About the B.A. in Psychology
Our Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree program prepares you to use psychological concepts and theories, and provides a foundation for working in community or business settings, as well as furthering your study in a graduate program. You'll gain an understanding of human thought and behavior while honing marketable skills, such as strong communication, the ability to think critically, analyze information, and the ability to be objective and flexible in thinking. Career paths include Substance Abuse Counselor, Psychiatric Technician, and Human Resources Advisor.
Program Highlights
A Foundation in Theory and Practice
Learn about the workings of the human mind and human behavior with our innovative program that blends psychological theory with hands-on practice, preparing you for a broad range of careers and future graduate study.
Classes at Your Convenience
Choose from both campus-based and online course offerings, as well as a variety of minors to compliment your marketability once you graduate.
Real-World Training
Learn from expert faculty and industry professionals who have years of experience in the field. Get hands-on experience during your psychology internship, which will give you a leg-up when you enter the job market.
An Edge in the Business World
Gain an understanding of interpersonal relationships and motivation, which you can use to effectively work with, or manage, peers and clients in the business world.
Entrepreneurship Concentration
Enhance your B.A. in Psychology degree and career readiness with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. Utilize your elective hours to fulfill the Entrepreneurship concentration requirement.
The Cohort Model
In addition to the traditional Bachelor's in Psychology degree program, students concentrating in General Psychology may choose to study within a cohort model. During the cohort-based program, which follows a blended online/on-campus format, students will study a prescribed sequence of courses with the same group of students. The cohort model provides students with a fixed schedule so they may complete the program in a timely fashion. The cohort model also offers a network of support and camaraderie for students during the program and beyond.
What You Will Learn
33% General Education Courses, 66% Psychology Courses: You’ll initially complete general education requirements of 60 quarter hours, followed by 50 quarter hours in core psychology coursework, and then select 30 quarter hours in Developmental Psychology, Organizational/Community Psychology or General Psychology. You’ll gain skills and knowledge in the following areas:
Human Thought and Behavior
Gain understanding of human behavior and the mind with courses on topics such as Memory and Cognition, Culture and Self, Human Sexuality, and Social Psychology.
Research and Data Analysis
Learn how to design, conduct, and implement experiments, and quantify and interpret data in our Research Methods course, which will introduce you to graduate-level research and give you an advantage over other Psychology degree holders.
Communication
Become an effective writer, speaker, and presenter while expressing your own views and engaging with multiple different perspectives.
Critical Thinking
Learn how to critically analyze information and form connections while remaining objective and flexible in your thinking.
Psychology Internship
Get hands-on experience in a professional setting during our Applied Career Paths in Psychology internship course, where you can see what it's really like to work in the field.
Career Outlook
Employment of psychologists is expected to grow 3% nationally between 2019-29*, keeping pace with the average growth rate for all jobs. Furthermore, Illinois is in the top 5 states when it comes to employment level of psychologists. The median salary for a psychologist is currently $80,370 per year. Graduates with a B.A. in Psychology are also prepared for a variety of fast-growing careers, such as:
Family Social Worker, +16%
Drug and Alcohol Counselor, +23%
Laboratory Assistant, +12%
Community Welfare Worker, +18%
Psychiatric Technician, +6%
Bachelor's degree holders also find employment in other areas, such as sales, service or business management.
*http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm
