Online Psychology and Counseling Degrees

Both professions serve individuals dealing with mental health and situationally driven emotional challenges. The significant difference between the two professions can be found within the educational requirements.

• Counselors can serve clients after completing a master’s degree. This assumes that they are registered with the state governing body postgraduation.
• Psychologists can serve clients after completing a doctoral degree. As with counselors, this assumes that they are registered with the state governing body postgraduation. 

The UMass Global psychology undergraduate program offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. A BA in Psychology provides a broad-based education, offering a wider perspective on the field of psychology. At UMass Global, the electives available within the general psychology concentration reflect this versatility, covering diverse topics such as “Issues in Aging,” “Family Systems and Dynamics,” “Child Development,” and “Survey of Forensic Psychology.” This breadth of coursework allows students to explore multiple areas of psychology and apply their knowledge across various fields and careers.

Bachelor of science degrees in psychology typically are more research-oriented, with lab-based courses targeted toward graduate study in psychology. 

An emphasis in I/O psychology at the bachelor’s degree enhances job prospects in today's competitive market for several compelling reasons. I/O psychology provides individuals with knowledge, skills, and abilities that organizations value, including workplace dynamics, employee assessment, organizational development, and evidence-based management practices that generic business or psychology degrees don't cover. This specialized expertise is increasingly sought after as organizations recognize that their competitive advantage often lies in optimizing how they treat their employees.

In addition, I/O psychologists have practical skills that can be applied and directly transferred to workplace challenges. This includes designing valid selection systems, creating effective training programs, conducting meaningful performance evaluations, aligning career goals of individuals with the organization, and implementing organizational change initiatives. Employers value employees who can immediately apply these skills to solve real business problems.

With a bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in I/O psychology, here are a few examples of jobs you can obtain with an emphasis in I/O:

• Human Resources Specialist
• Compensation and Benefits
• Training Specialist
• Job Recruiter
• Market Research Analyst
• Research and Data Analyst
• Public Relations Specialist

To become a practicing I/O psychologist, you’ll need a master’s degree in I/O psychology. Many people who are I/O psychologists hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology with an IO specialization. The investment in advanced education typically yields substantial returns through expanded career options, higher compensation, and greater professional autonomy in addressing complex workplace challenges.

In psychology, your options are varied. You could stay within the field, pursuing a career in research, teaching, or become a practicing psychologist. Outside the field, a psychology degree translates well into a wide assortment of career roles in the private and public sectors. Understanding human behavior is valuable in just about any field. A psychology degree, coupled with a teaching credential (earned after your degree), could also allow a person to teach psychology at the high school level. 

In counseling, a master’s degree is sufficient to become a practicing counselor or marriage and family therapist. After earning your degree, you must also pass your licensing exam. A master’s degree will also enable you to become a school counselor or school psychologist.

At UMass Global, we can help you pursue four options: becoming a counselor or a marriage and family therapist, or becoming a school counselor or school psychologist.

With their Master of Arts degree (and passage of subsequent licensing exam) marriage and family therapists and professional clinical counselors can treat patients in private practice settings and work for private, public, or nonprofit organizations. It is more common for Ph.D. students to lean into research or teaching at the college level, while the Psy.D. is more for practicing psychologists.