Top Online Psychology Master’s Programs in Florida (FL)

Master of Psychology Specialties for Florida Programs

Deciding to apply for your master’s degree is an important step toward advancing your career, but determining which program to attend can be tricky. If you’re a working professional or are juggling personal obligations, you’ll want to find a program that fits both your career goals and your schedule.

In Florida, you’ll find options for in-person, online, and hybrid programs in many regions of the state. Although some programs require in-person clinical training, many of them offer fully online coursework.

Additionally, many psychology graduate programs in Florida offer concentration tracks or specializations to help you tailor your graduate education to fit your career goals. Specializations include applied areas of clinical and professional practice, as well as research and theory-based avenues. To help you decide which is right for you, we’ve detailed some of the specialties you can pursue and examples of programs that offer them.

Clinical Psychology

Graduates specializing in clinical psychology can pursue careers as therapists, mental health counselors, lab researchers, and postsecondary educators. This concentration blends scientific theory and empirical knowledge with clinical reasoning and focuses on intervention strategies designed to treat human behavior.

The clinical psychology specialization often includes hands-on training in applied settings and prepares students for doctoral-level study. Even though there aren’t any online clinical psychology programs available in Florida, there are many programs with classes designed for working students.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology programs combine the topics of psychology and law, preparing students for careers in the legal field or the criminal justice system. Typically, students will study topics such as criminology, criminal law, research methods, and personality assessment.

These programs allow students to understand the importance of mental health treatment within the criminal justice system through advanced coursework and fieldwork. Forensic psychology usually covers sub-disciplines such as investigative psychology, criminal psychology, and legal psychology.

Counseling Psychology

A concentration in counseling psychology equips graduates with applied skills for a range of settings like schools, hospitals, community treatment clinics, and social services agencies. This can be a good concentration option for students wishing to begin a career as a licensed counselor.

Some programs focus more on applied behavior analysis or case management, while others focus on skills in substance abuse, career, or clinical counseling. The best psychology graduate programs in Florida with this specialization qualify you for state licensure.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

A new and emerging applied psychology subfield, industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology qualifies graduates for work in the corporate sector as trainers, human resources managers, behavior analysts, and independent consultants. I/O psychology produces scholar-practitioners who can analyze organizational structures and identify new ways to advance long-term business goals.

Coursework for this specialization looks at subjects of interest to organizational development, such as employee behavior and motivation, talent acquisition, and leadership development. Some programs also have practicum placements.

School Psychology

Most specialists in school or educational psychology find work as licensed counselors in K-12 settings. Psychology master’s programs in Florida with this concentration empower students to identify needs and develop individual education plans that achieve professional and academic goals.

A comprehensive online school psychology program will explore psychology foundations, counseling theory and technique, lifespan development, learning theory, and methods of educational research. Most programs, including ones with online coursework, require a field education component in classroom-based settings.

Student Support: FAQs About Florida’s Psychology Master’s Programs

What are the admissions requirements for psychology master’s programs in Florida?

Generally, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to apply to a master’s program in Florida. Most psychology graduate programs in Florida follow a similar admission process and require prospective applicants to submit the following items:

• Official academic transcripts with a competitive grade point average (GPA)
• At least two letters of recommendation
• A professional resume outlining relevant experience and work history
• A written personal statement
• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores

Note that the GRE is optional or waivable in some programs. In addition, some schools require items not listed above, so check with the colleges you’re applying to.

How long do psychology master’s programs in Florida take to finish?

Overall, most students graduate from psychology master’s programs in Florida in two to three years. Completion timelines vary and depend on the school and your preferences, and accelerated programs can get you to graduation sooner with an intensive study schedule.

The master’s program at Lynn University, for example, only lasts a single year, while the hybrid program at Florida International University typically takes up to two years. Your program may take longer if you pursue a more hands-on course of study, like Barry University’s clinical psychology program, which lasts three years.

How much do psychology master’s programs in Florida cost?

The average psychology master’s program in Florida costs between $10,000 to $30,000. Florida residents can significantly cut costs by attending public institutions and taking advantage of in-state tuition rates. Outside of that, most psychology master’s programs in Florida charge similar tuition rates.

It’s important to keep in mind that tuition isn’t the only cost for college students. Things like living expenses and textbooks can add up. While some online or hybrid programs do charge more per credit hour, online programs in Florida can save you money on commuting and living expenses if you choose to live off-campus.

Are there scholarships for online psychology master’s students?

There are plenty of funding options for both online and in-campus programs. For example, there are some scholarships for public service degrees you may be eligible for.

To start out your scholarship search, find out what your prospective university has to offer. When you apply for school-based scholarships, there are usually smaller pools than national and state-based awards, and these awards are typically open to new and returning students. For example, the University of South Florida’s financial aid department and Nova Southeastern’s financial aid department both have scholarships specifically for psychology master’s students.

How can I get financial aid for my online psychology master’s degree?

Financial aid opportunities like scholarships and grants can help reduce the costs associated with psychology master’s programs in Florida. However, you may also qualify for federal and state financial aid.

You can apply for federal financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal financial aid is generally offered to those who need help paying for school based on their income or their family’s income. Filling out your FAFSA on time and accurately will be your first step to getting help for funding your online education, so make sure to keep the due dates in mind.

Earnings and Careers: Mental Health Counselors in Florida

Florida’s Best-Ranked Online Master of Psychology Programs

Students in online psychology master’s programs in Florida receive the same quality education as their on-campus peers. That said, if you’re thinking of enrolling in one of these programs, you want to be sure it has all the right features that meet your needs.

To help you find the right online program, we’ve ranked them based on the quality of their accreditation and their online programs. Check out our “About the Rankings” section to learn more about our selection process, and then explore our top-rated online psychology master’s programs in Florida below.