Get A Social Psychology Degree Online

Social psychology is a subfield of psychology that deals with how individuals are affected by groups of other humans. Earning a social psychology degree will involve studying a wide range of topics, including conformity, aggression, prejudice ‘mob mentality’ and other social related issues.

Working towards a social psychology degree is different from pursuing a traditional psychology or sociology degree. Whereas psychology is based at the level of the individual and sociology observes the behavior of groups of people, social psychology is concerned with how the social environment impacts the attitude and behavior of the individual. Social psychology provides a fresh perspective that blends many topics shared by both psychology and sociology.

Typically, to pursue a social psychology degree a student must first earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Most undergraduate programs last for four years, however, some online colleges and universities offer accelerated programs that can be completed in half this time. After achieving a bachelor’s degree in psychology, students must enroll into a graduate program and complete their master’s degree in social psychology. Getting into a reputable graduate school may be challenging, so it is best to maintain a high GPA whilst studying as an undergraduate.

Most social psychologists pursue a doctoral degree to finish off their studies. A PhD will provide the best job opportunities and provide the highest wages within this field. In some cases, only a master’s degree is needed for employment as a social psychologist, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Graduate school may last between 2-8 years, depending on what is pursued. A master’s degree in social psychology will usually lasts for 2 years, with another 4-6 years added to complete a PhD. Recently, students have begun to pursue their doctorate degrees right after achieving their bachelor’s, skipping over the intermediate step of earning a M.A. It is best to consult an academic advisor at your school of choice when thinking of pursuing a social psychology degree.