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Explore Below the Surface of Human Behavior
Learn what makes humans tick through this flexible online degree program designed to provide in-depth insight into human behavior. As you explore the field’s concepts and applications, ACU Online’s vibrant, Christ-centered community supports your dynamic, curious nature.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire undergraduate degree.
About the Program
Grow your understanding of human behavior with ACU’s fully online BS in Psychology. Challenge yourself through general courses designed to broaden your mindset, specialize your knowledge with selections covering psychology’s practical applications in industrial, clinical and other settings, and uplift your community through dedicated, purposeful service.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
Whether you’re looking for immediate career options or a foundation for graduate school, an online BS in Psychology degree from ACU can lead you into a rewarding future.
Required Hours
Total: 128 hours
University Requirements: 56 hours
Major: 53 hours (up to 19 hours in electives)
Example Coursework
Cognition and Learning
Social Psychology
Teams and Team Leadership
History of Theories in Psychology
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
March 8, 2022
May 3, 2022
Common Job Titles
Social and Human Service Assistant
Social and Community Service Manager
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Probation Officer
Market Research Analyst
Sales Manager
Training and Development Manager
Curriculum and Format
The human mind and its connection to behavior unfold in greater detail through 72 credit hours covering general psychology degree courses, psychology selections and electives.
Providing a multifaceted introduction to psychology, courses cover:
- the science of mental processes and human behavior;
- developmental psychology, including cognitive, biological, moral and psychosocial changes along the human lifespan;
- the physiological aspects of psychology, with focus on the nervous system, brain and genetics and their context within behavior and memory;
- cognition and learning, from perception and memory to intelligence;
- experimental psychology methods and how researchers use these theories to observe mental processes and human actions;
- psychological measurement, including scale development and evaluation;
- social psychology, such as intersocial stimulation and related consequences;
- abnormal psychology, from types of psychopathologies to causes and treatments;
- statistics in psychology research;
- counseling theories and practices; and
- the history of psychology and its major theories and systems.
Selections highlight psychology’s many applications, helping you envision what you’ll do with your degree and your path post-graduation. Explore the effects of stress on emotional health, conflict management, applied sports psychology, psychology within the Christian spiritual experience, the influence of behavior on health, team leadership and development and child psychology.
To produce well-rounded, inquisitive graduates, online Bachelor’s in Psychology students must additionally complete 56 credit hours of general education courses. Any college-level subjects previously taken can help fulfill these requirements. Learn more about transferring your credits toward your degree at ACU.
Meet the Program Director
Stephanie Wanamaker is the program director and assistant professor for the online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in Psychology from California Baptist University. After years of online teaching and serving as a youth counselor, she felt called to dive deeper into her work in higher education with the goal of enhancing the student experience. She enjoys seeing students flourish in their understanding of psychology as they travel through their academic journey and pursue their careers. With her passion for teaching online, Stephanie aims to provide a learning experience for students that fosters meaningful relationships, so that they develop the skills for successful careers after graduation.
Spotlight
8 Career Paths With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Curious to know what career paths exist for those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology? Look no further! This versatile degree can be beneficial in a variety of disciplines and professions.
How a Psychology Degree helps in Business: Hidden Benefits and Potential Careers
With a background in psychology, students can position themselves to thrive in business. Here are just a few ways that their skills will transfer.
Student Spotlight: Dawn Parker
Say “hello” to Dawn Parker, ACU Online’s office manager and student in the online B.S. in Psychology program. Dawn returns to ACU 40 years after first enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earning a Degree in Psychology
If you were born with a burning desire to figure out what makes people tick, it’s natural you’d gravitate to a psychology degree. Exploring the inner workings of the complex human mind and the often-puzzling heart can certainly be an engaging career.
Read some of the frequently asked questions that come from students considering a Bachelor of Science in Psychology program.
Top Reasons Why You Should Major in Psychology
Are you trying to decide on your undergraduate major? Maybe you’re one of the lucky students with an arsenal of strengths and interests you can draw on as you carve out your academic path.
If a Bachelor of Science in Psychology is one of your top contenders, read on for some of the many reasons why this very popular undergraduate degree may be a perfect fit for you.
Psychology is the fourth-most popular major in the U.S. Across multiple fields, individuals with a compassionate, nurturing mindset, who are willing to forge connections and observe human behavior, are in demand. This includes a growing number of positions for psychologists, as well as roles in business, communications, advocacy, and corrections.
The foundation established by the online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program prepares you to reach for your goals. Apply to a master’s program in psychology, counseling or social work, or take your knowledge into the marketplace to start a career connecting with and influencing others.
What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in psychology? Approximately 55 percent of individuals earning this credential opt not to pursue a graduate course of study and instead flourish in a diverse array of positions:
- social or community service manager;
- human resources specialist;
- market research specialist;
- correctional treatment specialist;
- training and development manager;
- substance abuse counselor;
- hospice counselor;
- sales representative;
- customer service representative;
- marketing or communications specialist;
- writer or journalist;
- case manager;
- research assistance; and
- behavior interventionist.
Your psychology degree will equip you to communicate effectively with others, thoroughly understand customers, clients and employees, develop meaningful interpersonal connections, know what motivates others and analyze behavioral patterns in various situations to arrive at a conclusion or to effectively lead and influence.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Submit official high school and/or college transcripts.
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
Students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores.
Graduation Requirements: Students must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher to meet graduation requirements and complete at least 33 advanced hours.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).