Overview

CU Denver’s online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program was specifically designed for students fascinated with the inner workings of the human mind and human behavior. As a student in this program, you will gain critical thinking, scientific problem-solving, technical writing, speaking, research, and ethics skill set. The B.A. in Psychology degree program teaches students to use scientific methods to describe, predict and understand human behavior.

A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology prepares you to be a well-rounded, educated individual as it reflects many of the goals of a liberal arts education and will teach you many of the skills inherent to a liberal arts degree including critical thinking skills, analytical reasoning skills, interpersonal skills, ethical values, communication skills, writing skills and more.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), of the 1,895,000 bachelor's degrees conferred in 2014-2015, 118,000 of those were Psychology degrees. A B.A. in Psychology can prepare you for careers upon graduation in fields such as social work, counseling, research, human resources, and marketing. Or, maybe you’re interested in pursuing additional education at the graduate level. Many BA in Psychology students go on to graduate-level study in law, medicine, counseling, and education, just to name a few.

So, whether you’re looking for a solid degree that will help you attain a job upon graduation or something that will prepare you for graduate-level study, you can be assured that CU Denver’s online B.A. in Psychology program will set you up for success.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

DEGREE PROGRAM:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

OFFERED BY:

TUITION:

• In State
• Out of State

Cost Per Credit:

$465*

* To get this rate, students must elect College Opportunity Fund (COF)

CREDIT HOURS:

120

 

 

Program Details

The online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at CU Denver has a strong focus on psychological principles and research methods. Students will explore issues in the humanities, social sciences, and life sciences and learn how to approach them from a psychological perspective.

CU Denver’s online BA in Psychology program focuses on experimental psychology, biopsychology, animal behavior, developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, personality, industrial/organizational psychology and abnormal psychology. Additionally, you will be exposed to various research methods and inferential statistics.

A degree in psychology is beneficial to students who are interested in a career in psychology as well as those interested in other fields. Graduates with a BA in Psychology are able to develop a working knowledge of psychological areas, apply psychological content and skill to meet professional goals, apply ethical standards to science, and professional practice, effectively write, speak and interact with others, and engage in science-based reasoning to interpret behaviors and solve problems. These skills are interchangeable and valuable in any industry, not just psychology.

Additionally, many BA in Psychology graduates go on to study psychology or another field in graduate degree work. Whether you’re interested in pursuing graduate level study in psychology or another area of study including social work, education, law, criminal justice, medicine and health science, among others, a BA in Psychology can help you build a solid foundation to pursue your graduate education.

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Timeline

The BA in Psychology requires a minimum of 37 credit hours in psychology, including the following:

• 6 required core courses (PSYC 1000, 1005, 2090, 2220, 3090 and 4511)
• 2 Group A electives (including PSYC 3222 and/or PSYC 4144)
• 3 Group B electives (including PSYC 3205, 3215 and/or 4415)
• 1 additional upper-division psychology elective (any group)
• 1 integrative course

Minimum of 16 upper-division credit hours in PSYC courses taken from CU Denver faculty. No more than 56 credit hours in psychology can count towards graduation. For transfer students, we require at least 16 upper-division credit hours taught by CU Online faculty.

One of the main benefits of an exclusively online education is flexibility. You can take as many classes as fit into your schedule and complete the program at your speed. Though you can complete many of our undergraduate degrees in four years by taking a full course load, you also have the option to take fewer credits and complete the program over more time.

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Admissions

Admission requirements and deadlines vary based on the program. In addition, you will have different requirements depending on if you are a first-time student, a transfer student or an international student. 

Learn more about the admissions process by filling out the form above or contacting the CU Online Enrollment Team today.

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Career Outlook

One of the main benefits of earning a BA in Psychology is the variety of industries and careers available after graduation. Those who hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can find entry-level jobs in areas including marketing, case management, sales, advertising, teaching, labor relations, writing and criminal justice, among others.

However, if you’re interested in working in a psychology-related field, you might be wondering about the potential of finding a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of psychologists is projected to grow 14% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.

While you can find a job working in research or as a psychiatric technician, the vast majority of psychology-related jobs require a Master’s or Doctorate degree. If you’re thinking about pursuing a graduate-level education, you can look forward to careers working directly in mental health and behavioral sciences. You could pursue careers in school psychology, counseling and health.

Here are some of the top career opportunities that you could expect after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology along with average median salaries:

• Research Analyst: $53,333
• Research Coordinator: $46,840
• Case Manager: $39,984
• Psychiatric Technician: $35,987

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Courses

Courses at CU Denver are offered three times a year — fall, spring and summer. Not all courses are available every semester. For most programs, courses last 15-weeks, plus one week for finals. This is a big commitment, but we believe the extra time you spend dedicated to your studies pays off! 

Example Courses
PSYC 1000 — Introduction to Psychology I Introduces the scientific study of behavior, including an overview of the biological basis of behavior, sensation or perception, states of consciousness, learning and memory, thinking and language, intelligence, motivation and emotion.
PSYC 2090 — Statistics and Research Methods Introduces statistics and research methods in the field of psychology. Note: Intended for those who plan to major in psychology. Completion of college algebra or equivalent is recommended.
PSYC 3222 — Principles of Learning and Behavior Introduces the scientific study of learning and behavior, focusing on "Behaviorism." Principles of operant and classical conditioning are discussed. A particular emphasis is placed on the relevance and application of these principles to understanding human behavior and psychopathology.