Online Behavioral Psychology Degree Guide
Key Takeaways
- Online behavioral psych degrees prepare students for roles in HR, social services, and research through interdisciplinary training.
- Most programs take four years and require 120 credits, though some offer credit for prior learning or work experience.
- Graduates can earn median annual salaries of $58,000-$136,000 in roles like social worker or HR manager, with grad school needed for therapist or psychologist jobs.
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, could be a good fit for you if you’re drawn to the connection between the human mind, the environment, and people’s actions.
An online degree in behavioral psychology can lead to diverse career paths in many different sectors.
What Is a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology?
You can expect to spend four years in your behavioral psychology program, focusing on the interactions between human thoughts and actions.
Behavioral psychology programs are interdisciplinary, involving psychology, sociology, communication, anthropology, and political science.
The classes you’ll take include ethics in applied behavior analysis, social statistics, qualitative methods, and cultural diversity. Your statistics and research coursework will teach you how to collect and analyze data.
These programs are designed for those who want to help people understand and improve their behavior. Once you earn your behavioral psychology degree, you can pursue entry-level roles in social services, human resources, and even market research, to name a few career paths.
Featured Online Behavioral Psychology Programs
Behavioral Psychology Degree Courses and Concentrations
The goal of behavioral psychology degree programs is to prepare students to help clients make positive behavioral changes and promote general wellness.
In your interdisciplinary courses, you’ll study psychology, sociology, communication, and other fields to understand human interaction. Some courses you’ll likely take include:
Introduction to psychology
This class overviews select psychology topics, such as consciousness, memory, psychotherapy, research methods, and social psychology.Human resource management
This introductory course explores topics in the field of human resource management, including motivation, people management, and communication.Psychology of criminal behavior
This course examines the psychology behind criminal behavior by exploring the link between psychology and the criminal justice system.Lifespan development
In this class, you’ll learn about human growth and development throughout the lifespan — from birth through death.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology?
Behavioral psychology degree programs typically take four years to complete. You’ll likely need to earn around 120 credits in general education and core courses as well as electives.
You can speed up this process by transferring credits and earning credit for life experience. For example, Purdue Global lets students who transfer credits and apply work and military experience earn their behavioral psychology degrees in two years.
If you’re a busy adult who is seeking flexibility, you can pursue an online behavioral psychology program.
How Much Does a Bachelor’s Degree Cost?
Based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average net cost of a bachelor’s program was $15,200 at public colleges and universities and $29,700 at private schools during the 2021-2022 academic year. This is the most recent available data.
To give you some real-world examples, the University of Arizona Global Campus charges $460 per credit plus various fees. At DePaul University, you would pay $520 per credit hour.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology?
A bachelor’s degree in behavioral psychology can give you a solid understanding of human behavior and lead to a diverse range of career options.
Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology Jobs
A bachelor’s degree in behavioral psychology does not qualify you to become a therapist. For that role, you’ll need at least a master’s degree. However, a bachelor’s can lead to relevant roles.
Some jobs you can pursue after you earn your behavioral psychology degree are behavioral analyst, parent educator, human resources professional, social and community service manager, and market research analyst.
These are just a few roles; there are a variety of career paths to which you can apply your psychology degree.
How Much Money Can I Make With a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology?
Workers with a bachelor’s in behavioral psychology often earn above-average salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers earned a median of $61,330 in 2024. Human resources managers earned a median of $140,030 the same year.
See the chart below for more potential career paths and their salaries.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Job Growth Rate (2024-2034) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Managers | $140,030 | 5% | Oversee an organization’s administrative tasks like employee relations |
| Market Research Analysts | $76,950 | 7% | Analyze business data to help companies promote products and services |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $64,520 | 3% | Supervise formerly incarcerated people on probation or parole |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $78,240 | 6% | Advocate for community needs by supervising community outreach organizations |
| Social Workers | $61,330 | 6% | Help people access community resources and teach them how to self-advocate |
Continuing Education in Behavioral Psychology
After you earn your bachelor’s in behavioral psychology, you can pursue entry-level roles in social services, human resources, and market research. Your career options include mental health case manager, human resources assistant, and market research analyst.
You can also pursue a graduate degree, such as a master’s or doctoral degree. To become a psychologist, you’ll need an advanced degree in psychology plus supervised experience. You’ll also need to pass licensing exams.
Some roles, such as school psychologist and industrial/organizational psychologist, are accessible with a master’s degree. However, a doctoral degree will let you access high-level leadership and academic roles.
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