Kansas is a state with a wide variety of options for students hoping to pursue an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Students who plan to begin college will have a number of decisions to make when they set out to find an ideal college or university. The first question to ask is whether a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science is the best fit. While some larger schools will offer both options, many programs offer only one or the other. Which degree you pursue should be largely dependent upon your career goals. The next question is whether you plan to work towards a General Psychology Degree or whether you hope to specialize in a specific specialty area of psychology, such as:
- developmental
- experimental
- industrial/organizational
Additionally, students should consider the option of online versus traditional on campus learning. Finally, each student must take a look at their life, their obligations and their family to figure out whether a full-time program or a part-time program will be a better fit.
Kansas Wesleyan University
Department of Behavioral Science and Human Services
Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) is a private, coeducational university established in Salina in 1886. The school maintains its affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It is a small university with around 850 students situated on a beautiful 28-acre campus. The university’s strong academic program offers a Liberal Arts foundation.
There are also evening degree completion programs for returning adult students in the fields of:
- nursing
- business management
- criminal justice
The average class size at Kansas Wesleyan is just 16 students, with a student/teacher ratio of 9:1. KWU is a member of the Associated Colleges of Central Kansas, a conglomerate of six colleges and universities located within 70 miles of KWU’s campus. Students have the opportunity to enroll in courses and resources throughout the member schools. KWU is also a member of the 18-member Kansas Independent College Association. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Kansas Wesleyan as the 54th best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. It’s also the 74th best college for Veterans. The Department of Behavioral Science and Human Services combines the disciplines of:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
All majors throughout the department prepare students by offering them the knowledge and skills required for success in graduate study or a variety of professional occupations where interacting with people is central. The mission of the Behavioral Science and Human Services Department is “to foster intelligent and compassionate students capable of critical thinking”.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology Degree Program is founded in the idea of the mind at work. Psychology majors experience the university’s “personal and practical Christian liberal arts education”. Training in psychology helps students better understand the complexities of the human mind and its relationship to behavior. It also offers students the tools to help others live more productive lives. The psychology major is created to be very flexible, allowing students to prepare for three possible career directions:
- graduate studies in experimental psychology
- clinical or counseling psychology
- general psychology
All students work alongside psychology professors, which means they can customize the psychology curriculum to meet each student’s education and career. Graduates of this program possess highly translatable interpersonal and research skills that can be applied to a variety of careers. The Psychology major gives students the opportunity to investigate the wide field of psychology through the interdisciplinary curriculum and tailor the psychology program to their interests and career goals.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Services
The BA in Psychological Services Degree Program requires students complete a common core of course in:
- Psychology
- Human Services
- Counseling courses
This degree program guides majors so they may gain the experiential learning, career expertise, and specific coursework in one of six human service areas:
- Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling
- Domestic Issues
- Offender Management
- Health and Wellness
- Human Resources
- Educational Counseling
A degree in Psychological services is an excellent choice for individuals who plan to seek employment immediately after graduation. This type of degree program is not very common, so this is a benefit to students who want to major in psychology but do not want to make the immediate commitment to graduate training.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Kansas Wesleyan University
Department of Behavioral Science and Human Services
100 E. Claflin Ave.
Salina, KS 67401
(785) 827-5541
E-Mail: admissions@kwu.edu
Program Website
McPherson College
The Behavioral Sciences and Psychology Department
McPherson College is a four-year Liberal Arts college located in McPherson. The Church of the Brethren chartered the college in 1887. Since its inception the school has provided a career-oriented Liberal Arts education. In 1887, leaders of the church discussed the need for a college west of the Mississippi River that might meet the educational needs of church members moving westward. In August of that year McPherson, Kansas, in McPherson County was chosen and McPherson College and Institute was founded. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked McPherson as the 52nd best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States.
The Behavioral Sciences and Psychology Department at McPherson is a multidisciplinary department which prepares students for either immediate employment or graduate studies. Students can choose from the Behavioral Sciences major or Psychology major, as well as pursue a number of areas of concentration.
Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Sciences
The BA in Behavioral Sciences Degree Program is an interdisciplinary program that investigates a wide variety of topics, including:
- human memory
- personality
- counseling
- dreaming
- child development
Behavioral Sciences majors have the opportunity to research behavioral differences in:
- children
- eye contact
- self-confidence
- race
- self-esteem
- rural/urban populations
- happiness
- marriage
The curriculum outlines the many different principles that underlie the function of the mind, brain and behavior. Upon graduation, students are prepared for pre-professional programs or graduate school.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree Program at McPherson is available with an optional emphasis:
- in Child Development
- Health and Human Services
- an opportunity to pursue a teaching license
The Psychology Department is committed to developing majors with pre- professional training and non-majors with basic knowledge of and skills in psychology. The program achieves this purpose when its students:
- Understand themselves, others, and how individuals interact within social systems
- Have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into selected professions, especially pre-professional careers in the behavioral sciences
- Have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into graduate programs in psychology and related fields
- Have bridged the gap between theory and practice through Internships
- Meet State Department of Education standards for certification in the area of psychology (applies to candidates for teacher certification in psychology) In addition to preparing its majors, psychology contributes to the General
- Education program and serves other majors.
Bachelor’s Degree in an Interdisciplinary Major
In addition to the traditional major options, McPherson also offers several interdisciplinary options, which allow students to explore many career options by combining courses from different departments or divisions into one major. Some of the recent interdisciplinary programs completed include:
- Family Life/Human Development
- Pre-Nursing/Human Behavior
- Public Relations/Broadcast Journalism/Sports Management
- Bioethics/International Studies/Political Science
Either the students or a faculty member can initiate an interdisciplinary program by applying the following guidelines:
- Complete a form available from the Office of Student Enrollment Services
- Receive approval from the heads of each department represented in the interdisciplinary program and the Educational Policies Committee
- Complete a minimum of 44 semester hours (no more than 44 hours from a single department can count toward graduation)
- Secure a supervising instructor from two or more departments
- Complete all main courses from two or more departments
Accreditations
Brethren College Association (BCA)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
McPherson College
The Behavioral Sciences and Psychology Department
1600 East Euclid
McPherson, Kansas 67460
(620) 242-0547
E-Mail: chinku@mcpherson.edu
Program Website
MidAmerica Nazarene University
The Department of Behavioral Science
MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) is a Christian liberal arts college located in Olathe. The Church of the Nazarene established the school in 1966. The Mission at MNA is to create a “transformative university that nurtures Christlike community, pursues academic excellence, and cultivates a passion to serve”. All students throughout the University, are strongly encouraged to pursue spiritual growth and fulfillment. MNU is one of only 11 Nazarene institutions of higher education in North America. However the community is diverse and represents 44 denominations and six different religions. All majors, activities and services are created with the idea of supporting a culture that “promotes Christ-centered love to one another, our community and our world”. The Department of Behavioral Science supports majors in:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
It also has the cross-disciplinary Business Psychology degree. The Department focuses on better comprehension of:
- human behavior
- mental processes
- social functioning
- the institutional structures of society
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology Degree Program introduces students to discussions and projects. They explore the social, developmental, neuropsychological, cultural and biological aspects of human function. The Psychology Department actively engages the knowledge of human science with the foundation of Christian faith. The curriculum has been designed to follow guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association.
Courses cover topics like:
- human development
- social psychology
- organizational psychology
- psychobiology
- statistical methods
- abnormal behavior
- the fundamentals of counseling
Students learn to understand research methods, including experiment design and analysis. Psychology majors also complete an internship as part of the psychology program, offering experiential learning in psychology-related professions. This allows for great networking opportunities.
Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology
The major in Business Psychology is a combination of the synergy between the people of an organization and its operations and finances. The curriculum blends behavioral science and business courses. This prepares students to understand the underlying differences between people and how that can impact business effectiveness. Students gain the skills needed to work in the management and structure of human organizations, employee engagement and the development of human resources. Students who complete the minimum requirements for the major in Business Psychology will:
- Demonstrate understanding and skill in the application of psychological principles to the business setting.
- Qualify for professional employment or continued study on the graduate level in the field of business psychology.
- Understand the various dimensions of human resources including:
- employee relations
- training and development
- compensation
- employment law
- appraisal
- planning and budgeting
- Understand the basic functional areas of Business.
Accreditations
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
MidAmerica Nazarene University
The Department of Behavioral Science
2030 E. College Way
Olathe, KS 66062-1899
(913) 971-3380
E-Mail: admissions@mnu.edu
Psychology Program Website
Business Psychology Program Website
Newman University
The Department of Psychology
Newman University is a private, coeducational Catholic Liberal Arts University located in Wichita. The university offers training at both the undergraduate and Master’s Level. The school was established in 1933, and although the school is grounded in Catholic values and traditions, it is respectful of all faith traditions, welcoming students from different walks of life. Newman is home to people, programs, organizations and activities designed to educate both the mind and inspire the spirit.
There are outreach sites in:
- southeast Kansas
- western Kansas
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Newman as the 153rd Best Online Bachelor’s Degree in the United States. The Department of Psychology prepares students for employment immediately upon graduation or for entrance into graduate training in psychology or a related field.
Bachelor of Science in Counseling
The BS in Counseling Degree Program prepares students to help people going through difficult times so they may get back on the path they were meant to follow. The program readies students for careers in the delivery of human services to adults, children and adolescents in need. There is a dual emphasis in the curriculum for extensive theoretical study and practical training. All students are given specialized courses in:
- addiction
- criminal justice studies
- working with children and adolescents
Along with the supervision of the faculty, a Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling offers students the skill set and knowledge required for a professional career in counseling or for graduate study in:
- counseling
- social work
- human services
Students enrolled in this major may also choose from one of the following areas of concentration:
- Addiction Studies
- Child and Adolescent Studies
- Criminal Justice Studies
Newman University counseling graduates have been employed in such varied settings as:
- Hospital-based treatment programs
- Probation and parole
- Private practice settings
- Community corrections
- Agencies serving youth and families
- Programs serving a diverse clientele
- Halfway houses for women and children
- Programs serving elderly clients
The curriculum for the counseling degree meets the requirements for the LAC required by the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for working in programs serving substance dependent and abusing clients.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology Degree Program studies the intricacies of how human behavior can be as fascinating as it is beneficial. Student enrolled in this program will learn the many theories that have advanced the practice and science of psychology and the application of accepted scientific methods. Psychology Majors investigate psychology’s many possible applications in the modern world. This includes understanding therapies that modify behavior, as well as ways that psychological research is being used in business and technology. To fulfill the minimum requirements for graduation students in this program must complete 33 total credit hours including:
- General Psychology
- Introduction to Experimental Psychology
- Applied Statistics or Probability and Statistics
- Tests and Measurements in Psychology
- History of Psychology
- Advanced Psychology Seminar
- PSY electives—12 credit hours
- Methods of Research
These requirements are specific requirements for the psychology major. Students must also fulfill general education requirements and general Bachelor’s Degree requirements.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Newman University
The Department of Psychology
3100 McCormick
Wichita, KS 67213-2097
Greg Smith – Associate Professor of Psychology
Office: MN307
(316) 942-4291, ext. 2337
E-Mail: smithgb@newmanu.edu
Program Website
There are so many different types of programs that each student must answer a number of questions to figure out what they want and need out of a psychology program. There are options for both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Students can earn a Bachelor’s Degree in General Psychology or in a more specialized area of psychology. Then each student should take into consideration their job, family, obligations and other limitations to time and flexibility. They need to consider whether an online, hybrid learning, or part-time learning format would be ideal.
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