Throughout the state of Illinois, all students can find an undergraduate psychology program that suits their needs. There was a time when only recent high school graduates went to college. It was understood that you graduated from high school and that was your opportunity to enter college. In more recent years there has been a shift in who is going to college. More and more people are returning to school after some time of being out of school. This includes returning adult students but also other groups of people who were once excluded from the college experience. With so much flexibility in how, when and where students complete their college education, many new groups of students are entering colleges throughout the country. This includes:
- individuals with disabilities
- parents of young children
- military personnel and their families
- working professionals and many others
There are more opportunities than ever before to begin your college education.
National-Louis University
The College of Arts and Sciences
National Louis University (NLU) is a private non-profit university with its main campus in Chicago, Illinois. The school also has satellite campuses in:
- Wisconsin
- Florida
- Nowy Sącz, Poland
Many of the courses and degree programs are offered online. Since its establishment in 1886, NLU has played a historic role in education. NLU helped found the National Kindergarten Movement, and the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA). It stressed the importance of academic and professional training in childhood education theory and practice. The College of Arts and Sciences at NLU offers degree programs at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. The School programs provide a unique educational environment, which encourages academic exploration and the quest for knowledge.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
National Louis University’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree program prepares students to apply psychological concepts and theories to their careers and personal lives. The curriculum provides a strong foundation for working in community or business settings as well as graduate study. Students in this program will learn:
- Core concepts about human development, personality, social psychology, abnormal and experimental psychology
- Theories of personality and mental health
- Research methods including design
- The history and systems of psychology
Students must first complete general education requirements of 60 quarter hours, followed by 50 quarter hours in core psychology coursework, and then select 30 quarter hours in Developmental Psychology, Organizational/Community Psychology or General Psychology.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
National-Louis University
The College of Arts and Sciences
122 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
(888) 658-8632
E-Mail: Admissions@nl.edu
Program Website: http://www.nl.edu/academics/artssciencesbachelors/bapsychology/
North Central College
The Division of Science
North Central College is a private liberal arts college located in historic downtown Naperville. The school has a long-standing affiliation with the United Methodist Church. Established in 1861, North Central College is an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. It offers over 55 undergraduate majors and graduate degree programs in seven areas. North Central College is committed “to academic excellence; a climate that emphasizes leadership, ethics, values and service; a curriculum that balances job-related knowledge with a liberal arts foundation; and a caring environment with small classes”. In 2014, US News & World Report ranked North Central as the 14th best college or university in the Midwest Region of the United States. The Division of Science offers degree programs in:
- Biology
- Chemistry and Physics
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students enrolled in the BA program have the opportunity to explore their own interests while gaining valuable hands-on experience working alongside dedicated faculty on individualized projects. Students collect on-campus data at the Schwab Psychology Research Center. Some of the other benefits of the BA program include:
- Present findings of your original research at regional and national psychology conferences.
- Apply for a Richter Independent Study Fellowship grant which equips you to travel anywhere in the world your studies take you.
- Use your senior seminar to explore topics such as eating disorders, bullying, illusions, memory disorders, persuasion and humor.
- Join Psi Chi—the international honor society in psychology.
- Join the Psychology club – open to all majors and minors in psychology.
Students in either the BA or BS program in psychology can choose an optional minor in neuroscience.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Students enrolled in the BS program are often destined enter graduate study in psychology or related field. In preparation for the training students will complete the same curriculum as the BA program with the addition of Psychology Assessment, Calculus II and at least six credit hours from two of the following areas:
- Computer Science,
- Advanced Mathematics
- Life science or physical science course(s) outside the major discipline
These are beyond the courses used to fulfill general education requirements. Students in either the BA or BS program in psychology can an optional minor in neuroscience.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
North Central College
The Division of Science
30 North Brainard Street
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 637-5100
E-Mail: rjwilders@noctrl.edu
North Park University
College of Arts and Sciences
North Park University is a four-year university located on the north side of Chicago, in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the church’s only seminary. The university enrolls over 3,000 students from around the world and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In 2014, US News & World Report ranked North Park as the 54th best college or university in the Midwest region of the United States. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offers undergraduate studies in a wide variety of areas. The CAS offers much of the Liberal Arts Core curriculum for students throughout North Park University.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Psychology majors at North Park have access to the updated and expanded classroom and research facilities in the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life. This is a 101,000-square-foot facility equipped with 30 state-of-the-art labs and technology-enhanced classrooms. The psychology department curriculum focuses on the application of psychology as an empirical science and a profession. Students are given a rigorous training program in empirical research techniques. They also learn to apply scientific principles and practices in the real world. Students receive experiential learning opportunities, internships, and service opportunities with small group discussions. These activities incorporate issues of:
- faith
- ethics
- culture
These provide a more holistic understanding of all individuals. North Park partners with many Chicago nonprofits, schools, hospitals, businesses, and social service agencies to offer internship opportunities. Students have worked and learned at organizations including:
- Jumpstart
- Chicago Public Schools
- Swedish Covenant and Ravenswood Covenant Hospitals
- Chicago Counseling Center
- Lydia House
- Cornerstone Counseling Center
- Tuesday’s Child
- Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Students pursuing the BS degree will be responsible for all of the same curriculum as students in the BA program with the addition of extra mathematics and science courses. Many psychology majors in this program plan to pursue careers and graduate study in:
- counseling
- social work
- school psychology
- industrial/organizational psychology
- occupational therapy
- speech-language pathology
Recent graduates of the program have been accepted to graduate study programs at such esteemed schools as:
- Boston College
- Northwestern University
- Washington University of St. Louis
- University of Minnesota
- Loyola University Chicago
- University of Pittsburgh
All psychology majors must complete and pass an objective comprehensive exam during their final semester. Students who fail the exam will be required to take and pass a departmental comprehensive essay exam. Students must also submit and pass a psychology portfolio during their final semester.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
North Park University
College of Arts and Sciences
3225 West Foster Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-4895
(773) 244-6200
E-Mail: admissions@northpark.edu
Program Website
Northeastern Illinois University
NEIU College of Arts and Sciences
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is a public state university in Chicago. The main campus is located in the beautiful area of North Park with three satellite campuses throughout the metropolitan area. NEIU serves 12,000 students throughout the Chicago area and is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution. The College of Arts and Sciences at NEIU offers undergraduate majors and minors as well as Master’s Degrees in over 60 fields of:
- intellectual inquiry
- scientific research
- creative expression
- social engagement
The College works to enrich the learning environment for students by offering them ample opportunities for intellectual discovery. Through empirical, social, and cultural awareness, students will develop their own worldview. Students work closely with professors who are at the top of their fields and passionate about teaching. The College supports:
- student-faculty research
- peer-led team learning
- internships
- community-based fieldwork
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
NEIU’s Department of Psychology offers a 31 credit hour undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. The comprehensive Psychology program exposes students to various areas of psychology as well as opportunities for experiential research and optional field experience. The faculty members correspond with a number of theoretical approaches as well as a range of psychological content areas. This range helps enhance student’s opportunity to become familiar with the full breadth of this broad and complex subject that is psychology. Psychology Majors are urged to form an ongoing relationship with a faculty mentor/advisor in the department early in their major. The multidisciplinary nature of psychology requires familiarity with several other related fields. Therefore, students intending to pursue graduate studies should have a strong background in mathematics and the natural sciences. All psychology majors will benefit from course work in:
- philosophy
- physiology
- literature
- history
- the social sciences
- computer science
Accreditations
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
Northeastern Illinois University
NEIU College of Arts and Sciences
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625-4699
(773) 442-5700
E-Mail: k-darling@neiu.edu
Program Website: http://www.neiu.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology/programs/psychology-major-0
Northern Illinois University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university located in DeKalb, with satellite campuses in:
- Hoffman Estates
- Naperville
- Rockford
- Oregon
The school was established as Northern Illinois State Normal School in 1895. Then Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld founded the school as part of an expansion of the state’s system for training college educated teachers. The university is composed of seven colleges and has a student body of 25,000 with over 225,000 alumni. A large portion of NIU’s programs are nationally accredited for meeting high standards of academic quality, including:
- business
- engineering
- nursing
- visual and performing arts
- all teacher certification programs
In 2014, US News & World Report ranked NIU as the 194th best National University. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) houses 18 departments and 33 Bachelor’s Degree Programs. It enrolls almost 6,000 students making it the largest undergraduate college at NIU. They are also home to seven research centers and five multidisciplinary research and teaching programs. The CLAS is “committed to promoting excellence in undergraduate liberal education and in graduate programs built around cutting-edge research and to fostering the connections between teaching and research, to their mutual benefit”.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students enrolled in the BA are exposed to the many theories and models of modern psychology as well as many of the specialty areas. The Psychology Department at NIU is a lively and exciting atmosphere, where individuals can develop and train as a student body. In addition to the choice between a BA or a BS degree students can also choose to minor in Psychology or Cognitive Studies. The study of Psychology at NIU is amplified by more than 30 full-time, Ph.D. faculty in the department and offer courses within a variety of concentrations, including:
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive & Instructional Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience and Behavior
- School Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS Degree program requires students complete several courses in addition to the traditional psychology curriculum. These mathematic, science and lab courses prepare students for graduate study in Psychology or several related fields. Upon graduation all students are expected to have completed the following Learning Outcomes:
- Students will acquire critical thinking skills and be familiarity with the essentials of conducting psychological research
- Students in the program who are interested in pursuing advanced training in psychology will acquire a broad understanding of the discipline and develop rigorous analytical and writing skills to prepare them for a post-baccalaureate educational experience
- Psychology majors will have the skills and qualifications needed to obtain employment in fields related to their major
Accreditations
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Contact
Northern Illinois University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Adams Hall B20
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 753-8659
E-Mail: assess@niu.edu
Program Website: http://www.niu.edu/psyc/undergrad/index.shtml
Northwestern University
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Northwestern University (NU) is a private research university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago. Northwestern is home to 12 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees.
The university has one of the largest university endowments in the country, valued at $7.9 billion in 2013. This makes NU one of only 62 institutions elected to the Association of American Universities. Northwestern was awarded over $500 million in research grants in 2010–2011. This placed it in the first tier of the major research universities in the United States by the Center for Measuring University Performance. In 2014, US News & World Report ranked Northwestern as the 14th best National University. The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences works to prepare students for “lives of significance—whole lives well-lived through which our graduates realize their fullest human potential. Such lives are characterized by intellectual curiosity, professional success, a commitment to social justice and equity, and a love of life-long learning”.
Bachelor of in Psychology
Northwestern University’s Psychology Department is one of the largest and most respected in the United States. Psychology is among the most popular undergraduate majors offered at Northwestern. The undergraduate program combines an emphasis on people with an eye on the analysis and interpretation of data. The curriculum provides an excellent framework for a variety of career paths, as well as for graduate study in the field. Psychology majors and minors take a common core of courses that provide:
- a general introduction to the field
- exposure to the empirical research techniques used by psychologists
- hands-on research experience
The department also offers opportunities for students to interact with faculty members outside of class. Students may participate in independent study under the guidance of a faculty member or become involved in original research or pursue a narrow topic in greater depth than is possible in our regular courses.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Northwestern University
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
Swift Hall 102
2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208
(847) 491-5190
E-Mail: psychology@northwestern.edu
Program Website: http://www.psychology.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/
As more and more people begin their college education, more opportunities are arising. Students can choose to learn online, on campus or a hybrid of the two. They can choose whether full-time or part-time learning best suits their needs. There are options in terms of whether a Bachelor or Arts or Bachelor of Science is the best fit. Each student can take the time to review the many choices and pick a school and a program that is the perfect fit. This allows many students, who were once unable to earn their degree, to begin their college education. With such great flexibility, it is an excellent time to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology in Illinois.
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