By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Irene Abrego Nicolet, PhD, NCSP, LSSP, Vice President and Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Reading Time: 10 minutes
A psychology degree offers pathways beyond clinical therapy. A psychology degree can prepare you to pursue roles in education, research, human services and organizational settings, alongside clinical paths. The degree level you choose shapes which of these paths you’re ready for.
A bachelor’s degree builds a foundation for roles in human resources, education and community services. A master’s adds the hands-on training counseling roles require. A doctoral degree opens the door to independent practice, specialized fields and licensure.
All of these pathways can be earned mostly online. Explore what psychology careers you can pursue and which online degree level gets you there.
A background in psychology or counseling can lead to a wide range of careers, from direct client care to leadership, research and education. The path depends heavily on degree level:
Each of these roles has distinct licensing, certification and supervised experience requirements, which vary by state and by profession. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with these requirements.
In the next sections, you will explore types of psychology degrees at different levels. However, before you enroll in a specific psychology program, it’s important to understand the regulatory and licensing requirements in your state so you can pursue the right path.
Bachelor’s degrees in psychology build the foundation you need to understand human behavior, research methods and ethical practices. It is a critical first step toward the graduate education required for licensure.
There are two types of psychology bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS). A BA typically combines psychology coursework with broader liberal arts studies, like a foreign language or humanities electives, while a BS leans further into research methods, statistics and the quantitative side of the field.
Such a distinction is worth checking before you apply, since it shapes what your coursework actually looks like.
A BS in Psychology offers a broad introduction to psychological theory, research and real-world application, covering core topics like cognitive and social psychology, research methods and interpersonal skills. At Capella, for example, specializations include:
If you want to explore career pathways in counseling psychology and therapy, a pre-counseling specialization within a psychology bachelor’s program is worth a look.
Programs like this cover foundational psychology coursework along with introductory counseling techniques, and often include graduate-level courses that can count toward a future master’s in counseling or therapy.
Your career outlook with a bachelor’s psychology degree
With a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue roles such as:
Keep in mind that these roles may have admission requirements that vary by state. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with these requirements.
Master’s degrees provide specialized training and applied skills for working in clinical settings. A graduate degree is the minimum requirement to qualify for licensure, and it’s also the standard pathway into doctoral study for those pursuing licensed psychologist status.
MS in Psychology
A Master of Science (MS) in Psychology focuses on research literacy and application, turning psychological concepts into strategies for helping people, organizations and systems. Programs may offer various specializations. For instance, Capella offers options such as:
MS in Clinical Psychology
An MS in Clinical Psychology focuses on studying mental illness, assessment methods, research skills and applied clinical concepts. Programs often allow you to focus on specific areas. At Capella, for example, specializations include:
Graduates of the clinical counseling specialization may, with additional supervised experience and coursework, be positioned to pursue some licensed mental health roles, depending on state requirements.
MS in Applied Behavior Analysis
An MS in Applied Behavior Analysis teaches you to design and evaluate behavior-change interventions across different settings, and may position you to pursue licensure as a practicing behavior analyst.
MS in School Psychology
An MS in School Psychology prepares you to assess students and design interventions with families and educators to help them reach their academic goals. It combines online coursework with in-person and synchronous training through residencies. Remember that the degree alone doesn’t make you eligible for certification or licensure, but an EdS or specialty certificate program coupled with a master’s degree would.
Doctoral degrees are the highest level of psychology education, emphasizing advanced academic preparation, research and professional practice.
Doctoral psychological degree requirements vary widely by specialty and state: for example, independent licensure as a clinical or counseling psychologist requires a doctorate in most states, per the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), so check the exact requirements where you plan to practice.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology focuses on the latest research in the field and how to apply it in real-world settings, with specializations in general psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology and industrial/organizational psychology.
A related PhD in Behavior Analysis combines a dissertation with professionally aligned coursework in the field. It can position you to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) designation and pursue leadership roles.
What can you do with a doctoral degree in psychology?
With a doctorate, you can explore roles such as:
Licensing, certification, and supervised-experience requirements differ by state and profession. Understanding and meeting those requirements is your responsibility.
If you’re interested in a career in mental health but aren’t set on the psychology path, you may want to consider a master’s program in counseling or therapy. Note that counseling and therapy degrees are distinct professional disciplines separate from psychology degrees, with their own specific licensing paths, professional standards and scope of practice.
These online master’s programs in counseling and therapy offer extensive theoretical and practical training for effective evidence-based counseling work. You can choose from three programs:
Choosing a psychology or counseling degree is easier to picture in practice. Many graduates move directly into the field soon after graduation, applying coursework and research methods to real cases, though licensure timelines still vary by state and specialization.
For example, Dr. Carlotta R. Prince, PhD, completed her online MS in School Counseling at Capella, then earned a PhD in Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services there as well. She was hired as a school counselor the same month she graduated with her master’s. While the PhD in Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services specialization is no longer offered at Capella, a similar specialization is offered through our PhD in Educational Psychology program.
“The residencies and my cohort shaped me into the counselor I am today. We shared resources, lifted each other up and grew together,” said Dr. Prince.
She has since built a private consulting practice supporting students on their educational journeys.
Picking the right psychology degree comes down to seven key decisions: your target role, degree level, accreditation, licensure requirements, learning format (online, residencies versus synchronous coursework), specialization and cost.
A psychology degree opens a range of doors: a bachelor’s builds a foundation for human services, education and organizational roles; a master’s develops specialized skills in behavioral and mental health. A doctorate positions you for licensed independent practice, research and academic leadership.
At every level, with Capella’s online psychology degrees, you can access skill-based learning with expert faculty and career development resources. Capella also offers online counseling programs. You can shape your education around the career path you want. Note that counseling programs are distinct professional degree paths separate from psychology programs.
Online degree programs let you choose between Capella’s self-paced FlexPath format (available in select programs) or the more structured GuidedPath format. With that, you can keep building real-world skills and gain a degree from an accredited institution without putting your life on hold.
A psychology degree focuses on the study of human behavior, cognition and mental processes. Coursework typically covers research methods, developmental psychology and ethics, building a foundation for roles in counseling, human services, research or graduate study, depending on degree level. Bachelor’s programs cover foundational theory, while master’s and doctoral programs add clinical training and research depth.
Psychology may lead to roles in behavioral health, education, research, human services and business. Common options include therapist, behavior analyst, school psychologist, case manager and researcher. Bachelor’s graduates often start in human services or organizational roles, while licensed clinical positions typically require a master’s or doctoral degree, plus supervised experience and state licensure. Capella cannot guarantee any role and we encourage you to research your options.
An associate degree in psychology can build foundational knowledge for roles in human services, such as case management or community support work, or serve as a stepping stone toward a bachelor’s degree. Whether it’s worth pursuing depends on your career goals: if you’re aiming for a clinical role, you’ll eventually need a graduate degree regardless of where you start.
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