Easiest Psychology Graduate Programs To Get Into [Updated for 2024]

Are you ready to get the education required to be a counselor or psychologist but need help figuring out where to start? You are not alone!

With so many high-quality graduate psychology programs to choose from, it can be overwhelming to determine which program is right for you. But don’t worry. This guide will help you get started!

Below is a list of more than a dozen graduate psychology programs that might be just the ticket for completing your education and beginning your career. These graduate programs are also online, so you can complete your degree from the comfort of your home.

Easy Psychology Graduate Programs To Get Into (2024)

  • Grand Canyon University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • Capella University
  • Arizona State University
  • Eastern Kentucky University
  • Keiser University
  • New Jersey City University
  • University of Kentucky – Lexington
  • Old Dominion University

Grand Canyon University

Online MEd in School Counseling

Grand Canyon University’s online MEd in School Counseling is a licensure-track program, meaning, upon completion, you may qualify for a state license as a school counselor. This is a 60-credit program with eight-week courses. Most students finish the program in three years.

This is a regionally-accredited program with a curriculum that’s approved by the Arizona State Board of Education. The curriculum also aligns with the American School Counseling Association’s national model. In other words, by the time you graduate, you will have all the tools you need to be an impactful, supportive member of an educational team.

The curriculum explores many areas of school counseling, including:

  • Theories and Models of Counseling
  • Development Through Childhood and Adolescence
  • Group Counseling
  • Professional Counseling, Ethical, and Legal Considerations
  • Counseling the Culturally Diverse

Additionally, you are required to complete three school counseling internships, each of which is three credits. These internships occur in an approved school where you work directly with students under the supervision of an experienced school counselor.

Once you apply, Grand Canyon University will evaluate your transcripts within 24 hours and provide a decision on your application.

Online MS – Addiction Counseling

If you are passionate about helping people with an addiction, you can prepare for a career as an addiction counselor by enrolling in Grand Canyon University’s online Master of Science in Addiction Counseling.

This 36-credit program usually requires about two years to complete. Each course is eight weeks long, which means you study fewer topics at a time, but in an accelerated format. You can transfer up to 12 credits to satisfy the graduation requirements to reduce your timeline to graduation even further.

To develop the required expertise as an addiction counselor, you will take courses such as:

  • Psychopharmacology and Addictions
  • Co-Occurring Disorders
  • Counseling Chemical Dependency Adolescents
  • Diagnostics, Assessment, and Treatment

In addition to these and other course requirements, you must also participate in a 150-hour pre-practicum field experience. This experience includes 50 direct contact hours working with clients. Furthermore, the internship requires another 150 hours of counseling-related activities (including 50 hours of direct contact time with clients).

Online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Childhood and Adolescence Disorders

Childhood and adolescence can be difficult for any child, but that’s especially true if they have a mental health disorder. You can help kids work through their problems and develop ways to function in everyday life by learning crucial counseling skills in the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Grand Canyon University.

This program specializes in working with children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and psychological disorders. Not only will you learn about the causes of childhood disorders, but you will also gain the skills needed to identify them, diagnose them, and treat them. You will do so in courses like:

  • Theories and Models of Counseling
  • Assessment of Mental and Emotional Health Status
  • Abuse, Crisis, and Trauma Counseling
  • Assessment, Tests, and Measurements
  • Childhood and Adolescent Trauma

Additional coursework is done in psychopathology, developmental disabilities, and career counseling. With a well-rounded curriculum and opportunities for supervised fieldwork, you will exit this program with a complete toolkit for counseling children and adolescents for a myriad of issues.

Once you apply, Grand Canyon University will evaluate your transcripts within 24 hours and provide a decision on your application.

Online Master of Science in Psychology – Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is an exciting field that blends the study of human behavior and the application of psychological principles in criminal justice settings. Grand Canyon University offers a fully online MS in Forensic Psychology that will prepare you well for a future career in this field.

This 36-credit program includes many different courses in the field of forensic psychology. Each course is in an eight-week accelerated format, so you take fewer courses at once but complete each one faster. Core courses include:

  • Psychology and the Legal System
  • Psychopathology of Crime
  • Social and Cultural Psychology

In addition, you will take classes in criminal behavior, psychological research, and graduate statistics. You must also complete a capstone project in which you conduct original research on a topic of your choice.

Once you apply, Grand Canyon University will evaluate your transcripts within 24 hours and provide a decision on your application.

Southern New Hampshire University

Online MS in Psychology – Child & Adolescent Development

The Child and Adolescent Development concentration from Southern New Hampshire University culminates with a Master of Science in Psychology. With just 36 credits needed to graduate and the ability to transfer up to 12 credits, you can finish this program in two years or less.

This multi-modal online program explores various topics in child and adolescent development. You will take courses like Social Psychology, Research Methods, and Theories of Personality. You must also complete coursework in ethics to ensure you understand and implement standards of ethical professional practice.

As a graduate of this program, you can work in any number of settings, including:

  • Public or private schools
  • State or federal agencies, like the Department of Family Services
  • Non-profit mental health clinics
  • Child advocacy or parenting programs

SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). And while this program prepares you for many different careers, it is not a licensure track.

Online MS in Psychology – Forensic Psychology

Southern New Hampshire University’s online Master of Science in Forensic Psychology prepares you for an exciting career working as a psychologist in the criminal justice system. It’s a 36-credit program that includes graduate coursework and experiential learning opportunities like a capstone project and an internship.

Specifically, you will take courses that hone in on the application of psychology in court systems, law enforcement, and related areas. Some of the classes you might take include:

  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Processes
  • Theories of Personality
  • Courts and Judicial Process

This program offers excellent flexibility with easy online access to course materials 24/7. There are no set class meeting times, so you can learn at your own pace and on a schedule that works for you.

You must submit transcripts from your undergraduate program. If your bachelor’s degree wasn’t in psychology, you may need to complete up to three prerequisite courses before being officially admitted to this master’s program.

Online MS in Psychology – General Psychology

You will have many occupations to pursue with a graduate degree in general psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

This program requires you to complete 36 credits, which takes most students about two years. During that time, you will explore a broad range of psychology-related topics, from psychological statistics to developmental psychology to cognitive psychology.

In fact, the curriculum for the general psychology master’s degree includes many other pursuits. These include:

  • Social Psychology
  • Theories of Personality
  • Measurement and Assessment
  • Ethical Practice in Psychology

Moreover, this general psychology degree requires you to complete 12 elective credits of your choice. With courses in forensic psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and leadership, you can fine-tune your studies to meet your specific career goals.

To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree, though it doesn’t have to be in psychology. Applying is free and doesn’t require you to take the GRE.

Capella University

Online MS – Industrial Organizational Psychology

Capella University’s 53-credit Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology prepares you to apply psychological principles in the workplace. You will explore topics related to improving worker safety, facilitating better communication between workers, and advocating for the mental health needs of workers.

The curriculum for this program is much more diverse than that, though. You will take a wide range of classes that include:

  • Principles of Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology Practices in Human Resource Management
  • Consultation Psychology
  • Psychology of Leadership

Capella allows you to interact with the curriculum in one of two ways. First, you can choose FlexPath, which allows you to learn at your own pace while taking one or two courses at a time. Or second, you can choose GuidedPath, which is a traditional quarter-based curriculum with much more guidance from professors and interaction with your peers.

To apply to this program, you must have a bachelor’s degree and submit official transcripts that show a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher.

Online MS – School Counseling

The Master of Science in School Counseling from Capella University takes a traditional program and puts it in an entirely online environment. You will complete the same courses as on-campus students but have more freedom regarding where you work on your studies.

You will take one to three courses per quarter, each of which lasts about 10 weeks. This is a guided program, so you will have set meeting times and specific deadlines to follow. Likewise, you will benefit from consistent interaction with your professors and classmates.

Some of the core courses you will take include:

  • Introduction to School Counseling
  • Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • Counseling for College and Career Readiness
  • School Counseling Program Development and Evaluation
  • Theories of Counseling with Children and Adolescents

In addition to these core courses, you must also take seven specialization courses to round out your learning.

To apply, you must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Upon graduating from Capella University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, you will be ready to pursue licensure and begin a career as a professional counselor.

This CACREP-accredited program includes 10 core courses, seven specialization courses, and a practicum experience. You will also participate in two internships and two residencies to round out your education and training as a clinical mental health counselor. Specifically, this degree follows a GuidedPath learning format, which is highly structured and ensures the highest level of interaction with your peers and professors.

Along the way, you can work with enrollment counselors and academic advisors who will assist you in devising a plan for completing your studies and graduating on time.

With your education complete, you will have the skills necessary for a range of jobs, including:

  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Behavioral Health Therapist
  • Professional Clinical Counselor
  • Counseling Faculty

The GRE is not a requirement to apply. However, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a 2.7 GPA or higher for your undergraduate studies. Additionally, you must submit the following documentation:

  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
  • A resume or curriculum vitae
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A 3-6 page essay
  • A valid photo ID

Online MS in Marriage and Family Therapy

At Capella University, you can train to be a therapist in the school’s MS in Marriage and Family Therapy. This 72-credit program includes two residencies and multiple internships that extend your online learning to the real world. Each residency is a five-day intensive program on campus, so this is not a 100 percent online program.

Some of the courses you’ll take include:

  • Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavior Disorders
  • Impact of Addiction and Addictive Behavior on Family Systems
  • Systemic Family Therapy Theory and Practice

Capella University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Moreover, this program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. As such, completing this degree prepares you for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

This program requires you to have a bachelor’s degree to apply. You must have a 2.7 GPA or higher for your undergraduate studies. Other requirements for admission include the following:

  • A resume or curriculum vitae
  • A 3-6 page essay
  • A valid photo ID

Arizona State University

Online MS in Psychology – Addiction Psychology

The MS in Addiction Psychology from Arizona State University is a 45-credit licensure-track program that has multiple start dates throughout the year to give you maximum flexibility for starting your studies.

What’s more, your courses are just 7.5 weeks long, so you work through course material very quickly. In most cases, students need about two years to complete this degree, but with transfer credits, your timeline for graduation might be even shorter.

Some of the required courses you will take include:

  • Comorbidity in Substance-Use Related Problems
  • Group Therapy for Substance Use Related Problems
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Ethics

Once your training is complete, you can pursue employment in many different fields. Graduates of this program have gone on to become Addictions Counselors, Clinicians, Therapists, and Clinical Directors, to name a few.

ASU has specific admissions requirements for graduate students that include having a bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 undergraduate credits. You may also need to submit the following:

  • GRE scores
  • A resume, references, and a personal statement
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Answers to short-answer questions

Online MS in Psychology – Forensic Psychology

The MS in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University is an online 33-credit program that you can complete in as little as 1.5 years. Each of the 11 courses needed to graduate is 7.5 weeks long, and there are multiple start dates throughout the year to help you meet your educational needs without hampering your schedule.

As a student in this program, you will learn how psychology and criminal justice studies intertwine. More specifically, you will take courses like:

  • Advanced Psychology of Criminal Investigation
  • Advanced Correctional Psychology
  • Seminar in Courts and Sentencing
  • Psychopathology

Though this program might not lead to licensure, it’s a good foundation for continuing your education in a forensic psychology doctoral program in the future.

To apply, you must first earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, social science, criminal justice, or a related field. You must also have a 3.0 GPA or higher in your final 60 credits of undergraduate studies.

Additionally, you should submit the following with your application:

  • Official transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • A personal statement

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