Look Inside an Online Psychology Degree Program

Online Doesn’t Mean All Alone

If you are someone who feels that discussions and class interaction are important to understanding coursework, these types of benefits may also be found in the online Psychology degree Programs. In your online classes, you may be required to post weekly or even daily to web-based discussion threads on topics provided by the professor. Sometimes, not only is your opinion and post required, but also responses to other student posts could be required. In other programs, you may be required to schedule online meetings with faculty at specific times. It is really wise to know what is involved, especially if you are working with a strict schedule or need to travel frequently.

Resources for eLearners

Doing your homework on the Online School or Psychology Degree you are considering is important.  You want a program that matches your career goals, but also meets quality assurance. Resources such as online library assistance, tech support, tutoring, and career counseling should be available to you.  A good online psychology program offers the services you need whether this be disability support services or a way to make an appointment with a guidance counselor, make sure your prospective program offers it by requesting those details in advance.

Accreditation and Online Psychology Degrees

Accreditation means that a program has met the quality standards obliged by an outside agency and have received a public certificate of accreditation. Choosing an accredited program may help you avoid disreputable institutions. Just as important, though, is that in most cases, those who would like to be licensed to practice psychology are required to have attended an accredited program. Many jobs have the same requirement.
There is a difference between institutional and program accreditation. Institutional accreditation is conferred upon a school in its entirety – not a single program – by one of six regional accreditation bodies. These organizations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
In terms of individual Psychology Graduate programs, the most reputable and relied upon accrediting organizations are the American Psychological Association (“APA”), operating through its Commission on Accreditation, and the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (“ASPPB”).
Note that the “APA accredits doctoral graduate programs in clinical, counseling, school psychology and combination programs; internships, a required component of doctoral training; and postdoctoral residency programs in traditional and specialty practice areas of psychology”^[iii]
Since the APA and ASPPB do not accredit non-doctoral programs, if you are choosing an associate, bachelor, master, or certificate online Psychology program be sure that the school has institutional accreditation. If the school has an APA or ASPPB accredited doctoral program for which the non-doctoral degree you seek is a component, this is an added assurance of quality, especially if the programs share faculty and resources. Otherwise, accreditation by one of the other agencies is also a sign of a quality program.
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