Start a Career In Psychology: Therapy, Counseling, Psychiatry, and More
Psychology is a popular undergraduate major, and it’s easy to understand why: with a degree in psychology, you can pursue a career in many different fields, become a doctor, or perform groundbreaking research.
Of course, you’ll need an education before becoming a psychologist — and new accelerated online degree options let you finish your degree in just 12 months according to Capella University1. Online psychology degrees open up more high-paying careers than are available to those without a degree.
And you don’t have to commute to a college campus daily or change your work schedule to attend classes. And that’s because online degrees are becoming more widely available. When you earn an online psychology degree, you complete the same coursework as you would for traditional classes, but you can do everything at home – and it costs far less. Here’s why you need to consider an online psychology degree.
Online College Is Cheaper and More Flexible
Online college offers more flexibility than in-person schooling both for scheduling your classes and for completing your coursework. When you attend college in-person, you can only sign up for courses that fit in your schedule. With online college programs, you can register for any class without having to fit it into a specific time slot.
Most online courses also allow you to watch lectures and complete assignments at any time. You’ll have deadlines to meet, but you’re free to take classes and complete classwork on the weekend, before work, or whenever is the most convenient for you.
Online college can save you money, too. Online schools have lower tuition costs for online students, and some offer cheaper in-state tuition to out-of-state students who take online courses. And the savings don’t stop there. Attend an online college and you’ll save money on your commute and living costs. You won’t have to pay for gas or public transportation, and you won’t have to live in pricey college housing.
You Can Choose Your Learning Environment
When you take online classes, you have complete control over your learning environment. You can study at home, at a library, at a coffee shop, or at any location where you feel focused. Classrooms can be crowded, noisy, and uncomfortable, and many people find it difficult to concentrate on the lecture.
Online college allows you to customize your own environment to best fit your learning needs. As the sole student in the “classroom” of your choice, you’re able to study from absolutely anywhere at any time and complete your psychology degree with ease.
Psychology Degrees Are Flexible
Psychology is a field that’s applicable to so many different careers and so many industries. You don’t have to become a clinical psychologist or a researcher if you have a psychology degree. While those careers are rewarding, you can also enter a wide variety of other fields with an undergraduate psychology degree.
Many industries are in need of people who understand human behavior. Psychology students have good communication and interpersonal skills, and they understand how to analyze and interpret data. If you have a psychology degree, some of your career options include becoming a research analyst, an advertising professional, a career advisor, a social services worker, or even a human resources staff member. An online psychology degree can also help you get accepted to a graduate program if you’re interested in counseling or clinical psychology.
Psychology Students Have a Great Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics², employment for psychologists is predicted to grow by 14 percent by 2026, which is faster than the average career’s growth. There’s a high demand for clinical, school, and counseling psychologists.
Many of the popular job options for people with a bachelor’s degree in psychology are expanding, too. For example, health educators have a projected job growth of 13 percent from 2014 to 2024, and research analysts have a projected job growth of 19 percent. Earning a degree in psychology will set you up for an in-demand future and will help you launch a career in growing industries.
How to Start Your Online Psychology Degree
Psychology is one of the best fields to earn a degree in, and your opportunities become even more vast when you opt to study in an online college psychology program. When you study online, you can work at your own pace and follow your own schedule, completing classes from anywhere in the world. Even more importantly, you’ll save money thanks to online college programs’ lower tuition rates.
And once your education is complete, you’ll have countless opportunities ahead of you. Psychology is a vast subject with lots of areas of specialization, so your degree can help you follow a number of different career paths. If you’re interested in psychology, you should look into online classes to expand your education and open up opportunities in your future.
Like anything, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the latest research. We recommend comparing at least 3 or 4 options before making a final decision. Doing a search online is typically the quickest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to keep in mind.