collageMany of Georgia’s colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate psychology degree programs to help prepare graduates for careers in a wide range of psychology-related fields, such as clinical psychology and forensic psychology. The following guide is designed to give you an overview of psychology programs offered in Georgia and to help you make an informed decision on the best program for your career goals. In addition to the many traditional psychology programs in Georgia, online schools offer an affordable, flexible alternative to earning a psychology degree.
Quick Facts
- There are 49 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Georgia.1
- 6 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 45 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 15 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 4 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- 2 schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- No schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.4
- 4 schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Psychology Programs in Georgia
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- Georgia Institute of Technology (#17)
- Georgia State University (#90)
- University of North Georgia (#94)
- University of Georgia (#12)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- Agnes Scott College
- Spelman College
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- Emory University (#51)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (#100)
- Georgia State University (#176-200)
- University of Georgia (#96)
Continue reading the following profiles of several popular psychology programs in Georgia to give you an idea of the different psychology degree options available in the state.
Liberty University OnlineLiberty University provides a worldclass education from a christ-centered worldview100% online programs at associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levelsNo standardized testing if student meets admission requirementsAccredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges87% of Liberty University students receive some form of financial aid
Purdue University GlobalWELCOME TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY GLOBAL World-Class Education Tailored for Working AdultsBuilding on Purdue’s mission to provide greater access to affordable, world-class education, Purdue University Global delivers a fully personalized online experience tailored for working adults. By opening the doors to adults who need flexibility to fit learning into their busy lives, we make it possible to achieve a high-quality education from the prestigious Purdue University system—from anywhere in the world.Flexibility Built for YouChoose the learning method that works best for you. Our Advisors will work with you to determine the fastest, most affordable path to your degree.• Traditional online classroom – Learn online from anywhere in the world. You can also visit one of our regional locations to take advantage of local, onsite support and services. Our virtual classroom lets you experience course materials and collaborative tools that provide the best elements of any traditional, campus-based instructional approach. Courses include interactive live seminars where you meet with your instructor and classmates in a virtual classroom to review and discuss important weekly topics. • Competency-based ExcelTrack™ – If you’re self-motivated and have college credits and/or career experience, ExcelTrack™ lets you use that experience to earn your degree faster and for less money. Leverage your knowledge and skills to set your learning pace. You can speed past topics you already know and spend time on only what you need to learn. Take as many classes as you want each term, all for one flat tuition rate. • Open College at Purdue Global – Access free and low-cost open, online resources to translate your work or life experience into college credit at Purdue Global. There are three avenues to earn credit toward an Open College degree: (1) prior learning assessment, (2) open courses from any institution (MOOCs), and (3) Purdue Global courses.*One-on-One SupportOur dedicated faculty and support teams are with you every step of the way, giving you personalized assistance on everything from coursework to career planning. Our full range of services include:• Individual educational advising • No-cost tutoring in math, science, and writing• Comprehensive career counseling services before and after graduation Affordability and AccessibilityPurdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.• Financial Aid – Learn how to obtain financial aid for many degree programs.† • Transfer Credits – Save on a bachelor’s degree with credits earned at another institution.* • Credit for Work Experience – Leverage your skills to save on tuition for undergraduate programs.* • Military Friendly – Find out about flexible programs and tuition reductions for military, veterans, and spouses.For more information on Purdue University Global’s accreditation, CLICK HERE; https://www.purdueglobal.edu/about/accreditation/*See University Catalog for Prior Learning Assessment policy.†Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Financial aid awards vary depending on individual student eligibility and need.
Post UniversityLearn how you can make a difference in the Human Services field with a degree from Post100% online Human Services BS degreeFind concentrations in Counseling, Management, Psychology & moreRanked in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by the US News & World ReportPost University earned the 2017 Military Spouse Friendly School® designation
Schools in Georgia with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Columbus State University
Columbus State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree program that provides students with a solid foundation in psychology preparatory to entry-level careers or graduate study. Required courses in the program include Research Design/Methodology; Learning or Cognitive Psychology; Biological Psychology or Sensation and Perception. Students select additional psychology courses from a register of electives that includes study in comparative psychology, behavioral psychology, evolutionary psychology, and a variety of courses in other clinical and research areas. During the final term, students take a major field assessment course which includes a baccalaureate examination in psychology. The Department of Psychology hosts a chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, in addition to its own Psychology Club. These student-driven organizations provide peer support, networking, and opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities that supplement the learning experience. Student learning is further supported by the program’s experienced faculty, who represent diverse specializations in psychology, as well as the school’s dedicated research labs and facilities.
Georgia Gwinnett College
Psychology majors at Georgia Gwinnett College, which offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology, may opt for one of four concentrations in clinical and personality psychology, cognitive psychology and neuroscience, development and educational psychology, and social and applied psychology. All psychology majors must complete 60 credits of general education requirements and three credit hours of physical education and wellness in addition to 60 psychology credits. Psychology majors are permitted to complete up to two internships, one of which can be in lieu of the senior capstone project. Internships generally take place at a community facility, in a research laboratory, on-campus, or by shadowing a practicing professional.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. The 121-credit undergraduate program requires students to complete general college requirements in math, science, English, physical education, and history in addition to psychology core and elective courses. All psychology majors must take research design and research analysis and choose one course from those offered in biological psychology and social psychology. The psychology department offers both internship and research opportunities within the department and encourages students to join the campus chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students, and the Neuroscience Student Association.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of West Georgia
The University of West Georgia’s Master of Arts (MA) in Humanistic Psychology gives graduate students the option of pursuing a thesis track or a non-thesis track. Graduate students planning to move on to a doctoral program are encouraged to opt for the thesis track. Students in the thesis track must complete 33 credits and those in the non-thesis track must complete 45 credits to fulfill degree requirements. Non-thesis track students can take a maximum of 12 credits in another discipline. All graduate students must take two required “gateway” courses in the foundations of humanistic psychology and human growth and potential. The university’s graduate program sets itself apart from traditional master’s programs in that it focuses on a holistic approach that includes extensive study of the thinkers – such as Freud – of the field. Students, regardless of the track, may participate in a practicum, which generally focuses on psychotherapy.
Augusta State University
Augusta State University features a Master of Science (MS) in Psychology. The full-time program requires graduate students to attend classes year-round, which allows for completion of degree requirements in five semesters. Classes are only offered during the day. Graduate students will take a full range of psychology courses in such areas as social psychology, learning psychology, and developmental psychology. Graduate assistantships are available on a limited a basis and provide graduate students with a stipend and a discount on tuition. Graduate students can become involved in on-campus activities, such as joining Psi Chi, attending the annual fall lecture series, and supporting the annual Yancey Mental Health Golf Tournament.
Online Psychology Programs
Valdosta State University
Students enrolled in Valdosta State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Psychology take courses focusing on a range of disciplines and subfields in psychology, including learning, cognition, intelligence, personality, and mental disorders. It is recommended that online students follow the program’s planned degree progression, which guarantees that the next classes that the student needs to complete the degree plan will be available the following semester. Students complete 60 core credit hours, 21 elective credit hours, and 39 upper-level credit hours in psychology to earn the bachelor of science. Courses in the psychology major include Educational Psychology, Introduction to Behavior Modification, Statistical Methods in Psychology, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Online students are eligible for Valdosta State’s eTuition rate, which offers the same tuition rate to both in-state and out-of-state students. Online students may also be exempt from select on-campus fees.
Life University
Life University offers an online Master’s in Positive Psychology with two concentrations, Coaching Psychology or General Psychology. The positive psychology curriculum emphasizes positive human functioning based on happiness, life satisfaction, meaning, and compassion, based on the psychological approaches of Martin Seligman. While the majority of the program is completed online, there are three mandatory weekend residential retreats, which take place once per quarter. The coaching concentration prepares students to become professional coaches and work in related fields such as human development. The general track prepares students to work in positive psychology in various environments. Both tracks are designed to take three quarters to complete. Example courses include Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics, and Theories and Techniques of Coaching Psychology. A written comprehensive exam is required on either track
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Georgia
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Georgia on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2017.6 Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.6
| School | BA/BS | Grad Prog. | Online Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Scott College | Yes | No | No | — | 69% | — | — | — | — | $21,624 |
| Albany State University | Yes | Yes | Master’s | CACREP | 19% | — | — | — | — | $12,569 |
| Augusta University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 31% | — | — | — | — | $13,112 |
| Berry College | Yes | No | No | — | 66% | — | — | — | — | $24,917 |
| Brenau University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 43% | — | — | — | — | $22,011 |
| Brewton-Parker College | Yes | No | No | — | 22% | — | — | — | — | $19,681 |
| Carver Bible College | Yes | No | No | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Clark Atlanta University | Yes | No | No | CACREP | 45% | — | — | — | — | $27,143 |
| Clayton State University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 30% | — | — | — | — | $10,326 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Yes | No | No | — | 21% | — | — | — | — | $12,341 |
| Columbus State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 37% | — | — | — | — | $11,316 |
| Covenant College | Yes | No | No | — | 71% | — | — | — | — | $23,053 |
| Dalton State College | Yes | No | No | — | 22% | — | — | — | — | $6,484 |
| Emmanuel College | Yes | No | No | — | 43% | — | — | — | — | $17,672 |
| Emory University | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 90% | 100 | 6 | 30 | 36^ | $26,804 |
| Fort Valley State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 28% | — | — | — | — | $14,184 |
| Georgia College and State University | Yes | No | No | — | 64% | — | — | — | — | $20,478 |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | Yes | No | No | — | 17% | — | — | — | — | $11,735 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | No | — | 87% | — | — | — | 45^ | $16,950 |
| Georgia Southern University | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 50% | 88% | 8 | — | — | $15,435 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Yes | No | No | — | 29% | — | — | — | — | $12,653 |
| Georgia State University (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 54% | 80% | 5 | — | — | $14,501 |
| Georgia State University (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 54% | 100% | 10 | — | — | $14,501 |
| Kennesaw State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | — | 43% | — | — | — | — | $17,618 |
| LaGrange College | Yes | No | No | — | 46% | — | — | — | — | $19,918 |
| Life University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | — | 33% | — | — | — | — | $27,453 |
| Mercer University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, CACREP | 66% | — | — | — | — | $21,202 |
| Middle Georgia State University | Yes | No | No | — | 18% | — | — | — | — | $9,378 |
| Morehouse College | Yes | No | No | — | 54% | — | — | — | — | $38,878 |
| Oglethorpe University | Yes | No | No | — | 54% | — | — | — | — | $21,793 |
| Paine College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 27% | — | — | — | — | $14,614 |
| Piedmont College | Yes | No | No | — | 50% | — | — | — | — | $18,625 |
| Point University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 32% | — | — | — | — | $21,070 |
| Reinhardt University | Yes | No | No | — | 29% | — | — | — | — | $21,436 |
| Shorter University | Yes | No | No | — | 46% | — | — | — | — | $19,395 |
| Spelman College | Yes | No | No | — | 75% | — | — | 67 | — | $39,822 |
| Thomas University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 20% | — | — | — | — | $17,420 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 59% | — | — | — | — | $21,934 |
| Truett McConnell University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | — | 43% | — | — | — | — | $17,088 |
| University of Georgia (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Master’s, EdS | APA, CACREP, NASP | 86% | 66% | 13 | 91 | 75^ | $15,539 |
| University of Georgia (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Master’s, EdS | APA | 86% | 100% | 10 | 91 | 75^ | $15,539 |
| University of North Georgia | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 34% | — | — | — | — | $10,264 |
| University of West Georgia | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 42% | — | — | — | — | $15,392 |
| Valdosta State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 42% | — | — | — | — | $13,630 |
| Wesleyan College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 52% | — | — | — | — | $12,898 |
| Young Harris College | Yes | No | No | — | 41% | — | — | — | — | $18,153 |
Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion
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