An Associate in Psychology is the first step toward achieving your professional and academic career goals in one of the most crucial professions of the modern world. Individuals and industries across the entire globe are in constant need of well-educated and compassionate individuals who understand the inner-workings of the human mind and behaviors. These ten online schools provide students with an entry-level education upon which they can build additional work and educational experience to achieve the myriad of goals available in Psychology.
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VALUABLE INFORMATION: Psychology Degree and Career Guide and Best Concentrations in Psychology
Best Online Schools for Associates in Psychology
METHODOLOGY: The writers at OnlineSchoolsCenter follow strict criteria when selecting online schools for their rankings. The colleges and universities that made it on the list of the best online Associate in Psychology lists were required to have the following:
- Fully online accessibility for any distance education student in the United States,
- An Associate’s degree in Psychology or a Psychology-related field, such as Family Development or Social Work,
- A broad curriculum that introduces students to various aspects of Psychology,
- Online and academic resources available,
- Notability among academic resources,
- And an education that prepares students to enter careers or bachelor’s degrees.
For more information, please see our Methodology Page.
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UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS
ONLINE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Program Standouts:
In this online Associate in Psychology degree, students gain an understanding of the major concepts, themes, trends, and principles at play in Psychology. The coursework includes basic research methods, as well as data analysis, research design, and interpretation. The curriculum will expand the mind of every online student and provide them with avenues to become clinical psychologists, counselors, forensic psychologists, and more. Graduates are prepared to start their professional careers in psychology in entry-level positions in clinics, social work facilities, rehabilitation centers, and more, and to continue their education into bachelor’s and, eventually, masters and doctorate degrees.
Campus Location: Williamsburg, KY
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- Psychology and Human Development
- Psychology of Personality
- Social Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 74.4%
Retention Rate: 63%
Graduation Rate: 60.5%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS’ ONLINE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
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SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE
ONLINE AA DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Program Standouts:
The South Texas College online Associate in Psychology is a transfer program for students intending on continuing their education in a four-year degree. The curriculum is broad and includes a wide variety of coursework that introduces students to the many different areas of psychology available to them as a student and a professional. Some of these areas may include health and human services, public relations, counseling, or even advertising. South Texas College provides low-cost online degrees that are great for working adults, military personnel and veterans, and young students. The flexible nature of the coursework and the extensive resources allow students to gain a solid stance in their academic careers.
Campus Location: McAllen, TX
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- General Psychology
- Psychology of Adjustment
- Social Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 26.9%
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE ONLINE AA DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
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REGENT UNIVERSITY
ONLINE PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
Program Standouts:
The Regent University online Associate of Arts in Psychology has a Christian worldview that is present in the curriculum and the classroom while reinforcing concepts in psychology and behavioral sciences. The coursework covers key topics of the field, and students work with working professional clinicians, professors, and researchers. Theories in psychology lay the groundwork for future careers and personal and spiritual development. Some of the career opportunities available to graduates of the Regent University online associate degree include human service assistant, home care aide, rehabilitation assistant, orderly, and more. This online school is very well-established and delivers some of the most effective and popular distance education degrees available anywhere.
Campus Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- Theories of Personality
- Marriage and Family
- Developmental Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 78.3%
Retention Rate: 78%
Graduation Rate: 32.2%
LEARN MORE ABOUT REGENT UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
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HOLMES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS
Program Standouts:
The Social and Behavioral Science Department at Holmes Community College offers two online associate degree opportunities to dive into the world of psychology and human development. The psychology program has a stronger focus on the science behind human behavior and upbringing, while the social work degree is geared toward those who want to work directly with clients while having an in-depth understanding of their behaviors. The broad spectrum of courses is guaranteed to introduce online students to an area of the discipline that provokes their interest in psychology further. Graduates go on to pursue careers as counselors, therapists, social workers, researchers, educators, and more.
Campus Location: Goodman, MS
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Program Options:
- Psychology
- Social Work/Sociology
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 55%
Graduation Rate: 27.4%
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOLMES COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS
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PENN STATE WORLD CAMPUS
ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Penn State World Campus online students have an Associate in Human Development and Family Studies that approaches a concentrated area of psychology and is intended for those with applicable career goals. The coursework combines academic and practical learning experiences surrounding family development, child and youth development, and the human lifespan. The two concentration options take online learners in different areas of the field, but both prepare them to work closely with children and adults in the family setting and individually. Penn State World Campus is a highly revered online school that has been considered one of the best of its kind for many consecutive years.
Campus Location: University Park, PA
Accreditation:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Concentration Options:
- Adult Development and Aging Services
- Children, Youth, and Family Services
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Retention Rate: 54%
Graduation Rate: 38.3%
LEARN MORE ABOUT PENN STATE WORLD CAMPUS’ ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM
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CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY
ONLINE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Program Standouts:
Central Methodist University utilizes a broad approach to the online Associate of Arts in Psychology by including topics in experimental and abnormal psychologies, as well as a more general emphasis on personality, behavior, and development. Coursework provides hands-on projects and immersive experiences that lay an excellent groundwork for future careers and contenting education in Psychology. It is also a good start for students interested in areas such as criminal justice, human services, or education because the classes teach students why people behave the way they do. Graduates are prepared to take on entry-level positions of employment in social work, for example, or are well-poised to continue their education in a bachelor’s degree.
Campus Location: Fayette, MO
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400 - Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Sampling of Coursework:
- General Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 95.6%
Retention Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 51.7%
LEARN MORE ABOUT CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY
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SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY
ONLINE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
Program Standouts:
The Southwestern Assemblies of God University online Associate Degree in Psychology introduces distance education students to the founding principles of the discipline. Students develop skills in counseling and interviewing, as well as pivotal communication techniques that utilize appropriate vocabulary. The curriculum includes the analysis of case studies in developmental psychology, as well as current theories of personality. SAGU provides coursework from a Christian perspective that is intended to nurture students’ faith as well as their education. The university has recently lowered the online tuition rate to $499 per credit hour from $575, making it a high-quality institution that is also incredibly affordable.
Campus Location: Waxahachie, TX
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- Introduction to Counseling and Social Work Practice
- Psychology of Selfhood and the Christian Faith
- Developmental Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 27.9%
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 55.8%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
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FOOTHILL COLLEGE
ONLINE AA IN PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE
Program Standouts:
Foothill College offers wide, refreshing, and exciting array of coursework in the online Associate of Arts in Psychology program that allows students to delve into some of the many intricacies of the discipline. This program gives students a considerable amount of options and control over the scope of their curriculum, which is pleasantly surprising in an associate’s degree. Students gain an understanding of broad psychology concepts and will be able to apply theories and methods in simulations involving real-world issues. This exploratory program encourages curious to gravitate toward the areas of psychology that they find most invigorating!
Campus Location: Los Altos Hills, CA
Accreditation:
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Sampling of Coursework:
- Psychology of Sports
- Psychology of Women: Sex & Gender Differences
- Psychology of Prejudice & Discrimination
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: Unavailable
Graduation Rate: 12.1%
LEARN MORE ABOUT FOOTHILL COLLEGE’S ONLINE AA IN PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE
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FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
Program Standouts:
Florida Tech is a popular online school where distance students can major in an Associate of Applied Psychology. This program includes both specialized and general coursework that will introduce students to the discipline and is a great foundation for continuing into a bachelor’s degree. The coursework enhances critical thinking skills and complex decision-making as it applies to both psychology and the general education requirements. Some of the positions related to psychology in which graduates are able to work include rehabilitation assistant, child care provider, and benefits coordinator. Students will be well-supported at Florida Tech and the fabulous resources it provides as one of the best online schools in America.
Campus Location: Melbourne, FL
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Human Sexuality
- Research and Computer Literacy
Acceptance Rate: 63.5%
Retention Rate: 80%
Graduation Rate: 56.7%
LEARN MORE ABOUT FLORIDA TECH’S ONLINE ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
ONLINE PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Liberty University delivers the online Associate Degree in Psychology through a Christian perspective while conveying key concepts and principles of the discipline. Many students go on to major and work in Christian counseling. The curriculum provides topics that explore gender, racial, and ethnic roles, as well as cultures and classes from the human perspective. This Evangelical Christian university in the Southern United States is one of the most popular online schools in the country and has appeared on many lists of the most exceptional distance education programs in the country. Classes are provided at an accelerated rate and completed over 8-week terms.
Campus Location: Lynchburg, VA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400 - Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Sampling of Coursework:
- Psychology of Childhood
- Psychology of Adolescence
- Psychology of Adulthood
- Psychology of Personality
Acceptance Rate: 29.8%
Retention Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 42.6%
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE PROGRAM
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These programs do not just prepare students to earn Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology or to go on to work as Psychologists. On the contrary, having an understanding of human behavior, actions, and emotions gives you a unique perspective upon which to enter many different professions and areas of study. An Associate Degree in Psychology is an excellent start for careers in human services, marketing, law, criminal justice, and more! Or, if your goals are to become a Doctor of Psychology, applying to one of these excellent schools is a great start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I have to take general education courses in one of these programs?
Yes, an Associate’s degree includes general education courses that can then be transferred to a four-year institution, which would then reduce your time spent in a bachelor’s degree. Earning a degree is better than a certificate in this way because it allows you more flexibility when making decisions about your career later on in life.
Will I only work as a Psychologist with one of these degrees?
Not at all! An Associate in Psychology is a great foundation for virtually any other pursuit imaginable. Having a healthy understanding of why human beings behave a certain way gives you a perspective that very few other people have, and which you can put to your advantage in many other careers and pursuits such as sales and business. Think of all the ways in which you could utilize strong knowledge of human behavior!
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