Online psychology courses offer a flexible and convenient way to study this in-demand topic. You can take online courses in a degree or diploma program or study psychology for free as part of a self-designed learning plan.

Explore popular course focuses, find out what to expect, and connect with a wealth of learning opportunities with this student-focused guide to online psychology courses.

What Programs Offer Online Psychology Classes?

Some psychology programs are 100% online, some follow a hybrid format with both online and on-campus classes, and some offer only in-person classes.

Many psychology programs offer online courses, including bachelor's in psychology, master's in psychology, and doctoral psychology programs.

Online psychology classes may or may not meet in real time. Some courses are asynchronous, allowing you to log in and view prerecorded video lessons and class materials at your convenience. Other courses, however, are synchronous, a format that typically requires you to attend and participate in live virtual class sessions at scheduled times throughout the term.

Benefits of Taking Psychology Courses Online

Online psychology courses offer many appealing benefits. You can use them to:

  • Build targeted knowledge of psychology theory, research methods, and practical applications.
  • Develop valuable and versatile insights into human behavior that transfer well to many industries and job functions.
  • Learn at your convenience and set your own schedule.
  • Cut your educational costs by avoiding commuting, transportation, and parking fees.

Which Psychology Courses Are Offered Online?

Accredited schools offer online psychology courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The subsections below introduce and explain popular offerings, which you can pursue as standalone courses or as part of a diploma or degree program.

Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate institutions feature a wealth of foundational and intermediate online psychology courses. Curated from a cross section of leading online undergraduate degree programs, here's a look at some common courses you can take at the associate or bachelor's level:

Graduate Courses

At the graduate level, online psychology courses become more advanced and focused on specific niches. You can also build highly specialized analytical insights with precise academic, research, and professional applications.

Here's a look at some of the courses commonly offered in online graduate programs.

Which Psychology Courses Are Not Online?

Institutions offer many core and elective courses from their psychology programs in online formats. However, online learning lends itself best to the academic aspects of psychology. The field also involves experiential learning, especially at the graduate level. Many schools require students to complete these requirements face to face.

Examples include courses that involve:

  • Laboratory components
  • Field research
  • Internships or practicums
  • Supervised clinical training

These requirements are essential if you plan to become a licensed psychologist, as you'll need to complete thousands of hours of supervised experiential training. For this reason, the American Psychological Association does not currently accredit any fully online doctoral programs in psychology.

Where Can I Find Free Online Psychology Courses?

Many educational institutions — including some of the country's most prestigious colleges — offer online psychology courses you can take for free. Some of these free course offerings include:

Many other educational institutions offer free online psychology courses as massive open online courses (MOOCs). MOOCs have become popular with learners seeking to explore subjects and learn new skills without major time or financial commitments. They're readily available through dozens of providers — search and see!