10 Best Online Bachelors in Psychology Degrees
Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology provides students with a better grasp of the human mind, emotions, and behaviors. Some students use their bachelor’s degree as a foundation to obtain their master’s and a doctorate in psychology. Others use their degree to enter the workforce and get jobs in many industries and specialties.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology includes general education classes, basic psychology classes,, and some advanced courses, such as abnormal psychology and developmental psychology. Many of these programs require a research project or capstone before graduation.
If you want to become a psychologist or mental health counselor, obtaining your bachelor’s degree in the field is the first step. It is vital to choose the right program for your needs and interests. Fortunately, there are many excellent online bachelor’s in psychology programs available today.
We have done the research, and the programs below are 10 of the best.
Schools on This Page
- Capella University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Walden University
- Drexel University
- Maryville University
- Liberty University
- The University of Arizona
- Washington State University
- Oregon State University
- Arizona State University
#1 Capella University
Capella University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that will provide you with a strong foundation in why humans behave in the ways they do. With the education of this accredited, four-year degree, you can go on to earn your graduate degree in psychology or pursue many professional options.
The program also integrates knowledge with associated skills by providing a dynamic curriculum that highlights psychological theories, concepts, empirical findings, and current psychological trends.
Required classes include:
- Introduction to Addiction Theories
- Criminal Psychology and Behavior
- Introduction to the Psychology of Social Media
- Introduction to Human Sexuality
- Culture, Ethnicity, and Diversity
- Learning and Cognition
- Biological Psychology
Students can concentrate their studies in these specializations: Addictions, Behavioral Health, and Forensic Psychology.
- Institution type: Public, for-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Minneapolis
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $37,000
- Visit school: Click here
#2 Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with six concentrations available:
- Addictions
- Applied Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Forensic Psychology
- Mental Health
- Social Psychology
As you earn this accredited online psychology degree, you will immerse yourself in cutting-edge psychology theories. You also will learn about innovative case studies and experiential learning to develop a diverse skill set in any field where grasping human behavior is needed.
Required courses include:
- Lifespan Development
- Research Methods
- Abnormal Psychology
- Theories of Personality
- Theories of Social Psychology
- Psychology and Social Change
This program prepares students for a career in psychology by building strong scientific inquiry skills while also developing abilities to communicate, interpret, and apply experimental data.
- Institution type: Public, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $38,000
- Visit school: Click here
#3 Walden University
Walden University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that provides you with deep insights into human behavior and critical thinking abilities to assess psychological studies and methods accurately.
Earning this accredited degree in psychology prepares you for entry-level roles in human services, social services, and criminal justice. Many students move on to earn their master’s and even doctoral degree in psychology so they can work as licensed psychologists.
Psychology concentrations available include:
- Addiction
- Criminal Justice
- Workplace Psychology
- Accelerate Into Masters
- Forensic Psychology
- Human Services
Required courses in psychology include:
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Theories of Personality
- Methods in Psychological Inquiry
- Psychology Capstone
- Psychology Seminar
Students in this four-year program will learn the significant concepts, perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in mental health and psychology. They will also understand modern research methods in the field, such as research design, analysis, and interpretation.
- Institution type: Public, for-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Minneapolis
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $58,825
- Visit school: Click here
#4 Drexel University
Drexel University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that explores the complex world of psychology from every angle. Students emerge from this accredited, four-year program well-versed in the evidence-based, rigorous methodologies that are essential in the psychology field.
Students in the program will learn to frame and find solutions to vital questions involving human cognition, behavior, and emotion and apply it to better people’s lives. The courses stress research methodology and statistics, so you are ready for your career future in everything from corporations to research.
Required courses include:
- Developmental Psychology
- Physiological Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Psychological Research I
- Psychology of Learning
- Cognitive Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
Students can transfer as many as 135 quarter credits to the program if the grade is C or better.
- Institution type: Private, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Boston
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $95,400
- Visit school: Click here
#5 Maryville University
Maryville University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology that will expose you to the exciting field of human services by study its significant specialties. Once you have developed your core knowledge of psychology, you will engage in a social science research project to apply what you learned towards your research interests.
Students graduate with a better understanding of contemporary psychology and practical experience applying psychological theories on projects with applications in the real world.
Required psychology courses include:
- Critical Thinking in Social Sciences
- Social Psychology
- Multicultural Psychology
- Human Cognition
- Biological Psychology
Coursework adheres to standards recommended by the American Psychological Association, which stresses a broad psychology foundation in critical thinking, experimental methodology, and human development.
- Institution type: Private, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: St. Louis
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $64,000
- Visit school: Click here
#6 Liberty University
Liberty University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that helps you develop a skill set to help people of all ages navigate difficulties. You also will sharpen your research skills as you understand the psychology of why people act the way they do.
Liberty University offers many specializations with this degree so you can focus on your passion:
- Addictions and Recovery
- Crisis Counseling
- Developmental Psychology
- Life Coaching
- Military Resilience
- Criminal Psychology
- Christian Counseling
Required classes include:
- Social Psychology
- Behavior Modification
- Psychological Foundations of Learning
- Physiological Psychology
Liberty University ranks among the top 1% of more than 2,000 online universities for its academic quality, so you know you are earning a highly reputable bachelor’s degree.
- Institution type: Private, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Lynchburg, Virginia
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $46,800
- Visit school: Click here
#7 The University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology that explores the complex world of the mind and brain. The online curriculum also delves into how the mind and brain evolve over the years, the environmental effects that shape human behavior, and how brain disorders affect the brain over time.
As an online psychology major, you will gain fascinating insights into yourself and how you relate to you. Your professors will help you build the knowledge and skills you need to succeed after you graduate – whether you choose to get your master’s and doctorate, or work in social and human services or many other industries.
Required courses include:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Research and Statistics
Students have access to internationally-recognized faculty and outstanding advisory support to help guide you to your new career.
- Institution type: Public, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona
- Accreditation: Western Association of Colleges and Schools
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $60,000
- Visit school: Click here
#8 Washington State University
Washington State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that gives students a comprehensive understanding of psychological principles and how they use scientific methods to explore why humans act the way they do.
This accredited degree is a good foundation for the additional study of psychology. It provides students with valuable skills that can be used for careers in health care, social services, law, research, business management, and sales.
Concentrations are available in:
- Neuroscience and Cognition
- Social and Motivational
- Clinical Counseling
Required classes include:
- Introductory Psychology
- Psychology As a Science
- Elementary Statistics in Psychology
- Experimental Methods in Psychology
This online psychology program has been ranked in the top 25 online programs in the US for several years.
- Institution type: Public, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Pullman, Washington
- Accreditation: Western Association of Colleges and Schools
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $63,000
- Visit school: Click here
#9 Oregon State University
Oregon State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that explains why humans behave as they do and derive the meaning behind their behaviors and thought processes.
This accredited program addresses both the scientific and humanistic perspectives of psychology. It also provides an appreciation of diversity and the value of empirically approaching complex problems of behavior and the mind.
Some of the topics covered in the program are:
- Brain and Behavior
- Human Lifespan Development
- Social Psychology
- Personality
- Abnormal Psychology
- Cognition
- Behavior Modification
- Health Psychology
This program is ranked as one of the best online programs in the liberal arts, so you can have confidence in the quality of your degree.
- Institution type: Public, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Corvallis, Oregon
- Accreditation: Western Association of Colleges and Schools
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $57,240
- Visit school: Click here
#10 Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology that provides a diverse curriculum of basic and applied psychology courses, including cognitive systems, clinical, cross-cultural, developmental, and social psychology.
The online degree program also teaches students how to write effectively and to engage in critical thinking and quantitative and qualitative research. Students also can add real-world experience to their program by participating in service-learning, internships, and study with faculty.
Required psychology courses include:
- Personality Theory and Research
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Learning and Motivation
- Sensation and Perception
- Memory and Cognition
- Health Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
Students enrolled in this four-year program may choose to earn their master’s degree in psychology at ASU or enter the workforce with their bachelor’s degree.
- Institution type: Public, non-profit
- Delivery method: Online
- Headquarters: Phoenix
- Accreditation: Western Association of Colleges and Schools
- Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Expected total tuition: $11,000 per semester in-state, $14,000 per semester out of state
- Visit school: Click here
Summary
Getting your online bachelor’s in psychology is an excellent way to gain the skills you need to succeed in many industries. It can also be a vital stepping stone to getting your master’s and doctoral degrees to work as a licensed psychologist.
References
- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Overview. Accessed at https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2018/01/bachelors-degree