Pursuing a free college degree in psychology will help you gain knowledge that you will be able to apply to understanding many aspects of daily human activity, such as family life, education, employment, and the treatment of mental health problems. Pursuing a psychology degree means you will have the unique ability to study the human mind. In fact, deriving from Ancient Greek, the word psychology actually means “study of the soul”. Earning a psychology degree traditionally or online will begin your first steps towards being a licensed psychologist, where you can apply scientific method to understanding how and why people behave the way that they do within a multitude of fields, from government industry to working with children. A psychologist might use techniques like clinical studies or detailed questionnaires to answer questions of human behavior.

A bachelor’s degree with a basis in psychology is helpful and can qualify a person to assist psychologists or work as administrative assistants to licensed psychologists, but opportunities directly related to psychology will be limited for those who only possess a bachelor’s degree. Some people may be able to work as assistants in rehabilitation centers or data collection and analysis jobs, but to work independently as a psychologist, a doctoral degree is usually the final requirement. Someone who possesses only a bachelor’s degree may find success working within the federal government, a job that requires the candidate to have at least 24 hours of education focused on psychology, but these jobs are highly sought by applicants.

To work independently as a psychologist, a doctoral degree is usually required. A doctoral psychology degree generally requires about five years of full-time graduate study, with a final dissertation based on original research or practical work required. Following the dissertation, most psychologist candidates are also required to complete an approved internship. Depending on the position chosen, the American Board of Professional Psychology may require additional further specialized education in 13 different areas. Becoming a licensed psychologist can be highly competitive, and candidates with doctoral and master’s degrees will have the best job opportunities.

To work as a solo psychologist or to offer any type of patient care – including clinical, counseling or working as a school psychologist – aspiring psychologists must be certified and licensed in all states, including the District of Colombia. Although licensing laws are regulated at the state level and may differ according to the area of specialty, the basics for earning the license remain similar. To achieve licensure, a candidate must earn a traditional or online master’s degree, and a doctorate degree in psychology, including an approved internship and up to two years of professional experience. After completing the background education work and earning the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, most states require that an applicant pass an examination, including a standardized test. The test may be supplemented with oral or essay questions. Some states also require that the psychology license be renewed annually, with continuing education in their field to be completed as part of the process.

While a significant number of psychologists are self-employed (about 34% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), there is great variation in job growth and median salary in the field for those who complete their psychology course online degrees. Clinical jobs, including counseling and school jobs, earn a median income of $64,000. These specialties offer increased employment of around 11 percent within the next eight years. For psychologists who work in an industrial-organization, the rate of pay and job growth is significantly higher. These jobs offer a median salary of $77,000, and are expected to grow about 26% over eight years.

The opportunity for variety in the field of psychology is very wide. For those who hold a psychology degree, they may have the opportunity to work in many different industries, depending on the type of psychology degree they hold. They may choose to work in a clinical environment, which might include a hospital setting or even as a school counselor. Or, they may choose to work in research and development, focusing on a career in a government or industrial setting.

Pursuing so much higher education and multiple degrees in order to become a licensed psychologist requires an ability to not only focus on schoolwork. A person who wants to become a licensed psychologist in the clinical field must also be calm and able to convey information accurately between people, with good communication and leadership skills. Increasingly, psychologists will even work as part of a team, consulting with others in their field. Work settings for a licensed psychologist will vary from employer for employer. Sometimes psychologists are able to set their own office hours; sometimes they may work shifts with more structured schedules.

Earning your free online college credit degree definitely requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Perseverance and patience to complete the advanced education means the opportunity to work in a variety of subfields with a multitude of people. Some of the advanced or continuing education required can be accomplished through online degree programs. Obtaining a degree not only offers a person the ability to change people personally for the better, but it also offers many opportunities to help change the direction of research and knowledge within both the scientific and the health community.