phd psychology gcu

Earn your degree in psychology at Grand Canyon University

Gcu online degrees, choose from over 200 majors and concentrations.

Explore our accredited bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs

Filter Results

Gain a deeper understanding of human development and behavior

Psychology degrees.

Human thought and behavior are continuously influenced by social, cultural and environmental factors. GCU’s online psychology programs include a broad education in the fundamental aspects of human thought and behavior at all stages of life.

Graduates with a psychology degree may qualify for employment with private companies, nonprofit organizations, schools or social service agencies in careers such as:

• Special needs assistant
• Youth counselor
• Human resources specialist
• Case manager
• Psychiatric tech
• Child care worker
• Career counselor
• Probation officer
• Market researcher
• Or pursue an advanced degree and licensure to open a private, clinical practice

A world-class university committed to helping you achieve your goals

The gcu difference.

Since 1949, Grand Canyon University has been a premier university helping students find their purpose and pursue the career of their dreams.

Here’s what sets GCU apart:

• Academic Excellence – For more than 70 years, GCU has been offering quality academic programs that provide the skills and credentials needed for career success.
• Affordability  – GCU offers a competitive, affordable online tuition rate and numerous financing options, including scholarships for academic achievement.
• Earlier Graduation  – Our 4-credit programs allow you to complete your degree program in less time.
• Dynamic Learning Environment  – GCU’s online classroom ensures students are engaged and learning with each course designed to promote maximum collaboration.

Get a quality education that's accessible no matter where you are

Online and on campus.

Backed by the legacy of our traditional campus, GCU is a regionally accredited university that stands out from other online institutions. Whether you choose to study online or at our vibrant Phoenix campus, GCU wants to make your education flexible and convenient so you can learn on your schedule.

Graduate faster when you get credit for what you’ve already learned

Transferring credits.

Transfer College Credits

GCU generally accepts courses from accredited institutions. Whether you attended a community college or a university, we make it easy to submit your transcripts and find out how many previous credits will count toward your degree.

Lifelong Learning Assessment (LLA)

If you’ve worked in the field or industry of your degree path, GCU’s Lifelong Assessment (LLA) allows qualified students to earn up to eight general education or elective credits based on previous work and life experiences.

National Exams

National exams such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) offer a great way for you to get credits for what you know. You can earn up to 30 GCU transfer credits toward your bachelor’s degree through these tests.

Certificates and Credit Evaluations

Qualifying certificates and credit evaluations such as the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT®) allow you to gain credits for your professional learning experiences. Turn your previous work experience including military training into potential college credits.

Get started when you're ready

Admissions at gcu.

All students must submit either acceptable high school or college transcripts to be considered for full admission into the University. If students cannot meet the GPA requirements with their transcripts but have test scores or a college-GPA that meets admission requirements, students may be eligible for full admission.

• Undergraduate Next Start Date Monday May 27 Request Info
• Graduate Next Start Date Thursday May 30 Request Info

Accreditation

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission , an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Higher Learning Commission was established in 1895 as an accreditor of post-secondary degree granting institutions in the North Central region, totaling 19 states. The HLC and its predecessor have accredited GCU continually since 1968.

• Graduate School
• PHOENIX, AZ
• Grand Canyon University
• Rating 4.6 out of 5   1,022 reviews
• Computer Science
• Education Administration
• Nursing (MSN)
• Social Work
• Special Education Masters

Graduate Schools

Graduate schools within grand canyon university.

• sort list below by grade disabled Best
• sort list below alphabetically active A-Z

Colangelo College of Business

College of doctoral studies, college of education - grand canyon university, college of humanities and social sciences - grand canyon university, college of nursing and health care professions, college of science, engineering and technology - grand canyon university, college of theology - grand canyon university, masters programs, most popular masters programs.

• Business 1,774 Students
• Special Education and Teaching 1,202 Students
• Educational Administration 912 Students
• Nursing Administration 815 Students
• Elementary Education 720 Students
• Teaching 686 Students
• Psychology 655 Students
• English and Reading Teacher Education 647 Students
• High School Education 575 Students
• Mental Health Counseling 558 Students

Doctoral Programs

Most popular doctoral programs.

• Nursing Science, Education, and Practice 288 Students
• Educational Administration 197 Students
• Psychology 139 Students
• Business 15 Students
• Adult and Continuing Education
• Hospital Management
• Mental Health Counseling

Learn How to Pay for Grad School

Graduate students.

• White 42.9%
• African American 28.4%
• Hispanic 12.5%
• Multiracial 2.6%
• Native American 1%
• International (Non-Citizen) 0.6%
• Pacific Islander 0.4%

Student Life

• Down-to-earth 5%
• Friendly 10%
• Intellectual 4%
• Organized 2%
• Just trying to get through 0%
• A little of all of the above 15%
• Competitive and intense 8%
• Prepared me for the real world 7%
• Supportive/helped me grow 15%
• attending now 17%
• Aweful place! 0%
• Confusing, misguided, frustrating, contradictory 0%
• Currently attending/helping me grow 27%

Scholarship

Return on investment.

• Less than $25,000 34%
• $25,000 - $50,000 46%
• $50,000 - $75,000 13%
• $75,000 - $100,000 5%
• More than $100,000 3%
• Less than $50,000 13%
• $50,000 - $75,000 10%
• $100,000 - $125,000 1%
• $125,000 - $150,000 0%
• More than $150,000 1%
• Did not graduate yet 69%

Living in the Area

• Cost of Living grade  C
• Crime & Safety grade  unavailable
• Nightlife grade  A minus

Claim Your graduate school Today!

Similar grad schools.

• FLAGSTAFF, AZ
• Rating 4.6 out of 5   112 reviews
• Rating 4.58 out of 5   431 reviews
• Rating 4.58 out of 5   177 reviews
• GLENDALE, AZ
• Rating 4.57 out of 5   7 reviews

Grand Canyon University Reviews

• Rating 5 out of 5   Excellent 726   reviews ( 71 %)
• Rating 4 out of 5   Very Good 214   reviews ( 21 %)
• Rating 3 out of 5   Average 61   reviews ( 6 %)
• Rating 2 out of 5   Poor 9   reviews ( 1 %)
• Rating 1 out of 5   Terrible 12   reviews ( 1 %)
• 12 days ago
• Master's Student
• 19 days ago
• a month ago

Add to List

• Best Online Programs
• Best Campus Programs
• Behavior Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling & Mental Health
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• General Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational
• Marriage Family Therapy
• Social Psychology
• Social Work
• Educational Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Family Psychologists
• Marriage Family Therapist
• School Psychologist
• Social Psychologist
• School Counselors
• Neuropsychologist
• I/O Psychologist
• Sports Psychologist
• Addiction Counselor
• Mental Health Psychologist
• Counseling Psychologist
• Occupational Psychologist
• Child Psychiatrist
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• PsyD vs PhD

Grand Canyon University Psychology PhD Review

Completing a doctoral program is a challenging-yet-rewarding accomplishment that represents reaching the heights of academic achievement. While many Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs are based in traditional modes of education, some students may not be able to access the old forms of education.

Fortunately, an increasing number of colleges and universities are offering online Ph.D. programs, such as the online Ph.D. in Psychology offered at Grand Canyon University. Let’s take a look at what prospective students need to know about their options at GCU.

About the Program

Before diving into the benefits and drawbacks of earning an online Ph.D. in Psychology at GCU, let’s study the basic facts surrounding the institution.

• Institution type: Private, for-profit
• Main campus: Phoenix
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Tuition and fees

• Total expected tuition: $41,700
• Per credit-hour tuition: $695

Degrees & requirements

• PhD degrees offered: Online PhD in Performance Psychology, Online PhD in Cognitive Psychology, Online PhD in Counselor Education, Online PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Online PhD in Psych Tech
• Number of credit hours required: 60 (includes dissertation)
• Application method: Online
• Admission requirements: Master’s degree with GPA of 3.4 or higher, transcripts for all levels of education
• Admissions office address: 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017

Biggest Pros

What factors make GCU’s online Ph.D. in Psychology programs appealing for the average student?

Online delivery method

Particularly for students who either have no educational options in their state or who simply cannot afford to relocate to another city or state to attend a Ph.D. program, online education is a very attractive prospect. Not only does an online Ph.D. program open education up to more students, but it allows learners a wide degree of flexibility, ensuring their education fits into their lives, not the other way around.

SEE ALSO: Most Affordable Online PhD in Psychology Programs

Several degree options

GCU students can choose from several possible online Ph.D. tracks — cognitive psychology, counselor education, industrial-organizational, performance and psych tech. Most of these programs represent rapidly expanding and very popular fields in psychology, particularly I-O and cognitive psychology. This means students can remain on the cutting edge of the field.

Affordability

Compared to most other Ph.D. in Psychology programs, GCU’s online Ph.D. is quite affordable, with expected total tuition costs reaching to about $41,000. Other programs in the space, even many that are offered online, can cost upwards of $100,000 or more.

Faith tradition

GCU’s connection to the Christian faith is a very strong selling point for many students. While psychology scholars are not required to be Christians, all courses and programs center that faith tradition.

Biggest Cons

What factors work against Grand Canyon’s appeal to the average Ph.D. in Psychology student?

Lack of APA accreditation

Grand Canyon University’s online Ph.D. in Psychology program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, but it has not earned the stamp of approval from the American Psychological Association. The APA is the gold standard of accrediting bodies in psychology education, and graduates may have a hard time finding employment or earning state licensure, though how big a problem this is will depend on a student’s individual career ambitions.

No internship requirement

While students are required to complete a dissertation project as part of their online psychology Ph.D. from GCU, there are no requirements to complete an internship. So for students who want to go on to work directly with patients and clients, they will need to find another source of that hands-on experience.

Not designed for licensure

We’ve touched on this already, but GCU’s online psychology Ph.D. options are not designed to provide the foundation for licensure in any state, and the university makes this clear through its informational offerings.

The Bottom Line

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide if earning an online Ph.D. in Psychology from Grand Canyon University could be right for you.

An online Ph.D. isn’t ideal for every student, but for those learners who need a wide degree of flexibility and want to be able to fit doctoral education into their lives, GCU’s online Ph.D. options are attractive and affordable.

Additional Resources

• GCU Tuition and Fees
• Performance Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Counselor Education
• Industrial-Organizational

• Apply Online
• Latest News
• Sustainability at GCU
• RTI Disclosure
• GCU Alumni (ORU)
• Students FAQs

Introduction

• Academic Programmes

The Clinical Psychology Unit, GC University Lahore was set up in 2005 in order to develop a comprehensive training program for professional Clinical Psychologists in Pakistan and expand the role of Clinical Psychology to deal with a wide range of problems of the individual as well as the community at large. The Unit endeavours to raise the standard of training of Clinical Psychologists in Pakistan to international levels, enhance the standing of Clinical Psychology as an independent professional discipline, to meet the growing needs and changing demands of the community at large, and direct research towards developing an empirical knowledge base of indigenous Clinical Psychology in Pakistan.

The Clinical Psychology Unit endeavours to raise the standard of training of Clinical Psychologists in Pakistan to international levels, enhance the standing of Clinical Psychology as an independent professional discipline, to meet the growing needs and changing demands of the community at large, and direct research towards developing an empirical knowledge base of indigenous clinical psychology in Pakistan.

The training philosophy of the unit posits that the Clinical Psychologist is a scientist, and reflective practitioner who explores critically each perspective and uses the most pertinent approach in a creative way to understand and solve human problems. The theoretical approach of the unit is integrative and not biased towards any particular orientation. The trainees are viewed as adult learners and are encouraged to set their own learning goals, objectives and specialized skills.

• Help them acquire scientific knowledge and professional expertise in dealing with a full range of psychological problems and psychiatric disorders commonly found in children, adults, special groups as well as those normally living in the community.
• Take on, manage and help individual and group cases and provide appropriate clinical assessment and therapy.
• Be able to undertake a research project in the clinical area that would add to our knowledge of clinical psychology as applied to our culture.
• Develop and maintain a professional attitude towards colleagues, students and staff with dignity, loyalty, commitment and subscribe to professional code of ethics.
• Raise the standard of training to international levels.

Log in or Sign up

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser .

PhD in Psychology from Grand Canyon University (GCU)

Discussion in ' General Distance Learning Discussions ' started by DoctorPhD , Jan 4, 2012 .

DoctorPhD New Member

Hi, everyone. I'm thinking about signing up for Grand Canyon University's PhD in General Psychology with an emphasis in industrial and organizational psychology. It is 100% online and costs about $38,000. Does anyone have any feedback regarding this program? College of Doctoral Studies | Grand Canyon University - general page Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Grand Canyon University - program-specific page  

Koolcypher Member

Grand Canyon is a fine school, they have a B & M campus in Arizona, a nice plus. I considered them for my Ph.D sometime ago. If I do ever decide to obtain a doctorate degree, GCU will be on my list. Other members here will probably give you a better perspective on Grand Canyon , I know that some members here are currently, or have pursued, degrees from this school. Good choice!  

emmzee New Member

GCU is not APA accredited, so you'll need to determine whether having a non-APA doctorate will end up limiting your future options. If you determine that having an APA accredited degree isn't necessary, then GCU sounds like a decent school.  

StefanM New Member

emmzee said: ↑ GCU is not APA accredited, so you'll need to determine whether having a non-APA doctorate will end up limiting your future options. If you determine that having an APA accredited degree isn't necessary, then GCU sounds like a decent school. Click to expand...

Bruce Moderator

Ah thanks for the clarification!  

I'm not too concerned about the APA accreditation, as I am not pursuing a clinical psychology track. However, the bit about re-specialization is very interesting...provides a great avenue in the future if I change my mind. Thanks! Basically, I did a search for distance learning or very limited residency psychology PhD programs. GCU was the only one with a campus and NCAA sports team. The cost seems reasonable, too, relatively speaking. I can't help but think there is some kind of catch? I don't like the fact that GCU is owned by a for-profit corporation (it used to be non-profit, but the trustees had financial problems and sold out). Also, it looks like only about 4,000 students are on-campus, and the other 36,000 are distance-learning students. Furthermore, I'm not too fond of the school's very sales-oriented/telemarketing recruiting tactics. Additionally, the Department of Education's Financial Aid website shows that the graduation and retention rates for all students combined is in the 25-29% range. Any thoughts?  

Steve King Member

Bruce said: ↑ The GCU program is in general psychology which doesn't qualify for licensure in any state, so the lack of APA accreditation isn't that big a deal. Click to expand...

Posted in error.  

Thanks for the info on re-specializing in clinical psychology - that leaves another option down the road! I did a search for psychology PhD programs with little to no residencies. GCU is the only school with a B&M campus and NCAA sports teams. The tuition is also the lowest. There has to be a catch - what is it? While I am attracted to the program, things I'm not too happy with are: - Owned by a for-profit corporation - Heavy sales-oriented/telemarketing-type recruiting tactics - Only about 4,000 students are at the B&M school; the other 36,000 are distance learners (and this relates to the above two points) - The FAFSA website shows graduation and retention rates in the 25-29% rate (this also relates to the above points) So, what do you all think? What are some reasons for choosing other schools, such as NCU, Capella , or Walden? I know about Fielding, but unfortunately, it's not viable for me since I work full-time and because the program is too expensive.  

So, what do you all think? What are some reasons for choosing other schools, such as NCU, Capella , or Walden? I know about Fielding, but unfortunately, it's not viable for me since I work full-time and because the program is too expensive. Click to expand...

Steve King said: ↑ The Commonwealth of Virginia offers licensure, and in many situations requires state licensure, for psychologists even if they aren't clinical or counseling psychologists. DoctorPhD expressed an interest in industrial/organizational psychology. Virginia puts I/O psychologists in the category of applied psychologists for purposes of licensure. Graduation from an APA approved program is not required (for the reasons previously mentioned). The education requirements for each state is available online. Here are Virginia's as an example of what states may require. 18VAC125-20-55. Education requirements for applied psychologists. A. The applicant shall hold a doctorate from a professional psychology program from a regionally accredited university which meets the following criteria: 1. The program is within an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education , or publicly recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada as a member in good standing. Graduates of programs that are not within the United States or Canada must provide documentation from a credential evaluation service acceptable to the board which demonstrates that the program meets the requirements set forth in this chapter. 2. The program shall be recognizable as an organized entity within the institution. 3. The program shall be an integrated, organized sequence of study with an identifiable psychology faculty and a psychologist directly responsible for the program, and shall have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree. The faculty shall be accessible to students and provide them with guidance and supervision. The faculty shall provide appropriate professional role models and engage in actions that promote the student's acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies consistent with the program's training goals. 4. The program shall encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent thereof. 5. The program shall include a general core curriculum containing a minimum of three or more graduate semester hours or five or more graduate quarter hours in each of the following substantive content areas. a. Biological bases of behavior (e.g., physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, sensation and perception, health psychology, pharmacology, neuroanatomy). b. Cognitive-affective bases of behavior (e.g., learning theory, cognition, motivation, emotion). c. Social bases of behavior (e.g., social psychology, group processes, organizational and systems theory, community and preventive psychology, multicultural issues). d. Psychological measurement. e. Research methodology. f. Techniques of data analysis. g. Professional standards and ethics. B. Demonstration of competence in applied psychology shall be met by including a minimum of at least 18 semester hours or 30 quarter hours in a concentrated program of study in an identified area of psychology, e.g., developmental, social, cognitive, motivation, applied behavioral analysis, industrial/organizational, human factors, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and evaluation, teaching, research or consultation. Click to expand...

Bruce said: ↑ If those are the only requirements, Virginia is the only state I've seen that doesn't require supervised internship hours for licensure. Click to expand...

Steve King said: ↑ That's a great point, Bruce. These are by no means the only requirements for licensure as a psychologist in Virginia. To be licensed in Virginia, psychologists must also complete a supervised internship / practicum and pass a national exam. The list I posted showed only the education requirements for applied psychologists. Clinical and school psychologists have even more requirements for the kinds and numbers of courses they are required to pass. Click to expand...

japhy4529 House Bassist

japhy4529 said: ↑ These are the requirements for Applied Psych (e.g. Psychologists who do not intend on seeing patients). I would imagine that that is the reason for the lack of internship requirements. Interesting though. I've never seen anything like this before. Most states only license clinical, counseling and school psychologists. Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies so far. Steve King asked how I intend to use the PhD in I/O psychology, should I be fortunate enough to attain one. It would mostly be a personal achievement. It may also provide some type of post-retirement opportunity in training research/management (more likely) or HR/business consulting (much less likely), but that's not my main motivation for seeking a PhD. I am not looking to provide therapy or counseling to individual clients.  

To clarify, for Tom and Bruce, anyone who wishes to "engage in the practice of...psychology" must be licensed in Viginia. This includes applied psychologists who don't see patients, like industrial/organizational psychologists. The exceptions, which I mentioned previously, are very limited. DoctorPhD mentioned "personal achievement," which I can relate to because I considered an online psychology degree several years ago. It is very important to look at your state's regulations regarding the profession. Otherwise, you might not take enough of the right courses to meet your state's licensing requirements. Without licensure, you might not be able to even use the title "psychologist" in any professional setting (depending on your state's regulations). I can't imagine the frustration of successfully completing a PhD in psychology and then being barred from calling yourself a psychologist in any professional settings.  

DoctorPhD said: ↑ Thanks for the replies so far. Steve King asked how I intend to use the PhD in I/O psychology, should I be fortunate enough to attain one. It would mostly be a personal achievement. It may also provide some type of post-retirement opportunity in training research/management (more likely) or HR/business consulting (much less likely), but that's not my main motivation for seeking a PhD. I am not looking to provide therapy or counseling to individual clients. Click to expand...

japhy4529 said: ↑ I would like to suggest that you look into options outside the U.S. For example, University of South Africa (UNISA) offers a number of masters and doctoral programs in I/O psychology and Consulting Psychology . Tuition is extremely inexpensive. Click to expand...

Share This Page

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

• Search titles only

Separate names with a comma.

• Search this thread only
• Display results as threads

Useful Searches

• Recent Posts

Research 

Here at GCU, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are at the heart of our research strategy. These global goals are reflected in our University for the Common Good ethos.

PhD opportunities

You can find a PhD project at Glasgow Caledonian University using the search facility below. Here you can filter your search to view funded, competition funded and self-funded opportunities within your chosen research discipline. Further information on the funding can be found at the links below

Application process

You can submit your PhD application using our online application portal and select from a list of strategic research subjects and intakes.

Fees and funding

Learn more about postgraduate research fees and explore options for funding support.

The PhD search tool may take a little time to load, thank you for your patience.