Bachelor's degree-holders and people with an education background can earn a master's in educational psychology online. The degree trains learners for jobs like school counselor, human resources specialist, and educational program researcher. Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree. Some programs include a GPA cutoff.
Core classes may include program evaluation, lifespan development, and learning theories in psychology. Master's degree-seekers often complete a research project or thesis.
This page lists the top master's in educational psychology online programs. Read on to learn about classes, costs, and how to become an educational psychologist.
Questions About Educational Psychology Degrees Online
Are educational psychologists in demand?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for education, training, and library professionals to grow 10% from 2020-2030. This figure matches the median projection for all U.S. careers.
What degree do I need to become an educational psychologist?
Many entry-level careers require at least a master's degree. Licensed psychologists need a doctorate to practice. Students pursuing a master's in educational psychology online can choose a professional path with a career advisor.
What can you do with a master's in educational psychology?
Degree-holders can work inside and outside of education. Popular careers include postsecondary teacher, crisis intervention counselor, and assessment coordinator.
Featured Online Psychology Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
Why Get a Degree in Educational Psychology?
Educational psychologists contribute to research that helps schools create better learning environments. Degree-holders can also explore careers in different fields or use the degree to apply to a doctoral program.
Learners pursuing an online degree in educational psychology benefit from flexibility. Many online programs run asynchronously. Students can view lectures and complete assignments when convenient. They save time and money by avoiding a commute to campus.
How Much Does an Educational Psychology Degree Cost?
A master's degree costs an average of $66,340, according to EducationData.org. However, the cost varies by school and learners' residency status. Public in-state schools usually offer the most affordable master's in educational psychology degrees. Some schools allow online enrollees to pay in-state tuition rates, regardless of residency.
Full-time enrollees can earn a master's in educational psychology online in two years. They can make their degree more affordable by exploring tuition-reimbursement programs. Institutional aid and federal grants and loans can also save students money.
Additional Online Student Fees
Online learners should also budget for materials and books. Students may need to buy a new laptop or upgrade their internet. Some schools charge graduation and technology fees.
After graduating with a degree in educational psychology, learners should budget for license and certification fees. These fees cover exam and application processing. Candidates may also need to buy study materials for exams.
How Much Do Educational Psychology Graduates Make?
Salary depends on professionals' title, employer, and geographic location. For example, school counselors earn a median annual salary of $58,120, according to the BLS. This salary exceeds the national median by about $16,000. Workers make the most at K-12 schools. Counselors in California, New Jersey, and Virginia earn more than their peers in other states.
A master's degree can also prepare learners for a doctoral program. Psychologists with a doctorate earn a median annual salary of $82,180. A doctorate qualifies professionals to pursue a tenure-track position at a college. Postsecondary teachers make a median annual salary of $80,560.
Courses in Educational Psychology
Educational psychology programs often include classes in educational psychology foundations. Learners study tests, measures, and social and cultural foundations. Students may also complete a practicum or instruct undergraduate courses.
See below for three core classes in a master's in educational psychology program. Keep in mind that classes and academic expectations differ by school. Students can check their prospective schools' websites or class catalogs to select the best program. Admissions counselors can also provide more information.
Theories of Learning and Cognition
This course teaches how motivation, learning environments, and classroom management affect children's development. Enrollees analyze how new technologies help or hinder learning. Degree-seekers also learn how to identify children with a learning disability.Principles of Learner Motivation
Many internal and external factors affect learner motivation. Students research the strategies that effective teachers use to maintain motivation in the classroom. Coursework covers interventions teachers can apply when learners lack motivation. These strategies can help educators maintain positive classroom environments.Human Development
Learners analyze how biological processes affect social, cognitive, and linguistic development. Degree-seekers also research how social and cultural influences impact learners from birth to adulthood. Graduates apply these principles in the classroom, monitoring children and young adults' growth. Doing so helps them anticipate predicted changes and identify learners falling behind.
Featured Online Orgaanizational Psychology Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
How to Become an Educational Psychologist
Educational psychologists need more than a master's degree to practice. A doctorate, internship, and residency prepare learners for the profession. Earning a doctorate takes some degree-seekers up to eight years. Top employers include elementary and secondary schools, health practitioners' offices, and family services agencies.
Educational psychologists identify developmental and education disorders in children and young adults. They conduct interviews and give tests. These professionals use their results to develop performance plans. Educational psychologists chart students' progress over time. They also collaborate with educators, administrators, and families.
Licensure for Educational Psychology
Learners need a Ph.D., a doctor of psychology, or an educational specialist degree, depending on their career path. These doctoral programs provide the advanced coursework and internship experience states require for licensure. Other licensure steps vary by state. Licensure candidates in New York must complete an approved doctoral program with child abuse identification and reporting coursework.
New York's licensure requirements include two years of supervised work experience. Candidates must work at least 1,750 clock hours for both years. Candidates may substitute this requirement with teaching experience or doctoral-level field experience. Aspiring psychologists must also pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology exam.
New York psychologists can maintain their license by completing 36 hours of professional development (PD) over three years. The New York Office of the Professions maintains a list of approved PD providers.
Top Master's in Educational Psychology Online
Featured Online Psychology Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
