Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs
Psychology represents a central discipline within the social and behavioral sciences, and is one of the most common areas of study at the bachelor’s degree level. In fact, psychology consistently ranks among the top five majors for the conferral of bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. based on annual data collected by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Most colleges and universities offer a general psychology major and some schools offer students the opportunity to specialize in distinct areas of psychology, including various types of applied psychology, such as behavioral psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, organizational psychology, and social psychology.
What Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?
A Bachelor’s in Psychology is an academic degree program that provides foundational coursework in the theories and practices of psychology and that leads to the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. Students who choose to major in psychology typically take classes in social and behavioral science research methods and statistical analysis, study theories of human cognition and psychological development, and learn how psychological principles are used to further our understanding of the world. In addition, bachelor’s degree candidates are required to complete a general education curriculum that may include coursework in English composition and literature, history and civilization, mathematics, and the physical sciences.
While general education requirements vary by program, it is not uncommon for programs to require up to half the credits needed for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree to come from general education coursework. The remainder of a degree’s required credits may be completed within a student’s major and/or through elective coursework.
Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
Online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs provide students with the same type of coursework and instruction as their campus-based counterparts, but do so using distance-learning technologies that allow students to access lectures and other course materials online. Students in an online bachelor’s degree program are responsible for completing the same type of general education and psychology major requirements as students in a campus-based program. However, they do so by logging on to a school’s learning management system (LMS) to view recorded lectures and/or participate in virtual classroom sessions, and to complete and submit assignments. While some online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs require students to attend a limited number of on-campus sessions, many programs can be completed fully online with no required campus-based residencies.
Note: For students who have already begun their undergraduate studies and who have taken college-level courses at a community college or in an associate or bachelor’s degree program, there are online bachelor’s completion programs that offer a psychology major. Online bachelor’s in psychology completion programs provide students with a pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology without having to repeat courses they have already taken, and some completion programs allow students to transfer into the program with up to half of the credits that are required for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
How OnlineEducation.com Classifies Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
OnlineEducation.com researches online bachelor’s degree programs, identifies programs that offer a designated major in psychology, and classifies programs based on curricula and several other factors. Online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs must offer all or most of their instruction online; programs that require more than two campus visits per year are considered hybrid programs and are not currently listed on the site. In addition, a program must be offered by a regionally accredited, non-profit college or university, lead to the conferral of a bachelor’s degree, and provide coursework in the central theories and scientific principles of psychology and psychological research.
What Students Learn in Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
An undergraduate curriculum in psychology typically includes several introductory courses in general psychological concepts, theories, ethics, and research methodologies, as well as a statistical methods class. Students then take courses in human psychological development across the lifespan, the biological basis for understanding human psychology, and the social and cultural factors that impact psychological development. Additional topics that may be covered as part of a psychology major include but are not limited to: abnormal psychology, or the study of common cognitive and behavioral problems; educational psychology, or the study of learning processes from a psychological perspective; and cognitive psychology, or the study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and language.
Through elective coursework or a designated concentration within an undergraduate program in psychology, students may have the opportunity to take courses in psychological counseling, health psychology, sports psychology, addiction and substance abuse, child and adolescent psychology, and other specialized areas of psychological research and practice. Some online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs may provide students with the option of completing a credited internship or research project during the final year of the program.
Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Courses
The table below provides an overview of the types of courses typically offered as part of an undergraduate major in psychology. It is important to note that major requirements and course names and descriptions vary by program.
| Course Title | Course Description |
|---|---|
| Introductory Psychology | A general introduction to the field of psychology, principles of human behavior, and the broad applications of psychology theory. |
| Psychology Research Methods | An introduction to behavioral science research methods, including hypothesis formation, ethical research design, and the collection of and presentation of data in the social sciences. |
| Statistics | The use of statistics and statistical software for the scientific analysis of data in psychological research with a focus on hypothesis testing, standardization, correlation, and analysis of variance. |
| Psychological Development | An examination of human psychological development over the lifespan, accepted theories of human cognitive and behavioral development, and the interplay between biological, social, and psychological development. |
| Abnormal Psychology | The theoretical foundations for understanding abnormal psychology and the assessment of normal and abnormal behaviors based on psychological principles. |
| Cognitive Psychology | The use of psychological research and theory to examine mental processes, including memory, problem solving, and language. |
| Biopsychology | An overview of the biological basis for behavior with a focus on human brain function, the nervous system, and other physiological factors that impact cognitive and behavioral development. |
| Culture and Psychology | An examination of the cultural context for understanding human psychological development, including the cognitive processes underlying cultural identity, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping. |
| Social Psychology | The influence of social factors on psychology development and the study of how thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by social contexts. |
| Psychology of Personality | The use of scientific research methods to develop an evidence-based understanding of personality formation, including concepts of identity, gender, and social standing. |
Admissions to Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
High school graduates are generally eligible to apply to online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs, as are candidates who hold a High School Equivalency Diploma. In addition to high school transcripts, online programs may ask applicants to submit standardized tests scores from the ACT or SAT, written answers to one or more essay questions, and/or academic references or letters of recommendation. Some online bachelor’s degree programs may prefer applicants to have minimum high school grade point average of 3.0 or higher and/or a specified minimum score on the ACT or one or more sections of the SAT.
Specific admissions policies vary by program and some online bachelor’s programs are specifically designed for students who have already earned college credits and have completed all or most of their general education requirements. While many of these programs are labeled as bachelor’s completion programs by colleges and universities, not all schools clearly label their programs as such; therefore, potential applicants to online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs should examine each program’s admissions requirements carefully before submitting an application.
Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Program Formats
Online programs are generally designed to accommodate a range of students, including those who have jobs or other significant commitments outside of school. However, not all online programs are alike. There are several key differences in program formats that can impact the relative convenience of an online bachelor’s program. These include: online instructional methods (synchronous vs. asynchronous instruction); enrollment options (full-time vs. part-time enrollment); and campus visits (fully online programs vs. programs that require students to attend a limited number of campus sessions). Each of these factors is discussed in greater detail below.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Instruction: Students who are exploring online bachelor’s programs should be aware that there are two distinct modes of online instruction: synchronous instruction and asynchronous instruction. If an online program utilizes synchronous instruction, it indicates that some classes are held in real-time and require students to be logged on to the program’s LMS at specific times in order to view lectures and participate in certain courses activities. Asynchronous instruction does not include a real-time component and thus allows students to access pre-recorded lectures at their convenience, 24-7. Synchronous instruction is often a better fit for students who prefer a more structured learning environment. Asynchronous instruction provides more flexibility but generally requires more self-discipline and self-motivation.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment: A bachelor’s degree program in psychology is typically comprised of eight semesters or four academic years of full-time coursework, although full-time students who are able to take classes year-round may shorten their time to completion by as much a year. While there is no formal definition for what constitutes part-time enrollment, students who enroll part-time in a bachelor’s program take a reduced course load and may extend the time it takes to earn their degree by a year or more. Potential applicants to online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs should examine program structures carefully in order to find a suitable program.
Some programs, for example, may not adhere to a traditional 15-week semester system, instead offering courses four or more times per year during shorter terms (typically six, eight, or ten weeks in duration). While full-time students in a traditional program may be expected to take four courses per semester, students in a program with eight-week terms may be able to take just one or two courses per term and still graduate in four years. Most but not all online bachelor’s programs provide some enrollment flexibility. However, it is important to note that some types of financial aid may require students in bachelor’s program to enroll in a minimum number of courses per semester or term.
Campus Visits: Many online bachelor’s in psychology programs are 100% online and do not require students to attend any on-campus sessions. However, some programs require campus visits, which may be referred to as immersion sessions, intensives, or residencies. These on-campus sessions may include orientations, workshops, seminars, and other types of instructional activities. They are also an opportunity for online students to meet face-to-face with instructors and interact with other students. While campus visits can add a valuable component to an online program, they require travel and students may incur additional expenses while attending campus sessions. OnlineEducation.com does not list online Bachelor’s in Psychology programs that require more than two campus visits per year.