Behavioral Sciences Doctoral Degrees Conduct Research in Human Behavior

Deciding where to pursue your doctorate is an important decision as well as a commitment. We want to make sure that our program is the right fit for you as you earn your terminal degree. Here are some of the reasons why we believe Liberty University’s doctoral programs stand out:

• We strive for excellence in all that we do, and we work to ensure you are learning what it takes to be a leader who values ethics and integrity.
• Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This means your program and curriculum has met rigorous academic standards, and your degree will be well-respected among employers.
• Our professors all have doctoral degrees and years of real-life experience in research, counseling, teaching, and more. They are qualified to educate as well as eager to share their expertise.
• The flexibility offered in our online programs means that you can earn your doctorate while remaining active in your career, family, and community.

Earning your PhD in Psychology means that you can conduct current research in the field and share your findings with other scholars and students. Many professionals who hold this credential actively educate students in colleges and universities. Liberty University’s PhD in Psychology can help prepare you with practical research experience and a dissertation.

Our specializations can help you prepare for specific roles within psychological research, academia, and practice. For example, Liberty University’s PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology can help equip you to help solve workplace issues and improve the lives of employees around the world. An online PhD in I/O Psychology is an excellent opportunity to apply both research and practical skills in your profession.

We strive to keep costs low for all of our online programs, including Liberty University’s psychology PhD. We offer a doctoral tuition discount to select military students. We also allow you to transfer in up to 50% of the credit towards your program, which can dramatically reduce your overall cost.

For students who do not receive discounts or transfer credit, the cost per credit hour is only $610 for full-time enrollment!

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

Liberty University’s counselor education and supervision doctorate can help you teach and guide other counselors. You can gain the skills and training needed to be a supervisor and educator for counselors who are still learning techniques and skills in the field. 

With Liberty University’s PhD in counseling education, you can help improve the field of counseling so patients and clients receive optimal care.

Our EdD in Community Care and Counseling is designed to provide you with a terminal education as an active counselor. You can learn new techniques, how to conduct your own research, and gain additional insight into your own counseling skills.

We offer several specializations so you can personalize your degree to your career goals. For instance, our traumatology degree specialization can help you hone your skills in helping patients who have dealt with severe physical and mental trauma.

Our online doctoral degree programs offer students the following benefits:

• Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – 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.
• Online undergraduate tuition rates have been frozen for the last 10 years. Additionally, most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors. As a nonprofit university, Liberty continues to strive to keep costs low for our students!
• Most of our doctoral programs are available in an 8-week course format, with 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times!

Licensed therapists may pursue several different doctoral pathways depending on their interests and goals. Some professionals choose doctoral programs focused on counseling leadership, supervision, education, psychology, or community care. Licensed counselors doctoral degree online options can also support advanced study connected to teaching, administration, or behavioral research.

You may want to compare applied degrees and research-focused degrees before choosing a program. An EdD may focus more on leadership and applied practice, while a PhD often places greater emphasis on research and scholarship. Exploring course structure, dissertation requirements, and specialization options can help you find a path that aligns with your interests.

An EdD typically focuses on applied leadership, professional practice, and organizational problem-solving. In contrast, a PhD often places stronger emphasis on research, theory development, and scholarly analysis. Both degrees can involve advanced study, but the learning approach and professional focus may differ.

As you compare online doctoral programs in mental health, consider how you want to use your degree in the future. Some students are drawn to leadership and community-focused work, while others are more interested in research or higher education settings. Reviewing course content and dissertation expectations can help clarify which path may fit your goals.