Degrees in Psychology

Help Others Improve and Manage Their Mental and Behavioral Health

When you pursue one of GCU’s psychology majors, you commit to learning about the human mind and how our emotions and behaviors are all connected. You gain a greater understanding of people and what makes them think and behave in certain ways. Whether you want to directly help people overcome adversity and improve their mental and behavioral health, or use this versatile skill in another career field, the psychology degree programs offered at GCU offer you the opportunity to help make a difference in other people’s lives.

Most Popular Degree

Psychology is named as one of GCU’s top ten campus bachelor’s degree programs in Fall 2022

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A nationwide survey conducted by the American Psychological Association revealed that 45% of adults ages 35-44 reported a mental illness in 2023, up from the pre-pandemic 31% in 2019.1

Study Modern Techniques and Tools Used in Psychology

At GCU, psychology majors are taught to become innovative thinkers and ethical decision-makers who excel at effective communication. Throughout the coursework in your psychology degree, you can gain knowledge and core competencies in the following areas:

  • Ethical issues related to research, forensic psychology and psychotherapy
  • Transitions throughout the life stages and how they impact one’s physical, social, cognitive, personality and moral developments
  • Methods to promote healthy behaviors and techniques to prevent unhealthy habits
  • Various research methods and statistics and how to gather, organize, analyze and interpret data

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Institutionally Accredited and Respected Psychology Degree Programs

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As an institutionally accredited university, GCU offers campus and online psychology degree programs, which offer you a quality education, led by knowledgeable and industry-experienced faculty. Whether you pursue your bachelor’s or graduate degree in psychology, or want to earn your PhD, there are many degrees in psychology offered at GCU that can help you meet your goals.

Explore Psychology Degrees Online, On Campus or in the Evenings

For high school students or working professionals, GCU’s online programs offer flexible formats designed to help you reach your education and career goals with more convenience.

If you prefer to earn your degree in person, GCU has select on-campus and evening psychology degree programs.

GCU’s Commitment to Affordable Education

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When you attend GCU as a psychology major, you can be assured of our commitment to providing high-achieving students with access to an affordable private education. Financing your education is a big investment in your future, so let GCU help you plan for it with these convenient cost-estimating tools and resources:

Available Degrees in Psychology at GCU

Look at GCU’s psychology majors offered at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, with an array of program emphases available.

Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology

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Psychology Master’s Degrees

Geropsychology master's degree student delivering groceries to client

Doctorate in Psychology

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Psychology Certificate Programs

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Career Outcomes for Psychology Degree Graduates

Earning a bachelor’s in psychology is a great way to prepare for graduate study. Many psychology majors go on to earn a graduate degree in psychology or in a related field such as counseling, social work or education. Others choose to use their skills in human psychology to pursue advanced education in law, medicine or criminal justice.

Depending on specialization and earned credentials, psychologists can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics, nursing homes, schools, mental health facilities, government agencies, social service agencies and nonprofit organizations.2

A benefit to earning an online psychology degree at the graduate level is the option to specialize in an area that fits your personal interests and career goals. At GCU, psychology degree emphases are offered in:

  • Forensic psychology
  • General psychology
  • Geropsychology
  • Health psychology
  • Human factors psychology
  • Industrial and organizational psychology
  • Life coaching

$85,330

Median annual wage for psychologists as of May 20223

12,000

Estimated new jobs openings for psychologists from 2022 to 20324

FAQs for Degrees in Psychology

If you are interested in pursuing a degree in psychology, we have provided answers to frequently asked questions to assist you in your research.

To determine which field of psychology is the hardest, the answer will be different for each person. It’s important to thoroughly research the areas of psychology you are most interested in and ask yourself honest questions, such as:

  • What kind of education does this field require? Do I have the time, finances and bandwidth to meet these requirements?
  • What are the hardest classes? What do I need to do to be successful in them?
  • What are the job responsibilities? Am I mentally and emotionally capable of handling them?
  • Is this a common or rare subfield of psychology? Are there job opportunities and growth potential?

There are five main types of psychology degree programs: associate, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD and PsyD.5 Psychology degrees can also offer emphases curriculum to help students work toward careers in specialized areas, such as mental health, addiction, education, child and adolescent disorders and research.

When you earn an advanced psychology degree, you can position yourself to open doors to many types of job possibilities. Psychologists can help people deal with trauma, mental illness, behavioral disorders and unhealthy habits. They can also assist psychologically healthy people with finding happiness, motivation, resiliency, confidence and overall well-being.

Psychology majors will be taught the intricacies of the human mind and why people act the way they do. Understanding people and their behaviors is a versatile skill that can prove valuable in any profession. If you choose to work directly with people in a clinical therapy or counseling capacity, you may benefit from providing others with support, encouragement and a path to a more healthy and happy life.

Undergraduate degrees in psychology at GCU require 120 credits to completion. On-campus courses are generally 15 weeks long and online psychology degree courses are eight weeks. To learn how long it can take you to complete your degree, complete the form on this page to connect with a university counselor.

There are many jobs you can pursue with a psychology degree at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. With a bachelor’s in psychology, you may be interested in positions such as social and community service manager, social and human service assistant or human resources specialist. With a graduate degree or a PhD in the psychology field, you can specialize and become eligible to take licensure exams or certification in your desired specialization, such as organizational psychology, forensic psychology, geropsychology, health psychology and life coaching.

1 American Psychological Association. (2023, Nov. 1). Stress in America 2023: A Nation Grappling With Psychological Impacts of Collective Trauma. Retrieved on Feb. 16, 2024.

2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Feb. 16). Psychologists Work Environment. Retrieved on Feb. 16, 2024.

3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Psychologists as of May 2022. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as psychologists, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.

4 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists.

5 Cherry, K. (2022, Oct. 12). 5 Types of Psychology Degrees. VeryWell Mind. Retrieved on Feb. 16, 2024.

Grand Canyon University's degrees in psychology that can offer the flexibility you need, while also providing a quality education in the psychology field.

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