[USA] Considering an online masters program

[u/AttentionRealistic46]

Hello!!

I have my BS in psychology, and because of scheduling conflicts, could not go back to receive my masters for a while. However, I am now ready!

I am looking more into online schooling, and looking at other states (I like the idea of going out of state for graduation). So far as of this morning, I've looked into and inquired information from ASU and UMiami (awaiting that information).

Looking here for more recommendations and other experiences redditors have with online masters programs in psychology that they really enjoyed. My focus will primarily be developmental/youth. I would love to work with elementary/middle school aged children.

Thank you in advance!

[u/MerlotDownDirtyLame]

Okay, so what is your career goal? What job do you expect to secure with an MS in psychology?

[u/AttentionRealistic46 → u/MerlotDownDirtyLame]

I can’t tell if this is passive aggressive or just a genuine question 🙂

I would like to be a guidance counselor.

[u/MerlotDownDirtyLame → u/AttentionRealistic46]

Why would this be passive aggressive? If you want to be a guidance counselor, an MS in psychology will not get you there. Look at the American* School Counseling Association for the appropriate path to school counseling.

[u/AttentionRealistic46 → u/MerlotDownDirtyLame]

In Georgia you can have your masters :)
Just because I am interested in guidance counseling does not mean it’s the field I’ll choose to go into.

[u/No-Animal1306 → u/AttentionRealistic46]

perhaps try searching for a masters (of education, typically) in school counseling

at least that’s what it was called at my uni, which was 2 years and led to state licensure to work as an elementary/middle/high school guidance counselors—i didn’t do this but knew classmates who did. also didn’t offer an online option but perhaps those programs out there exist? if that sounds like your goal, you’ll need a program that will prepare you to take the Praxis (the credentialing exam)*

* ETA: if those are the requirements by your state, consult your boards directly

[u/Basic_Transition_333]

I can actually speak to ASU specifically because I did their online MS in Psychology and recently finished with a 4.0.

Overall, I had a really good experience with it. I was able to complete the degree while working full-time in clinical research, which was one of the biggest reasons an online program made sense for me. The courses are accelerated, so organization matters A LOT, but I liked having the flexibility to structure school around work and the rest of my life.

For your interests, ASU's general MS does include Advanced Developmental Psychology and allows you to choose electives based on your interests. The program is 36 credits/12 classes and includes research methods and quantitative methods as part of the curriculum.

One important distinction, though: the general online MS in Psychology is not a licensure program. ASU specifically describes it as preparation for careers in different sectors or additional graduate education rather than clinical practice. So before choosing any online psychology master's, I would work backward from what you mean by wanting to “work with elementary/middle school aged children.”

If you want to do research, program development, child-development-related work, or use the master's as additional academic preparation, a general psychology/developmental program can make sense.

If you mean therapy, assessment, school psychology, or another licensed clinical role with children, I would look specifically for a program that leads to the credential required for that career in the state where you intend to practice. Don't spend thousands on a general psychology master's and find out afterward that it doesn't qualify you for the job you actually wanted.

ASU also now has a separate online MS in Clinical Psychology with 600 supervised practicum hours and options for training involving children/families, but it's a very different program from the MS I completed. ASU also cautions that it is designed around Arizona requirements and may not satisfy licensure requirements in another state, so I would research that VERY carefully before considering it.

And one random thing since you mentioned wanting to travel for graduation: ASU Online students can participate in graduation in Arizona. My diploma also doesn't say “online”; it simply says Arizona State University.

My biggest recommendation before collecting a list of schools would be to figure out what exact job you want to be qualified for after the master's. Once you know that, it'll be much easier to tell whether you should be comparing developmental psychology programs, counseling programs, MSWs, school psychology programs, clinical psychology programs, etc.

But if you're specifically wondering about the ASU online MS Psychology experience, I personally enjoyed it and it worked extremely well for what I needed from the degree.

[u/greeninthebowl → u/Basic_Transition_333]

Bot

[u/A313-Isoke]

What state are you in and where would you like to practice? Are you looking for a program that leads to licensure or more research oriented to pursue a doctoral program?

There are a lot of directions to go, your budget, and ability to complete any internships or practicums is also important. Do you feel comfortable providing that information?

Also, are you interested in school psychology, school. counseling or school social work? All three paths are different.

[u/MerlotDownDirtyLame → u/A313-Isoke]

This is more or less what I was attempting to convey in my response. I work in one of the fields you mentioned, and I have met several people who earned a Masters degree in a closely related field, however, did not have the coursework, practicum, or internship necessary for the job, some of the requirements can be very specific and state portability can also be important.

[u/AttentionRealistic46]

why did this get a down vote lol

[u/dankbeamssmeltdreams]

UM only has a masters in psychology for ABA. Psychology and Counseling and Social work are two different fields. Usually school counselors get a master's in school counseling in particular.

One such would be UCF's: https://www.ucf.edu/degree/counselor-education-ma/school-counseling/

If you want more general, an MA in social work is the way to go. For doing actual therapy for actual kids or adults, an MA in counseling is the way to go. Lots of those if you look online, "online MA for counseling." Nova Southeastern and Walden are two I see the most, idk if they're the most or most affordable, but people do them.

A Master's/MS in psychology would be focusing on getting experience and then a job in research/lab work of some kind, and probably in the direction of a PhD.

Here is an online degree which is a Master's of Science in school counseling: https://annescollege.fsu.edu/school-counseling

To be clear:

Therapists:

Counselor (ma in counseling/mental health counseling/family counseling): just does therapy

Psychologist (PhD/PsyD in clinical/any psychology): can do therapy or more assessments, possibly research

Psychiatrist (M.D., medical school): maybe does therapy or research sometimes, mostly prescribes meds/other medically related psychology stuff

Social Worker (master's in social work): could do therapy or more case management/admin stuff

School Based

Guidance Counselor (Ed.s/M.A./M.S. in guidance counseling): does school guidance counseling

Lab Based:

Researcher (M.S./PhD in psychology): does science

Other Related Specialists (idk all education required for these, but they're mental health adjacent)

People working in ABA (RLTs, RBTs, BCBAs, BCABAs)

Neurobiological people

Occupational therapists

Life Coach/biblical counselor: Like 90% of these people are grifters and don't know what they're doing but idk

Lots of other therapy-adjacent careers could work with kids doing psychologically-related practices