Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in Michigan – A

Michigan is home to many accredited bachelor’s degree programs in psychology. Whether you are looking for a Liberal Arts Education that can lead to different areas of employment or you hope to earn graduate degree in psychology, there are programs offering what you are looking for. A bachelor’s degree in psychology can be the start of a career in:

  • social work
  • law
  • medicine
  • business and many others

It can also lead to a career as a professional psychologist. Regardless of what path you intend to take, an undergraduate psychology degree is an excellent first step.

Adrian College

The Psychology Department

Founded in 1859 by the Wesleyan Methodists, Adrian College is private co-educational liberal arts and sciences college. It’s associated with the United Methodist Church. The college is located in Adrian. The college offers a focused undergraduate education and six graduate programs using a unique 4+1 structure.

In addition to many undergraduate options, there are master’s level program and several pre-professional programs. The mission of the school is “the pursuit of truth and  dignity of all people through active and creative learning in a supportive community. Students are continually challenged to achieve excellence in their academic, personal, and professional lives, contributing to a more socially just society”. In 2016, US News and World Report ranked Adrian College as 19th for best Midwest Regional Colleges. The school has a total  enrollment of over 1,500 students. The Adrian College “Bulldogs” compete in Division III in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and National Collegiate Association. Adrian’s Psychology Department offers a wide variety of classes with small class sizes allowing development of a solid background in core principles of psychology.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology degree program provides students with a core foundation in  psychology. The broad approach to psychology in this program is the scientific study of human behavior that works to understand the reasons why individuals think and behave the way that they do. Psychology majors gather the essential skills for critical thinking, communication, and data analysis. Students gain fundamental training in:

  • humanities
  • social sciences
  • natural sciences

They also learn about concepts, theories, strategies and tactics that apply to human behavior. The curriculum used in the program includes coursework in:

  • cognition
  • development
  • psychological disorders
  • emotions
  • health
  • interpersonal relationships
  • learning and memory
  • perception
  • prejudice
  • social behavior

Requirements for the program includes the following:

  • 18 credits of Psychology Core coursework including Advanced Research and a Capstone Course
  • 14 credits of Bachelor of Arts Psychology electives

Some of the careers that graduates of this program have pursued include:

  • therapy
  • research
  • teaching
  • schools and offices

Many graduates of this program choose to pursue graduate studies in psychology or related fields.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The Psychology Department also offers the Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree, for students interested in a more science-oriented curriculum. This is good preparation to pursue study in science-oriented psychology graduate programs or medical school and health-related graduate programs. The BS program requires 32 credits for completion including the following:

  • 18 credits of Psychology Core including Advanced Research and a Senior Research Capstone
  • 14 credits of Psychology BS Electives including two of the following courses:
    • Health
    • Psychology
    • Abnormal Psychology
    • Cognitive Psychology
    • Learning Theory
    • Biopsychology
  • 16 credits from one or more of the following departments:
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Math
    • CIS
    • Physics

Graduates of the BS in Psychology degree program are well prepared to pursue graduate studies or enter careers in:

  • management
  • research
  • social services
  • community outreach

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Adrian College
The Department of Psychology
110 S Madison Street
Adrian, Michigan 49221
(800) 877-2246
E-Mail Form
Program Website

Albion College

The Department of Psychological Science

Established in 1935, Albion College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Albion was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The college is located in Albion. It and offers more than 30 academic majors leading to bachelor of arts and bachelor of fine arts degrees.

In addition to the academic majors, there are numerous concentrations, academic institutes, and special programs offered throughout the many schools and divisions. In 2016, US News and World Report ranked Albion College as the 100th best National Liberal Arts College. The 90-acre main campus is home to an undergraduate student both of around 1,400 students. There is also a 144-acre Whitehouse Nature Center and a 340-acre Held Equestrian Center.

For student athletes, the “Britons” participate in NCAA Division III and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Department of Psychological Science emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, communication and research skills.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Coursework for the BS in Psychology degree program covers behavior and the mental processes of humans and other animals. Specialty areas of the program include these areas of psychology.

  • clinical
  • cognitive
  • developmental
  • organizational
  • physiological
  • health
  • social

Students enrolled in the psychology program have the opportunity to participate in research. They can:

  • develop testable questions and hypotheses
  • operationally define variables
  • gather and analyze data, interpret results
  • write research reports using APA format

These skills are important for many careers as well as for pursing graduate study. The Department of Psychological Science emphasizes the importance of:

  • critical thinking
  • communication
  • research skills

Psychology majors are amply prepared for graduate work in psychology as well as to enter careers in research, human services settings and secondary education. The program provides excellent preparation for other areas, including:

  • law
  • medicine
  • business

Students participate during their junior and senior year in a Psychology internship program, working in field settings including:

  • mental hospitals
  • juvenile homes
  • counseling centers
  • schools
  • human resource departments

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Great Lakes College Association (GLCA)

Contact
Albion College
The Department of Psychological Science
611 East Porter Street
Albion, Michigan 49224
(517) 629-1000
E-Mail Form
Program Website

Alma College

The Department of Psychology

Founded in 1886, Alma College is a private coed institution located in Alma. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of  about 1,400 students. Alma College offers five degrees including:

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Music
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Students at Alma have the opportunity to participate in service learning and study abroad opportunities. The mission is “preparing graduates to think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations”.

In 2016, US News and World Report ranked Alma College as the 143rd best National Liberal Arts College. The Department of Psychology offers a strong liberal arts education that can be applied to:

  • graduate training in psychology
  • pursuit of a position in the field
  • graduate training or employment in many related areas

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology requires completion of 36 credits for graduation. The Department recommends students supplement their coursework with courses from:

  • biology
  • computer science
  • sociology
  • anthropology
  • mathematics
  • philosophy

Students are encouraged to undertake independent research projects and to apply classroom knowledge through practicum experiences. The curriculum provides a wide range of psychological specialties and neuroscience. It’s an appropriate foundation for work in:

  • cognitive science
  • public health
  • law
  • medicine
  • social work
  • management
  • the ministry

Psychology majors may, through upper-level courses, engage in their own original research. They have the opportunity to travel to international sites important to the history of the field.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Alma College
The Psychology Department
614 West Superior Street
Alma, Michigan 48801
(989) 463-7111
E-Mail: alumnioffice@alma.edu
Program Website

Andrews University

The College of Arts and Sciences

Andrews University was founded in 1874 as the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists. It’s a private coed university located in Berrien Springs. Andrews is the flagship university of the Seventh-day Adventist school system and the largest evangelical Christian college or university in Michigan.

The university is comprised of eight schools and awards 130 undergraduate majors and 70 graduate majors. Organized in 1974, the College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the eight schools. A number of Andrews graduates attend Loma Linda University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution with the only Protestant Christian medical school and dental school in the United States.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Curriculum in the BA in Psychology degree program provides students with a thorough understanding of human behavior and emotions. The program develops the necessary skills to assist in both graduate school and future careers. The BA program provides an excellent option for students interested in the field of psychology but who may not choose to pursue graduate training in Psychology. The BA in Psychology has an option for students planning a graduate degree. The program also prepares students for careers in a variety of settings including:

  • schools
  • private businesses
  • private practices
  • hospitals
  • nonprofits
  • government

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The BS program has four available options:

  1. The General Program
  2. The Pre-Professional Program for those students planning to pursue a graduate degree
  3. Health Psychology Emphasis
  4. Behavioral Neuroscience

The BS in Psychology program requires 40 credits for completion and includes the following:

  • 19 credits of core Psychology Coursework
  • 12 credits of Emphasis coursework
  • Nine credits of Electives

Accreditations
The Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Andrews University
The College of Arts and Sciences
4150 Administration Drive
Berrien Springs Michigan 49104-0740
(800) 253-2874
E-Mail: enroll@andrews.edu
Program Website

Aquinas College

The Department of Psychology

Founded in 1961, Aquinas College is a private Catholic college located in Grand Rapids. The school offers students of all walks of life a strong liberal arts education. The Aquinas College mission is “rooted in the Catholic and Dominican tradition, emphasizing career preparation with a focus on leadership and service to others, and fostering a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good”.

The small school has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 400 students. In 2016, US News and World Reports Best Colleges ranked Aquinas College as the 19th best academic institution in the Southern Region of the United States. The mission of the Department of Psychology is “contributing to students’ intellectual development and resulting liberal education by providing a knowledge of psychology, its research findings, its major problems, its theoretical integration, and its contributions”.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Curriculum for the BA in Psychology degree program provides students with an overview of the greater field psychology. This includes the empirical methods required in conducting psychological research and the application of psychological theories and methodologies. Coursework provides students with the skills and knowledge they  need to enter careers in psychology related occupations including:

  • mental health agencies
  • hospitals
  • teaching
  • business
  • public organizations.

Graduates are also prepared to enter graduate school specializing in:

  • clinical psychology
  • social work
  • teaching
  • marriage and family therapy
  • law
  • management
  • public administration

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology will have the following competencies:

  • Knowledge Base of Psychology understanding major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology
  • Understand and apply basic research methods in psychology
  • Use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and scientific approach in problem solving relating to behavior and mental processes
  • Application of Psychology principles to personal, social, and organizational issues
  • Values in Psychology including:
    • empirical evidence
    • tolerate ambiguity
    • act ethically
    • reflect the values essential to psychology as a science
  • Literacy and competence in use of technology for variety of purposes
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
  • Recognize, understand, and respect the complexities of sociocultural and international diversity
  • Develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvements.
  • Pursue realistic methods to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in a variety of settings meeting personal goals and societal needs.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The BS in Psychology degree program utilizes the same learning objective outcomes as the BA program. In addition to the general curriculum covered in the BA, students in the BS program will be required to complete additional credits of core elective coursework. Like most BS in Psychology programs, this program emphasizes the importance of empirical scientific research in psychology. Students learn the importance of designing, implementing, analyzing and reporting their research findings in a wide range of psychological topical areas. Students are also required to complete additional courses in math and science.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Aquinas College
The Department of Psychology
1607 Robinson Road Southeast
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506-1799
(616) 632-8900
E-Mail: admissions@aquinas.edu
Program Website

Throughout the state, a variety of colleges and universities offer undergraduate studies in psychology. Students can choose an academic institution that offers online or hybrid degree programs. This allows greater flexibility for students. It’s an opportunity for students with limitations on attending a traditional program to earn their degree. Individuals with disabilities, military personnel overseas, those with small children and many other groups can now earn their degree. Students can also choose whether they would like to pursue a degree in general psychology or whether find a degree program that offers specialization in one of the many sub-fields of psychology.

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