10 Best Online Bachelors in Child Psychology

If you want a career helping to nurture the mental health of todays youth, then getting a bachelors in child psychology is a critical step on the path to becoming qualified. The best online bachelor’s in child psychology is the perfect place to start your educational and professional career. While you’ll certainly need more than just a bachelor’s to reach your ultimate goals, the best online bachelor’s in child psychology will get you started on the right track toward becoming a qualified child psychologist. After receiving your bachelor’s, you’ll be ready (and qualified) to tackle your master’s and even a doctorate in the field of child psychology. Child psychologyand other psychology-related degreesare some of the most popular choices for prospective bachelor’s students each year. In fact, according to the National Centre for Education Statistics, around 115,000 psychology degrees were conferred between 2012 and 2013. What is a Child Psychology Bachelor’s Degree? As the first step toward becoming a child psychologist, an online bachelors degree will equip you with the foundations needed to pursue higher education and gain licensure. Modules on the course will include subjects such as child development and growth, disorders of childhood and adolescent age, behavioral analysis and assessment, and experiential learning. Youll also gain an understanding of ethics and laws surrounding modern psychology practices. The best online bachelors in child psychology programs offer a more flexible study arrangement than classroom-based teaching. Undergraduates can access lectures and reading lists online, take part in virtual collaboration and discussions with fellow peers, submit work, take assessments, and communicate with their professors through an online portal or website. Thanks to modern technology, todays courses allow remote study using computers and laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other innovative study methods. Child psychology programs are extremely competitive; the top-rated schools accept less than 3% of applicants. All applicants are expected to have taken the GRE test, with those lacking a related undergraduate degree expected to have also taken the advanced test in psychology. Applicants will also need to submit transcripts along with their GPA, in addition to letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Careers for Child Psychology Majors According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between the years 2018 and 2028, the employment opportunities available to psychologists are expected to grow by 14%, which is higher than the average across all other professions. A degree in psychology may lead to becoming a psychologist, with a child psychology degree having the potential to lead to a career as a school psychologist. Other careers pursued by child psychology majors include clinical or counseling positions, social service assistants, or community health coordinators. Some areas are more competitive among graduates than others. According to the BLS, industrial-organizational psychologists face greater competition due to a large pool of qualified applicants. Those who have further training in quantitative research might stand a better chance of ranking more highly as part of the selection process. If youre looking to become a qualified child psychologist, then a bachelors in child psychology wont be enough on its own. The minimum level of education required for the majority of psychologist positions is a masters; some roles will even ask for a doctorate. That said, there are alternative careers in this field that can be undertaken with a bachelors degree as the highest level of education, such as social workers and social service assistants. Child Psychologist Salary Potential Statistics from the BLS show that the median annual wage for psychologists in May 2018 was $79,010, with half earning more and half earning less. Those at the bottom of the ladder earned below $44,000 and those in the highest 10% were earning just shy of $130,000. Those earning the lowest salaries tended to be in clinical settings, such as private, local and state hospitals, counseling services, or working as a school psychologist. Most states require practicing psychologists to have attained the proper licensure before offering their services to patients. The specific laws surrounding licensing vary from one state to another, as well as differing between roles. Most counselors and clinical psychologists require a doctorate in psychology, as well as an internship with one or two years of supervised practical experience. They also need to have passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. Many states require continued professional development to maintain licensure for psychologists. There are also specialty certifications available from the American Board of Professional Psychology, covering areas such as clinical health psychology, rehabilitation psychology, and more. Continued certification and training can also raise the salary potential for all qualified psychologists. What are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Child Psychology? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of College Rank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni 30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and national accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year 30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At College Rank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1The University of Southern MississippiLocationHattiesburg, MississippiAverage Net Price$12,506More Information The University of Southern Mississippis mission statement revolves around creating well-rounded graduates with a focus on ethics, equipped to tackle a changing, multicultural world. Their teachings focus on equipping students to succeed in various contexts, helping children, families, couples, and working in differing settings, such as the education system, mental health practices, and social services. In this program, youll specialize in one of two emphasis areas: either Family Sciences or Child Development. A focus on Child Development is suited to students who want to pursue a career in the field of early childhood education, while a focus on Family Sciences is for those who want a career relating to social services, non-profits, or parent education. Whether a student is specializing in Family Sciences or Child Development, the tuition fees are the same. The average annual cost of tuition for Southern Mississippi’s child psychology program is $12,506, falling below the national average. However, the School of Child and Family Sciences offers 13 scholarships to prospective students every year.