<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="13" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Pepperdine's Online MAP </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn a Psychology Master's Online. No GRE Req'd. </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Earn Your Master's in Psychology online from Pepperdine in as few as 18 months. Bachelor's degree required.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-13" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-13" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinegrad.pepperdine.edu/requestinfo/map/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PEP-PSY_School_Stacked.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinegrad.pepperdine.edu/requestinfo/map/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="14" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> MA in Psychology from Pepperdine </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn Your MA in Psychology in as Few as 18 Months </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>No GRE Required: Earn Your Master's in Psychology online from Pepperdine. Bachelor's degree required.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-14" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-14" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinegrad.pepperdine.edu/requestinfo/map/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PEP-PSY_School_Stacked.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinegrad.pepperdine.edu/requestinfo/map/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

ad_Psychology

cat_Graduate

Low Intent

ptype_Explainer

Nicole Gull McElroy

<p>When Maggie Lavoie completed her undergraduate degree in May 2020, she was torn between two obvious options: find a job or go back to school. With the uncertainty of the job market amid the then-mounting COVID-19 pandemic, Lavoie ultimately chose to enroll in a master’s degree program in psychology. </p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>“My main goal was to build on my knowledge of psychological research,” says Lavoie, who is 23 and lives in the Chicago suburbs. “I wanted to learn more about the research process and gain experience for a <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/05/31/can-i-get-into-a-doctoral-program-with-an-online-masters-in-psychology/">potential Ph.D. program</a>, or be able to apply the knowledge and skills in a future lab/research setting.”</p>



<p>Lavoie chose to complete her master’s degree online at Arizona State University. She’s still early in her career and enjoyed the cost-savings benefit of living at home with her parents while attending school full-time. In total, it took Lavoie just 15 months to complete the program. Here’s how her experience compares with those of other students in <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-psychology-degree-programs/">master’s degree programs in psychology</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plan-on-a-rigorous-schedule-week-to-week">Plan on a rigorous schedule week to week</h2>



<p>Students can generally expect to complete an online master’s degree program in psychology within two and a half years. At Arizona State, most students finish the required courses within a window of about one to two years, depending on how much time a student can devote to her studies, says Casey Ambrose, executive director of marketing operations for the EdPlus digital learning program at ASU. Coursework involves lectures, reading, posting to online forums, exams, and papers. </p>



<p>“Students should be ready to commit 18 hours per week for every course they take,” Ambrose says of the ASU program. And that’s no small commitment, considering each course lasts roughly seven weeks. </p>



<p>“You need to be prepared for <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/06/01/how-do-students-in-an-online-masters-degree-program-in-psychology-manage-their-time/">fast-paced learning</a>,” Lavoie says. “Some courses required everything due on Mondays, others were Wednesdays, Fridays, or Sundays. The time restraints of having different deadlines with different courses and planning out schoolwork into a cohesive schedule was a challenge.” </p>



<p>What’s more, many of the exams and quizzes were timed and required extra planning, Lavoie adds. And because the program was online, she also needed to consider working within specific time zones as her professors and fellow classmates were located throughout the world, and managing different schedules and obligations. Overall, Lavoie estimates she spent 15 to 20 hours a week on schoolwork outside the classroom. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychology-programs-also-have-commitments-outside-the-classroom">Psychology programs also have commitments outside the classroom</h2>



<p>Graduate-level degree programs in psychology—even online ones—often have graduation requirements that extend beyond the classroom. For example, some programs require fieldwork. And the time it takes to complete a program can also vary depending on whether students focus their studies on various specialties—including addiction, family dynamics, behavioral therapy, and education—and some programs require patient-facing or in-person practical work. </p>



<p>Even though Lavoie pursued her degree entirely online, she completed guided research under the supervision of a professor during her final semester. </p>



<p>Because the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/05/25/is-an-online-masters-degree-in-psychology-worth-it/">reasons why a student might enroll</a> in this program are wide-ranging, that can also dictate how long it takes to complete. Some students want to shift gears in a given career path, others want to round out business experience for a role in HR, and still other students may want to take the degree even further for a doctorate or research position, says Julee Poole, academic department chair for the graduate psychology department at Purdue University Global. </p>



<p>In some programs, like Purdue’s addiction-focused curriculum, says Poole, there’s an extra component to plan for: a period of fieldwork, or practicum. Students complete two 10-week, 150-hour terms of practicum, generally at an organization the school has partnered with to help students gain the face-to-face experience they’ll need once they graduate. “They are working under an addiction supervisor for those hours,” says Poole, noting that the requirement aligns with state licensure laws.   </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consider-nonschool-obligations">Consider nonschool obligations</h2>



<p>While students may not have many in-person obligations with an <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/06/03/why-i-chose-to-get-my-masters-degree-in-psychology-online/">online program</a>, a number of students must find a balance between school and other obligations, like work. Several are working full-time, part-time, raising families, or generally juggling other aspects of their professional and personal lives at work and home while pursuing the degree.</p>



<p>While Lavoie had no in-person component to her degree, she urges <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/05/25/what-top-online-psychology-masters-programs-are-looking-for-in-applicants/">prospective students</a> to ask themselves several questions before enrolling: “Am I ready for fast-paced courses? Can I manage my time independently? Am I able to facilitate my own learning and communicate effectively when I may not understand something?” </p>



<p>The last question, Lavoie says, is especially important in an online program, given the physical distance and extra energy and time needed to connect with professors and advisers. And the onus falls on students to reach out to the variety of resources their program offers if they are having difficulties with these types of challenges, she adds.</p>



<p>“The professors and course assistants are there to help students succeed, but you initially must take the first step.”</p>



<p><em>See how the schools you’re considering fared in </em>Fortune’<em>s rankings of the best <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business-analytics/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-business-analytics/" rel="noreferrer noopener">business analytics programs</a></em>, <em><a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/data-science/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-data-science/" rel="noreferrer noopener">data science programs</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-parttime-mba-programs-in-2022/" rel="noreferrer noopener">part-time</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-executive-mba-programs-in-2021/" rel="noreferrer noopener">executive</a>,<a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-mba-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener"> full-time</a></em>,<em> and <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-online-mba-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> MBA programs.</em></p>
</div>

Students can generally expect to complete an online master’s degree program in psychology within two-and-a-half years.

How long does it take to earn an online master’s in psychology?

F-Search

Education

Education Articles

Jasmine Suarez

Health and Wellness

Students can generally expect to complete an online program within two-and-a-half years.

Fortune earns a commission for purchases made from affiliate partners via some links on our site; other links are not affiliate partner links. <a href='/affiliate-disclosure/'>Click here</a> to read the full Fortune advertiser disclosure and how we earn commissions.

We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.

Fortune Editors

Fortune Education is designed to be your guide to navigating this new, rich and somewhat overwhelming world of education. Our team of experienced editors is committed to scouring the universe of online offerings in order to rank, rate, provide comparisons and recommend the right solutions for you and your career.

Fortune Education

Uncategorized

homepage

articles

Articles Hub

By Region

By State

By Cost

Business

Career Hub

Tech

EDUCATION

EDUCATION ARTICLES

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EARN AN ONLINE MASTER’S IN PSYCHOLOGY?

How long does it take to earn an online master’s in psychology? | Fortune Education

Rich Griset

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

https://fortune.com/education/articles/free-data-analytics-courses/?itm_source=parsely-api

Preston Fore

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

https://fortune.com/education/articles/real-estate-school-review-aceableagent/?itm_source=parsely-api

Northwestern, Columbia, and UPenn have the best EMBA programs in the country. Here's why

https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-exec-mba-programs-news/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brit Morse

A law associate making $300,000 a year at Skadden Arps quit over the firm’s deal with Donald Trump

/article/rachel-cohen-making-300k-year-law-associate-skadden-arps-quit-protest-firms-deal-trump/

Get ready to pay more than $2,000 for a new iPhone: Experts say Trump’s 125% tariff on China is a ‘complete disaster for Apple’ akin to ‘Armageddon’

/2025/04/10/apple-iphone-16-price-complete-disaster-china-trump-tariffs/

It’s about to get a lot harder for job seekers as tariffs are set to make the hiring landscape even more daunting

/2025/04/07/trump-tariffs-labor-market-more-challenging-job-seekers-economists-say/

This company does peer performance reviews—And then lets everyone read each other’s evaluations

/2025/03/24/performance-review-process-company-allows-all-workers-read-garner-health-workplace-culture/

2024 health coach certification review: Catalyst Coaching Institute

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-catalyst-coaching-institute/

A guide to a nurse’s salary: Broken down by all 50 states and industry type

/education/careers/nurse-salary/

2024 health coach certification review: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-institute-for-integrative-nutrition/

10 high-paying public health jobs right now

/education/careers/public-health-jobs/

Jason Del Rey

Is eBay actually sexy again as the ecommerce old-timer’s stock surges to an all-time high?

/2025/07/31/ebay-earnings-live-sports-cards-trading-pokemon/

Erik German

Meet the CIA-backed venture fund behind Palantir, Anduril—and a spy tool that might be on your phone

/2025/07/29/in-q-tel-cia-venture-capital-palantir-anduril/

Dana Hull

Kiel Porter

Bloomberg

Tesla engineering VP Moravy says company in ‘big swing moment’

/2025/07/27/tesla-engineering-vp-lars-moravy-big-swing-moment-musk-robotaxi-optimus-semi/

Christiaan Hetzner

Volkswagen seeks audience with Trump, dangling more than $10 billion in U.S. investments in exchange for tariff exemptions

/2025/07/25/volkswagen-trump-tariffs-exemptions/

Whether you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree or you are a professional with years of experience, Fortune is here to guide you on the next step of your educational journey.

How long does it take to earn an online master’s in psychology?

About the Contributors

Top Articles

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

Northwestern, Columbia, and UPenn have the best EMBA programs in the country. Here's why

MA in Psychology from Pepperdine