Social Psychology PhD Programs: Choosing a Psychology Focus

A doctorate in social psychology is open to students coming from many kinds of undergraduate psychology backgrounds. At this level the degree usually narrows in on whatever corner of the field a person plans to build a career around. Some people pursue it after they already have a master's and a working career underway, using it to stretch their expertise into new areas of the discipline. Whatever the reason behind the decision, there is no shortage of programs built to get you there.

The field itself studies the relationship between groups and the individuals inside them. It draws on both levels at once, trying to account for why people think, feel, and act the way they do, and how the presence of others reshapes all of that. One thing that sets it apart from several other branches of psychology is its leaning toward the quantitative and the empirical rather than the subjective. It should not be confused with sociology, which is a separate field entirely. Sociology works at the macro level, examining larger structures, social groups, and patterns of development. Social psychology stays at the micro level: how a group bends the thoughts and behavior of one person.

Tracking down programs is not hard. The harder part is making sure the ones you consider are legitimate. An online bachelor's degree carries less weight on this front, so there is less to fret over. A doctorate is different. If you intend to earn it online, you really do have to put in the hours to confirm the school stands on solid footing, because a poor choice of institution can undercut the credibility of the whole credential.

For anyone drawn to the subject, the degree can open the door to work that genuinely pays off. The field splits into dozens of specialties and areas of concentration, which gives you room to aim at the specific kind of psychology career you have in mind. Look closely at those different tracks before committing, so the one you land on actually fits what you are after. And when you are weighing the programs against each other, hold out for a good one.