Can I Earn A Doctorate Degree In Psychology Part-Time?

part time PhD psychology

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Can you earn a PhD in psychology part-time? You sure can. Find out more in this article.

Many schools have started to get on board with offering doctoral-level degrees in psychology online, and some of them are even available in accelerated formats to help you finish your degree faster. Some even allow students the complete such programs on a part-time basis.


The average age of a student enrolled in a doctorate degree program is in the early thirties, and by that time, most people have a host of professional and personal obligations that might limit the time that they have to dedicate to their studies. To offer a solution to people in that situation trying to advance their education, a lot of schools now offer part-time programs. If a school that you’re interested in doesn’t say that they have a part-time option, you can talk to the program director or an enrollment advisor to discuss your options. Here are a few online Ph.D programs that may interest you:

Walden University is a for-profit institution based in Minnesota that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school offers seven different specializations in their PhD in Psychology program. 100% of the coursework is available online, but there are four residencies required as part of the program. OnlineCollegePlan does not promote, endorse, or guarantee the validity of any programs offered by for-profit institutions; further research into this option should be done at your discretion and with scrutiny.

The California Institute of Integral Studies is a private university that is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Very little information is available about CIIS overall; however, it is clear that this school takes a very “new-age” or “spiritual” approach to its teaching method, which is what draws the majority of its students. The institute states that it combines “academic rigor, consciousness, and spirituality to foster personal and professional growth.” The degree offered is a PhD in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology. It is a part-time program that is entirely online, with the exception of two intensives on campus in San Francisco each year.

Be sure to check out our full list of the top online PhD in psychology programs.