Online Social Psychology Degrees and Programs

Social psychology delves into the intricacies of human behavior within social environments. It explores how individuals, groups, and cultures interact and the various factors that impact and shape their attitudes and behaviors.
For those interested in pursuing a career in social psychology, obtaining a degree in this field is crucial. The path to becoming a social psychologist involves completing a comprehensive educational program that equips you with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience necessary to succeed in this field.
Luckily many degree programs exist for those looking to earn their social psychology degree by taking classes online or primarily online.
Choosing the Right Online Social Psychology Degree Program
Most social psychologists hold a doctorate degree in psychology, although there may be opportunities for working in lower-to mid-level positions with a master’s degree. There are also several online programs available to those who would like to earn a social psychology degree from the comfort other their home, however, a bachelor's is needed before you can pursue either of these graduate degrees.
When enrolling in a program, it is crucial to verify its accreditation from a recognized source. Two such sources are the Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and the American Psychological Association.
Bachelor's Degree
Few colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in social psychology, and the same goes for online programs. A bachelor's in psychology, any sociology area, or counseling could prepare you well for more specialized graduate studies.
Expect to spend four years completing a bachelor's program. The first two years will be spent largely on general education requirements and basic courses in your chosen major. You'll take more advanced courses in your major during your junior and senior years.
Master's Degree
A master's degree in psychology is the minimum academic degree required to become licensed for treating patients. Completing a social psychology degree online will prepare you well for the specific interpersonal work that this type of psychology involves.
Most master's programs will take two to three years. A master's in social psychology will include both general psychology courses and more focused social psychology courses. You may also take classes in statistics, counseling, or other peripheral subjects. You can find these classes listen on your school’s website in the online curriculum section.
Accredited master's degrees include a practicum, which is an internship. The length of the practicum varies by state, but most are 600 hours of clinical and supervised work. Your practicum should be completed in a social psychology setting if this is the field you want to eventually work in.
Most social psychologists go on to earn a doctorate degree, and you may find many job opportunities that aren't available to those who only have a master's. A master's can prepare you for future doctoral work, though, and you can secure lower licensed positions with this degree.
Graduate Certificate
Some online programs don't offer a master's degree in social psychology and instead only offer a general master's in psychology. Some students don't decide to work in the field of social psychology until they're already in a general psychology degree program.
If you don't specialize through your master's program, then a graduate certificate gives you an alternative way to focus on social psychology. Social psychology certificates typically take six months to one year, and they're completed after a master's in most cases. They're mostly comprised of classes that specifically teach social psychology-related subjects.
Doctorate
Most social psychologists earn a doctorate, either after completing a bachelor's or a master's program online. Many job opportunities in social psychology require a doctorate.
Schools offer both Ph.D. and Psy.D. doctorates in social psychology. The former is more research-oriented, and typically involves two years of class followed by two to four years of research. The latter is more clinically focused, and typically involves three years of class and practicum. Psy.D. students commonly write a final paper that's much shorter than Ph.D. students.
The online doctorate program will be almost entirely in social psychology. It'll qualify you for licensure if you enroll in a doctorate immediately after your undergraduate degree.
Which Social Psychology Degree is Right for You?
Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree | Graduate Certificate | PhD or PsyD | |
I am interested in gaining entry-level experience in social psychology | x | |||
I want to get started in my social psychology career before I pursue more education | x | |||
I want to pursue a non-patient-facing role in social psychology | x | x | ||
I want to pursue or switch to a niche social psychology specialty | x | x | ||
I already have an social psychology degree and want to gain specialized knowledge | x | x | ||
I want to conduct research in social psychology | x | x | ||
I want to become a licensed social psychologist and treat patients | x | |||
I want to work in academia | x |
Social Psychology Degree Program Curriculum
Online degree programs become more specialized in social psychology as you move to higher degrees. Some courses you might eventually take are Psychology of Social Behavior, Group Dynamics, Methods of Social Psychology, and Psychosis in Social Context. You can find more examples of classes on your online programs curriculum page, or by asking for an informational packet from a school you’re interested in.
- Bachelor's: ~120 credits; Intro to Psychology, Human Development, Social Influences
- Master's: ~30-60 credits; Psychology of Social Behavior, Group Dynamics, Psychology of Violence
- Graduate Certificate: ~12-20 credits; Psychology of Social Behavior, Group Dynamics, Psychology of Violence
- Doctorate: ~80-12 credits; Advanced Psychopathology, Cognitive Assessment, Statistical Methods in Psychology
Social Psychology Degree Program Clinical Requirements
Though your classes will be primarily, or fully online, most master's and Psy.D. students are expected to complete clinical practicums during their degree program. Master's programs typically require 600 hours, and Psy.D. programs usually require 1,500 hours.
Faculty members can help students network to find practicums in social psychology settings. When enrolling online, where faculty don't have connections with nearby clinical social psychologists, you might have to rely more on job postings in your area. During your practicum, you can expect to engage in social psychology within a highly supervised setting.
List of Social Psychology Degree Programs
Looking for an online or campus-based social psychology degree program near you? Browse our state-by-state school listings below.
Jump to Your State Listings
Alabama
The University of Alabama
- Social Psychology Campus
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0100
(205) 348-6010
Arizona
University of Arizona
- Ph.D. Social Psychology Campus
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
(520) 621-2211
California
Claremont Graduate University
- Applied Social Psychology Campus
Claremont, CA 91711-6160
(909) 621-8000
Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096
(818) 947-2600
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA 92093
(858) 534-2230
University of California-Santa Cruz
- Social Psychology, PhD Campus
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1011
(831) 459-0111
Connecticut
University of Connecticut
- Ph.D in Social Psychology Campus
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2000
Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
(561) 297-3000
Florida Institute of Technology-Online
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
(321) 674-8000
Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2000
Florida State University
- Social Psychology Campus
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1037
(850) 644-2525
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-1202
Georgia
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
(678) 407-5000
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, GA 30332-0530
(404) 894-2000
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3000
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA 30118-0001
(678) 839-5000
Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI 96822-2217
(808) 956-8111
Illinois
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 329-6600
University of Illinois Chicago
- Social and Personality Campus
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 996-7000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL 61820-5711
(217) 333-1000
Indiana
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
(765) 289-1241
Iowa
Iowa State University
- Social Psychology Campus
Ames, IA 50011-2103
(515) 294-4111
Kansas
Emporia State University
Emporia, KS 66801-5415
(620) 341-1200
Kansas State University
- Social/Personality Campus
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6011
Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY 40475-3102
(859) 622-1000
Massachusetts
Clark University
- Ph.D. in Social Psychology Online
Worcester, MA 01610-1477
(508) 793-7711
Harvard University
- Social Psychology Campus
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-1000
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA 01854-5104
(978) 934-4000
Michigan
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-2424
Missouri
Park University
- Social Psychology Online
Parkville, MO 64152-3795
(816) 741-2000
Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899
(314) 935-5000
Nebraska
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182-0225
(402) 554-2800
Nevada
University of Nevada-Reno
- Social Psychology Ph.D. Campus
Reno, NV 89557
(775) 784-1110
New Jersey
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ 08628-7718
(609) 771-1855
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 720-2000
New York
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
New York, NY 10016
(212) 817-7000
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(718) 270-4900
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-1754
Stony Brook University
- Social and Health Psychology Campus
Stony Brook, NY 11794-0701
(631) 632-6000
North Carolina
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-2000
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
(252) 328-6131
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
(704) 687-2000
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Social Psychology Campus
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5000
Ohio
Miami University-Oxford
- Ph.D. in Social Psychology Campus
Oxford, OH 45056
(513) 529-1809
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Social Psychology Campus
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-6446
Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
- Social Psychology Campus
Norman, OK 73019-3072
(405) 325-0311
Oregon
Portland State University
- Applied Social Psychology Campus
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 725-3000
Pennsylvania
Temple University
- Social Psychology Campus
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6096
(215) 204-7000
The Pennsylvania State University
- Social Psychology Campus
University Park, PA 16802-1503
(814) 865-4700
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- Social Program Campus
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-4141
Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Social Psychology Campus
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-1000
Texas
Texas Tech University
- Social Psychology Campus
- Social Psychology Campus
Lubbock, TX 79409-5005
(806) 742-2011
The University of Texas at Austin
- Social & Personality Campus
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 471-3434
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX 79968-0691
(915) 747-5000
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-2018
(713) 743-1000
Utah
University of Utah
- Social Psychology Program Campus
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9008
(801) 581-7200
Utah State University
- Sociobehavioral Epidemiology Campus
Logan, UT 84322-1400
(435) 797-1000
Vermont
University of Vermont
- Social Psychology Subprogram Campus
Burlington, VT 05405-0160
(802) 656-3131
Virginia
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(434) 582-2000
University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Social Psychology Campus
Charlottesville, VA 22903-2628
(434) 924-0311
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Social Psychology Campus
Richmond, VA 23284-2512
(804) 828-0100
Washington
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA 99004-2496
(509) 359-6200
Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.