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 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 credit
  • Requires a concentration in General Psychology, Developmental Psychology or Organizational/Community Psychology
  • Students may also complete a minor in Criminal Justice or concentration in Entrepreneurship and/or Human Resource Management

Required Courses

Communications - 15QH

ENG 101Beginning English Composition

5

ENG 201Intermediate English Composition

5

ENG 203Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate

5

Humanities and Fine Arts - 15QH

ART 101Basic Art Appreciation

5

HIS 103History Across the Globe

5

PHI 107Ethics, 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 101Introduction 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 101Physical Science

5

and

SCI 102Survey of Biological Science with Lab

5

or

SCI 225Human 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 200Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional

5

or

HIS 102Introduction to Political Science

5

or

SOC 101Foundational Sociology

5

or

SOC 222Culture and Identity

5

and

PSY 101Introduction 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 210Think Global-Perspectives from the Field

3 TO 5

BRV 200Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator

5

or

CAR 215Career Planning

3

and

CAR 216Career Practice

2

BRV 201Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator: Capstone Challenge

2

or

CAR 217Career Application

2

Transfer Students

CAR 202Creating Professional Identity

2

CAR 203You the Professional

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 315Lifespan Development

5

and

PSY 305Memory and Cognition

5

or

PSY 401Psychology of Learning

5

and

PSY 306Theories of Personality

5

and

PSY 307Abnormal Psychology

5

and

INT 310Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

5

or

PSY 402Research Methods

5

and

PSY 350Culture and Self

5

and

PSY 330Social Psychology

5

and

PSY 425Mental Health

5

and

PSY 450Human Sexuality

5

and

PSY 499Psychology Seminar

5

or

PSY 403History and Systems of Psychology

5

General Psychology Concentration - 30 QH

Choose 30 QH from the courses below:

PSY 200Applied Educational Psychology

5

PSY 201Psychology of Early Childhood

5

PSY 202Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence

5

PSY 205Theoretical Approaches in Psychology

5

PSY 206Psychology in Everyday Life

5

PSY 303Introduction to Psycholinguistics

5

PSY 305Memory and Cognition

5

PSY 308Personality Theorists

5

PSY 309Applied Social Psychology

5

PSY 310Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

5

PSY 311Introduction to Community Psychology

5

PSY 316Emotional Intelligence

5

PSY 317The Psychology of Happiness

5

PSY 320Psychological Assessment of the Young Child

5

PSY 325Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications

5

PSY 348Cross-Cultural Communication

5

PSY 352Children and Families under Stress

5

PSY 401Psychology of Learning

5

PSY 403History and Systems of Psychology

5

PSY 441Psychology of Artistic Expression

5

PSY 490Independent Study in Psychology

2 TO 5

PSY 495Special Topics in Psychology

2 TO 5

PSY 499Psychology 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 200Applied Educational Psychology

5

PSY 201Psychology of Early Childhood

5

PSY 202Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence

5

PSY 303Introduction to Psycholinguistics

5

PSY 316Emotional Intelligence

5

PSY 317The Psychology of Happiness

5

PSY 320Psychological Assessment of the Young Child

5

PSY 325Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications

5

PSY 441Psychology of Artistic Expression

5

PSY 490Independent Study in Psychology

2 TO 5

PSY 495Special 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 200Applied Educational Psychology

5

PSY 309Applied Social Psychology

5

PSY 310Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

5

PSY 311Introduction to Community Psychology

5

PSY 316Emotional Intelligence

5

PSY 317The Psychology of Happiness

5

PSY 320Psychological Assessment of the Young Child

5

PSY 348Cross-Cultural Communication

5

PSY 352Children and Families under Stress

5

PSY 402Research Methods

5

PSY 490Independent Study in Psychology

2 TO 5

PSY 495Special 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/