Types of Psychology Courses | Different Types of Psychology Degrees

In this article I try to cover the types of psychology degrees available in current academic structure for psychology aspirants. So let’s get started right away.

Types of degrees in Psychology

Worldwide, hundreds & thousands students enter in a psychology college with the dream of doing major/masters and becoming a psychologist. So, if you are visiting this page, then I believe that you too are interested in exploring the academic degrees and credentials allied with the fascinating field of Psychology. Before you continue, I suggest you to explore psychology facts, information & new approaches to acquaint yourself with the basic understanding of the discipline that is known for exploring human behavior and mental processes.

Different types of Psychology Degrees

The academic degrees in psychology can be best understood by dividing them into five categories:

1. Associate Degree: Associate degree program in psychology is a two-year course generally offered by community colleges and technical schools. The degrees awarded to students on completion of associate level program are titled as Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.) and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.). Though an Associate degree may not guarantee a formal career pursuit as a psychologist, it may help students to take up entry-level positions and work as a mental health technician, a data analyst or a vocational rehabilitator. Many students shift to state universities to complete their four year bachelor’s degree after earning an associate degree.

2. Bachelor’s Degree (Undergraduate Coursework): The Bachelor’s degree is a four year undergraduate coursework in which student can major in any one of the many sub-disciplines of psychology like health psychology, school psychology, forensic psychology, clinical psychology etc. Depending upon the general education coursework elected by a student, s/he may earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Earning a bachelor’s degree opens the door for a variety of career fields for a psychology student. S/he may work in schools, clinics, hospitals, vocational centre, career divisions, organizations etc.

3. Master’s Degree (Graduate Coursework): One reason that a master’s degree in psychology is a popular choice among students is due to the abundance of job opportunities available in the market in a variety of settings. Generally, it requires 2-3 years to earn a graduate master’s degree in psychology. Like Bachelor’s, a master’s degree may be titled as M.A. in psychology or M.S. in psychology. Masters in Psychology is a specialized degree in which a student excels in a particular field of interest like forensic, clinical, abnormal, school, business, health, psychoanalysis etc. Specialization provides a deeper understanding of the subject along with its practical application in day-to-day life.

4. Specialized Degrees (Ed.S. and Psy.S.): Ed.S. is a specialized degree generally earned by students aspiring to become a school psychologist. Ed.S., Education Specialist in School Psychology prepares professionals to work within the school settings. The program gives competence to students in building pupil-parent-peer integration with school and community. Psy.S., Specialist in School Psychology, is another degree that offers extensive training and competence in assessment, prevention and intervention of school–going students in terms of their mental, physical and social problems. Both, Ed.S. and Psy.S., can be pursued after doing Master’s in Psychology.

5. Doctorate Degrees: The two most commonly names associated with the doctorate level of degrees in psychology are Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). Both degrees require approximately 4-6 years of time to complete. The Ph.D. degree in psychology is an academic and research-oriented degree in which a student does extensive research on a particular topic of interest of a sub-discipline. The student must have a good hang of research methodology, research designs, and experimental psychology for pursuing Ph.D in psychology. In contrast, Psy.D is a professional practice of psychology in which a student learns the art of applying the practice of learned theoretical principles of psychology in a specific professional setting. Examples include: specializing in psychotherapy, psychological assessments, relationship counselling, diagnosing mental disorders etc. It is essential for students pursuing Psy.D. to pass the licensing exams so that they can gain professional license to practice. Besides, the coursework also demands a compulsory internship for a fixed number of hours under a licensed psychologist to have hands-on experience about the applied discipline.

The academic training in psychology is a rigorous brain-storming process in which a student’s mind is shaped to view the world in a novel and creative way. It helps a person to endorse individuality and develop skills of looking and solving psychosocial issues in a productive and efficient way.

A wonderful discipline that lets others grow with the return-reward of self-growth!!

I hope this article would have helped you in understanding the types of psychology degrees available for you today.

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