Is Capella University's Psychology Degree Program Accredited?

When choosing a psychology degree program, especially a doctoral program, it's important to make sure the program and school you choose are accredited.

Capella University is a private, for-profit, online university based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Keep reading to learn more about the psychology programs at Capella University and discover if they're accredited.

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation means that a college or university has met the expectations set by an accreditation agency. Many people are seeking accredited degrees.

There are two forms of accreditation in the United States: institutional accreditation, which covers the whole school, and programmatic accreditation, which covers specific programs.

A college or university may be institutionally accredited, but the individual programs within the university may not have programmatic accreditation.

The United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Administration (CHEA) oversee the entities that accredit schools and programs.

Institutional Accreditation

At the institutional level, a college or university can be either regionally or nationally accredited. Regional accreditation is the most common type.

Six agencies in the United States offer regional accreditation:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Each accreditation agency oversees a specific group of states and accredits the colleges and universities within those states.

National accreditation is primarily used for for-profit schools, trade schools, and vocational schools. There are several national accreditation agencies.

These agencies usually focus on the same types of schools, such as career colleges or distance learning programs.

There are some upsides to nationally accredited institutions: they usually cost less and have more relaxed admission standards.

However, credits earned at regionally accredited institutions can be transferred to any type of university, while credits earned from nationally accredited schools can only transfer to other nationally accredited programs.

Programmatic Accreditation

There are a variety of accreditation agencies that offer programmatic accreditation. The primary body for psychology programs is the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation.

The APA accredits Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology programs and Doctor of Psychology programs.

To work as a psychologist, you'll need a license from your state. Many states require you to graduate from an APA-accredited program to qualify for your license.

Additionally, many psychology certifications require you to have graduated from an APA-accredited program.

The other agencies that accredit psychology programs in the U.S. are:

• Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)

There are currently no agencies that accredit bachelor's degree programs in psychology.

What Psychology Degrees Does Capella University Offer?

Capella University offers psychology degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

Two bachelor's degrees are available: A Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, pre-counseling.

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology program builds a foundation for understanding the complexities of human behavior and thought.

Students can choose from a general psychology specialization and a specialization in applied behavior analysis.

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology, pre-counseling is primarily for those who plan to continue to a master's program in psychology.

Capella offers four master's degrees in psychology:

• Master of Science in applied behavior analysis, with concentrations in autism spectrum disorder, behavior analysis in education, and organizational behavior management
• Master of Science in clinical psychology, with concentrations in applied research, clinical counseling, and forensic psychology
• Master of Science in psychology, with concentrations in general psychology, child and adolescent development, educational psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and sport psychology
• Master of Science in school psychology

Capella University also offers several doctoral programs in psychology. These are:

• Doctor of Philosophy in behavior analysis
• Doctor of Philosophy in psychology, with concentrations in general psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, and industrial/organizational psychology
• Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology
• Doctor of Psychology in school psychology
• Education Specialist in school psychology

A graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis and individual psychology courses are also available through Capella University.

Are Capella University's Psychology Degree Programs Accredited?

Despite being a for-profit university, Capella University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

As there are no programmatic accreditation agencies for undergraduate psychology programs, Capella's psychology bachelor's degrees can't be programmatically accredited.

However, none of the graduate programs at Capella University have programmatic accreditation, either.

This includes the doctoral programs, none of which are accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Not all states will offer a license to students who attend programs that are not accredited by the APA. As a result, Capella can not guarantee that their degree programs will lead to licensure.

Before you choose a psychology doctoral program that is not APA-accredited, check your state's licensure requirements.

You can find a full list of APA-accredited doctoral degrees on the APA website.

Psychology Programs at Capella University

While Capella University is a regionally accredited institution, none of its graduate degrees in psychology are programmatically accredited.

With the information above, you can determine if a psychology degree through Capella University is the right choice for you.