Psychology, B.S.

Mission

The Psychology, B.S. major (formerly Applied Psychology, B.S.) equips adult-learners to apply biblically integrated psychological constructs in their scholarship, workplace, and service to the church, community and society.

Degree Program

The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology is an undergraduate major specifically designed for adult-learners with course content delivered in a non-traditional manner, maximizing flexibility and accessibility for all enrolled students. The Psychology major includes course work emphasizing psychosocial development, integration, research, and foundational theories of psychological study. Since students select a psychology major for a variety of reasons, a broad range of courses have been selected for students desiring employment or advancement in a variety of fields which may include education, ministry, human resources, business, and human services. The courses are chosen to concurrently satisfy the prerequisites for many graduate programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, educational psychology, school counseling, and other related fields of study.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate foundational knowledge and comprehension of psychology subject matter (ULO 1).
2. Demonstrate knowledge of and conduct basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation (ULO 1).
3. Understand and apply relevant psychological principles to individuals, relationships, communities, and society at large (ULO 3).
4. Demonstrate knowledge and skill of integrating a biblical worldview (i.e. Christian faith and practice) with the discipline of psychology and applying that integrative understanding in practical contexts (ULO 2). 

Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

Admission Requirements

1. Must be a believer in the Christian faith (the applicant's statement of faith will be articulated in the personal essay section of the application).
2. Must have at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA.
3. Must have graduated from high school or earned an equivalent degree (GED).
4. Preference will be given to students with at least three years' work experience.
5. Students with fewer than 15 semester credits post high school must apply as a transfer students and meet the Admissions requirements for first time college students. In addition, students are required to:
   1. Submit SAT/ACT scores, or
   2. If no test scores, the Post Traditional Test-Optional Rubric process will be used.

Curriculum Requirements

A Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology is offered upon completion of the University baccalaureate and major requirements. The Psychology, B.S. major requires the completion of 40 credits beyond PSYC 200, 24 of which must be upper-division.

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See Core Curriculum Program section for details.