Whether you’re from Memphis, Clarksville, Tullahoma, or another state entirely, bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee can be worth the investment. According to Salary.com, psychology majors provide an average ROI of 35 to 68 percent. Undergraduate behavioral science programs can pave the pathway for lucrative careers, such as I/O psychologist where the mean annual wage is $92,320. To gain the skills to control behavior for constructive changes in people’s lives, review our conclusion to psychology schools (R-Z) in Tennnessee.
Rhodes College
Department of Psychology
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Rhodes College is a selective private, nonprofit liberal arts school endowed for $335 million to educate around 2,050 Lynx from 100 urban acres in Midtown Memphis near Overton Park. Placed #9 for “Most Accessible Processors” on The Princeton Review, Rhodes is deemed the 44th best national liberal arts institution by the U.S. News. The Department of Psychology employs PhD-level faculty trained at prestigious schools like UCLA, UNC Chapel Hill, and Georgetown.
Major in Psychology
Rhodes confers an 11-course Major in Psychology to foster discussion on human behavior from a variety of theoretical perspectives ranging from clinical to social. Featuring a 91 percent freshman retention rate, the program requires meeting for 150 minutes face-to-face weekly in Memphis per three-credit course. Students with a minimum 3.5 overall GPA could add academic rigor with the Honors in Psychology option. Majors could also benefit from interning on the Mayor’s Action Council, volunteering at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, being Rhodes Global Diplomats, and undertaking faculty-led research in the Visual Cognition Lab.
Major in Neuroscience
Seeking bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee focused on the brain could lead to Rhodes’ Major in Neuroscience. With a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, this 53-credit major develops key understanding on the complex biological and psychological mechanisms of the nervous system. After the liberal arts core, coursework dives into molecular biology, physics, pharmacology, organic chemistry, neuroanatomy, developmental psychology, and more. Hands-on research experience is gained in the Behavioral Neuroscience Lab and Neuroendocrinology Lab. Students may also intern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or receive the 12-week Rhodes/UT Neuroscience Fellowship.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Clough Hall Room 106
2000 North Parkway
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 843-3990
gereckek@rhodes.edu
Sewanee-The University of the South
School of Arts and Sciences
Sitting atop the Cumberland Plateau with a massive 13,000-acre rural campus, Sewanee-The University of the South is a private, co-educational Episcopal liberal arts institution in the Oberlin Group that’s holding a $336 million endowment to enroll 1,900 Tigers. Named America’s 16th “Best College with No Application Fee” on Niche, Sewanee is ranked the 47th best national liberal arts school by the USNWR. The School of Arts and Sciences offers one of the bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio.
B.A./B.S. in Psychology
Admitting 41 percent of applicants, the B.A./B.S. in Psychology is among Sewanee’s selective programs rooted in biological and social science to study behavior as a means of promoting people’s welfare. Before the comprehensive exam, the 10-course major delves into industrial psychology, human diversity, personality, cognitive illusions, gender studies, and more. Lab experience can be gained with the partnering Life Paths Appalachian Research Center. There’s the Sewanee-at-Yale Directed Research Program for students with a minimum 3.5 major GPA. Students could add the Neuroscience Minor or Education Minor too.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Woods Lab Room 303A
735 University Avenue
Sewanee, TN 37383
(931) 598-1000 ext. 1151
cabardi@sewanee.edu
Southern Adventist University
School of Education and Psychology
Marking its 125th anniversary, Southern Adventist University is a private, conservative liberal arts institution operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to enlighten over 3,000 faithful scholars from a sprawling 1,000-acre rural campus in Collegedale. Crowned America’s 100th “Best Christian College” on Niche, SAU is ranked the 69th best regional university in the South by the U.S. News. Featuring a 76 percent freshman retention rate, the School of Education and Psychology confers 15 bachelor’s degrees from Spanish to psychobiology.
B.A. in Psychology
With a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, the B.A. in Psychology suits Southern Adventist students who are preparing for a life of secular or Christian service through the pursuit of truth on human behavior. This four-year, generalist program focuses on applying psychological thought in therapeutic means. Boasting an above-average ETS Major Field Test score, the 124-credit curriculum integrates strong practicum experience. SAU’s over 130 partnering agencies include Bethel Bible Village, Chattanooga Cares, and Parkridge Medical Center. Approximately 10 B.A. majors are inducted into Psi Chi annually.
B.S. in Psychology
Many bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee don’t offer concentrations, but the B.S. in Psychology at Southern Adventist has four. Students customize their 124-credit curriculum for Clinical/Counseling, Family Systems, Industrial/Organizational, or Psychobiology. Majors narrow broad areas of scientific thinking and Adventist Christian principles to prepare for graduate school in in-demand niches. Students may benefit from researching in the Psychology Lab, attending meetings at the Cherokee Council House, studying abroad in São Paulo, joining the Southern Scholars Program, or participating in Canvassers for Christ.
Accreditation
Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Summerour Hall 2nd Floor
4881 Taylor Circle
Collegedale, TN 37315
(423) 236-2415
edpsych@southern.edu
Tennessee State University
College of Education
Among the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s 47 members, Tennessee State University is a public, land-grant APLU institution located on 903 urban acres in Nashville that’s educating over 9,000 Tigers annually and producing notable alumni like Oprah Winfrey. Ranked the 263rd top public college nationally on Forbes, TSU stands as America’s 33rd “Best HBCU” according to Niche. With a 53 percent admission rate, the College of Education is also recognized by the U.S. News for the 214th best graduate psychology programs.
Psychology (B.S.)
TSU’s 120-credit Psychology (B.S.) program melds 41 general education and 42 upper-division credits with free electives to support undergraduates’ fascination for the cognitive and biological processes underlying behavior. It’s equally effective for building psychological research skills and finding societal applications to promote good health. Courses cover a spectrum of theoretical orientations from neuropsychology to developmental psychology. Students benefit from special opportunities, such as joining the ABPsi Chapter, interning with Children’s Defense Fund, conducting research in the Experimental Psychology Lab, and entering the TSU-NERVE Program.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Clay Hall Room 303
3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 963-5157
kkelly5@tnstate.edu
Tennessee Technological University
College of Education
With enrollment surpassing 11,300, Tennessee Technological University is a public, co-educational polytechnic institution endowed for $65.9 million in the Ohio Valley Conference to teach from a 235-acre suburban campus in Cookeville near Dale Hollow Lake. Deemed America’s 104th “Most Conservative College” on Niche, TTU is ranked the 220th best national university and 125th top public school by the U.S. News. Achieving 74 percent retention, the College of Education also excels as the 180th best education division nationwide.
B.S. in Psychology
TTU Golden Eagles enrolled full-time for the B.S. in Psychology pay an average net price of $13,677 yearly to expand their scientific understanding of the brain and behavior. Adhering to the highest APA guidelines, the 43-credit undergraduate major covers courses from data analysis to biopsychology with 39 free elective hours. Experiential learning abounds with semester-long exchanges to Munich University, summer research stipends of $3,500, UNICEF fundraisers, and the Psi Chi Honor Society. There’s also a C&P Fast Track option for upper-classmen to begin the M.A. in Counseling.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Matthews Hall Room 256
1 William L. Jones Drive
Cookeville, TN 38505
(931) 372-3101
EDCP@tntech.edu
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Social Sciences Department
Opened as Athens Female College in 1857, Tennessee Wesleyan University has expanded into a private, co-educational liberal arts institution for the United Methodist Church with nearly 1,200 undergraduates engaged on its 40 rural acres just 58 miles from Knoxville. Given the Tree Campus USA Award three times, TWU is ranked the South’s 16th best regional university and ninth top value by the U.S. News. The Social Sciences Department charges a net annual price of $11,182 for five undergraduate majors and Pre-Law Career Track.
Psychology Major
Featuring a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, the Psychology Major offers TWU Bulldogs a B.A. or B.S. degree for certifying their expertise discerning how human beings behave and the cognitive or physiological reasons why. The 120-credit curriculum is jam-packed with courses like personality theory, behavioral statistics, group dynamics, organizational behavior, and advanced research methods. At least 40 service learning hours are integrated with partnering agencies like Morning Pointe Assisted Living and The HOPE Center. Students may also participate in the United Way Day of Caring and alternative break trips to the Bahamas.
Behavioral Science Major
Leading to a B.A. or B.S., the Behavioral Science Major is another of the broad-based bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee offering greater flexibility. This 120-credit curriculum requires choosing two of the six available emphases: Criminal Justice, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Legal Studies, or Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. Students mix and match courses from juvenile delinquency to social psychology to target their individual interests. Outside the classroom, majors could participate in TWU Travels, join Baptist Collegiate Ministries missions, contribute to the Love Thy Neighbor Project, and pledge Psi Chi.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
204 E. College Street
Athens, TN 37303
(423) 745-7504
ktowler@tnwesleyan.edu
University of Memphis
College of Arts and Sciences
Following the motto “Driven By Doing,” the University of Memphis is a public, Urban 13 research institution governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents to educate over 20,500 Tigers from a 1,160-acre campus on the Chickasaw Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Graded A+ for America’s 74th “Best College Athletics,” Memphis is ranked the 219th best research and 215th top public university by Forbes. The College of Arts and Sciences houses the 117th best psychology programs nationally according to the USNWR.
Psychology Major (B.A.)
Boasting a 91 percent placement rate, the Psychology Major (B.A.) at Memphis introduces the fundamental methods used to address fascinating questions about how people think, feel, and behave. The 120-credit curriculum consists of 41 general education and 35 major credits before flexible free electives, which range from cognitive science to human resources. Students gain essential experience in the on-site Psychological Services Center and Gambling Clinic. There’s also the Center for Applied Psychological Research for Honors thesis work. Graduates could continue for the APA-accredited Clinical or Experimental Psychology.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Psychology Building Room 126
400 Innovation Drive
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-2146
fndrasik@memphis.edu
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Psychology Department
Formerly called the U.S. Grant Memorial University until 1907, the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a public, state-related research hub endowed for $112.9 million to enroll over 12,700 students on its 321-acre urban campus in Hamilton County’s seat. Recognized for the 89th “Best College Dorms in America” on Niche, UTC is deemed the South’s 62nd best college and 25th top value by the U.S. News. The Psychology Department nurtures creativity, scientific inquiry, and integrity with one bachelor’s and two master’s options.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Delivered by PhD-level faculty trained at Cornell, Louisiana State, George Mason, and more, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology mentors UTC Mocs who strive for research or applied careers concerned with human behavior. The 120-credit program can begin immediately for freshmen in the Clear Path option or after the liberal arts foundation for upper-classmen. Picking an 18-credit minor, such as Education or Exercise Science, is required. Students can benefit from publishing research in Modern Psychological Studies, attending the RCIO Conference, joining Psi Chi International, and participating in Pay It Forward Day.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
State Office Building 382
540 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4283
Boleary@utc.edu
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
College of Arts & Sciences
Affiliated with seven Rhodes Scholars, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a flagship public, sun-grant and land-grant RU/VH institution attracting over 27,800 Volunteers from 100 global countries to its 560-acre urban campus near the Great Smoky Mountains. Included in The Princeton Review’s “Colleges That Pay You Back,” UTK is ranked the 103rd best university and 66th most veteran-friendly school nationwide by the U.S. News. The College of Arts & Sciences is also acclaimed for America’s 101st best psychology school.
B.A. Degree in Psychology
Learning about the breadth and diversity of human behavior for diverse social services jobs is possible with UTK’s B.A. Degree in Psychology, which aligns with APA undergraduate guidelines. The flexible, 24-credit major builds on foreign language, humanities, and elective courses for theoretical knowledge from child psychology to sociobiology. Students with a minimum GPA of 3.25 or ACT score of 29 could declare the Honors Concentration. Classroom seminars are supplemented with experience, such as shadowing in the Psychological Clinic, studying abroad in Wales, and conducting research in the Cole Neuroscience Center.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Austin Peay Building Room 307
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-3328
artscidean@utk.edu
Vanderbilt University
College of Arts and Science
Acclaimed for Middle Tennessee’s only Level I trauma center, Vanderbilt University is an elite private, nonprofit AAU member of the 568 Group that’s serving approximately 12,600 scholars upon its 330 urban acres in Midtown Nashville’s Sacred Grove. Ranked the 15th best national university and 23rd most innovative school by the U.S. News, Vandy is applauded as America’s #6 “Best College for Student Athletes” on Niche. The College of Arts and Science spans 33 departments, including the country’s 30th best psychology school.
Psychology Major, B.S.
Conducted with an impressively low 8:1 student-faculty ratio, the Psychology Major, B.S. at Vanderbilt assembles undergrads’ scientific knowledge on the biological, social, cultural, and cognitive influences on behavior. Taking a generalist approach, the 36-credit major distributes courses from experimental design through social and developmental psychology. Honors students with a 3.2 GPA or higher take advanced courses before a culminating thesis. Majors are actively involved in research with PhD-level faculty, including an AERA Fellow. Graduates have excelled with the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and National Institute of Mental Health.
Cognitive Studies Major, B.S.
The Peabody College of Education and Human Development offers an alternative to bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee with the Cognitive Studies Major, B.S. Vanderbilt Commodores sharpen their critical inquiry skills for investigating how people think and make decisions. The 120-credit curriculum studies the relationship between the mind and behavior with courses ranging from human-computer interaction to linguistics and behavioral medicine. Boasting a 97 percent retention rate, the program satisfies students’ curiosity with experiments in the Brain Research Lab, study expeditions to South Africa, and Vanderbilt Visions.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Wilson Hall Room 307
2305 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 343-5915
jo-anne.bachorowski@vanderbilt.edu
University of Tennessee at Martin
Department of Behavioral Sciences
Established in 1927 by Ada Gardner Brooks, the University of Tennessee at Martin is one of the system’s five public, co-educational research institutions educating over 7,400 Skyhawks from 950 rural acres in West Tennessee’s Weakley County near Route 45E. Recognized for America’s 76th “Best Greek Life” on Niche, UT-Martin is the South’s 47th best college and 16th top public school according to the U.S. News. The Department of Behavioral Sciences holds a 73 percent retention rate for four bachelor’s majors and the National Forensic Academy (NFA).
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Awarding a B.A. or B.S., the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology helps UTM undergraduates erect a solid background in the research methods utilized to investigate behavioral trends and apply them for improved human well-being. The 45-credit major follows the APA’s guidelines for building breadth in social, developmental, abnormal, learning, and experimental psychology. Students often conduct faculty-supervised research for the Mid-South Psychology Conference. Majors could also subscribe to Psych-L, join Psi Chi, apply for the David Cooper Memorial Scholarship, and study abroad to Seoul or Castilla.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Sociology Building Room 105
554 University Street
Martin, TN 38238
(731) 881-7576
dahender@utm.edu
Now that we’ve finished our journey across Tennessee from Knoxville to Nashville, it’s time to make your pick. Remember that choosing the right college is important because over 33 percent of undergrads transfer at least once, which could result in credit loss. Your college pick could help you stand out among the roughly 117,000 psychology graduates given diplomas each year. Which college is on your resume could also determine the strength of your future graduate school application. Important factors to consider with each psychology degree are campus location, class size, experiential learning, religious affiliation, diversity, and financial aid. Comb through these accredited bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Tennessee for your college soulmate.
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