<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_Other

Low Intent

ptype_Explainer

Nicole Gull McElroy

<p>When Marjorie Ramos, a working psychologist, decided to continue her studies with a master’s degree, she knew she’d need to juggle several things successfully to reach her goal. A mother of two children, ages 6 and 8, Ramos lives in Colombia—and her family moves a lot because her husband is in the Colombian military.</p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>Ramos’ lifestyle demands flexibility even without going back to school, so an online program seemed to make the most sense for her. Plus, she could broaden the geographic scope of her search, considering programs as far-flung as Spain and the U.S. In the end, given her budget and educational objectives, Ramos landed on the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-psychology-degree-programs/">online master’s degree program in psychology</a> at <a href="https://www.purdueglobal.edu/">Purdue University Global</a>.</p>



<p>“I was looking to take two classes per term,” says Ramos. “But then COVID hit and my children weren’t in school. I had to take care of them longer than I’d thought and could only do one course per term. But that’s what I like about the online option. People taking their master’s online are busy people.”</p>



<p>Many online programs are specifically designed to increase access to higher education for working adults just like Ramos, according to Robert deMayo, associate dean for the psychology division at <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/pepperdine-university/">Pepperdine University</a>. “We find it’s particularly attractive to working adults who need the flexibility of an online environment.” </p>



<p>Pepperdine’s online program is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous work that draws students from across the country, and can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 years to complete, depending on a student’s concentration and any related state-mandated licensing requirements. “For students who are good at time management and pacing, these <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/05/25/is-an-online-masters-degree-in-psychology-worth-it/">programs are an excellent fit</a>,” deMayo says.</p>



<p>Here’s what <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/05/25/what-top-online-psychology-masters-programs-are-looking-for-in-applicants/">applicants need to know</a> about managing their time in an online master’s degree program in psychology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-online-master-s-degree-programs-require-organization">Online master’s degree programs require organization </h2>



<p>Ramos enrolled in Purdue’s psychology program in 2019, and she will graduate this Spring. Having served in the Colombian military, Ramos aims to <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/05/26/3-career-paths-you-can-pursue-with-an-online-masters-degree-in-psychology/">use her degree</a> to work with first responders, a topic she’s also chosen to research for her thesis project. Overall, she estimates that she spends roughly 10 to 15 hours per week on school, maybe a little more given that her first language isn’t English.</p>



<p>Ramos found she needed to break her day into blocks to study, to attend class, to be with her children, to take care of her home and family, and to complete projects or do research. Doing so allowed her to stay on top of all aspects of her life while in school. </p>



<p>“Instead of traveling to and from school I used the extra time to study,” she says. “I wake up early in the morning before my children and then I study again when they go to sleep at night.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-campus-resources-for-grad-students">Campus resources for grad students</h2>



<p>Some online master’s degree programs in psychology offer students extra guidance on balancing school, work, and life. Arizona State University has an initiative called Success Coach which helps students manage the demands of a busy course load, stress levels, and a career—along with any other time-related demands, according to Casey Ambrose, executive director of marketing operations at Arizona State. This is part of the school’s academic support team to help students navigate their time at ASU in a productive and healthy way. </p>



<p>The school also leverages platforms like Slack to simplify communication between faculty and students. It helps keep dialogue open and efficient between class time and office hours for students and professors, as well as another way to reach advisors, peers and coaches.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-budgeting-time-for-other-activities-outside-the-classroom">Budgeting time for other activities outside the classroom</h2>



<p>While synchronous and asynchronous work factor into any online master’s in psychology, there are certain programs that require in person, real time attention and effort. The addiction track at Purdue Global, for instance, requires both in person and online work, while at Pepperdine the master’s in clinical psychology also requires some supervised fieldwork that is generally done in person. </p>



<p>Ramos, for instance, has focused her degree on addiction at Purdue and struggled a bit sorting out her practicum work given travel restrictions throughout the pandemic. She was meant to complete this work in the U.S., but when borders were closed that became impossible. So Purdue worked with her to locate an organization in Washington D.C. that would allow her to do her residency online. “It was a great experience,” she says.</p>



<p>In addition to working with patients, some schools also offer extracurriculars that might add more time into the work/school/life balance. At Pepperdine, students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 and at least nine units of graduate courses completed,  can apply to Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. It offers fellowships and special programs for its members, even holding annual conferences regionally and nationally for students to network and grow their tie to the profession and its practice. </p>



<p><em><em>See how the schools you’re considering landed in Fortune’s rankings of the best <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-psychology-degree-programs/">master’s in psychology programs</a>,<a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/public-health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-public-health-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener"> public health programs</a>, <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>, <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>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-online-mba-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> MBA programs.</em></em></p>
</div>

An online master's degree program in psychology typically takes anywhere from 1.5 years to 3 years to complete.

How do students in an online master’s degree program in psychology manage their time?

F-Search

Education

Education Articles

Jasmine Suarez

Health and Wellness

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 DO STUDENTS IN AN ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY MANAGE THEIR TIME?

How do students in an online master’s degree program in psychology manage their time? | 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

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

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

https://fortune.com/education/articles/real-estate-school-review-aceableagent/?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 do students in an online master’s degree program in psychology manage their time?

About the Contributors

Top Articles

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

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

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

MA in Psychology from Pepperdine