PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership Degree Transform Mental Health Care
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Prepare for a Career in Behavioral and Mental Health Administration with Liberty’s PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership
Are you an experienced behavioral health professional looking to take the next step in your career? By conferring Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership, you can develop the skills to pursue administrative and management positions in mental and behavioral health organizations. Throughout this program, you will be trained in advanced research methods as well as practical leadership skills – providing you with an effective blend of theory and praxis to facilitate your career growth.
The skills you gain throughout the doctorate in behavioral health leadership can help equip you for a variety of job opportunities. You could go on to pursue a career in research or teach at the collegiate level, or you may take on top-level administrative positions in behavioral health settings. The PhD in Psychology is a research-oriented program, so the courses you take will emphasize a more theoretical approach to human behavior – enabling you to solve important problems in the field.
As a graduate of our online psychology program, you can be better equipped to pursue leadership roles, manage teams and organizations, and address research issues within the field of behavioral health. Partner with us and prepare to make a greater impact on your community as a research expert and leader in psychology.
Why Choose Liberty’s Online PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership Degree?
At Liberty, we’re committed to helping you reach your goals without putting your life on hold. That’s why we’ve designed our PhD in Psychology to be 100% online. With our top-notch distance learning platform, you’ll have the freedom to pursue your doctorate from the comfort of home. Additionally, you can complete this degree in as little as 3 years – faster than a typical doctoral program – saving you time and money.
Like many students, you may be wondering whether an online education offers the same rigor and credibility as an on-campus program. At Liberty, you can rest assured that the degree you’re earning is of the highest quality. We are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field. With an online degree from Liberty, you can prepare to pursue your career goals with confidence.
Throughout the PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership degree program, you’ll study under faculty who have advanced degrees and years of experience in related fields. Drawing on what they have learned in their own careers, our professors will teach you effective leadership techniques, essential research methods, and important ethical considerations. With their guidance, you can gain an in-depth understanding of human thought and behavior. You’ll also receive support from our faculty as you develop your own original research to contribute to the current body of knowledge in the field of psychology.
What Will You Study in Our PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership Degree Online?
This program is broken down into 3 parts: core psychology courses, the behavioral health leadership specialization, and a dissertation sequence. With such a well-rounded array of courses, you can build on your previous study and experience in psychology and behavioral health while preparing for new roles in leadership and administration.
The core courses cover a variety of topics such as research, statistics, and analysis. You’ll also study the relationship between Christianity and psychology – particularly how a biblical worldview is compatible with empirical research in psychology and how they can be used together in the pursuit of truth. Additionally, you’ll explore how to effectively teach the subject of psychology at the college level in both residential and online settings. By developing a strong foundation in research and teaching methods, you can train to become a thought leader in your field.
Within the behavioral health leadership specialization, you’ll explore the concept of management in behavioral and mental health settings. Some of the topics you’ll study include theories and research in behavioral health, leadership and development, strategic planning and management, and contemporary topics in behavioral health. You will also be able to customize your degree by choosing from a list of available courses. Depending on which topics interest you, you could study grant writing, program evaluation, organizational consulting, behavioral healthcare policy, or healthcare financial management.
Lastly, you will round out your degree by completing a rigorous sequence of dissertation courses. As you research, write, and defend your dissertation, you can explore important issues in behavioral health and develop valuable research to help address challenges and further advances in your field.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Administrator/director of a behavioral or mental health organization
- Consultant
- Grant writer
- Nonprofit organization leader
- Professor
- Program or department head
- Project manager
- Researcher
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
- View the Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides (login required).
- View the PhD in Psychology Dissertation Handbook.
- The online PhD in Psychology is a non-clinical, non-licensure program.
Degree Completion Plan
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Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
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Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Requirements for Liberty’s PhD in Psychology Online Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Contact information for 2 recommenders is required (approved recommenders are the student’s former college professors or supervisors).
- Statement of Purpose is required (1,000-1,500 words, double spaced).
- Departmental approval is required.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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