How Long Does it Take to Get a Psychology Degree?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are about 3.5 million Americans with a psychology degree employed across the country. While many of these professionals work as psychologists, therapists, and counselors, others work in psychology-related roles performing work other than treating clients directly in areas that range from marketing to social services. While about 62% are in positions that require at least a bachelor’s degree, around 49% of these professionals have an advanced degree such as a master’s or doctoral degree regardless of whether their position requires it or not, according to the BLS.

No matter what a person’s ambitions are in the field of psychology, earning a degree will likely be an integral part of the process of pursuing their career. But what does earning a psychology degree entail, and why should individuals consider it? And just as important, how long does it take to get a psychology degree?

What Are the Requirements to Get a Psychology Degree?

Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. To earn a bachelor’s in psychology, students typically must complete a total of 120 credit hours of psychology and general education classes. For students who are going to college for the first time, it takes about four years or eight semesters to complete these courses and earn a degree. 

General education classes are classes on English, history, and other foundational subjects. In addition, psychology students take classes covering topics such as:

• Psychobiology and the functions of the brain
• Professional ethics
• Personality theory
• Human development
• Research methods
• History of psychology

Students who have already completed some college classes can enroll in a degree completion program and earn a degree in psychology in two to three years. To enroll in a degree completion program, students typically must have completed their general education classes.

After earning a bachelor’s in psychology, many students go on to earn a master’s degree in a specific area of psychology. At this level, classes are more rigorous and focused. For example, students who want to be a therapist or a counselor can earn a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with a focus on therapy and counseling and take classes on behavioral therapy techniques. It typically takes one-and-a-half to two years to earn a master’s degree.

Why Get a Degree in Psychology?

Students often pursue a degree in psychology because it can be academically, personally, and professionally enriching. Psychology is rooted in the science of human behavior, so earning a degree in the field can come with a number of unique benefits. 

Make a Difference

Many people choose to major in psychology because they are naturally driven to help others. By studying human behavior and the science behind it, students can turn this drive into a meaningful career.

As counselors, psychologists, and therapists help clients work through their issues, they form meaningful relationships with the clients that can facilitate their growth and provide them with valuable coping skills to improve their quality of life. This is true for both clients struggling with severe mental health issues and those who simply want to improve their lives and well-being. 

However, these roles can be emotionally draining at times. Psychologists, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals must know how to prioritize their own mental health and self-care to avoid experiencing burnout.

Learn About Science

As much as psychology centers on the human experience, it’s a science at its core. After all, a mental health professional first makes a hypothesis about what a client might be struggling with, and then carefully tests that hypothesis. They then present the results to the client to add knowledge, answer questions, and recommend viable ways forward.

While this may sound like a straightforward process, psychological research and clinical work can often be complicated and nuanced. Psychology professionals often have to explore and understand diverse disciplines and perspectives to understand and help others. Pharmacology, biology, neuroscience, statistics, and many other fields all come into play when uncovering the mechanics of the human psyche.

Benefit From Strong Job Growth

Competent, well-educated psychologists, therapists, and counselors are usually in high demand. According to the BLS, employment of counselors is expected to increase by a staggering 19% between 2023 and 2033. That’s equivalent to 84,500 new jobs for this single profession. Average job growth for all occupations is projected to be only 4%. 

Employment projections vary among specific psychology professions, but some of the most common positions are:

• School psychologist
• Substance abuse counselor
• Marriage and family therapist
• Clinical counselor
• Clinical mental health counselor
• Mental health therapist
• Clinical psychologist
• Child psychologist
• Social worker
• Behavior analyst
• Behaviorist

Additionally, students who earn psychology degrees learn a host of soft skills that can be useful in almost any industry. From leadership and teamwork capabilities to empathy and communication skills, these competencies can help graduates secure a position in business, social services, or the nonprofit world. Because of these many possible career opportunities, the time it takes to get a psychology degree can be seen as a great investment for professionals of all kinds.

Prepare for Graduate School

For students who have their sights set on graduate school, psychology can be a great choice for an undergraduate degree. Many undergraduate students who major in psychology go on to get their master’s degree or even their doctoral degree in the field. Other students use a bachelor’s in psychology as the foundation for a career and an advanced degree in medicine, law, business, or social sciences.

Explore Your Interests

Because psychology is at the center of so many other disciplines, studying it can be a great way for students to explore fields they’re passionate about. For instance, students who love children and enjoy working with them can earn a psychology degree and then start a career in early childhood development. 

Studying psychology can also help students explore:

• Neurobiology
• Social welfare and social psychology
• Marriage and family therapy
• Substance use disorder treatment
• Clinical psychology
• Sports psychology

Even at the bachelor’s level, many psychology programs offer electives on these highly specialized subjects. This gives students the opportunity to both explore their career possibilities and fill their schedules with classes that are relevant to their lives.

Earn a Significant Income

Most people who enter the field of psychology do so because they want to help others and make a difference. However, considering a position’s salary potential is still an important part of career planning. While each psychology profession has its own salary potential, data indicates that psychology skills are valuable to many industries and employers.

The median annual salary for psychologists was $92,740 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. The top-earning psychologists make over $151,880. 

Psychology experts in other fields can have equally favorable earning power, as well. Market research analysts, professionals who use their psychology and data analysis skills to understand consumer trends, have a median salary of $74,680, while the top earners make over $137,040, according to the BLS.

What Skills Can You Gain From a Psychology Degree?

Learning the technical and scientific side of psychology is only one aspect of earning a degree in psychology. Students also learn a number of soft skills they can use in their career in psychology or another industry and in their personal lives. 

Conflict Resolution and Problem-Solving

One of the top requirements for therapists, counselors, and psychologists is the ability to take a complex problem and dig deeply to find its root. This might mean helping a married couple understand why there’s conflict in their relationship, guiding a young student through their anxiety about their schoolwork, or supporting a person as they grapple with a substance use disorder. 

Much of the time it takes to get a psychology degree is devoted to learning how to identify, classify, and help people through these issues in a structured, evidence-based way. However, students also learn how to personalize their approach to meet the needs of each individual client. Being able to navigate complex conflicts can be a valuable skill in just about every industry.

Communication

Mental health professionals need to be able to relate to and communicate with a wide variety of types of people. As such, psychology programs often cover effective communication techniques. Even students who are naturally gifted communicators can enhance their skills through such classes.

For example, to create strong bonds with clients, psychology professionals often utilize active listening skills and nonverbal cues such as nodding. Mental health professionals help clients find the root of whatever they’re having trouble with through open-ended questions and other interview techniques that foster clear communication.

Empathy

Psychology professionals don’t employ communication tactics just to give the appearance of closeness or trust with their clients. They employ them to connect with their clients on a deeper level, creating space for them to open up and share their experiences. While not all jobs in this field are public-facing, psychology professionals still need empathy even if they work in a lab or classroom studying human behavior.

Just as important, psychology programs help students learn how to balance their sense of empathy with healthy professional boundaries. At the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, psychology programs emphasize ethical best practices and mental self-care.

Critical Thinking

Psychology program graduates don’t walk away knowing everything there is to know about their field. Every year, researchers discover new information on disorder symptoms, treatment techniques, and neurological processes that reshape how psychology professionals of all kinds approach their careers. By including classes on research, psychology programs arm students with the critical thinking skills they need to appraise new information and integrate it into their duties.

Building Trust

For clients to open up, they must be confident they can trust the mental health professional they’re working with. While learning how to gain, build, and maintain trust may seem like a personal endeavor, psychology programs typically offer classes on the rigorous ethical guidelines that govern the field. These guidelines are crucial to maintaining a healthy environment where both the client and the provider can feel safe. Experienced faculty members can also help students through more nuanced situations by sharing their own experiences.

Learn More About Becoming a Psychology Major at NDNU

Psychology can be a richly rewarding field, filled with strong job prospects, a high earning potential, and, of course, the opportunity to make a major and meaningful difference in the lives of those you help. At Notre Dame de Namur University, we’re here to help you begin your academic journey, no matter where you’re starting from.

Through our 100% online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree completion program, students have the opportunity to hone their skills both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to online class work on the psychological, behavioral, social, and neurobiological aspects of psychology, students also participate in individual research as well as community-based learning. Students can transfer up to 78 college credits and earn their degree in as little as two years.

For students pursuing an advanced degree, the NDNU School of Psychology also offers three master’s degree programs, which are designed to prepare students to become licensed through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, for individuals seeking unlicensed mental health professional roles in various settings
• Master of Science Clinical Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy, for individuals looking to become marriage and family therapists
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling, for individuals who want to pursue licenses as both a marriage and family therapist and professional clinical counselor 

To learn more about how long it will take you to get a psychology degree, what classes you might take, and other enrollment information, reach out to the NDNU admissions team today.