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 DegreeMaster’s DegreeGraduate CertificatePhD or PsyD
I am interested in gaining entry-level experience in social psychologyx
I want to get started in my social psychology career before I pursue more educationx
I want to pursue a non-patient-facing role in social psychologyxx
I want to pursue or switch to a niche social psychology specialtyxx
I already have an social psychology degree and want to gain specialized knowledgexx
I want to conduct research in social psychologyxx
I want to become a licensed social psychologist and treat patientsx
I want to work in academiax

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

PhD Programs
739 University Blvd
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0100
(205) 348-6010

Arizona

PhD Programs
1401 E University
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
(520) 621-2211

California

PhD Programs
150 E Tenth St
Claremont, CA 91711-6160
(909) 621-8000

5800 Fulton Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096
(818) 947-2600

9500 Gilman Dr
La Jolla, CA 92093
(858) 534-2230

PhD Programs
1156 High St
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1011
(831) 459-0111

Connecticut

PhD Programs
352 Mansfield Road
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2000

Florida

777 Glades Rd, Administration Bldg., Room 339
Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
(561) 297-3000

150 West University Blvd
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
(321) 674-8000

11200 S. W. 8 Street
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2000

PhD Programs
222 S. Copeland Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1037
(850) 644-2525

341 Tigert Hall 300 SW 13th St
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-1202

Georgia

1000 University Center Lane
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
(678) 407-5000

225 North Ave
Atlanta, GA 30332-0530
(404) 894-2000

Administration Building
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3000

1601 Maple St
Carrollton, GA 30118-0001
(678) 839-5000

Hawaii

2500 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822-2217
(808) 956-8111

Illinois

PhD Programs
601 S Morgan
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 996-7000

Bachelor's Programs
601 E John Street
Champaign, IL 61820-5711
(217) 333-1000

Indiana

Iowa

PhD Programs
1750 Beardshear Hall
Ames, IA 50011-2103
(515) 294-4111

Kansas

1 Kellogg Circle
Emporia, KS 66801-5415
(620) 341-1200

PhD Programs
919 Mid-Campus Drive, Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6011

Kentucky

521 Lancaster Ave
Richmond, KY 40475-3102
(859) 622-1000

Massachusetts

PhD Programs
950 Main St
Worcester, MA 01610-1477
(508) 793-7711

PhD Programs
Massachusetts Hall
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-1000

1 University Ave
Lowell, MA 01854-5104
(978) 934-4000

Michigan

42 W. Warren Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-2424

Missouri

Bachelor's Programs
8700 NW River Park Dr
Parkville, MO 64152-3795
(816) 741-2000

Master's Programs
One Brookings Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899
(314) 935-5000

Nebraska

Master's Programs
6001 Dodge St
Omaha, NE 68182-0225
(402) 554-2800

Nevada

PhD Programs
North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557
(775) 784-1110

New Jersey

2000 Pennington Road
Ewing, NJ 08628-7718
(609) 771-1855

300 Pompton Rd
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 720-2000

New York

365 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10016
(212) 817-7000

1650 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(718) 270-4900

310 Administration Building
Stony Brook, NY 11794-0701
(631) 632-6000

North Carolina

Bachelor's Programs
287 Rivers St
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-2000

East 5th Street
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
(252) 328-6131

9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
(704) 687-2000

PhD Programs
1400 Spring Garden St
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5000

Ohio

PhD Programs
501 East High St
Oxford, OH 45056
(513) 529-1809

PhD Programs
190 N. Oval Mall
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-6446

Oklahoma

PhD Programs
660 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK 73019-3072
(405) 325-0311

Oregon

PhD Programs
724 SW Harrison
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 725-3000

Pennsylvania

PhD Programs
1801 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6096
(215) 204-7000

PhD Programs
201 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1503
(814) 865-4700

PhD Programs
4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-4141

Tennessee

PhD Programs
527 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-1000

Texas

Master's ProgramsPhD Programs
Broadway and University Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79409-5005
(806) 742-2011

PhD Programs
110 Inner Campus Drive
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 471-3434

500 W. University Ave
El Paso, TX 79968-0691
(915) 747-5000

212 E. Cullen Building
Houston, TX 77204-2018
(713) 743-1000

Utah

PhD Programs
201 Presidents Circle, ROOM 201
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9008
(801) 581-7200

PhD Programs
Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-1400
(435) 797-1000

Vermont

PhD Programs
85 S Prospect St
Burlington, VT 05405-0160
(802) 656-3131

Virginia

1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(434) 582-2000

PhD Programs
1827 University Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22903-2628
(434) 924-0311

PhD Programs
910 W Franklin St
Richmond, VA 23284-2512
(804) 828-0100

Washington

526 5th Street
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.

Share This:
LinkedIn
Reddit