Guide To Online Child Psychology Degree Programs

Child psychologists provide psychological, behavioral, and emotional therapy for children and adolescents, their parents, and caregivers.

This important profession requires extensive schooling and experience. Most states require child psychologists to earn a doctoral degree and complete extensive clinical hours, among other requirements.

With a child psychology degree, you can work in hospitals, outpatient health facilities, schools, private practices, and other settings. Fortunately for those who are already working or juggling non-work obligations, you can often earn your bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees online.

Below is more information on each child psychology degree, as well as professional tips and information to help you create a career path.

A bachelor’s degree in child psychology prepares you for further study in the field, but there are not many of these programs available. However, a bachelor’s degree in psychology offered online or in-person, can provide a strong foundation for future studies and specializations.

At the bachelor’s level, students studying psychology learn the history and theoretical foundation of the field of psychology and receive a broad overview of its various branches, including, but not limited to, psychopathology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and child development.

A child psychology master’s program can prepare you to work as a counselor or therapist in an outpatient or school setting. You’ll learn to identify, prevent, and treat mental health disorders in children and adolescents.

A child psychology degree at the master’s level typically requires a clinical internship, offering hands-on clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. This will help to prepare you for a career in the field, providing the supervised experience needed to pursue licensure in your state after graduation.

Courses might cover topics such as counseling skills, multicultural considerations in clinical practice, principles of assessment and behavior change, and parenting interventions, as well as specialized classes in treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Most degree programs require official transcripts from your undergraduate program, letters of recommendation and/or a personal statement in order to be considered for admission. Today, many programs no longer require the GRE exam as part of the admissions process, having dropped the requirement in recent years.

A doctorate in child psychology lets you pursue a career as a child psychologist in practice with children and families, in a research setting, or as a professor at a university. Child psychologists are trained and licensed to conduct many tests that master’s-level therapists cannot, in order to diagnose disorders such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

A Ph.D. offers in-depth expertise in the area of child psychology, positioning you as a leader in the field. A dissertation will be required as part of your learning journey in a doctorate program, as will teaching assistantships, and supervised clinical hours. To obtain licensure, students must pass the EPPP.

You can pursue many career paths in various settings with a child psychology degree. Below is just a sample of some of the possibilities.

The cost of a child psychology degree varies based on many factors, including the degree, training program, institution, geographic location, and more.

Online learning can be more affordable for students looking to save time and money on travel, living accommodations, and similar expenses. No matter what university you choose, exploring financial aid and scholarship opportunities can help to offset the cost of tuition.

There are some variations in admission requirements depending on the university and program. Undergraduate programs in child psychology require:

Child psychology master’s programs require applicants to provide:

Doctoral programs in child psychology require applicants to provide:

A bachelor’s degree in child psychology typically takes four years for full-time students. Many master’s programs can be completed within twelve months to three years, depending on the program, while doctoral programs typically take around six years to complete, though this can vary based on the time it takes to complete and defend your dissertation.

The American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) is the primary accreditor in the U.S. for education and training in the field of psychology. Pursuing a degree from an APA-accredited program is important to ensure you meet your state’s educational requirements.

When deciding whether a degree is worth the time and money, consider your career goals and whether a certain degree helps you achieve them.

If you’re seeking to advance your career in child psychology, pursuing a graduate degree may be what you need. It can be helpful to compare the median salary for the job you want to the cost of the degree program to determine your return on investment in your education.

If you are passionate about helping children and adolescents with mental health concerns, a degree in child psychology might be the pathway to a rewarding career that makes a difference.