Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in North Carolina, D-H

Let’s continue to part II of the top-notch bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in North Carolina by touring colleges starting with D-H.

Davidson College

Psychology Department

Belonging to the Charlotte Area Education Consortium, Davidson College is a private, nonprofit Presbyterian liberal arts institution founded in 1837 with a 665-acre waterfront campus on Lake Norman to educate approximately 1,950 students per year. Honored in College Choice’s “50 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen,” Davidson is ranked America’s ninth-best liberal arts school, 16th top value, and most innovative school by the U.S. News. Forbes magazine gave Davidson an A+ as the South’s #1 best college overall. Housed in Watson Hall, the Psychology Department features rigorous curricula to prepare civil leaders for our interconnected world.

B.S. in Psychology

Aligned with the APA’s guidelines, the B.S. in Psychology program at Davidson College bridges liberal arts and social sciences to train undergraduates for studying the cognitive processes underlying human or animal behavior. The 10-course major introduces the principal subfields of psychology for application in diverse professional contexts. Coursework from I/O psychology to child development and addiction culminates in a senior thesis project. Students work with expert faculty in Davidson’s Behavioral Testing Lab, Cognitive Psychology Lab, and Social Psychology Lab. Students can participate in field practicum at nonprofits like Autism Charlotte. There’s a landmark eight-week clinical internship available at Broughton Hospital. Psychology majors often attend the DIS Study Abroad in Copenhagen too.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

Watson Hall Room 108B
209 Ridge Road
Davidson, NC 28035
(704) 894-2445
juramirez@davidson.edu
Program Link

Duke University

Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

Established in 1838 as Brown’s Schoolhouse by Quakers, Duke University has evolved into a prestigious private, nonsectarian research institution with over 14,900 students studying on its spacious 8,470-acre suburban campus in Durham within North Carolina’s famed Research Triangle. Noted for America’s 14th best hospital, Duke is ranked the eighth-best national university, seventh top value, and seventh-most innovative school by the U.S. News. The QS World University Rankings even placed Duke 20th globally. The Trinity College of Arts & Sciences features 44 majors opening the interdisciplinary lens to explore various disciplines.

Major in Psychology

Leading to an A.B. or B.S. degree, the Major in Psychology allows Duke undergraduates to develop generalized knowledge about human behavior and cognition. Students develop into liberally educated citizens who can apply their “people” skills in various career tracks. The 11-course major begins the freshman year with credit possible for AP psychology coursework in high school. Majors build upon the required core with depth requirements in Abnormal/Health, Biological, Cognitive, Development, and Social psychology. Upperclassmen are invited to complete independent scholarly projects in APA style. Semester awards up to $300 are gifted for students engaged in research with Duke professors. The Graduation with Distinction (GwD) program is offered to majors carrying a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Major in Neuroscience

Duke’s interdisciplinary Major in Neuroscience draws upon the psychology, biology, medicine, and biomedical engineering departments for well-rounded education about the brain. Whether completing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, majors explore the neural circuits through which behavioral functions are manifested. The 10-course major requires at least one semester of independent research with a PhD-level mentor. Students are encouraged to join the Summer Neuroscience Program of Research (NPR). Each year, the Duke Neurohumanities program takes selected majors to Paris. Neuroscience students can also join the Duke University Synapse club for networking through the Institute for Brain Sciences. Undergraduate programs have an impressive 97 percent freshman retention rate.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

LSRC Building 243E
417 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 668-5286
chair@psych.duke.edu
Program Link

East Carolina University

Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences

Based on a main 530-acre urban campus on the Coastal Plain in Greenville with branches in New Holland and Manteo, East Carolina University is a public, doctoral-granting research institution with sea-grant status and $187 million endowment to educate over 28,500. Honored with the ESGR’s Service Member Patriot Award, ECU is ranked America’s 194th best university, 111th top public school, and 154th best pick for veterans by the U.S. News. Washington Monthly crowned ECU the #1 best bang for the buck in the Southeast. Within the Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences, 16 academic departments combine to foster students’ connections to our multicultural society.

Psychology B.A.

Firmly grounded in liberal arts, the Psychology B.A. program at ECU begins introducing freshmen to the scientific methods used to systematically assess behavior and its influences. Students are well-prepared for graduate study by sharpening their analytical, problem-solving, communication, and inquiry skills. Entry-level employment in human services and business is another possible outcome. The 120-credit curriculum includes 35 credits of psychology courses individually mapped with a faculty advisor. For the capstone, students can complete an advanced seminar or senior thesis project. Limited positions are available for undergraduate research assistants. External internships are arranged across the Carolinas, including REAL Crisis Intervention, PASS Clinic, and Building Hope Community Life Center.

Neuroscience B.S.

Over four years full-time, the 120-credit Neuroscience B.S. program equips East Carolina students for contributing to cutting-edge research on the brain-behavior relationship. Blending psychology with biology, the major seeks to answer complex questions about the nervous system mechanisms that underlie mental health disorders. To explore the mind’s inner workings, B.S. students complete a mentored research experience and a two-semester thesis. Curriculum strongly overlaps the requirements to attend medical school if desired. Structured electives range from genetics and animal physiology to electron microscopy and behavioral pharmacology. High-achieving students in this rigorous program can join the Psi Chi Honor Society and International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS).

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

104 Rawl Building
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 328-6800
psychology@ecu.edu
Program Link

Elizabeth City State University

Department of Education, Psychology and Health

Enrolling approximately 2,400 students, Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically black research institution in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and UNC system that’s sitting upon a 200-acre rural campus in Pasquotank County around 50 miles from the Outer Banks. In addition to being the South’s 30th best college and second top public school, ECSU is crowned the 18th best HBCU nationwide by the U.S. News. The “Military Friendly” university also landed as Washington Monthly’s #1 best baccalaureate institution for civic engagement. The Department of Education, Psychology and Health has produced diverse teachers and mental health leaders since 1891.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology program at ECSU surveys the cognitive, social, biological, and environmental factors that impact human behavior. Emphasis is placed on applying psychological knowledge to improve conditions for minority populations. The 120-credit curriculum offers an Applied/Fieldwork track for majors seeking entry-level employment or Research/Academic track for grad school preparation. Psychology suites in the Gilchrist Complex are state-of-the-art for laboratory work. For-credit internships are available at local placements like Albemarle Mental Health Center and Trillium Health Resources. Students could also declare an academic concentration in psychology for the NCATE-accredited teacher education program, which has a Praxis exam pass rate of 94 percent.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

Gilchrist Complex Room 347
1704 Weeksville Road
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-3340
dfgarnes@ecsu.edu

Elon University

College of Arts & Sciences

Chosen for the Templeton Guide’s “Colleges That Encourage Character Development,” Elon University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution enlightening over 6,500 co-eds from a historic 636-acre suburban campus adjacent to Burlington just 20 minutes from Greensboro. According to the U.S. News, Elon is the South’s top regional college, best college for veterans, and most innovative school with the #1 best undergraduate teaching. In 2014, Elon also received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award. The College of Arts & Sciences houses 42 majors focused on intercultural skills and ethical reasoning for global citizenship.

Psychology A.B.

Touted as Elon’s largest liberal arts major, the Psychology A.B. program attracts over 345 undergraduates fascinated by the complex causes of human behavior on individual, familial, and societal terms. Students are trained with scientific methods to gather information, think critically, and communicate empirical-based conclusions. The 48-credit Bachelor of Arts major includes courses from neuroscience and personality to perception and child psychopathology. At the 400-level, seniors must complete at least 40 hours of research to satisfy the experiential learning component. Elon has 4,800+ square feet of laboratory suites for workspace. Past psychology majors have completed internships from Charlotte to Hollywood and Pretoria, South Africa. Students can also join the active Psychology Club.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

100 Campus Drive
Campus Box 2337
Elon, NC 27244
(336) 278-5125
ascott20@elon.edu
Program Link

Fayetteville State University

College of Arts and Sciences

Endowed for $19 million, Fayetteville State University is a public, historically black teaching institution founded after the Civil War in 1867 and educating over 5,900 per term from its 156-acre urban campus within North Carolina’s sixth-largest municipality and beyond online. The U.S. News ranked FSU as the South’s 84th best regional college and 40th top public school as well as the 25th best HBCU nationwide. Diverse Issues in Higher Education named Fayetteville State among the top 20 producers of African American graduates. The College of Arts and Sciences is an expansive division offering everything from criminal justice and nursing to sociology and physics.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology

Fayetteville State’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology is delivered in a traditional, face-to-face format for undergraduates who value a strong liberal arts foundation for studying the basis of behavior. Students complete at least 50 credits of psychology courses for an in-depth investigation of the biological, social, cultural, and emotional aspects of the human condition. Declaring a concentration in biopsychology is possible for advanced neuroscience laboratory courses. With a student-faculty ratio of 18:1, courses engage B.S. majors in studying personality theory, research methodology, developmental psychology, psychopathology, cognition, and the history of psychology. Students benefit from accessing the Charles Chesnutt Library Services, Center for Personal Development, and Psychology Club.

Online Psychology Degree Completion

Also granting a Bachelor of Science, the Online Psychology Degree Completion program caters to FSU students who are seeking a flexible alternative to the college classroom. Busy working adults and non-traditional learners access the same high-quality education from a distance. According to Affordable Colleges Online, this is the #1 online psychology program. Students complete their junior and senior years after fulfilling the required 45-credit core. Transfer credits must be obtained at a regionally accredited college. Online learning helps psychology majors overcome barriers to satisfy their thirst for knowledge on the human mind and behavior. Each major begins by completing an online Canvas Student Orientation.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

NERC Center Room 202
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 672-1922
tmoore40@uncfsu.edu
Program Link

Gardner-Webb University

School of Psychology and Counseling

First opened in 1905 by the Kings Mountain Baptist Association, Gardner-Webb University upholds its Christian heritage as a private, four-year liberal arts institution that’s enrolling more than 5,000 students on its 240-acre rural campus in Boiling Springs around 50 miles outside Charlotte. Given the Carnegie Foundation’s prestigious “Community Engagement” classification, Gardner-Webb is ranked the South’s 41st best regional university and 32nd top school for former military by the U.S. News. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni rated GWU as the Carolinas’ only A-level college. Within the School of Psychology and Counseling, accredited education shares diverse perspectives on interpersonal relations.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Structured as a traditional, daytime program, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program encourages Gardner-Webb students to examine the individual characteristics that make humans and their behaviors unique. The 39-credit major builds upon Christian values and liberal arts education to nurture the whole student. Along with abstract psychological theories, students gain concrete analytical, critical thinking, and APA writing skills. Degree personalization is possible with 15 credits of psychology electives. Nearly two-thirds of psych courses have fewer than 20 students. Every B.S. major must complete a hands-on internship and capstone paper. There’s also a 30-credit Psychology as a Second Major option for those studying other fields.

Bachelor of Science in Human Services

Prospective psychology majors needing more flexibility in their higher education could pursue Gardner-Webb’s Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree completion program. Courses are conveniently offered online and during evenings at 12 North Carolina locations. This 30-credit major is designed for working professionals with 48+ credits of transferrable college coursework. Students foster a better understanding of the dynamics of individuals, groups, and communities to serve our diverse world. Psychology coursework infuses the major to unlock several applied social welfare careers. Two field-based experiences are required at public or nonprofit agencies. Graduates fulfill the requirements for becoming a Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP).

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

110 South Main Street
P.O. Box 997
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(704) 406-4437
dcarscaddon@gardner-webb.edu
Program Link

Greensboro College

School of Social Sciences & Education

Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Greensboro College is a senior private, co-educational liberal arts institution with a beautiful 80-acre urban campus in the Piedmont Triad that’s educating over 1,300 students from 29 global nations. Since its founding in 1838 as one of the nation’s first colleges for women, Greensboro has become the 319th best baccalaureate college in America for “contribution to the public good” according to Washington Monthly. In 2016, GC was named among Victory Media’s “Military Friendly” schools too. The School of Social Sciences & Education unlocks extremely gratifying fields like psychology, sociology, criminal justice, teaching, and special education.

B.S. in Psychology

The research-oriented B.S. in Psychology program equips GC undergraduates with the basic tools to conduct scholarly inquiry and expand the field’s theoretical knowledge. Classroom instruction blends with group projects and independent research in the state-of-the-art User Experience Lab. Thanks to small class sizes, students network closely with expert faculty, including several who’ve earned the Virginia Clarke Gray Teaching Award. Within the 120-credit curriculum, students can choose from two concentrations. The General Psychology track offers flexibility for selecting seven electives ranging from clinical to environmental psychology. The Human Factors Concentration is one of the nation’s few bachelor’s options devoted to studying people’s capabilities for industrial design.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

Proctor Hall West 225
815 West Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 272-7102
guntherl@greensboro.edu
Program Link

Guilford College

Psychology Department

Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, Guilford College is a small, private liberal arts institution opened by Levi Coffin and fellow Quakers in 1837 with a scenic 340-acre suburban campus in Greensboro within the Greater Winston-Salem area. Enrolling around 2,100 students “striving for wisdom and virtue,” Guilford is ranked America’s 158th best liberal arts college and 112th top school for veterans by the U.S. News. Forbes magazine lauded Guildford College for producing the 243rd most grateful graduates nationwide. The Psychology Department takes a multidisciplinary approach to grasping the interplay of psychological phenomena.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program at Guilford invites opportunity for undergrad students to examine different approaches for understanding how behavior, cognition, emotion, and relationships supplement one another. Getting insight into how people think will foster a greater appreciation for cultural differences in today’s global workforce. This 32-credit A.B. major has unique electives like media psychology, psychology of language, sex and gender, and environmental science. Although not required, field practicum is encouraged. Partnering placements include the Servant Leadership School, Mental Health Association of Greensboro, and Pathways Family Shelter. Research can be completed for the Guilford Undergraduate Symposium each April. Students could also pursue a double major in African American Studies.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

5800 West Friendly Avenue
Greensboro, NC 2714
(336) 316-2834
sestow@guilford.edu
Program Link

High Point University

David R. Hayworth College of Arts & Sciences

Divided into seven schools, High Point University is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church to educate over 4,500 students of diverse faiths on 380 park-like acres in the suburbs surrounding North Carolina’s ninth-largest city. Placed #5 on Niche’s 2015 Best Campus ranking, HPU is named the South’s top regional college, best college for veterans, and most innovative university by the U.S. News. Forbes gave High Point a B- as America’s 206th top liberal arts college. The David R. Hayworth College of Arts & Sciences offers 23 majors, including nonprofit leadership, human relations, mathematical economics, and French.

B.S. Psychology

Consisting of 128 credits, the B.S. Psychology program at HPU welcomes undergraduates seeking broad-based exposure to various scientific perspectives impacting how the human mind and behavior are studied. The 14:1 student-faculty ratio sparks a supportive learning environment where individualized attention is prioritized. Students declaring the 44-credit major explore social cognition, health psychology, sexuality, perception, lifespan development, biopsychology, substance abuse, counseling, and more. Didactic instruction is supplemented with the Student Career Internship Program. Past students have worked with the Piedmont Correctional Institution, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, and Center for Creative Leadership. Annual trips are also sponsored for the APA Convention by Psi Chi.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

Roberts Hall 336-B
1 University Parkway
High Point, NC 27268
(336) 841-9216
admiss@highpoint.edu
Program Link

Still not finding the right college fit? Don’t worry because there are numerous more options outlined in our next section of bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in North Carolina (J-M) here.

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