Psychology, B.A.

The Psychology Program is for students who are interested in human behavior. This program prepares students to use psychological concepts and theories, and provides a foundation for working in community or business settings as well as for graduate study. Students may apply their knowledge to a number of settings, including community and private mental health centers and the business sector.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

PLO1. Describe, compare, and contrast major psychological theories as applied to human behavior.

PLO2. Apply psychological research process and theoretical frameworks to an independent project.

PLO3. Communicate effectively from a psychological perspective through writing and presentations.

PLO4. Apply psychological theory and skills in the professional environment.

PLO5. Demonstrate understanding of the complexity of sociocultural diversity in the inquiry and analysis of psychological issues.

Program Details:

• Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion 
• Requires 25 QH of upper level coursework in Psychology
• 25 QH of upper level required courses in Psychology must be taken at NLU
• Requires a minimum grade of “C” in general education courses, required courses in Psychology and program concentration courses
• Credit by examination and portfolio are accepted for general education and elective credi
• Credit for Prior Learning is accepted for general education and elective credit 
• Requires a concentration in General Psychology, Developmental Psychology or Organizational/Community Psychology
• Students may complete a minor or concentration, listed below

Minor:

• Applied Communications

• Criminal Justice

Concentration:

• Entrepreneurship
• Human Resource Management
• Leadership Foundations

Required Courses

Communications - 15QH

ENG 101	Beginning English Composition	5
ENG 201	Intermediate English Composition	5
ENG 203	Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate	5

Humanities and Fine Arts - 15QH

ART 101	Basic Art Appreciation	5
HIS 103	History Across the Globe	5
PHI 107	Ethics, Logic and Critical Inquiry	5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in humanities or fine arts.

Quantitative Reasoning - 5QH

MTH 101

Introduction to Mathematical Concepts

5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any college-level mathematics course.

Physical and Life Sciences - 10QH

One course must have a lab:

SCI 101	Physical Science	5
	and
SCI 102	Survey of Biological Science with Lab	5
	or
SCI 225	Human Impact on Environment	5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use one course in any physical science and one course in any life science.

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 15QH

Choose two Social Science courses from the list below:

ECO 200	Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional	5
	or
HIS 102	Civics and American Government	5
	or
SOC 101	Foundational Sociology	5
	or
SOC 222	Culture and Identity	5
	and
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in social and behavioral sciences. 

Additional General Education Requirements

Students must complete GEN 103 and one of the following course options:

Pathways Students

GEN 210	Think Global-Perspectives from the Field	3 TO 5
BRV 200	Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator	5
	or
CAR 215	Personal Branding	3
	and
CAR 216	Professional Networking	2
BRV 201	Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator: Capstone Challenge	2
	or
CAR 217	Workplace Leadership	2

Transfer Students

CAR 202	Creating Professional Identity	2
CAR 203	You The Professional	0 TO 2

Note: GEN 103 may be waived for on-campus students who (1) enter NLU with an associate’s degree or 90 or more quarter credit hours of transfer credit; and (2) have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or above in their previous undergraduate studies. GEN 210 is required for Pathways students only.

Program Core - 50 QH

PSY 315	Lifespan Development	5
	and
PSY 305	Memory and Cognition	5
	or
PSY 401	Psychology of Learning	5
	and
PSY 306	Theories of Personality	5
	and
PSY 307	Abnormal Psychology	5
	and
HSM 400	Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences	5
	or
PSY 402	Research Methods	5
	and
PSY 350	Culture and Self	5
	and
PSY 330	Social Psychology	5
	and
PSY 425	Mental Health	5
	and
PSY 450	Human Sexuality	5
	and
PSY 499	Psychology Seminar	5
	or
PSY 403	History and Systems of Psychology	5

General Psychology Concentration - 30 QH

Choose 30 QH from the courses below:

PSY 200	Applied Educational Psychology	5
PSY 201	Psychology of Early Childhood	5
PSY 202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence	5
PSY 205	Theoretical Approaches in Psychology	5
PSY 206	Psychology in Everyday Life	5
PSY 303	Introduction to Psycholinguistics	5
PSY 305	Memory and Cognition	5
PSY 308	Personality Theorists	5
PSY 309	Applied Social Psychology	5
PSY 310	Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology	5
PSY 311	Introduction to Community Psychology	5
PSY 316	Emotional Intelligence	5
PSY 317	The Psychology of Happiness	5
PSY 320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child	5
PSY 325	Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications	5
PSY 348	Cross-Cultural Communication	5
PSY 352	Children and Families under Stress	5
PSY 401	Psychology of Learning	5
PSY 403	History and Systems of Psychology	5
PSY 441	Psychology of Artistic Expression	5
PSY 490	Independent Study in Psychology	2 TO 5
PSY 495	Special Topics in Psychology	2 TO 5
PSY 499	Psychology Seminar	5

Notes: A maximum of two courses may be Independent Study or Special Topic courses, chosen with advisor approval.

Developmental Psychology Concentration - 30 QH

Choose 30 QH from the courses below:

PSY 200	Applied Educational Psychology	5
PSY 201	Psychology of Early Childhood	5
PSY 202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence	5
PSY 303	Introduction to Psycholinguistics	5
PSY 316	Emotional Intelligence	5
PSY 317	The Psychology of Happiness	5
PSY 320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child	5
PSY 325	Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications	5
PSY 441	Psychology of Artistic Expression	5
PSY 490	Independent Study in Psychology	2 TO 5
PSY 495	Special Topics in Psychology	2 TO 5

Notes: A maximum of two courses may be Independent Study or Special Topic courses, chosen with advisor approval.

Organizational Psychology Concentration - 30 QH

Choose 30 QH from the courses below:

PSY 200	Applied Educational Psychology	5
PSY 309	Applied Social Psychology	5
PSY 310	Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology	5
PSY 311	Introduction to Community Psychology	5
PSY 316	Emotional Intelligence	5
PSY 317	The Psychology of Happiness	5
PSY 320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child	5
PSY 348	Cross-Cultural Communication	5
PSY 352	Children and Families under Stress	5
PSY 402	Research Methods	5
PSY 490	Independent Study in Psychology	2 TO 5
PSY 495	Special Topics in Psychology	2 TO 5

Notes: A maximum of two courses may be Independent Study or Special Topic courses, chosen with advisor approval.

Electives

Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be satisfied by completing a minor or concentration listed above.

For more information about this program, visit  http://www.nl.edu/academics/socialbehavioralsciencesbachelors/bapsychology/