A doctorate degree in psychology is required by most states to run a general practice. General practice in psychology covers myriad of specialties, including family, individual and couple counseling. Most degree programs offer training that encompasses all aspects of a general practice. Some institutions base their post graduate curriculum on the work of a ground-breaking psychologist. For example the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago is committed to educating its students in the theories of Alfred Adler, a notable name in psychology.
Clinical and counseling psychology degrees have more similarities then differences. However, some schools make a clear division between clinical psychology and counseling psychology, even though the employment outcome for both degrees is similar. The differences lie in the style of practicing. A study conducted by John C. Norcross of the University of Scranton found that a clinical psychologist tends to prefer behavior analysis and psychoanalytical questioning, while a counseling psychologist sticks to a client based approach. A degree program for clinical psychology is often part of a school of psychology, whereas a counseling degree can be part of a larger department, such as the arts and sciences department. The training for each degree is very similar. With one exception, clinical psychologists are apt to work with more disturbed patients, which requires them to study methods of treatment for severe cases. Counseling psychologists are less likely to encounter severe pathological cases, which affects the types of assessments given throughout the training. Clinical psychology doctorate degree programs are more abundant than counseling.
A PhD in educational psychology, also called school psychology, requires coursework geared toward education and child development. Online programs offer educational PhD programs that give a student the opportunity to tailor-make his schedule. Online courses give overviews for completing a doctorate in general psychology before continuing to the education specific classes, such as "Topics in Child and Adolescent Development." Mandatory dissertations are also part of the curriculum for most online programs.
A degree in social psychology opens up employment in psychological research. Social psychology studies the development of the individual mind and how it interacts with society. Research study topics often investigate morality, judgment biases, an individual's relationship to cultural diversity and social identity. Stanford University's social psychology PhD program is an example of a highly rated program with training that relies heavily on research.