasis on scientific courses, while the BA has a focus on liberal arts.

You may also choose a format for your courses. For example, some universities offer a mix of on-campus and hybrid classes, while others are entirely online.

If you choose to earn an online bachelor's in psychology, you won't have to worry about going to a physical location to attend class.

Complete Required Coursework

Full-time psychology programs usually take three to four years to complete and will have a variety of classes to choose from. Online programs will still take this amount of time to complete.

Your core classes will consist of psychology teachings that will help you better understand human behavior and mental health and how they apply to human services.

Your general education electives are additional add-on classes that you can take for enrichment through college.

Graduate From a Psychology Undergraduate Program

A psychology bachelor's degree will supply you with the skills and knowledge needed for a career in mental illness.

However, many people also use a psychology degree in other applications, such as marketing, sales, and business. Depending on your preference, these skills can prepare you for several real-world professions.

Upon graduation with your psychology major, you will be able to then choose your next step in the process, whether that is finding entry-level employment or taking graduate-level classes.

Psychology Graduate Degree Requirements

Many careers in psychology require advanced degrees to work in the field. Oftentimes, students must complete graduate programs or even doctoral programs for certain careers.

Choose Your Psychology Specialization

As mentioned above, there are a number of different psychology careers you can choose from, along with different psychology specializations. Here you will want to further choose where you want to focus your studies.

Find an Accredited Psychology Graduate Degree Program

As it is important to obtain a degree from an accredited undergraduate program, you will want to do the same for your grad program. Look for universities with national or local accreditation, either online or in person.

Students typically choose between either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science in the psychology field.

Both will teach the necessary psychology courses to graduate but with different electives for a well-rounded graduate experience.

Satisfy the Admission Criteria and Apply

Most programs at this degree level will require proof that you completed an undergraduate program with an emphasis in psychology.

The psychology master's will also require transcripts from your undergrad program, letters of recommendation, and a statement of intent.

Throughout your time, you will build your understanding of psychology, including how to identify disorders early on, handle substance abuse, and understand the nuances of the US healthcare industry.

A master's degree in psychology will further develop your research methods and analytical skills. If you choose to work in psychotherapy, you will also build your ability to actively listen for excellent interpersonal interactions with patients and other doctors.

Complete Required Coursework and Graduate

Upon graduation from your advanced degree program, you may be eligible to earn licensure and begin working in various psychology fields. The common career options for people with psych degrees include roles in case management and identifying behavioral disorders. Other roles include:

• developmental psychologist
• counseling psychologist
• social worker
• clinical psychologist

Defining your career goals early on is essential so you may know what degrees and focus areas are important.

Psychology Doctoral Degree Requirements

Some professionals decide to take their education to the next level with a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that people with doctorate-level degrees tend to earn higher wages.

Here are the common steps for this third and final step of earning psychology degrees.

Decide Whether You Will Pursue a PsyD or PhD in Psychology

The first step is to determine which doctorate-level degree is right for you. A Doctor of Psychology and a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in psychology are both doctoral-level degrees, but they differ significantly in their focus, training, and career paths.

PsyD focuses on clinical practice, with an emphasis on applied skills and direct patient care. It works well for those primarily interested in practicing psychology in clinical settings.

Find an Accredited Psychology Graduate Degree Program

Continue searching for degrees that are accredited by different third-party organizations.

This will ensure that your program is up to date with regulatory best practices and new information on the psychology field and that it is taught by the best professors in curriculum building.

Ensure You Meet the Admissions Requirements and Apply

Doctorate programs typically require you to prove you have completed relevant undergraduate and master's programs. You will most likely need to provide letters of recommendation, an official transcript, and other documentation in the admissions process.

Complete Required Coursework and Exams

Doctorate-level programs usually also require prerequisite exams. The requirements depend largely on your area of focus, with certain licensure required for different types of psychology.

Review the requirements for your program and complete them before you begin your application.