Best Online Master’s in Behavioral Psychology Programs

Earning an online master’s in behavioral psychology teaches students advanced knowledge of why humans behave as they do and how to treat behavioral disorders. Whether planning to continue into a doctoral program or enter the workforce after graduating, students graduate prepared for several outcomes.

When looking at top online schools and deciding whether to go to graduate school, students often have questions. Keep reading to get answers to these questions and learn more about the outcomes of earning a master’s in behavioral psychology.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Before enrolling in an online master’s in behavioral psychology program, prospective students should determine whether this degree best fits their needs. People who typically pursue this study area tend to be analytical, research-oriented, and interested in understanding how and why humans behave as they do. Most programs consist of 30-48 credits and require about two years of full-time study. Accelerated programs may take as few as 18 months, while part-time options can take about three years to complete.

In addition to behavioral psychology courses, some schools also let students choose a concentration. Options vary by college, but common concentrations include addiction psychology, counseling psychology, and school psychology.

While coursework plays a central role in the degree, many programs also include an internship to build real-world skills and networking contacts before graduating. Students planning to continue in a doctoral program may decide to write a thesis or complete a capstone project.

When preparing for graduate school and earning a master’s in behavioral psychology, students should carefully consider what they want to get out of the experience and choose a program that can deliver.

This course looks at the human components forming behaviors, including the nervous system. Students consider various ways of studying behavioral patterns and psychological functioning from both theoretical and practical frameworks.

Proper assessments can help provide earlier interventions. This course looks at some of the techniques and instruments available for identifying behavioral issues.

Incorporating a neuroscience perspective, this course seeks to understand how brain functions such as motivation, perception, memory, and movement influence behaviors. Course topics also cover how behavioral psychologists can harness that knowledge.

Moving beyond behavioral perspectives and behavioral analysis, this course looks to apply behavioral modification principles to clinical disorders. Students review case studies of behavioral principles applied to both abnormal and normal behaviors.

Designed to address issues arising around food addictions and eating disorders, this course looks at the biological, social, and psychological influences related to food behaviors. Students also consider how these behaviors can evolve across the lifespan.

Earning an online master’s in behavioral psychology opens many professional doors for graduates. However, any person who wants to work as a licensed psychologist must earn a doctorate. Those with a master’s degree can take on many advanced roles that allow for high salaries and leadership opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2021, more than 3.4 million individuals hold a psychology job and earn median annual wages of $53,000. Nearly 50% of these workers possess an advanced degree, as compared to 38% when considering all fields.

Graduates can work in many different fields, including counseling, substance misuse, marketing, and data analysis. The following section highlights career paths available to those with a master’s degree.

See where a master’s in behavioral psychology degree can take you.

These professionals work with clients living with behavioral challenges, substance misuse, addiction, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. After evaluating patients, these counselors develop treatment plans and help clients work towards their goals. They may also provide counseling to family members of clients.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $53,710

Marriage and family therapists work with individuals, couples, and families to address relational challenges. They help clients develop coping strategies and make decisions about their futures. They may also help connect clients with other relevant community resources such as treatment centers or support groups.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $58,510

Whether working in K-12 or higher education settings, school counselors help students address behavioral or social issues that affect their academics, friendships, and family relationships. After identifying how behavioral issues are causing problems (e.g., poor attendance, bullying, etc.), counselors help students and their families develop goals and work towards them. They may also make referrals to other professionals as needed.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $61,710

Survey researchers design surveys to collect data and better understand human motivations. With their backgrounds, behavioral psychology graduates develop insightful questions that better help shed light on behaviors. They also assist clients with making more informed decisions about marketing strategies, product development, and expansion plans.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $60,960

Marketing managers work in companies in various industries to help build awareness of products and services and increase sales. In addition to using data to better understand what customers want, marketing managers develop promotional campaigns and create digital and print advertisements. They also contract with brand ambassadors and influencers, and conduct market research studies.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $157,620

Many graduates of master’s in behavioral psychology programs move straight into professional roles. But some plan to continue their education to the doctoral level. Aspiring licensed professional psychologists must earn a doctorate, often either a Ph.D. or Psy.D.

Earning an online doctorate in psychology takes between 4-7 years to complete, depending on how quickly learners move through coursework and complete their dissertation. The Ph.D. typically appeals to those planning to conduct research or work in academia. The Psy.D. supports those who want to provide psychological services to patients.

Earning an online master’s in behavioral psychology makes a lot of sense for students who want to build on their psychological knowledge from their undergraduate degree. It also can prepare career-changers who are looking to enter the field. These programs usually require two years of full-time study and provide the qualifications and knowledge needed to compete for senior-level roles. Earning this degree can also lead to higher salaries than those with only an undergraduate degree.When asking these questions, potential students should also consider whether an online degree is worth it and if it fits their learning needs.

People who complete a master’s in behavioral psychology can take their careers in many different directions. They can pursue more traditional counseling and therapy roles or those that depend more on behavioral insights and motivations, such as marketing and data analysis.Common job titles for graduates include marriage and family therapist, school counselor, survey researcher, and marketing manager. Graduates can also become addiction, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. Some students may also decide to continue their education by pursuing a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology to become licensed psychologists.

The BLS projects jobs for behavioral disorder and mental health counselors to grow by 23% between 2020-2030, leading to the creation of more than 75,000 new positions. Meanwhile, jobs for marriage and family therapists are projected to grow by 16% in the same period, leading to 12,000 new positions by the end of the decade.The demand for roles more focused on marketing also looks promising. In particular, BLS data projects jobs for marketing managers to grow by 10% from 2020-2030, leading to 31,800 new openings.

Earning a master’s degree in behavioral psychology can often lead to higher salaries than those available to bachelor’s degree graduates. Addiction, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earned median annual salaries of $48,520 in May 2021. Marriage and family therapists made median yearly salaries of $49,880. School counselors earned slightly more with median salaries of $60,510 annually.

The highest-paying jobs for graduates of master’s in behavioral psychology degrees tend to be those focused on behavioral insights, including marketing positions. Survey researchers earned a median annual pay of $59,740 in May 2021. Marketing managers earn the highest wages as of May 2021. These professionals earned median yearly salaries of $133,380. Those in the top 10% of earners received salaries exceeding $208,000, while those in the bottom 10% took home about $77,680.

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