Online degrees in psychology and mental health

Psychology and mental health are well-rounded disciplines, meaning one can earn a degree at virtually any level, from associate to post-graduate degrees. Here are the most common credentials:

• Associate degrees in psychology and mental health are ideal for those seeking entry-level support occupations in the field, such as psychiatric technicians.
• Bachelor's degrees in psychology and mental health do not produce the same higher-level careers as advanced degrees, but are suitable for those who want to become career counselors, case managers, probation officers or the like.
• Master's degrees are among the most common psychology and mental health degrees because of the diverse career opportunities they provide. Therapists, counselors, social workers and some psychology professors typically have master's degrees.
• Doctoral degrees in psychology or mental health are ideal for those who want to work in more advanced mental health care, in research or in academia.
• Certificates in psychology or mental health help those with psychology degrees develop specialties, or help entry-level workers get their first jobs. The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) is a popular certificate vendor offering credentials in 13 different specialties as of 2011.

Some careers require psychology and mental health grads to be licensed, a process that usually requires a relevant degree and an exam. Licensed professionals must typically take continuing education courses (CECs) to maintain their licenses.

According to The College Board, psychology majors study the way humans act, feel, think and learn. Specific coursework can vary tremendously from one program to the next, but most cover topics such as:

• Introduction to psychology
• Abnormal psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Perception and sensation
• Neuroscience
• Research methods

Anyone with a passion for helping others and a fascination with the human brain or behavior is likely to enjoy studying psychology, but there are a few personality types who really excel in the field. According to The College Board, it helps when students are math and science oriented, but also excellent critical readers and writers. They must also be able to evaluate themselves and others in a very technical way.

According to the BLS and The College Board, psychology and mental health graduates enjoy a variety of career options, though degree level and experience dictate the positions for which one qualifies. Upon graduation, psychology and mental health grads often become:

• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Marriage and family therapists
• Counselors, including mental health, school or career counseling
• Psychiatric technicians
• Probation officers
• Substance abuse counselors
• Social workers
• Psychology teachers and professors

Psychology and mental health programs can be very technical, book-oriented disciplines, making them suitable for online training. Depending on one's chosen degree or career path, however, some courses will require labs or face-to-face internships. Sometimes these requirements can be fulfilled through local campuses, regional hospitals or mental health centers. As with campus-based programs, prospective students should research online degrees in psychology or mental health thoroughly to ensure they suit their goals, availability and learning styles.

• Psychology grads qualify for a variety of careers, from psychiatric support occupations to advanced research or medical careers.
• The BLS reports that psychology grads tend to earn more than the average worker.
• The mean annual salary for a psychologist was $86,510 in 2010, according to the BLS.
• Counseling and industrial psychology careers are in particularly high demand.