Best Online Master's in Clinical Psychology Programs

If you want to study the science behind mental health and can see yourself conducting research, then a master's degree in clinical psychology may be right for you. Additionally, clinical psychologists need a doctoral degree in order to do most of their work and a master's degree is a prerequisite to get into a PhD program. If research isn't your only interest, however, it is possible to become a mental health counselor with a clinical psychology degree, as long as you take the right courses, receive proper training, and get a license to practice. Although many colleges offer on-campus programs, like these psychology programs in New York, online degrees can provide a flexible and more affordable option for students who can't matriculate or who have full-time jobs or busy lives.

How Long Does It Take to Earn an Online Master's in Clinical Psychology?

On average, master's degree programs can take 2 years to complete. These programs typically require around 36-54 credits or 60 to 70 quarter credits. Some programs, especially ones that have a counseling option, require an internship, residency, or practicum where the student works under the guidance of a licensed psychologist, counselor, or therapist. These may last from a couple of weeks to a semester and are usually worth the same amount of credits as a course.

The curriculum in online master's degrees in clinical psychology is designed to advance students' skills in research, analysis, and critical thinking from a clinical perspective. Some programs, especially ones that offer a clinical counseling concentration, offer courses that give students counseling skills and can prepare them to earn a license to practice. More commonly, though, the curriculum is designed for eventual placement into a doctoral clinical psychology program.

Clinical Psychology Foundational Courses

Clinical psychology foundational courses provide a broad overview of the skills and theories that make up the field. These courses are general enough so that the skills learned can be applied to many areas in clinical psychology. Students typically learn research methods, how to perform tests and assess the behaviors of patients, and about the process of diagnosing patients with mental disorders. Sometimes these courses, particularly ones having to do with research, are divided into 2 courses, with one course taken each semester. A few foundational courses include:

• Research Methods and Statistics
• Mental Disorders Diagnosis Process
• Tests and Measurements

Clinical Psychology Specialist and Elective Courses

Clinical psychology can be offered as a concentration itself, so in this case, the courses for clinical psychology would be considered specialist courses. In other programs, however, the choices for specialist courses and electives can span across all types of psychology, including applied research, forensic psychology, and counseling psychology. Specialist courses, usually tied to a concentration or specialization, allow students to tailor their studies toward their own interests and career goals. A few specialist and elective courses include:

• Developmental Psychology
• Counseling Techniques
• Quantitative Design and Analysis
• Psychology and the Law
• Ethics and Multicultural Issues
• Psychopharmacology

Licensure and Certification in Clinical Psychology

In nearly all states, practicing psychology or calling oneself a psychologist requires a state license, especially if a psychologist is giving services independently. Each state has its own requirements for licensure, but generally, a licensed psychologist must:

• Complete a doctoral program in psychology
• Complete an internship
• Have 1 to 2 years of supervised professional experience
• Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology

The American Board of Professional Psychology offers 15 certifications through specialty boards. Certification demonstrates that a psychologist has exceptional knowledge and skills in a particular area. Clinical psychologists can become certified in:

• Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Clinical Health Psychology
• Clinical Neuropsychology

Certification is not always required, but it can be beneficial for one's career. To keep their license and certification, psychologists must periodically take continuing education courses.

Applying for and enrolling in a clinical psychology master's program can take a bit more effort than applying for a bachelor's program. The first step to applying is to make sure you have all of the materials requested. This includes documents such as college transcripts, GRE test scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Try to aim for getting at least 1 or 2 letters of recommendation from psychology faculty members who can attest to your work specifically as a psychology student, if that is your undergraduate major.

Keep in mind the deadlines for application and enrollment. Some schools have a specific application and enrollment period, usually a few months, while others have an open one. Once you decide what schools to apply for, it's best to have all of your documents ready to go as soon as possible, so you aren't trying to get the necessary materials at the last minute. Once you've been accepted/enrolled, then comes registration and choosing classes. Registration confirms that you are attending the college for that semester and have already paid tuition and any other fees.

Most universities assign students an academic advisor to help with any registration questions as well as choosing classes. Some colleges will even have advisors who are dedicated to a specific major. The information for contacting an advisor can be found on a program's page or in the faculty directory. Make sure to choose classes that not only benefit your major but interest you and serve any academic or professional goals you have. Advisors can help you figure out what classes are available and which ones are right for you.

Applicants to online clinical psychology master's programs need, at minimum, a bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary institution. The undergraduate degree does not have to be in psychology, but some graduate programs do require applicants to have completed a certain amount of psychology courses. Other requirements can vary by school and program, but they generally include:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores; sometimes a minimum score is required on certain portions of the test, such as writing, quantitative, and verbal
• Minimum undergraduate GPA
• Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
• Academic letters of recommendation
• Statement of intent
• Transcripts
• Writing sample

Although most clinical psychologists need a doctorate to practice and perform research, there are a number of possibilities for what you can do with a master's in clinical psychology as long as you have the proper courses and training. Graduates of clinical psychology master's programs can work in school psychology or industrial organizational psychology, provided they have a license.

They can also work in a number of different counseling areas, such as mental health, behavior disorder, addiction, adolescent, and marriage and family therapy. Counseling also requires a license, and graduates will need to have taken courses related to these areas. Additionally, master's degree graduates can become psychology professors at community colleges where a master's degree is sufficient.

Job Outlook for a Master's in Clinical Psychology

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field of psychology is expected to grow by 3% from 2019-2029, which is almost as fast as average. However, the employment growth for individual occupations in the field will differ.

Counseling and therapy careers are also expected to grow. The BLS states that substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors can expect a job growth of 25% from 2019-2029. Marriage and family therapists can expect a job growth of 22% from 2019-2029, according to the BLS. The growing need for counselors to work with addicts, veterans, drug offenders, as well as provide integrated care for families, plays a part in this.

How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and family therapists help their clients manage the stresses of their everyday lives; things like relationships, difficult changes such as death or divorce, and emotions and responses to life events. They typically use cognitive behavioral therapy to help their clients talk through their emotions and figure out what is stressing them, as well as what they can do to change the situation or their behavior to find a solution. Most marriage and family therapists work in private practice with individuals, couples, and families. They address many issues such as stress, self-esteem, addiction, and substance abuse.

A master's degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy, or other mental health field is required to become a marriage and family therapist. An internship or residency with supervised clinical work is also required. These professionals need a license to practice, which requires 2,000-4,000 hours of clinical experience, an exam, and continuing education classes. The BLS states that marriage and family therapists have a median annual wage of $49,610 as of 2019.

How to Become an Addiction Counselor

Addiction counselors, also known as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, work with individuals who are experiencing drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues, eating disorders, or other behavioral and mental problems. Through therapy and programs such as the 12-step program, clients learn to deal with stressors in a healthy way that doesn't trigger their addiction or disorder. They can either work in private sessions with one person or with multiple people in group therapy. Addiction counselors can work in independent practice, but they are also employed by hospitals and mental health treatment centers where they may consult with other professionals like psychologists and psychiatrists to determine the best course of treatment.

Addiction counselors need at least a bachelor's degree but requirements vary by employer and state. Those with a master's degree in psychology or a related field can provide more services, such as one-on-one treatment. Those in private practice must have a license issued by their state. According to PayScale, the average salary for addiction counselors as of 2019 is $39,971.

There are a number of professional organizations to help students and professional psychologists start, maintain, and advance their careers.

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the United States' leading association for the development of the psychology field. Members can receive numerous benefits, including liability insurance, a member directory for networking, exclusive access to academic articles, journals, and books, and free continuing education.

The National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers focuses on advancing the practice of clinical psychology. Members can receive benefits such as free continuing education credits, referral services, liability insurance, and advocacy for practicing clinical psychologists.

The American Board of Professional Psychology is the primary organization that hosts 15 board certifications for eligible psychologists. The organization is dedicated to serving the public by promoting quality psychological services through its certified members.

Many graduate clinical psychology programs will accept students without an undergraduate clinical psychology degree as long as they have taken a certain amount of psychology courses. However, an undergraduate degree in psychology is the most straightforward option if a master's degree in clinical psychology interests you. Other undergraduate degrees that may be suitable include bachelor of arts and bachelor of science programs in counseling or related mental health fields. These programs teach students about behavioral and other disorders that may prompt them to seek counseling or other mental health services, which can relate to the study of psychology.

The next step after completing a master's degree in clinical psychology is to pursue a doctoral program. Clinical psychologists must graduate from an APA-approved clinical psychology doctoral program to earn a license to practice and pursue board certification. The two main types of doctoral programs in this field are a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) in Psychology. Both programs prepare students to become licensed clinical psychologists. However, the Ph.D. focuses more on clinical research while the Psy.D focuses more on clinical treatment. Ph.D. students may have to write a dissertation about original research while Psy.D students may have to participate in internships, practicums, or residencies to gain clinical experience.

Applying for financial aid is an important part of pursuing postsecondary education. The first step to applying is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form uses applicants' financial information to determine if they are eligible for federal student aid such as grants, loans, and scholarships. Applicants must provide information such as their household income, paid taxes, and social security numbers, among other things. Anyone who is a legal U.S. citizen or who has non-citizen status and is enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution can apply.

Outside of FAFSA, there are a number of scholarships provided by schools, organizations, and independent donors that college students can apply for. They can be for general students or special categories such as LGBTQ, minorities, and online students, or certain majors such as psychology. A few of these scholarships include:

• The American Psychological Foundation awards several graduate student psychology scholarships ranging from $2,000-$5,000 for students in master's and doctoral programs who have original research proposals.
• The American Psychological Association (APA) offers the annual Graduate Student Ethics Writing Prize for psychology graduate students who write a paper on psychology and ethics. The winner receives $1,000 and a paid trip to the APA's annual convention.