Bachelor’s in Psychology: Top Programs and Career Prospects

If helping someone recover their sense of happiness, fulfillment, and peace interests you, then you may be wondering where to find a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology program. By enrolling in a psychology program, you can learn why people behave the way they do and how you can help them through their mental distress.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology is a great way to build the foundations of a mental health service career. If you wish to pursue the truly honorable career of a psychologist, a psychology bachelor’s degree should be the first step in your post-secondary education.

Read on to learn more about psychology, bachelor’s degree programs in psychology, and what careers you can pursue upon graduation from some of the top psychology programs available in the United States.

What Is Psychology?

The study of psychology is a scientific look at mental processes and how they affect behavior from the neural level to the cultural level. There are many possible career paths in helping people overcome their psychological misfortunes, so it’s easy to see why it is the fourth most popular major in American colleges and universities.

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Explained

An undergraduate bachelor’s degree in psychology is usually the route to jobs working with people or a stepping stone to a graduate degree (MA or MS) and even a doctoral degree (PhD) in psychology. To gain a psychology bachelor’s degree, you will need to fulfill the GER’s (general education requirements) of your chosen college.

An undergraduate degree in psychology will typically take four to six years to complete, full-time. You can choose between a bachelor of arts (BA in Psychology) or a bachelor of science (BS in Psychology). Which one does not usually make too big of a difference. However, do some research into your specific career goals and what might be preferable.

General Education Requirements

The first two years of your bachelor’s degree will consist of general education, meaning you will study a range of topics, including classes in departments such as social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. You can also do this at a community college and then transfer to a college or university.

Skills You Will Gain

• Academic writing 
• Critical thinking
• Communication/ interpersonal 
• Research
• Knowledge of psychological methods and history

There is a wider pool of careers for those who pursue further studies in psychology, such as completing a master’s degree, PhD, or PsyD. However, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, you will still gain the skills and credentials needed to fill jobs as case managers, psychiatric technicians, career counselors, and rehabilitation specialists. 

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Education Path and Admission Requirements

The path to getting your Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology can begin in high school. If you are in high school, then consider taking the following classes:

• AP Psychology
• Social Sciences
• Algebra and Statistics
• English
• Biology

Even if your school does not offer AP psychology, taking life sciences, social science, math, and communication can give you the knowledge you need for success in your psychology degree program.

Once students have their high school diploma or their GED, then they can complete an associate degree, most of which require a minimum GPA. An Associate Degree in Psychology is typically two years and is an undergraduate-level degree. To be frank, there are not many career prospects within a psychological field for someone with just an associate degree in psychology. However, it is a great option for someone preparing for their bachelor’s degree. 

For an associate degree, around 60 credits are usually required to graduate. Courses will vary from college to college, but coursework may include:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Substance Abuse
• Introduction to Sociology
• Social Science Elective
• Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology
• Experimental Research Methods in Psychology

Next, it is time to enroll in your bachelor’s degree program in psychology, which you can transfer to after your associate degree (or you can go straight into after high school). You will require a high school diploma or GED equivalent and an average GPA of 3.0 (check your individual school admissions). 

To gain your bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete 120 to 130 credit hours, with 30 to 36 of those credits being courses in psychology. This will prepare you for entry-level jobs or moving on to a psychology master’s degree program.

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Curriculum

Your first two years will be in general studies. Some lower division classes in psychology cover learning how people process information, memory, how language is learned, and what motivates people. 

General biological-based psychology courses cover how the brain functions and the human senses. General cognitive-based psychology courses introduce you to science and neurology with regard to topics such as human thought. Furthermore, you will have classes on general behavior-based psychology, which will teach you about conditioning and behavior modification.

Once you’ve completed your two years of general studies, you will have learned how to write academically, think critically, and communicate efficiently. Next, you will turn to your psychology major courses in the last two years of your bachelor’s degree. You will gain more in-depth knowledge of the emotional, cognitive, and social facets of behavior. In many psychology degree programs, students are likely to learn about the following.

• Clinical Psychology: This generally focuses on the diagnosis and treatment methods of psychological disorders.
• Developmental Psychology: This will focus on development factors like learning language and cognition.
• Social Psychology: Here you will learn more about the historical findings of previous psychologists, human perception and social influences on these perceptions.
• Cognitive Psychology: This is about how people communicate their thoughts and ideas, perceive their environment, and solve problems.
• Psychological Assessment: This will show you how to identify and assess an individual’s mental health, personality traits, and more.

How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?

The cost of a psychology bachelor’s degree depends on what school you attend. The price varies and there are other factors such as scholarships and financial aid to factor in. However, as an example, the leading graduate psychology programs in the nation, as ranked by the US News & World Report, range in annual tuition costs from $10,000+ (residents) to $35,000 (non-residents) for public schools and roughly $40,000+ for private institutions.

Top Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Programs 

As psychology is one of the most popular degree programs, there are plenty of top schools to chose from to pursue this career field. We have compiled a list of some of the top psychology programs below to help you in your search for the best psychology university.

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Stanford University’s BS in Psychology offers excellent teachings in the study of aging, achievement, child development, cognitive processes, conflict, culture, decision making, emotion, group behavior, health, identity, infancy, language, morality, and much more.

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

At Harvard University, observing, experimenting, and analyzing the human and animal mind is the focus. Most of the research conducted in Harvard’s Department of Psychology concerns basic psychological processes such as attention, perception, memory, categorization, reasoning, decision-making, language, cognitive and social development, social cognition, intergroup relations, and morality.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The psychology concentration at Princeton is within the Division of Natural Sciences. Therefore, it provides foundational and advanced undergraduate courses on sensation, perception, movement, language, reasoning, decision making, social sciences, and social interaction. Plus, students will be working with large and complex datasets, and learning basic statistical methods.

University of California – Berkeley

Berkley, CA

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The University of California views psychology as a scientific discipline that aims to describe, understand, and predict the behavior of living organisms. You will study multifaceted topics from sensory experience to complex cognition to the role of genetics and also the processes that explain behavior in early childhood.

University of Pennsylvania 

Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on how we perceive information in the world and how we process that information, respond to it emotionally and cognitively, learn about it, and how our mental processes change over time. 

Duke University

Durham, NC

BA or BS in Psychology

Students who pursue a psychology degree at Duke University will be immersed in the origins, processes, and consequences of human and animal behavior. The study of behavior and its determinants lies at the heart of our understanding of numerous systems ranging from the biological to the economic and social.

Indiana University Bloomington 

Bloomington, IN

BA or BS in Psychology

This program seeks to understand the mechanisms of perception, sensation, emotion, and learning by examining the biological and evolutionary foundations of animal and human behavior. You will gain skills in analytic reasoning, problem-solving, statistics, and dealing with people. At Indiana University Bloomington, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience. You can also pursue a minor in psychology, or choose from a variety of certificate programs.

University of Chicago 

Chicago, IL

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

This program seeks to understand the fundamental mechanisms and functions of perception, cognition, emotion, and attitudes in guiding behavior. It also encompasses a broad set of topics that overlap with a number of disciplines across social and biological sciences.

University of Colorado Boulder 

Boulder, CO

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

This psychology major provides a fundamental understanding of the principles of human cognition, emotion, behavior, social interactions, and mind-brain relationships. It also includes specialized, upper-division courses in behavioral genetics, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, child development, social psychology, and judgment and decision making.

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Career Prospects

A bachelor’s degree is a wonderful entry-level start to your psychology career. Keep in mind that you will most likely need a master’s degree and even a doctorate to go into perhaps more exciting and better-paid specialties, such as psychiatry. Nonetheless, below are some great entry-level jobs you can pursue with just a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Marketing

Median Salary: $132,230

Whether you’re a market research analyst or marketing manager, you’ll aim to analyze customers’ behavior and create brand awareness so customers buy a company’s products. The use of organizational psychology is handy in these marketing campaigns and data analysis. You would only require a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology for this role and could do further study or work experience in marketing, brand management, advertising, or sales to advance your career.

Caseworker

Median salary: $50,470

A caseworker is a broad term in the social services industry. They usually do social work and help individuals change their attitudes and behaviors by increasing their understanding of self, personal problems, and the individual’s part in creating them.

Correctional Counselor 

Median salary: $54,290

The main job of a correctional counselor is to help provide mental health treatment to inmates and aid them to make the transition from prison back into society. 

School and Employment Counselor

Median salary: $57,040

An employment counselor seeks to provide information and guidance to those seeking school or career direction.

Psychologist

Median salary: $80,370

Lastly, the most notorious career to go into for psychology students is as a psychologist. This is someone who works one-to-one with clients or in groups for talk therapy to treat mental health. However, to do this job you will need either (or both) a master’s degree and a doctorate. Within this category, there are many different sub-categories (or niches) that someone could focus on.  

Some subspecialties will require a fellowship and certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Some of the different psychologist specialties are: 

• Addiction psychiatry
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Geriatric psychiatry
• Sports psychiatry
• Military psychiatry
• Global mental health

Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology For You?

If you know you want to help make a difference in how people perceive life, relationships, happiness, and mental well-being, then use this guide to help make your dreams a reality. Use this to get started with your research and decide if a psychology degree is right for you. 

A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology program will touch upon the foundations of the discipline and you’ll learn the history of psychology as you prepare for entry-level work or further studies in the field. Whatever level of psychology degree you decide to study, it will no doubt be an inspiring and fascinating career path, with a lot to learn about human behavior.