online phd clinical psychology apa accredited

PhD in Clinical Psychology

• Clinical Concentrations
• PhD in Psychology
• PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Media & Technology
• PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development
• Media Psychology
• Master’s in Media Psychology
• Media Psychology Certificate
• Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Psychology
• Postdoctoral Certificate in Respecialization in Clinical Psychology
• Neuropsychology Specialization Training Program
• PhD Degree Completion Program
• PhD in Human Development
• PhD in Organizational Development and Change
• EdD Leadership for Change
• Doctoral Concentrations
• Master’s in Organization Development and Leadership
• Evidence Based Coaching Certificate
• ALL PROGRAMS
• COURSE CATALOG
• Request for Information
• Upcoming Info Session
• Degrees & Programs
• Transfer Credits
• Scholarships & Fellowships
• Tuition & Fees
• Office of Admissions
• Office of Financial Aid
• Veterans Services
• Office of Student Services
• myFielding (University Intranet)
• Moodle (Learning.Fielding.edu)
• Library Student Login
• One-Stop Student Center
• Contact An Advisor
• Student Advising
• REQUEST INFO
• 800.567.8910
• Alumni Events
• Alumni News
• Alumni Services

Clinical Psychology

pictured alum: Dr. Emily Eccles, Class of 2020

" * " indicates required fields

*All Fields are required. By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted regarding your request and are confirming you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

ACCREDITATION

American Psychological Association

$10,180 per term

so you can remain in your local community

NEXT START DATE

Program Director

Connie Veazey, PhD

Fielding’s doctoral program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association. It is the only distributed learning program accredited by the APA. The Psychology PhD serves adults, many of whom who have trained or worked in the mental health field. Our unique distributed learning model blends the best of in-person learning opportunities with digital formats.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

For questions regarding the Clinical Psychology PhD Program contact [email protected].

About the Clinical Psychology Program

Application requirements.

Earning your doctorate in Clinical Psychology includes online and in-person seminars, meetings with faculty and other students in your region, weeklong residential sessions, as well as research and clinical training experiences.

The unique mix of online and residential learning provides flexible opportunities for individuals with career, family, and community responsibilities to achieve their advanced educational goals. Faculty are active scholars and practitioners with a wide variety of expertise, making it possible to offer training in a variety of therapeutic orientations and specialized concentrations in some of the most exciting growth areas of psychology.

• Conferred Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Online Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Purpose
• Critical Thinking Writing Sample
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Official Transcript
• No GRE Required

Start your application NOW!  

Apply now for fall 2025, student admissions, outcomes, and other data.

In accordance with requirements of the American Psychological Association (APA), Fielding Graduate University provides Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data pertaining to the education of our graduate students.

The Fielding Experience

• Become a member of a dynamic and diverse community of colleagues
• Interact with and learn from our expert faculty located all across the country
• Attend monthly professional development seminar in your geographic area
• Engage with alumni, faculty, and other students at sessions

Mission & Aims of the Program

Fielding’s APA accredited Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program is strongly aligned with the university’s mission to create a more humane, just, and sustainable world, and the university’s values that include academic excellence, community, diversity, and social justice.

Consistent with these values, a core mission of our program is to foster the inclusion of students from under-represented populations. These populations include students living in small communities, rural, or remote locations of the United States, students currently in the military or spouses of military members, adult learners with families, and students whose ongoing participation in their current communities cannot be halted for doctoral study elsewhere. These are student populations who are often unable to enter the field through preparation at a traditional university campus, yet these are the future psychologists for which the discipline and profession have expressed an urgent need.

In addition, our program aims to graduate entry-level scholar-practitioner psychologists who bring social justice values to their work as licensed health service professionals. Consistent with this overarching aim, we have four specific aims for our students, which must be achieved by the time of graduation.

• Students will demonstrate doctoral-level discipline-specific knowledge that represents the scientific and theoretical knowledge areas of the discipline of psychology (i.e., history and systems of psychology and the affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social bases of behavior).
• Students will demonstrate doctoral-level conceptualization, evaluation, analysis, and integration of discipline-specific knowledge across the curriculum.
• Students will demonstrate doctoral-level ability to understand and critique research; design, conduct, analyze, and communicate theoretically informed research; and conduct research in a manner that is culturally sensitive and consistent with legal code and ethical standards, including the APA ethics code.
• Students will demonstrate doctoral-level competence in the profession-wide competencies, including conducting an evidence-based diagnosis, assessment, and psychotherapy; and applying theory and research to develop case conceptualizations, treatment plans, and interventions that are consistent with legal and ethical standards and individual and cultural diversity factors.

Serving adults, many of whom have trained or worked in the mental health field, our unique distributed learning model blends the best of face-to-face learning opportunities with digital formats.

Faculty are active scholars and practitioners with a wide variety of expertise, which allows us to offer specialized concentrations and training in a variety of therapeutic orientations.

Geographic Eligibility

The program only considers applicants who reside in the contiguous United States and Canada. The program is not available to those residing internationally (except Canada). Applicants from Alaska and Hawaii may be considered pending confirmation of their ability and resources to attend local professional development seminars in contiguous U.S. on a regular basis, access to acceptable practicum training sites, and ability to relocate for internship. (Contact [email protected] to be put in touch with the Program Director for consideration prior to applying.)

Due to state licensing requirements, graduates of the program are not eligible for licensure in Oklahoma. For licensure information on your particular state of interest, please visit our Professional Licensure page [CLICK HERE].

School of Psychology News

The latest news, announcements, and special events from Fielding’s School of Psychology.

Fielding University Press’ Struggling with Infertility Explores Devasting Effects of Infertility

By Kaylin Staten | 2024-05-10T07:48:56-07:00 May 10th, 2024 |

AWC-SB Honors Four Leaders in Education at Fielding Graduate University Sponsored Women of Achievement 2024 Awards Luncheon

By Fielding News | 2024-05-09T08:50:53-07:00 May 9th, 2024 |

Two Chosen as 2024’s Clinical Psychology Program DEI Award Recipients

By Kaylin Staten | 2024-05-07T10:07:37-07:00 May 7th, 2024 |

Why Choose Fielding for Your Psychology Degree?

A conventional APA-accredited doctoral program delivered in an unconventional way

Join Over 7,500 Fielding Alumni Located Around The World!

Change the world. Start with yours.™

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Your Location * Your Location USA Canada International
• Program of Interest * Program of Interest PhD in Clinical Psychology PhD in Psychology with an Emphasis in Media & Technology PhD in Psychology PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development PhD in Human Development PhD in Organizational Development and Change EdD in Leadership for Change MA in Organization Development and Leadership MA in Infant, Child, Family Mental Health and Development MA in Applied Media Psychology Certificate in Evidence Based Coaching Certificate in Media Psychology Neuropsychology Specialization Training Program Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Certificate of Respecialization in Clinical Psychology

Contact Info

Fielding Graduate University 2020 De la Vina Street Santa Barbara, California 93105

Phone: 1-800-340-1099 Admissions: 805-898-4026

Email: [email protected]

Web: Fielding.edu/apply-now

Recent Posts

• Fielding Attends National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) 2024
• 50th Anniversary Welcome Reception Hosted by Provost Williams & The Voices of Fielding Film Screening
• Fielding Graduate University Announces Retirement of Longest-Serving President Katrina S. Rogers, Ph.D.

• Best Online Programs
• Best Campus Programs
• Behavior Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling & Mental Health
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• General Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational
• Marriage Family Therapy
• Social Psychology
• Social Work
• Educational Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Family Psychologists
• Marriage Family Therapist
• School Psychologist
• Social Psychologist
• School Counselors
• Neuropsychologist
• I/O Psychologist
• Sports Psychologist
• Addiction Counselor
• Mental Health Psychologist
• Counseling Psychologist
• Occupational Psychologist
• Child Psychiatrist
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• PsyD vs PhD

Best Online PhD in Clinical Psychology Program Rankings

Earning a doctorate in clinical psychology, or a closely related specialization within the field, can often be the most important academic step toward a rewarding and challenging career in psychology.

While most Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in psychology don’t have any options for online education, there are a handful of Ph.D. in Psychology programs, including many that offer clinical specialization, that can be earned entirely or mostly online.

Let’s explore online Ph.D. in Psychology programs and learn more about what prospective students need to know about each one.

Schools On This Page

• Capella University

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

• Walden University

Northcentral University

Fielding graduate university, saybrook university, regent university, university of the cumberlands, liberty university, michigan state university, #1 capella university.

Most coursework for Capella’s general psychology Online Ph.D. can be completed online, and students will be required to complete about 12 days total of residency experiences over the course of their doctoral program, all of which are focused on the dissertation process. Six concentration areas are available.

Capella’s online Ph.D. may not meet the internship requirements in most states, so learners should be sure to consult the laws and regulations where they plan to practice before making any decisions.

*Visit Capella University

• Institution type: Private, for-profit
• Delivery method: Hybrid
• Headquarters: Minneapolis
• Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission
• Degrees offered: PhD in Psychology
• Possible concentrations: Ethics & Multicultural Issues in Psychology, Survey Construction & Administration, Multivariate Statistics: Theory & Application, Advanced Quantitative Analysis, Program Evaluation, Research in Psychology.
• Expected total PhD tuition: Inquire
• Prerequisites: Master’s degree

#2 Walden University

Walden’s 100% online Ph.D. in Psychology allows students to choose from one of six specialty areas, making it ideal for those who have an interest in a particular psychology niche. The program also has a few options when it comes to previous experience. Students with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related area can start right after completing their undergraduate, while those who have a master’s degree can cut some time off the total investment.

The program isn’t accredited by the American Psychological Association, so students hoping to earn state licensure may need to add a supervised internship experience before applying for licensure in their state.

• Delivery method: 100% online
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Possible concentrations: Educational Psychology, Social Psychology, Health Psychology, Teaching in Psychology, Research in Psychology
• Prerequisites: Bachelor’s entry and master’s entry
• Visit school: Click here

With several possible Ph.D. degrees that can be earned mostly online , The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has some of the most robust online Ph.D. options. Most of the programs require some in-person experiences and internships, but degree options range from International Psychology to Organizational Leadership.

Most programs require students to have master’s degrees in psychology or related fields, but none of the school’s online Ph.D. programs are accredited by the APA, so students hoping to seek professional licensure will want to be sure they closely scrutinize all internship requirements in the states where they plan to practice.

• Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
• Delivery method: Mixed (PhD in International Psychology can be earned mostly online, others require some in-person coursework)
• Headquarters: Chicago
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission
• Degrees offered: PhD in International Psychology, PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, PhD in Business Psychology, PhD in Organizational Leadership, PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Possible concentrations: Organizations & Systems, Trauma Services, Consulting, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Prerequisites: Master’s degree in psychology or closely related field
• Visit school:  Click here

Northcentral University’s unique online Ph.D. options are ideal for students who don’t want to wait until the start of a new school year to begin their doctoral journey. That’s because each learner is the center of their own education, and classes start every Monday.

Eight specializations are on offer, including in substance use disorders, gender, counseling and more. And while most tracks aren’t designed to lead to professional licensure, students can opt to take the California Licensure Track, which focuses on earning the state license for counseling.

• Headquarters: San Diego
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
• Possible concentrations: Addictions, General Psychology, Health Psychology, Mental Health Policy and Practice, Counseling Psychology, Psychology of Gender and Sexual Fluidity, Gerontology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Trauma and Disaster Relief, Counseling Psychology, California Licensure Track
• Prerequisites: Master’s degree in psychology, counseling or related field

Fielding Graduate University offers one of the few Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs on our list that’s also accredited by the APA. While students will sacrifice an entirely online delivery, the added benefit of the APA’s seal of approval may be valuable for students who want to pursue professional licensure.

Most coursework is done online, but students will need to attend some in-person seminars and meetings in their region, in addition to weeklong residential sessions, research and clinical experiences.

• Headquarters: Santa Barbara, California
• Accreditation: American Psychological Association (APA)
• Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology
• Possible concentrations: Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Social Justice and Diversity, Neuropsychology
• Expected total PhD tuition: $145,500
• Prerequisites: Bachelor’s

With a combination of online coursework and in-person seminars, workshops and intensive experiences, Saybrook University’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is one of only a few that can be earned mostly online.

The program is not accredited by the APA, but the educational aspects are designed to meet the licensure standards in many states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

• Headquarters: Pasadena, California
• Accreditation: Senior Commission of Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Expected total PhD tuition: $137,000
• Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field

Regent University’s online counseling psychology Ph.D. tracks are ideal for students who want an online psychology doctorate that’s grounded in the Christian faith tradition. Students can choose from a wide array of focus areas within their doctoral program, including addictions, grief, biblical counseling, life coaching and more.

Regent’s programs won’t meet the practicum experience requirements that most states have for professional licensure, but interested students should be sure to examine the rules in their state before making their final decisions.

• Headquarters: Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
• Degrees offered: PhD in Counseling & Psychological Studies
• Possible concentrations: Addictions Counseling, Biblical Counseling, Grief Counseling, Human Services Counseling, Human Services for Student Affairs, International, Life Coaching, Marriage & Family Ministry, Pastoral Counseling, Research, Trauma & Crisis Counseling
• Expected total PhD tuition: $36,225

University of the Cumberlands is home to an online Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision that offers three possible focus areas, addiction, counseling and leadership. The degree track does require in-person practicum experiences, making it a hybrid program.

While it’s not accredited by the APA, the inclusion of a supervised internship experience may be a boost in states where APA-accredited degrees aren’t the only types of doctoral degrees accepted for licensure.

• Headquarters: Williamsburg, Kentucky
• Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
• Degrees offered: PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision
• Possible concentrations: Addiction, Advanced Counseling, Leadership
• Expected total PhD tuition: $26,400
• Prerequisites: Master’s degree in counseling or psychology

Liberty University’s evangelical Christian tradition serves as the foundation of its entirely online Ph.D. in Psychology. Four concentration areas are available, including the popular and emerging fields of industrial-organizational and developmental psychology.

Optional on-campus intensives are offered for students with the ability to travel to Virginia, or who already live in the area, but the degree does not include an internship requirement. However, students will be able to contribute to research through their dissertations.

• Headquarters: Lynchburg, Virginia
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Possible concentrations: General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Social Psychology
• Expected total PhD tuition: $39,970

Michigan State’s Ph.D. in Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education is unique among Ph.D. programs at major research universities. That’s because the program is designed to offer an optional hybrid online/in-person delivery method that allows working professionals to complete a doctorate without giving up their careers.

The majority of the program’s work is done online, and students who are able to get the time away from their jobs and families can visit campus for a semester of face-to-face courses. While the program does not include an internship experience, it does require a dissertation, and the online program is designed to be completed in just five years. Michigan State’s educational psychology department is APA-accredited, but because the online Ph.D. does not include a practicum or internship, it may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure in some states.

• Institution type: Public
• Headquarters: East Lansing, Michigan
• Accreditation: American Psychological Association
• Degrees offered: PhD in Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education
• Expected total PhD tuition: $60,000 (out-of-state)

While the bulk of online Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology, as well as other specialties in the field, can be earned only through in-person, traditional coursework, the handful of programs that can be completed entirely or mostly online gives students who require the flexibility at least a few options that may be right for them.

*Indicates school is a Featured Partner.  Click here  for disclosure on Featured Partners. 

APA Accreditation

Protecting the public by supporting the delivery of quality education and training in health service psychology., updates and information.

VIEW VIRTUAL TOWN HALL PRESENTATION  

The CoA hosted a virtual town hall presentation titled: Master’s Accreditation Update and Brief Overview of Key Points for Programs on Friday, January 12, 2024.

POST-MANDATE GUIDELINES FOR ACCREDITED PROGRAMS

The CoA supports programs in their efforts to determine the best ways for students and trainees to successfully develop knowledge and competencies following the repeal of COVID-19 emergency mandates in accord with program requirements.

 COA WINTER 2024 UPDATE

Listen to the 2024 CoA chair provide information on the Commission’s actions in 2023.

Our Mission

Find Accredited Programs

Learn More About Accreditation

Get Accredited

What is the apa-coa, news and updates, list of services.

Our quarterly newsletter provides the latest news and updates from the commission.

Stay up to date on how your program can demonstrate consistency with the SoA.

The CoA invites the public to view policy documents available for a public comment.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation

750 first st, ne  washington, dc 20002-4242 [email protected], telephone: (202) 336-5979  tdd/tty: (202) 336-6123  fax: (202) 336-5978 .

• History and Mission
• University Leadership and Offices
• Strategic Plan – FDU Will Soar
• Faculty and Staff Directory
• Accreditations
• 2024-2025 Self-Study
• Rankings and Distinctions
• Community Outreach
• Program Finder
• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Vancouver Academics
• Online Programs
• Colleges and Schools
• Academic Calendar
• Core Curriculum
• Academic Advising and Support
• Special Academic Opportunities
• University Bulletins
• Centers and Institutes
• Community College Partnership
• Honors at FDU
• Global Education and Study Abroad
• Adult and Continuing Education
• Freshman/First-Year Admissions
• Apply Now to FDU
• Tuition and Fees
• Transfer Student Admissions
• Apply to Online Programs
• Adult/Nontraditional/Part-time Admissions
• International Admissions
• Summer Sessions 2024
• Graduate Admissions
• Vancouver Admissions Services
• Financial Aid
• Florham Campus
• Metropolitan Campus
• Vancouver Campus
• Wroxton College
• Off-Campus Sites
• Dean of Students
• Housing and Residence Life
• Student Wellness Services
• Disability Support Services
• Student Community
• Student Clubs and Organizations
• Policies and Procedures
• Computer Facilities
• Student Publications
• Career Support
• New Student Checklists
• Division I FDU Knights
• Division III FDU Devils
• Giving to FDU
• Student Life Calendar Metropolitan
• Metro Campus This Month
• Student Life Calendar Florham
• Florham Campus This Month
• Vancouver Academic Calendar
• Vancouver Campus This Month
• Information Technology
• Office 365 and Email
• Self-Service
• SAMI Support
• myFDU Connect
• Coursefinder

Clinical Psychology PhD

The PhD in Clinical Psychology is an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program, and also a program member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP). The program adheres to the scientist/practitioner model of training, and requires a number of clinical and research practica in addition to an extensive course curriculum.

• It is a four-year plus internship, full-time program.
• It emphasizes a thorough preparation in theoretical psychology and methodology.
• Theoretical foundations in personality and psychopathology are explored prior to behavioral and personality assessment.
• Concurrent with the work in assessment, students begin study of the theory, research, and practice of psychotherapy.

The Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association can be contacted at:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation  American Psychological Association  750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002  Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail:  [email protected]   Web:  www.apa.org/ed/accreditation   

Admission requirements

This program is open to applications from those who hold an undergraduate degree in psychology or have taken the required number of psychology credits (18). The requirement of 18 undergraduate credits includes statistics and 15 additional credits, preferably introductory psychology, developmental psychology, experimental psychology, and social psychology.

Students are selected from a pool of academically qualified applicants who can contribute to the diversity of the student body. Students enrolled in the clinical psychology program come from diverse ethnic, cultural, individual and experiential backgrounds. Applications are encouraged from those identifying with cultural and/or individual areas of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Acceptance decisions are based on outstanding undergraduate and (where applicable) graduate academic performance, evidence of scholarly activity such as publications and paper presentations, prior work experience, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. 

The deadline for application for admission to the PhD program is December 15, 2023.

NOTE: The FDU application fee for the 2023-2024 application cycle has been waived.

To apply to this program , complete an application through the psychology common application PSYCAS .

This application should be used only to apply for the PhD in Clinical Psychology. Your application to the PhD program will not be considered complete unless you submit the following through PSYCAS:

• all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts,
• three letters of recommendation,
• a personal statement,
• official GRE aptitude and psychology test score reports. The psychology GRE is optional for those who majored in psychology as an undergraduate or attained an advanced degree in psychology. 

Degree plan

1st semester.

• PSYC6112      Clinical Research Methods & Psychometrics
• PSYC6114      Psychopathology
• PSYC6116      History & Systems
• PSYC6118      Computer Application in Statistics Lab
• PSYC6132      Developmental Issues in Clinical Psychology
• PSYC6180      First-Year Clinical Practicum I

2nd Semester

• PSYC6122      Personality Assessment
• PSYC6133      Intellectual Assessment
• PSYC6160      Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
• PSYC6624      Introduction to Psychotherapy
• PSYC6181      First-Year Clinical Practicum II: Ethics
• PSYC7120      Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology

3rd Semester

• PSYC7110      Research Design & Analysis I
• PSYC7113      Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• PSYC7121      Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• PSYC7180      Second-Year Clinical Practicum I
• PSYC____     ASTCP_________

4th Semester

• PSYC7111      Research Design & Analysis II
• PSYC7125      Applied Social Psychology
• PSYC7130      Biological Bases of Behavior
• PSYC7181      Second-Year Clinical Practicum II
• PSYC____     ASTCP______________

5th Semester

• PSYC7133      Learning, Cognition, and Emotion
• PSYC8129      Psychopharmacology
• PSYC8180      Third-Year Clinical Practicum I

6th Semester

• PSYC9124      Advanced Research Seminar (1 credit)
• PSYC9138      Professional Development
• PSYC8181      Third-Year Clinical Practicum II

ASTCP (4 REQUIRED)

ADV PSYCHODYNAMIC (2 nd , 3 rd years) SPRING.

CHILD CLINICAL (offered every other year; alternates with Family; open to 2 nd ,3 rd years)

FAMILY THERAPY (2 nd ,3 rd years)

CLINICAL CASE (3 rd year) SPRING

NEUROPSYCH (Fall every odd year; open to 2 nd ,3 rd years)

ADVANCED PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT (Fall, every other even year, open to 2 nd , 3 rd years)

ADVANCED CBT (open to 2 nd , 3 rd years)

Advanced special topics in clinical psychology, 4 required

A class will run if there are sufficient enrollment numbers to support it.

• PSYC8114      Neuropsychology (offered even years in the fall; open to second- and third-year students)
• PSYC9160      Advanced Personality Assessment (offered odd years in the fall; open to second- and third- year students)
• PSYC8127      Clinical Child Psychology (offered  odd years  in the spring; open to second- and third- year students)
• PSYC8145      Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (offered in the fall; open to third-year students only)
• PSYC9143      Advanced Psychodynamic Therapy (offered in the spring; open to third-year students only)
• PSYC9145      Seminar in Clinical Psychology (offered in the spring; open to third-year students only)
• PSYC9123 Family Therapy (offered even years in the spring; open to second- and third- year students)

Additional optional coursework and independent studies

• PSYC9112      Dissertation Maintenance (summer)
• PSYC9113      Internship Maintenance (summer)
• PSYC9116      Research Maintenance (summer)
• PSYC9180      4th Year Practicum I (fall)
• PSYC9181      4th Year Practicum II (spring)
• PSYC9280      5th Year Clinical Practicum I (fall)
• PSYC9281      5th Year Practicum II (spring)
• PSYC9800      Independent Study

Special requirements

• First Year Research Practicum
• First Year Clinical Practicum
• Second Year Research practicum
• Second Year Clinical practicum
• Second Year Project
• Third Year Research practicum
• Third Year Clinical practicum
• Teaching Requirement
• Dissertation Accepted
• Qualifying Examination
• Comprehensive Examination

Internship and dissertation

Students are required to apply for internship via the national match system offered by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and participate in an approved internship. The internship may begin after the student has completed the courses listed under the first six semesters, completed the second year research project, passed the comprehensive examinations, and successfully defended the dissertation proposal. Typically, the dissertation is completed in the fourth year and the internship in the fifth year.

Evaluations

Ongoing annual evaluations of students will be conducted by the faculty using information submitted by practicum site supervisors, course instructors, and research mentors. Students will meet with the Program Director to receive feedback concerning these evaluations.

Research practicum

All first-, second- and third-year students participate in a research practicum of ongoing projects supervised by doctoral faculty members. The practicum requires approximately 8-10 hours a week. Research projects frequently culminate in the publication of articles in psychological journals and paper and poster presentations at various professional meetings, with students in the doctoral program participating as authors and presenters.

Forensic Track

An optional add-on forensic track is available to students in the Ph.D. program who fulfill the following additional requirements:

• Completion of at least one of the required clinical practicums at any point after the first year. This requirement can be satisfied through an NYNJDOT approved externship or similar placement meeting requirements of the track.
• Completion of at least two additional courses: PSYC7230 Forensic Assessment and Prediction and PSYC7235 Evaluating Criminal Responsibility and Competency.
• Completion of a dissertation on a forensic topic.

It should be noted that research opportunities in forensic psychology are available.

Forensic track courses may incur additional fees if they increase a student’s credit load for a given semester above the allowable flat fee level of 16.5 credits.

Students coming into the program without a Master’s degree may incur additional fees for the two courses mentioned above since they are above and beyond the required courses for the clinical doctoral program.

Completion of the forensic track will be noted on the student’s transcript.

• Long Island Jewish Medical Center—The Zucker Hillside Hospital; Glen Oaks, NY
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center—Bronx, NY
• Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital; Hartford, CT
• NYU Lagone Medical Center (Rusk Inst of Rehab Medicine); NY, NY
• Hudson River Regional Psychology; Poughkeepsie, NY
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center; Elizabeth, NJ
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine—Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx, NY
• Maimonides Medical Center; Brooklyn, NY
• Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility; Roosevelt Island, NY
• NYU Langone Medical Center (Rusk Inst of Rehab Medicine)-child/adol track; NY, NY
• UMDNJ UBHCH; Newark, NJ
• Westchester Jewish Community Services, Inc.; White Plains, NY
• Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System; Lyons, NJ
• Hudson River Regional Psychology Internship Program; Poughkeepsie, NY
• UMDNJ UBHCN (Child Track); Newark, NJ
• Mercy First; Syosset, NY
• University of New Mexico School of Medicine (Neuropsychology); Albuquerque, NM
• University of Massachusetts Center for Counseling and Psychological Health; Amherst, MA
• Columbia University Medical Center (child track); NY, NY
• Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology (General Geriatric Neuropsych); Boston, MA
• Association for the Help of Retarded Children Dept of Family and Clinical Services; NY, NY
• VA NY Harbor Health Care System—Brooklyn Campus; Brooklyn, NY
• US Dept of Justice Metropolitan Detention Center; Los Angeles, CA
• Lenox Hill Hospital; NY, NY
• Children’s National Medical Center; Washington, DC
• University of Florida Health Science Center; Gainesville, FL
• Mount Sinai Services; Elmhurst, NY
• Yale University School of Medicine; New Haven, CT
• Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center; Bellerose, NY
• VAMC—North Chicago; North Chicago, IL
• Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital’s Mental Health Network (Adult Track); Hartford, CT
• Temple University Health Sciences Center; Philadelphia, PA
• Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital; Morris Plains, NJ
• Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital’s Mental Health Network (Child/Adol Track); Hartford, CT
• Charleston Consortium Psychology Internship Program; Charleston, SC
• Interfaith Medical Center; Brooklyn, NY
• UCSD Psychology Internship Consortium/Veterans Affairs; San Diego, CA
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver; Denver, CO
• Columbia University Medical Center; NY, NY
• Mount Sinai Medical Center; NY, NY
• Univ. of S. Carolina, Counseling & Human Development Center; Columbia, SC
• VA Maryland Health Care System (Neuropsych); Baltimore, MD
• Astor Services for Children and Families; Poughkeepsie, NY
• Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Inc.; NY, NY
• VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System—Montrose Campus; Montrose, NY
• Kings County Hospital Center (Adult Track); Brooklyn, NY
• Jewish Child Care Association of NY; Pleasantville, NY
• Louis Stokes Cleveland DVA Medical Center; Cleveland, OH
• NYU—Bellevue Hospital Center Clinical Psych.; NY, NY
• American Institute for Cognitive Therapy; NY, NY
• Behavior Therapy Associates; Somerset, NJ
• Bellevue Hospital Center; NY, NY
• Bergen County Division fo Family Guidance – Forensic Unit; Hackensack, NJ
• Beth Israel Medical Center; NY, NY
• Bronx Children’s Psychiatric Center; Bronx, NY
• Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy; NY, NY
• Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CCPEP); NY, NY
• City College CUNY; NY, NY
• Columbia University Medical Center Neuropsychology Service; NY, NY
• Columbia-Presbyterian’s Children’s Hospital; NY, NY
• Community Mental Health Services, St. Marys Hospital; Hoboken, NJ
• Henry Ittleson Center; Bronx, NY
• Hoboken University Medical Center; Hoboken, NJ
• Holliswood Hospital; Holliswood, NY
• Jacobi Medical Center; Bronx, NY
• Jamaica Hospital Medical Center; Jamaica, NY
• Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services (JBFCS); Douglaston, NY
• Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services (JBFCS); Riverdale, NY
• JFK Medical Center-The Center for Behavioral Health; Edison, NJ
• Karen Horney Clinic; NY, NY
• Kings County Hospital Center; Brooklyn, NY
• Mt. Sinai Adult Inpatient Unit; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Child & Family Support Program; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Eating and Weight Disorders Program; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurology; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine; NY, NY
• Mt. Sinai Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Treatment Center; NY, NY
• Nassau University Medical Center; East Meadow, NY
• New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College – Manhattan Division; NY, NY
• North Central Bronx Hospital; Bronx, NY
• South Beach Psychiatric Center; Staten Island, NY
• St. Barnabas Hospital; Bronx, NY
• St. Dominics Home; Bronx, NY
• St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospitals; NY, NY
• Staten Island University Hospital; Staten Island, NJ
• The Addiction Institute of New York; NY, NY
• The Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers; Piscataway, NJ
• William Paterson University – Counseling Center; Wayne, NJ
• Yale Young Adult Services; New Haven, CT
• YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental health; East Orange, NJ
• Youth Development Clinic; Newark, NJ
• Barnard College Furman Counseling; NY, NY
• Behavioral Associates; NY, NY
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center School; Wethersfield, CT
• Division of Family Guidance; Hackensack, NJ
• Elmhurst Hospital Center – Mt. Sinai Services; Elmhurst, NY
• Essex County Hospital Center; Cedar Grove, NJ
• Fay J Linder Center for Autism; Long Island, NY
• FDU Center for Psychological Services – Assessment emphasis; Hackensack, NJ
• FDU Center for Psychological Services – Therapy emphasis; Hackensack, NJ
• Four Winds Hospital; Katonah, NY
• Hackensack Univ. Medical Center, Audrey Hepburn’s Children’s House; Hackensack, NJ
• Hackensack University Medical Center; Hackensack, NJ
• Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center; Ward’s Island, NY
• Leake and Watts Services, Inc.; Yonkers, NY
• Lincoln Hospital; Bronx, NY
• Long Island Jewish Medical Center, The Zucker Hillside Hospital; North Shore, Long Island NY
• Manhattan Psychiatric Center; Randall’s Island, NY
• Memorial Sloan Kettering; NY, NY
• Metropolitan Correctional Center; NY, NY
• Montclair State University Counseling Center; Montclair, NJ
• Montefiore Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, NY
• Northeast Epilepsy group; NY, NY & Hackensack, NJ
• NYSPI at Columbia Presbyterian; NY, NY
• NYU Child Study Center; Hackensack, NJ
• NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center; NY, NY
• NYU Counseling Center; NY, NY
• Phipps Community Development Corporation; Bronx, NY
• Princeton House Behavioral Health; Princeton, NJ
• Queens Hospital Center; Jamaica, Queens
• Regional Diagnostic &Treatment Center at Children’s Hospital of NJ; Newark, NJ
• Rehabilitation Specialists; Fair Lawn, NJ
• Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center; Orangeburg, NY
• Seton Hall University – Counseling Services; South Orange, NJ
• The Women’s Health Project Treatment and Research Center – St Luke’s Hosp.; NY, NY
• Tomorrow’s Children Institute at Hackensack Hospital; Hackensack, NJ
• Trinitas Hospital Child and Adolescent Outpatient Unit; Elizabeth, NJ
• Uconn; Farmington, CT
• UMDNJ-UBHC; Piscataway, NJ
• Washington Heights Community Center at Columbia-Presbyterian/NYSPI; NY, NY
• Weill Cornell Medical College/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, White Plains, NY
• Westchester Jewish Community Services; Hartsdale, NY

School of Psychology and Counseling

More about PhD in Clinical Psychology

Online Doctorate in (Clinical) Psychology – PhD Programs

Counseling schools search.

When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

Pursuing psychology as an academic discipline creates fertile soil for the seeds of a career to grow in almost any industry. Because psychology is the directed study of the inner workings of the human mind, human behavior, and human motivation, its applications can propel someone into business leadership, human resources management, corrections, gerontology, rehabilitation, vocational and school counseling, educational design, and much more. 

As a subfield, clinical psychology is the study and practice of providing comprehensive mental and behavioral healthcare to individuals, families, and groups from all backgrounds. Although those pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology may choose to specialize in a certain disorder (e.g., addiction) or population (e.g., veterans), clinical psychology PhDs are often generalist degrees that provide a breadth of knowledge and a wide range of treatment options for a diverse client base.

According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS 2022), the job outlook for practicing psychologists between 2021 and 2031 is good. The BLS predicts that openings in the occupation will grow 6 percent in that decade, adding 11,300 new jobs for a total of 192,900 positions nationwide. This growth rate is nearly on par with the national growth rate for all occupations during that time period, which is an estimated 5 percent. Increasing needs for aging populations, trauma survivors, war veterans, and those with developmental disorders are all cited as reasons for the positive job growth. Also, many psychologists are expected to retire in the next decade, driving the demand for newly qualified psychologists to replace them. 

Those interested in joining the corps of mental health professionals who heal and foster human thriving through practice or research will have plenty of choices when looking for hybrid, online, and on-campus doctorate programs in clinical psychology that award PhDs, and some options for 100 percent online programs. 

Hybrid PhD in clinical psychology programs offer a balanced learning methodology that combines online didactic coursework with on-campus immersions, residences, internships, or orientations. While some of what a doctoral student in clinical psychology learns requires face-to-face instruction or experience, the online component provides increased flexibility over a classical full-time on-campus program. Those living far from a university campus, with demanding schedules, or those who can’t relocate for the duration of the program may be particularly suited to hybrid clinical psychology PhD programs.

This comprehensive guide to online doctorates in clinical psychology that confer a PhD discusses the difference between a PsyD and PhD, and common admissions requirements and courses in clinical psychology PhD programs. This guide also introduces prospective students to accreditation standards, features hybrid and online PhD in clinical psychology programs, distinguished online professors, and possible career pathways for those graduating with a PhD in clinical psychology.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN Southern New Hampshire University Online MS - Construction Management

Psyd vs phd in clinical psychology: what’s the difference.

The main difference between a doctorate of psychology (PsyD) program and a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) program is the training emphasis. 

PsyD programs are focused on training graduates to become clinicians and focus heavily on clinical work. By contrast, a PhD program in clinical psychology prepares graduates to become scientist-practitioners and places more emphasis on research. 

While PsyD programs were developed in response to the concern that PhD in psychology graduates weren’t prepared for clinical practice, technically, both PhD and PsyD programs can prepare someone for work as a practicing psychologist.  A student with an earned PhD in clinical psychology who wishes to earn licensure as a psychologist may have to complete licensure requirements independently of the program. The research emphasis in a PhD program opens students to career opportunities outside of clinical practice if desired.

Typical Admissions Requirements for Online PhD Programs in (Clinical) Psychology

Students interested in entering a doctoral psychology program that points them toward a clinical career can find a wide array of admissions requirements, depending on the program. It is imperative that degree seekers take the time to understand if they fulfill all admissions requirements by carefully reading through admissions pages and/or by speaking with admissions officers. Applicants may need to provide any or all of the following to be considered for admission into an online PhD program in clinical psychology:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution
• Official transcripts demonstrating a minimum GPA at all previously attended post-secondary institutions
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
• Statement of purpose
• Writing samples
• Three recommendation letters
• Application fee
• Work experience
• Mental health license or proof of pre-license
• GRE or MAT scores

Courses in Online PhD Programs in (Clinical) Psychology

Coursework in clinical psychology PhD programs offered online vary widely from program to program, and may also vary based on a student’s chosen specialization, concentration, or focus. The following list is a sample of coursework that a student could expect when choosing to pursue an online PhD in psychology:

• Biological bases of behavior
• Clinical interviewing
• Cognitive and affective bases of behavior
• Developmental bases of behavior
• Ethics and laws in psychotherapy and behavioral science research
• Fundamentals of psychophysiology supplement
• History and systems of psychology
• Introduction to psychotherapy: technique
• Introduction to psychotherapy: theory
• Legal, ethical and professional practice
• Multicultural psychology
• Optimal functioning: psychophysiological applications in the community, school, sports, and workplace
• Personality theory and research
• Principles and theories of stress management
• Psychopathology
• Psychophysiological recording, assessment, and interventions
• Psychotherapy proseminar: humanistic psychology
• Research in psychotherapy
• Social bases of behavior
• Stimulation technologies

Supervised Clinical Hour Requirements & Internships – Online Doctorate in (Clinical) Psychology

Gaining licensure to practice independently as a mental health clinician or psychologist requires professionals to complete a certain threshold of supervised work hours under a licensed clinician. 

For example, in California , applicants for licensure as a psychologist must have completed at least 3,000 supervised professional experience hours, 1,500 of which must be completed post-doctorally. Whether or not an online PhD in clinical psychology program requires supervised hours and internships depends on whether the program is a licensure preparation program. 

Some clinically-focused PhD programs are designed for already-licensed or pre-licensed mental health professionals looking for expanded leadership opportunities, deeper disciplinary skills and knowledge, entry into professorship, or the desire to add to the lexicon of research in the clinical psychology arena. These programs often clearly state that the program is not designed to help with licensure. If an internship is offered, it will often be optional. Any desired supervised clinical hours must be pursued individually and outside the course sequence.

Online PhD programs in psychology that prepare students as much as possible for licensure will weave supervised clinical hours and internship experiences into the course sequence. Some online PhDs in psychology allow students to find supervisors for internships and practicum experiences nearby, while others require online students to choose from a curated list or relocate for the duration of the internship.

Program Accreditation for Online PhD Programs in (Clinical) Psychology

At its most basic level, accreditation is a sign that universities are providing educational interventions that adhere to certain standards for quality and practical relevance. To earn accreditation, universities submit to being evaluated by a third-party accrediting organization whose central purpose is to determine whether or not the university is adhering to these standards. 

Prospective students interested in applying to PhD programs in psychology should ensure that the institutions they’re applying to are accredited at either the regional or national level by accrediting organizations recognized by the Department of Education (DOE) or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) .

At a programmatic level, the American Psychology Association (APA) has long been considered the gold standard for programmatic accreditation for doctoral-level programs in psychology. In addition to being a benchmark for quality instruction, some states require that psychology professionals graduate from an APA-accredited program in order to pursue licensure to practice. 

At the time of this writing, however, the APA does not accredit online-only PhD doctoral programs , stating, “Some accredited programs may offer online courses or other content via distance education in an adjunctive role. These courses cannot represent a substantial nature of program content and certain classes (e.g., practicum) are not considered appropriate for this instructional method. Any online courses in accredited programs should be noted as such in public materials.” 

As a result, APA accreditation generally only occurs for hybrid or blended programs that include a minimum threshold of on-campus or in-person requirements. 

A prospective clinical psychology PhD applicant must understand how the APA figures into their state’s licensure requirements and whether or not the universities without APA recognition help students to gain the skills necessary for licensure.

Featured Online & Hybrid (Clinical) Psychology PhD Programs

Fielding Graduate University (Hybrid)

Fielding Graduate University offers a hybrid online and in-person clinical psychology PhD program that aims to create a more humane, just, and sustainable world by creating programming accessible to students from underrepresented populations and by graduating students who bring values of social and ecological justice to their work. 

Fielding offers the only distributed learning program accredited by the APA. Students enrolled in the 179-credit program earn a pathway master’s after the first two years of study. They can choose a concentration in forensic psychology, health psychology, neuropsychology, or social justice and diversity. 

On-campus requirements in this program include a weeklong orientation and two weeklong residencies in the program’s first two years. Some concentrations and seminars require additional on-campus presence as well. Students are also required to complete 600 residency hours, 1,500 practicum hours, and a 1,520-hour, one-year internship in the terminal year of the program that may require relocation to complete. 

Coursework in the program includes cognitive assessment, history and systems of psychology, biological bases of behavior, and multicultural psychology. No GRE scores are required to apply, and students without a master’s degree can also apply to Fielding.

• Location: Santa Barbara, CA
• Accreditation: American Psychological Association (APA)
• Duration: Five to six years
• Tuition: $9,700 per term

Lesley University (Hybrid)

Lesley University offers a low-residency PhD in expressive therapies designed for experienced art therapy professionals looking to advance in higher education or transition to leadership in the art therapy discipline. 

Coursework in the 45-credit program includes a series of residency experiences and doctoral seminars covering philosophical foundations of expressive art therapies, leadership in art therapy, ethics, teaching and research in higher education, and the explorations of the contextual framework for research questions. Students must attend one three-week summer intensive residency in Cambridge each year for the program’s first three years. 

A program for working art therapists, Lesley’s program requires applicants to have a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, certification or registration in at least one expressive therapy modality, GRE or MAT scores, and a minimum of three years of professional experience working as an expressive therapist. 

• Location: Cambridge, MA
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Duration: Four years
• Tuition: $64,915 total

Northcentral University (Online)

Northcentral University offers a 100 percent online 60-credit PhD in psychology that is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals who have an earned clinical master’s degree that included a practicum or internship. Students enrolled in the program can choose between ten available specializations, including addictions, the psychology of gender and sexual fluidity, general psychology, gerontology, health psychology, industrial organizational psychology, mental health policy, and practice, trauma and disaster relief, counseling psychology, and counseling psychology (California licensure track). 

With the exception of the counseling psychology (California licensure track), none of Northcentral’s programs are specifically designed to prepare students for licensure and do not provide any internship, practicum, or residency opportunities. The CA licensure track prepares PhD graduates only for the academic requirements needed for licensure in the state, and students will need to organize clinical requirements for licensure independently. 

Coursework across the programs includes research design planning, tests and measurements, scholarly writing and professional communication in psychology, and advanced qualitative and quantitative analysis and design. No GRE scores are required to apply. Those with master’s degrees outside of psychology, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work may have to complete additional coursework before starting their PhD coursework.

• Location: San Diego, CA
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
• Duration: Four to seven years
• Tuition: $69,490 total

Saybrook University (Hybrid)

Saybrook University offers a hybrid online/in-person PhD in clinical psychology program that provides the coursework requirements to become a licensed clinical psychologist in 13 states. 

Students in the 108-credit program can enroll in one of four 15-credit specializations in consciousness, spirituality, and integrative health; creativity studies; existential and humanistic psychology, or psychophysiology. 

On-campus requirements for the program include a two-day residential orientation, two five-day residential conferences per year, and one optional three-day intensive midterm residential conference. Students enrolled in the program must complete a 600-hour minimum practicum over two semesters and a 12- to 24-month internship with a minimum of 1,500 clinical training hours. 

Coursework in the program includes ethics and laws in psychotherapy and behavioral science research, the psychology of multiculturalism in North America, social psychology, and integrative health psychology: the application of psychological concepts and tools to health. 

Students who enroll in the Saybrook program with a bachelor’s degree can earn a master’s degree on the way to the PhD. Although Saybrook is not an APA-accredited program, the program can be adjusted to meet APA equivalency in the student’s intended state of practice. GRE/MAT scores are not required to apply but can be submitted to strengthen an application.

• Location: Pasadena, California
• Duration: Five years
• Tuition: $1,514 per credit 

Walden University (Hybrid)

Walden University offers a hybrid online/in-person PhD in clinical psychology that prepares students to become practitioners, faculty members, consultants, administrators, or researchers. Walden’s blended learning approach prepares students to qualify to sit for psychology licensing exams by meeting the academic requirements stipulated by some state psychology boards. 

Students enrolled in this program will be expected to complete at least two of the four required four-day residencies in a face-to-face format, and will also need to complete one academic year in residence in the sixth through ninth quarters of the program. The year-in-residence program combines online coursework with face-to-face experiences in Minneapolis. 

Students enrolled in the 143-quarter-credit program can choose to pursue a general program or specialize in forensic psychology, health, industrial and organizational psychology, or teaching. Coursework in the program includes psychopathology from a clinical perspective, interpersonal psychotherapy, psychology and social change, and cognitive and affective bases of behavior. After completing a two-course practicum, students are also expected to complete four internship courses that help them to gain 2,000 supervised clinical clock hours, 900 of which must be direct client contact hours. GRE/MAT scores are not required to apply to Walden.

• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Accreditation:  The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Duration: Five to eight years
• Tuition: $515 per credit

Professors to Know in Online PhD Programs in (Clinical) Psychology

Michelle Ackerman, PhD

Northcentral University

Dr. Michelle Ackerman is an associate professor of psychology at the doctoral level in the Department of Psychology at Northcentral University. Dr. Ackerman’s areas of expertise include cognitive aging, cognitive and physical training in impaired and unimpaired older adults, and mobility and driving in older adults.  She has taught doctoral-level courses in scholarly writing and professional communication, research methods, history and systems in psychology, and more

Dr. Ackerman is a published scholar, with works appearing in refereed journals such as the Journal of Applied Gerontology , the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing , Accident Analysis and Prevention , and The Gerontologist . 

Dr. Ackerman is a seasoned academic professional, with over 10 years of experience as a professor and one year as a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Research on Applied Gerontology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She earned all her graduate degrees and certificates from UAB: a graduate certificate in gerontology, a master of art in developmental psychology, and a PhD in developmental psychology.

April Fallon, PhD

Fielding Graduate University

Dr. April Fallon is a member of the doctoral faculty for clinical psychology at Fielding Graduate University. Her research interests include the assessment of clinically significant impulsivity, ethical hot spots of combined therapy, and informed consent in group psychotherapy. 

Dr. Fallon’s academic works appear in several peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless , the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy , Psychiatry Research , and Psychological Review . She is affiliated with many professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association, the American Group Therapy Association, and the Philadelphia Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology. She also is on the board of directors for the Psychiatry Resident Teaching Award at the Drexel College of Medicine. 

Professionally, Dr. Fallon has 39 years of experience as an educator, training psychiatric residents in therapy methodologies at the Drexel University College of Medicine, with 23 of those years also spent teaching at fielding. She also has 37 years of experience as a private practice psychologist working with children, teens, and adults. She earned her PhD in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and participated in a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology at Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.

Kelvin Ramirez, PhD

Lesley University

Dr. Kelvin Ramirez is an assistant professor of expressive therapies and global interdisciplinary studies at Lesley University. His research interests include the development of international art therapy initiatives, contemporary social justice issues, the presence or absence of addressing systemic oppression within art therapy, implications on demographic representation or absence on art therapy theory and practice, and the intersection of horticultural therapy, art therapy, and community transformation. 

Dr. Ramirez served as the executive producer for two films about love and art therapy, wrote a book chapter explicating art therapy’s impact on an El Salvadorean family, and is a prolific speaker, giving presentations at the New York Botanical Gardens, the Resilience Center in Mumbai, and at the Expressive Therapies Conference in Arlington, Virginia. 

As a professional, Dr. Ramirez has nine years of experience working as a high school vice-principal who incorporated art therapy into academic and therapeutic approaches to increase retention and enhance social-emotional development in the student population. He earned his master of science in art therapy and counseling from the College of New Rochelle and his PhD in expressive therapies from Lesley University.

Jobs in (Clinical) Psychology: What Can I Do with a PhD in Psychology?

Become a licensed clinical psychologist.

Graduates of doctoral programs in clinical psychology can eventually become licensed clinical psychologists. Psychologists who engage in practice use their formalized professional training and thousands of hours of clinical experience to help patients overcome hardships or live more harmoniously with mental health disorders, cope with chronic conditions, navigate life changes or transitions, treat addictions, and more. 

To this end, psychologists use evidence-based treatments, a mixture of therapy methodologies, and team-based care coordinated with other health practitioners to serve their clients. Clinical psychologists may work in private practice, schools, hospitals, governmental organizations, or ambulatory healthcare services.

Become a Professor of Clinical Psychology

Those with a PhD in clinical psychology can choose to take their formalized education to train the next generation of psychologists. Clinical psychology professors commit to engaging in research within the discipline and teaching their subject matter expertise to students at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level. 

As a part of a university’s faculty, clinical psychology professors may develop or improve syllabi, adjudicate assignments, lead a team of graduate assistants, work collaboratively within or across departments to improve course offerings, serve on college and university committees, and discern how to make course content effective and engaging for students.

Becca Brewer, MEd

Becca Brewer is building a better future on a thriving earth by healing herself into wholeness, divesting from separation, and walking the path of the loving heart. Previously to her journey as an adventurer for a just, meaningful, and regenerative world, Becca was a formally trained sexuality educator with a master of education.

Related Articles

• 2024 Guide to Counseling Scholarships 12/08/23 Matt Zbrog
• Interview with a Certified Sex Therapist – What to Know About This Growing Career 08/04/20 Becca Brewer, MEd
• Telebehavioral Health During Covid-19 08/03/20 Nina Chamlou
• Guide to Counselor Education Loan Forgiveness Programs 11/15/23 Vanessa Salvia
• Interview with a Professor: Empowering Florida’s School Counselors 08/17/20 Matt Zbrog

Related Careers

• 1 Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapist
• 2 Eating Disorder & Nutritional Counselor
• 3 End-of-Life & Palliative Counselor
• 4 Juvenile & Correctional Counselor
• 5 Rehabilitation Counselor
• 6 Applied Behavior Analyst (ABA)
• 7 Army, Veterans & Military (Family Life) Counselor

Related Programs

• 1 Online PhD Programs in Counseling and Psychology
• 2 Online PhD Programs in Mental Health Counseling
• 3 Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Counseling and Psychology
• 4 Online Doctorate in Behavioral Health Leadership | PhD, PsyD, DBH
• 5 Online Doctorate in Educational Psychology – PhD Programs
• 6 Online Master’s Degrees in Addiction Counseling
• 7 Online Master’s Degrees in Child (Pediatric) Psychology

25 Best Online PhD in Psychology Programs

Explore online PhD in Psychology programs. Compare schools and see your job prospects after graduation.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for psychologists has an estimated growth of 3%.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

When you join the field as an expert in your discipline, you may be able to make between $76,000 and $116,000 per year.

List of Schools Offering Online PhD in Psychology Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

1. Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University is a liberal arts and sciences university in Anchorage, Alaska. It was established in 1957.

Alaska Pacific University’s Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology is designed to meet the needs of working professionals seeking the academic requirements to work as a licensed psychologist Classes are delivered through synchronous online evening classes and intensive on-campus classes.

• Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology

APU  is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

2. Arizona State University

Arizona State University is one of the largest universities in the United States in terms of enrollment. It has 5 campuses across the Phoenix metropolitan area, with 4 learning centers in Arizona.

ASU offers a Doctorate in Behavioral Health program, which features specialized coursework focusing on teaching evidence-based behavioral interventions. It comes with a 400-hour internship for students who are licensed as behavioral, medical, or professionals.

• Online PhD in Behavioral Health

ASU is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC) of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

3. California Institute of Integral Studies

California Institute of Integral Studies is based in San Francisco, California. It consists of four schools: the School of Professional Psychology & Health, the School of Undergraduate Studies, the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the School of Consciousness and Transformation.

The school offers an online PhD program in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology. It aims to deepen learner’s skills and make relevant contributions to shaping their areas of specialization. Students need to complete 36 units for a period of 3 years.

• online PhD in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology

CIIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

4. California Southern University

California Southern University was founded in 1978 and is located in Costa Mesa, California. It offers programs at the associate, bachelor, masters, and doctoral levels.

California Southern’s Doctor of Psychology degree program is applied, clinically focused, and meets the educational requirements for licensure as a clinical psychologist in California.

The program can be completed in 4 years with all the coursework taken online. Students will also be required to do a practicum at approved local sites.

• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

CalSouthern is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

5. Capella University

Capella University delivers most of its courses online. It is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was established in 1993. Presently, it offers 52 degree programs wig more than 1,900 degree courses.

The university’s PhD in Psychology online program is designed to give professionals the tools to take advanced roles in areas such as psychology, mental health, business, education, or public policy.

Areas of specialization include General Psychology, Behavior Analysis, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Online PhD in Clinical Psychology

Capella U is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

6. Duquesne University

Duquesne University is a Catholic university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It takes pride in its commitment to providing high-quality education that emphasizes both intellectual and ethical development.

Duquesne University’s PsyD in School Psychology is a 91-credit program that trains students in evidence-based practices founded in scientific literature and theory.

The curriculum employs aspects of multiculturalism and diversity, conducting consistent outcomes assessments for program improvement and support.

• Psy.D. School Psychology

Duquesne is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

7. Felician University

Felician University, a Catholic university in New Jersey, has campuses in Lodi and Rutherford. It was founded in 1923 by the Felician sisters.

The university’s Doctorate in Counseling Psychology conducts classes at Lodi campus and online. It prepares graduates to become entry-level health service psychologists and license-eligible psychologists in New Jersey.

The training focuses on developing the necessary skills required to work as a psychologist and an independent practitioner.

• Doctorate in Counseling Psychology

Felician University  is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

8. Fielding Graduate University

Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California offers postgraduate and doctoral degree programs that are primarily delivered online.

Fielding Graduate University offers a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. The program includes online and in-person seminars, week-long residential sessions, meetings with faculty and other students in your region, research, and clinical training experiences.

• PhD in Clinical Psychology

Fielding Graduate University  is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

9. Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a non-denominational Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in 1949.

The university offers a PhD in General Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction. It is designed to help those who wish to work with adult education in economically and culturally diverse communities. The coursework includes studying social cognition and assessments.

• PhD in Psychology: Cognition & Instruction

GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

10. Keiser University

Keiser University is based in Florida, and it offers educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. These programs can be completed in both traditional and online formats.

The Doctoral Program in Psychology follows a scholar-practitioner model that allows students to integrate scholarly research with classroom expertise. It aims to challenge and develop students with rigorous coursework and relevant teaching and research activities.

• Psychology, PhD

Keiser U is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

11. Liberty University

Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is one of the world’s largest Christian universities in the world. It offers more than 600 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Liberty University offers the PhD in Psychology degree program with an emphasis on Industrial/Organizational Psychology, which provides training in the study of human behavior in the workplace. It has 60 credit hours and can be completed within an average of 3 years.

Classes are done 100% online in 8-week courses.

• Online Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Liberty U is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

12. Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago is a Catholic university in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1870.

The university offers a PhD in Counseling Psychology, which allows graduates to be eligible for the Clinical Psychologist Licensure Examination. It trains students to develop an in-depth understanding of various issues related to cultural diversity and social justice.

Typically, the program takes four to five years of study.

• PhD in Counseling Psychology

Loyola is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

13. Michigan State University

Michigan State University was founded in 1855 and was first named the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. Presently, MSU is one of the largest universities in the country in terms of the student population.

MSU offers a hybrid format of the PhD in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology. It is a rigorous, five-year program of study completed primarily online.

The program aims to develop educational leaders who comprehend the need to create technologically sound pedagogies based on innovative research and practice.

• Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology

MSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

14. National University

Founded in 1971, National University is a network of nonprofit educational institutions headquartered in San Diego, California.

NU offers a 100% online program for a PhD in Psychology that is designed to answer the growing interest in the field of psychology. It seeks to prepare graduates to stand out and excel in the profession. Training includes applied experiential learning with case studies, scenarios, and real-life situations.

It requires the completion of 60 credit hours and can potentially be completed in 46 months.

• PhD in Psychology Online

National University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

15. Oregon State University

Oregon State University is Oregon’s largest university with over 32,000 students from all over the country and across the globe l.

The university’s PhD in Counseling program is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to work as clinical supervisors, advanced practitioners, and counselors in clinical and academic settings. The program is offered in a “hybrid” format, which involves both face-to-face and online instruction.

• Ph.D. in Counseling

Oregon State is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

16. Pacifica Graduate Institute

Pacifica Graduate Institute was founded in 1976 and has two campuses in Santa Barbara, California.

The school offers the PhD Jungian Psychology and Archetypal Studies degree program, which is anchored on the works of C.G. Jung and James Hillman.

In this degree program, students can study different approaches to the psyche that foster healing, creativity, self-expression, transformation, and the development of consciousness.

• Online Ph.D. Jungian Psychology and Archetypal Studies

Pacifica Graduate Institute  is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

17. Regent University

Regent University was founded in 1978 and is located in Virginia Beach, VA. It has 135 programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels – all taught from a Christian perspective.

The university’s Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology degree program allows for a broad area of academic inquiry.

Students can explore and study topics like the psychological foundation of learning, creating environments conducive to learning, cognitive strategies for learning in children and adults, brain research, teacher education, faculty roles, and professional development in different settings.

• Doctor of Education – Educational Psychology

Regent is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

18. Saybrook University

Saybrook University, established in 1971, is located in Pasadena, California.

The Online PhD in Psychology degree program at Saybrook University is designed to help individuals succeed professionally in a variety of areas, including education, the juvenile justice system, community health centers, corporate offices, and non-profit organizations.

Specializations include Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health; Creativity Studies; Existential, Humanistic, and Transpersonal Psychology; and Psychophysiology.

• Online Ph.D. in Psychology

Saybrook University  is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

19. Sofia University

Sofia University is located in Palo Alto, California, and was established in 1975 by James Fadiman and Robert Frager.

The university’s Doctor of Philosophy in Transpersonal Psychology is a 75-unit degree program that is delivered fully online. The average completion length is 3 years. It provides a unique and extraordinary opportunity to study the theories and practices of transpersonal psychology.

Students can work closely with faculty members who provide exceptional support and facilitate social and emotional development.

• Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology

Sofia University  is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

20. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University, established in 1923, offers over 150 courses through 13 colleges.

The university’s PhD in Educational Psychology is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive knowledge of educational foundations, learning, motivation, and development. It aims to prepare individuals for careers in educational research and various academic career positions. The program has 91 credit hours.

• Educational Psychology – PhD

Texas Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

21. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is a global innovator in the field of Psychology for over 40 years.

The school offers a PhD in International Psychology with Trauma Services Concentration. It is a full-time, online degree program with 3-4 years length of completion.

It is designed to help students acquire the skills necessary to lead organizations in developing prevention training and establishing programs to address different issues in mental health caused by traumatic experiences.

• Ph.D. in International Psychology Trauma Services Concentration

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology  is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

22. Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide offers flexible online programs and courses at an attainable rate.

The university’s Online Doctor of Psychology in Human and Organizational Psychology aims to help students to gain a better understanding of what motivates their workforce.

It is designed to give professionals the skills and tools required to design evidence-based solutions in their organizations. It can be completed 100% online with affordable tuition rates.

• Online Doctor of Psychology in Human and Organizational Psychology

Touro University Worldwide  is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

23. University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, is the flagship university of the University of Texas System.

The university’s Department of Psychology PhD program brings together the best faculty and staff to provide graduate and undergraduate students the support needed to fulfill the school’s scientific and educational missions.

The school’s graduate program and Clinical program both ranked #8 in US News & World Report’s list.

• Ph.D. Program in Psychology

The University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

24. University of the Cumberlands

The University of the Cumberlands is a Christian university in Williamsburg, Kentucky. It was founded by Baptist ministers in 1888.

The university offers the PhD in Clinical Psychology program, which is designed to help students develop the skills required to obtain licensure as a psychologist in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as in other states.

It is a four-year program that lets students actively participate in clinical instruction, clinical practicum, and doctoral dissertations.

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

The University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

25. Walden University

Walden University has been offering degrees and certificates in various undergraduate and graduate programs for over 50 years. Programs offered reflect market trends and enable adult learners to achieve their educational goals.

Walden University offers a PhD in Psychology program. It gives opportunities for students to achieve post-graduation success and empower them to excel as researchers, educators, or consultants. It is offered completely online and has 55 credit hours.

• Ph.D. in Psychology

Walden U is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Types of Online PhD in Psychology Degrees

Psychology is a vast field, and psychology doctorates come in many forms. You can choose an online psychology degree path that’s specific to your research and career goals.

Choose the area that stands out to you to jump to that section.

• Online PhD Psychology
• Online PhD Behavioral Psychology
• Online PhD Child & Adolescent Psychology
• Online PhD Clinical Psychology
• Online PhD Educational Psychology
• Online PhD Forensic Psychology
• Online PhD Organizational Psychology
• Online PhD School Psychology

Each of these related subject areas can help prepare you for a different career path.

Online PhD in Psychology

A generalist degree in psychology can be applied in many domains. You may choose this path if you want a degree that can serve you well in varied positions or fields.

This may also be a good option if you don’t feel like any specialty doctoral programs are particularly suitable for your career goals and would prefer to customize your own course of study.

During your studies, you will likely take classes in statistics; the mathematics and analysis skills that you learn there can help prepare you to conduct reliable research.

The courses in generalist psychology degrees cover a variety of psychology disciplines. Topics may include epigenetics, neuroscience, memory, cognition, and developmental psychology.

A psychology PhD can help equip you with leadership and research skills that are useful in a variety of career settings. For example, you might work as a school administrator, a behavior analyst, or a marketing manager.

Online PhD in Behavioral Psychology

If you’re interested in why people make the choices they do and how thoughts and behavior influence one another, then consider making behavioral psychology your field of study.

This degree gives students opportunities to research behavior analysis and learn about motivating others to change their patterns of action.

You will likely take classes that specifically focus on the field of applied behavior analysis. Other courses may cover related topics like addiction, language development, education, child development, or self-control. You may also learn about the history of psychology and behavior analysis.

This program may be offered as a licensure track to help prepare to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

After earning your online PhD in Behavioral Psychology, you may be able to conduct research in behavior analysis, supervise a team of behavior analysts or work directly with clients who have autism or developmental delays.

Online PhD in Child & Adolescent Psychology

Working with kids and teens sometimes requires different skills and communication techniques than those needed when working with adults.

To expand your abilities to work with youths or conduct research among this age group, you’ll want to focus your studies on child and adolescent psychology.

Your classes will likely address developmental psychology and psychotherapy techniques to use when working with children and families. You may discuss how childhood crises like abuse and loss can have psychological effects throughout youth and beyond.

Related classes may cover how psychological principles can be applied in the juvenile correctional system and other difficult situations. You may complete a clinical internship in a child psychology facility.

This degree program may lead to licensure so that you can become a certified child or family psychologist. This career path can help you provide life-changing therapy services for youths in troubled situations.

Serious mental illness can make life challenging, but clinical psychologists can provide help and support. Whether you choose to conduct research in this field or work directly with patients, you can help people work through their struggles.

Common studies in this degree include developmental psychology and psychotherapy techniques. The courses are typically designed to address counseling ethics and improve clinical skills, like interviewing patients and conducting assessments.

Most programs require students to complete a year-long clinical internship for this degree; this component can help thoroughly prepare you for licensure.

Clinical psychologists often work directly with patients, particularly those with serious mental illnesses or behavior disorders. As you provide therapy, you may also conduct research projects and publish your findings.

You may choose to focus your clinical practice on a particular domain, such as health psychology or cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Online PhD in Educational Psychology

If you’re interested in furthering the science of learning, then a PhD in Educational Psychology may provide the foundation that you need. This branch of psychology deals with how people learn and how learning can be measured.

Common coursework in this doctoral program addresses educational theory and instructional methods. You should also study human development during childhood or throughout the lifespan.

To help you succeed in the realm of education, it may be important to cover topics like learning assessment, program analysis, and organizational leadership. You may also learn how to teach psychology to students.

A degree in educational psychology can help prepare you to lead institutions of learning. Some programs are geared toward working with adult learners, so you might do well as a college administrator.

You may also choose to work as a researcher who contributes toward a better understanding of how people assimilate new information.

Online PhD in Forensic Psychology

Did you ever consider going into law instead of pursuing a psychology career? You can bring those two interests together with a doctoral program in forensic psychology. This discipline addresses psychology topics and issues that relate to law, criminal justice, and corrections.

Experts in forensic psychology need to be well-versed in abnormal development and behavior. Students of forensic psychology study tough topics like violence, terrorism, and arson.

Your studies may prepare you to deliver expert testimony, counsel offenders, support law enforcement officers, or carry out hostage negotiations. Helping people cope with the effects of criminal or violent acts may be another focus of your doctoral work.

As a leader in forensic psychology, you may be hired by a criminal justice organization or serve as a consultant. For example, you might coach witnesses, teach police officers how to respond in crises or work with criminal offenders.

Online PhD in Organizational Psychology

Psychological principles can be greatly influential in the business world. Earning a PhD in Organizational Psychology can help you become a leader in the business world. This program can also be known as a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

The curriculum for this doctorate may include both business and psychology classes. This doctorate focuses on organizational behavior and is designed to help students learn how to lead teams through change and navigate group behavior.

Other courses may address applying management techniques, motivating employees, conducting assessments, and compensating employees. You may be able to select a particular specialty for this doctoral program; options may include human resources or global business.

I/O professionals often hold leadership positions in businesses and other organizations. You could potentially assume a high level of responsibility in a human resources or project management department.

Alternatively, you might provide consulting services to organizations to help them improve morale or productivity.

Online PhD in School Psychology

Classroom teachers aren’t the only educational professionals who can have a significant influence on young learners. School psychologists also play an important role in students’ growth and learning, especially for students who struggle in a traditional classroom environment.

This program typically includes classes in learning and cognition, childhood development, and behavior disorders. Becoming familiar with conducting assessments, identifying delays, and strategizing interventions can help you succeed in a school setting.

You will probably need to complete an internship, which may last around one year. Individual states set regulations about licensure for school psychologists, so it’s important to select a program that aligns with your state’s requirements.

As a school psychologist, you’ll probably pursue employment in a school system. Your responsibilities may include supporting students in the special education program. Other career options include working as a researcher or an educational consultant.

Courses for an Online PhD in Psychology

As a doctoral student, your curriculum may be uniquely suited to your specialization and interests. There may be core courses in your degree in psychology online that you are required to take as well as the opportunity to select electives of your choice. Example classes are listed below.

Cognitive Neuroscience – Studies in neuroscience address the relationship between the nervous system and behavior. Topics typically covered include memory, reasoning, and decision-making and how neurons, whether individually or as a group, become encoded.

Developmental Psychology – This course provides an overview of human development and the psychological changes that occur over a lifetime. Areas of study may include language development and social maturation.

Learning Theories – A class on learning can help you understand how people acquire information and retain it in their memories. Your studies may focus on young learners, adult learners, or a combination.

Psychology and Culture – This course explores the field of cultural psychology. The topics may include how humans internalize their culture of origin and how an individual’s culture shapes thoughts and actions.

Psychology Instruction – Once you have your PhD, you may want to work as a professor, so this course can help equip you with tools for teaching college students. It can help you learn how to conduct yourself in a classroom setting and how to build meaningful connections that will help students learn. You may complete a teaching practicum.

Psychopathology – This course provides an overview of mental and behavioral disorders. You may learn about identifying these disorders and providing effective therapies.

Research Methods – PhD programs are research-focused, so taking classes on research methods can help you sharpen your skills as a researcher. These classes can help you learn how to design studies, produce reliable results, and analyze the data.

In many programs, especially those of a clinical nature, you can expect to spend a year or more in practicum and internship settings. Your doctoral program is likely to include a research project or a dissertation as well.

What’s the Difference between a PsyD and PhD in Psychology?

A Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) is a professional doctorate for acquiring practical knowledge and skills for providing clinical services. Students in PsyD online programs spend significant time in practicum and internship settings to gain as much hands-on practice as possible.

Choosing this approach for your studies can help prepare you to provide psychological services to patients in individual or group settings.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology is a research-focused program. Although you may still complete internships in the psychology field, they may not be until close to the end of your studies. Instead, you’ll likely spend more time on research skills, statistics, and data analysis.

If you have your sights set on a full-time career in research or academia, this is typically the right educational path to select. Becoming licensed may be a possibility, but only some PhD in Psychology programs are licensure tracks.

Ultimately, the difference between PsyD vs. PhD comes down to the type of career you want to pursue in the psychology sector.

What’s the Difference between a PhD Psychology and a PhD Counseling Psychology Online?

A PhD in Psychology is a general program that can give you insight into human thought and behavior. A generalist psychology degree is often a non-licensure track.

It can be useful for those who want to teach psychology at the college level, become researchers, use their psychology knowledge in business or organizational leadership, or serve as consultants.

For those who want to work directly with clients, a PhD in Counseling Psychology may offer a path to licensure. This degree program typically includes classes on counseling practices, group therapy, abnormal development, and psychological assessments.

You will probably have to engage in a lengthy internship experience as well. If you want to see patients in private practice or as a member of a healthcare team, it’s a good idea to choose a PhD in Counseling Psychology, a PhD in Clinical Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology program.

PhD in Psychology Job Outlook and Salary

Psychology is a growing field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 3% growth rate for psychologist positions for the next ten years. This job category includes clinical, counseling, school, and industrial-organizational psychologists as well as other specialists in this field.

Earning your doctorate may qualify you to seek licensure, apply for a promotion, or move to a different organization. An increase in pay may accompany those changes.

Professional Organizations for those with a PhD in Psychology

Whether they conduct research, lead organizations, or work with clients, psychology professionals can benefit from the support of others in the field. Membership in a professional organization can provide opportunities to learn from others and grow your skills.

• American Psychological Association – APA is open to all who work in the field of psychology, including those in clinical practice and academia. Membership benefits include access to a psychology news app and an exclusive journal as well as discounts on professional resources.
• American Psychiatric Association – Also known as APA, this organization is for practicing psychiatrists and those who teach or conduct research in this field. Membership benefits include access to print and online publications, discounts on industry resources, and free continuing education classes.
• Association for Psychological Science – APS advocates for psychological research and practice to be based on a strong scientific foundation. Researchers, clinicians, teachers, and other psychology professionals are welcome to join. Members are sent digital and print newsletters and journals. Plus, they can access a job board and may want to attend the organization’s conventions.
• National Association of School Psychologists – NASP advocates for policies and practices that benefit students’ safety, health, and academic success. Members are invited to join some of the organization’s interest-based subgroups and have access to newsletters, journals, and downloadable handouts.
• Society for Neuroscience – SfN provides professional support and public advocacy for the neuroscience community. If you work in neuroscience, you may want to join the group for career resources, free and discounted publications, and reduced costs for the organization’s annual meeting.

Membership benefits vary from one organization to the next. To try out a group membership without committing to the full registration fee, consider enrolling during your doctoral program. It’s common for professional associations to offer discounted student memberships to people who are in school.

Certification and Licensure Following a Doctoral Psychology Program

Not all psychology PhDs pursue licensure, but it’s an important step for those who plan to engage in clinical practice. The following overview can provide a general idea of the steps you’ll need to take.

• Enroll in a doctoral degree program. Choose a licensure PhD track — perhaps at a school that is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and any other tests required by your state.
• Earn clinical hours. While you may be able to earn some of these during school, many will have to be acquired during your postdoc period.
• After finishing your degree, passing required tests and earning professional hours, apply for licensure with your state.

Each state sets its own licensure regulations; consult your state’s board to learn more about the specific steps that you’ll need to take. It’s also important to choose a program that complies with your state’s licensure requirements.

Accreditation for an Online PhD in Psychology

You’ll likely put a lot of time and money into earning your PhD in Psychology. It’s important that you receive a reputable degree in exchange for all that work. That’s why you should always make sure that your university holds proper accreditation.

Regional accreditation is one important distinction to consider. Any school focused on delivering quality academics will have applied for regional accreditation. Accrediting bodies grant this recognition to schools that consistently provide good learning experiences and opportunities for their students.

To ensure that your college meets this standard, look for accreditation from:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Without regional accreditation, you have no guarantee of receiving a quality education. Your degree probably won’t mean much to employers or other schools.

For a doctoral program in psychology, it’s sometimes advised to look for schools that are also accredited by the American Psychological Association .

According to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education, APA has the authority to determine whether psychology programs meet industry standards and thoroughly prepare students for clinical practice and other psychology careers.

APA accreditation may not be essential if you don’t plan to seek licensure. In some states, though, only students with an APA-approved doctorate are eligible to become licensed psychologists.

Financial Aid for PhD in Psychology Students

Doctoral programs are expensive, but financial aid can put a PhD within your grasp.

There are government programs that exist specifically to help students fund their education. These include grants, low-interest loans, and work-study arrangements. You may be able to use both state and federal funding.

To learn about your eligibility for government help, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .

As a doctoral student, you may qualify for other types of help as well. Your school may reduce your tuition in exchange for teaching lower-level classes. You may also receive scholarships or fellowships from your college, industry associations, or other community or national organizations.

If you need additional help, look into spreading out your payments. Private loans can make it so you won’t have to pay the full tuition cost right away.

Just keep in mind that private interest rates are usually higher than they are for government loans, so it’s smart to max out other types of financial aid first. You can also ask your school about the possibility of establishing a payment plan.

Questions Related to Earning PhD in Psychology Online

Here are our answers to a few more questions you might have in pursuing an online doctorate in psychology.

Can You Do a PhD Online?

Yes, you can do a PhD online. Many schools offer online PhD programs that are reputable, regionally accredited, and comparable to their on-campus counterparts.

Online PhDs are available in a vast number of disciplines, including psychology. Although these programs allow you to take classes and submit coursework online, you may need to complete in-person practicums or internships.

Can You Get a PhD Online in Psychology?

Yes, you can get a PhD online in Psychology. There are a number of colleges that offer online programs for studying psychology at the PhD level.

These programs can help equip you with the in-depth knowledge needed to lead organizations, spearhead change, conduct research, develop new theories, or teach students. Some online PhD in Psychology programs may prepare you for licensure.

Is a PsyD or PhD Better?

Both of these options can be valuable degrees. Which one you should get depends on your career goals. Consider choosing a PsyD if you know you want to be a counseling practitioner. Consider getting a PhD if you enjoy statistics, and your goals include becoming a researcher or a college faculty member.

Are Online PhD Programs Accredited?

You should have no trouble finding an online PhD program with regional accreditation. Accrediting bodies confer this status on online schools just like they do for on-campus programs.

Programmatic accreditation for online psychology programs is harder to come by, though — especially when it comes to APA accreditation. Hybrid programs are more likely to hold APA accreditation than fully online ones.

Are There Any APA Accredited Online PsyD Programs?

Although online PsyD programs are eligible for APA accreditation, just like on-campus programs, the organization has not given lasting accreditation to any fully online programs.

Instead, you may want to look into a hybrid PsyD program so that you can earn some of your credits in a flexible online format.

Is a PhD in Psychology Worth It?

Yes, a PhD in Psychology worth it for many students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market in life, physical, and social science is projected to grow by 5% for the next decade. Common careers in this field include school psychologist, forensic psychologist, industrial-organizational psychologist, postsecondary education administrator, and human resources manager.

If you have a keen interest in how people think, act, and develop, then consider soaking up as much knowledge on the topic as you can by enrolling in an online PhD in Psychology program.

Earning your doctorate can help elevate you to expert status in this field and prepare you to teach students, perform original research, and make a significant difference for individuals or organizations. Getting your doctorate may also qualify you to pursue licensure in your state.

Now is the time to apply to online psychology schools. A fulfilling career as a professional psychologist may be waiting for you.