Online or On Campus: Find a School to Get Your Degree in Clinical Psychology

A degree in psychology may open more career doors in a wider variety of disciplines and industries than any other degree field. You could have a career as a medical educator, family therapist, drug or alcohol abuse counselor, or a human resources advisor. You could find yourself in private practice, or in a government or industrial setting. As a clinical psychologist, you might be involved in research, teaching, consulting, providing forensic testimony, or in developing and administering programs. continued below »

Schools offering online courses:

Capella University Online offers a MS degree in Psych - Clinical Psychology program online. This program is designed to provide students with a theoretical understanding, assessment, and research skills applicable in a clinical setting. Program completion requires a three week long in-person residence and field training experience.

Walden University offers a PhD in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology program. In this program, students learn how to integrate research, theories, and evidence-based practices. Coursework includes History and Systems of Counseling and Psychology, Lifespan Development, Biopsychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories, and more.

Fielding Graduate University offers a PhD in Clinical Psychology program. This program entails psychological assessment labs, clinical and research sessions, and national sessions. Students may choose either the generalist Ph.D degree or one of four electives - health psychology, prevention and control of violence, neuropsychology, or parent-infant mental health.

If you are unable to leave work or home, but still want to pursue a career in clinical psychology, the Online method will be best for you. Two great schools with programs that you can complete entirely online are Capella University Online and Walden University. Both of these highly accredited universities have both Masters' and Doctoral degrees that you can complete from the comfort of your own home and computer. Furthermore, Online study is usually less expensive than a traditional college environment and is often more flexible as to length of a "semester" of study or the start time of any given course.

Most psychology majors who want to make the most of their degrees go on for at least a master's degree. For the ultimate accomplishment, however, you can pursue a doctoral degree, either the PhD, which focuses on research, or the PsyD, which focuses on practice.

Clinical psychologists are regarded as experts in providing psychotherapy. While the clinical psychologist will be active in research, counseling, treatment, or program development, the term should not be confused with "psychiatry," which has similar goals but is different in that psychiatrists are also medical practitioners who can prescribe medicine. Nevertheless, clinical psychologists can provide a wide range of services and may be working with individuals, couples, or therapy groups in a variety of settings.

Clinical psychologists usually undergo 4 to 6 hours of graduate training, and in most countries are required to be licensed in order to practice their profession. The pay however, is well worth the time spent as the average pay for a clinical psychologist in 2004 was $75,000. Psychotherapists and school psychologists made slightly more while the average pay for a psychiatrist was $146,000. Short of getting the medical practitioner's license as well, however, the doctoral degree in clinical psychology will put you about as close to the top as you can get.

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