Despite being a very small territory, the District of Columbia offers students many different options to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Washington D.C. boasts an array of programs with varied focus throughout. Some programs offer students a general psychology curriculum that covers many of the theories and practices of psychology. Other programs allow students to choose a specific area of specialization. This allows students in DC to choose a program and a curriculum that most closely matches they academic and career goals.
American University
The College of Arts and Sciences
American University (American) is a private, coeducational, liberal arts and research-based university in Washington, D.C. While the school is loosely affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the university’s curriculum is secular. An Act of Congress chartered the university in February of 1893, when the school was named “The American University”. In the 2014 edition of Best Colleges, US News and World Report ranked American University 75th Best National University in the United States. The College of Arts and Sciences at American University offers students a stimulating liberal arts education within an exciting and diverse community of students from all 50 states and 150 different countries.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology Degree offered by The College of Arts and Sciences states that all students are required to fulfill the following basic requirements:
- A total of 120 credit hours
- 6 credit hours of college writing
- 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination
In order to fulfill the general education requirements, students must complete:
- A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
- At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
- No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline
Finally, all students must complete the psychology major requirements, which includes 41 credit hours with grades of C or better and at least 15 credit hours at the 300 level courses or higher.
Concurrent Degree – Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Psychology
For those students who plan to pursue a Master’s Level Degree in Psychology, American offers a concurrent BA / MA degree program. This program allows students to earn both degrees in a shorter period of time. In order to complete this plan of study, students must:
- Apply for the program no later than the first semester of the senior year and no earlier than the first semester of the junior year.
- Have a minimum 3.00 grade point average in psychology and statistics courses and must have completed at least half of the credit hours required for the BA in Psychology.
- Students must submit a completed graduate application form, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the General examination (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic), two letters of recommendation, and copies of all college transcripts.
- Complete all requirements for the BA in Psychology.
- Complete all requirements for the MA in Psychology, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded.
- Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.
Accreditations
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (MSACSC)
Contact
American University
The College of Arts and Sciences
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, North West
Washington, DC 20016
David Haaga – Department Chair
(202) 885-1718
E-mail: dhaaga@american.edu
Program Website: http://www.american.edu/cas/psychology/BA-PSYC.cfm
The Catholic University of America
Name of College or school
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private university located in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops. The University Established in 1887 as a graduate and research center with approval by Pope Leo XIII. The main campus lies within the Brookland neighborhood, known as “Little Rome”, which contains 60 Catholic institutions, including Trinity Washington University and the Dominican House of Studies. In the 2014 edition of Best Colleges, US News and World Report ranked The Catholic University of America 121st Best National University in the United States.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The five broad goals of the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at CUA are:
- A liberal arts education
- Preparation for employment, not only in psychology, but in related fields
- Enhancement of one’s ability to understand and evaluate human behavior
- Preparation for graduate study in psychology
- Preparation for graduate study in other fields.
The Undergraduate Program in Psychology has been specially designed to meet the requirements of these various different goals.
Concurrent Degree – Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Psychology
Students at CUA may also choose to pursue a concurrent BA/MA in Psychology. The department offers their Master’s Degree in Psychology in the following areas of study:
- General Psychology provides a broad overview of theoretical issues in several specialty areas of psychology and serves as good preparation for doctoral work in psychology.
- Human Factors is a program designed to prepare students for positions in applied psychological research settings and provides the necessary laboratory experience.
- Psychology and Law students who are admitted to The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law may obtain a Master of Arts degree in Psychology in conjunction with the Juris Doctor.
Accreditations
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (MSACSC)
Contact
The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Avenue, North East
Washington, DC 20064
Carol Glass, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Studies
202-319-5759
E-mail: glass@cua.edu
Program Website: http://psychology.cua.edu/undergrad/prospective-students.cfm
Gallaudet University
The School of Human Services
Gallaudet University is a federally chartered private university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing located in Washington, D.C. The school was founded in 1864, for the education of both deaf and blind children. It was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world and remains the only higher education institution in which all programs and services are designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. Hearing students are admitted to the graduate school and a small number are also admitted as undergraduates each year. In 2014, US News and World Report named Gallaudet the 22nd Best National University in the Northern Region of the United States. The School of Human Services offers degree’s in education, physical education, psychology, social work, sociology and criminology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree is offered to hearing impaired and blind students interested in a Liberal Arts Education. The core courses included in the curriculum incorporate Child Development, Research Methods, Psychology and Deaf People, and Social Psychology as well as elective courses in areas such as clinical psychology, experimental foundations, developmental, socio-cultural psychology, and practicum (field work experience). This curriculum provides a breadth and depth of coverage in the field that allows students to pursue a variety of career objectives.
Accreditations
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue North East
Washington, DC 20002
Chair: Dr. Dennis Galvan Ph.D.
Hall Memorial Building (HMB) W312
TTY: (202) 651-5540
Phone: (202) 651-5540
E-mail: dennis.galvan@gallaudet.edu
Georgetown University
Georgetown College
Georgetown University is a private research university in Washington, D.C. The University was founded in 1789, and is currently the oldest Jesuit and Catholic university in the United States. The main campus is located in Washington’s historic Georgetown neighborhood. In the 2014 edition of Best Colleges, US News and World Report ranked Georgetown University 20th Best National University in the United States. Georgetown College, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit College in the United States, offers undergraduate programs in arts, the sciences, humanities, languages and the social sciences, with an emphasis on intellectual strength, a global perspective and community involvement.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Psychology Department at Georgetown adheres to a strict four part series of learning goals for all students in the department. These include:
- Foundational Knowledge – Four overarching themes, detailed below, characterize the study of contemporary Psychology:
• The conceptual development of the discipline;
• The development of the individual;
• The ecological context of human development;
• The relationships of thinking and understanding to brain function and their expression in human and animal life - Epistemological Foundations – Understanding the foundational theories, concepts, and findings of Psychology requires a familiarity with and appreciation for the assets and limitations of different methods of knowing.
- Application of Psychology – It is necessary not only to understand facts, theories, and epistemological aspects of Psychology, but also to have the skills and perspectives necessary to apply this knowledge to and have it reciprocally informed by everyday life.
- Values in Psychology – The preservation and production of knowledge in Psychology entails the ability to weigh evidence critically, to embrace, understand, work with and learn from ambiguity, and to recognize and apply ethical practices that include respect for human and other forms of life.
Accreditations
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Georgetown University
The Department of Psychology
306N White-Gravenor Hall
37th and O Streets, North West
Washington D.C. 20057
(202) 687.4042
E-mail: psychology@georgetown.edu
Program Website: http://psychology.georgetown.edu/undergraduate
Howard University
The College of Arts and Sciences
Howard University is a federally chartered, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C. It has a Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education status of RU/H: Research Universities with high research activity. Although the school is historically a black university, students of all race, ethnicity and background are encouraged to apply. In the 2014 edition of Best Colleges, US News and World Report ranked Georgetown University 142nd Best National University in the United States. In keeping with the mission of Howard University, The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) provides its students “with an undergraduate education grounded in the quest for intellectual freedom, social justice, artistic expression and pursuit of knowledge”. All of the programs found at the CAS work to encourage the development of critical and creative thinking in both the scholarly and artistic modes.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students coursework to obtain a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. The Department of Psychology is one of the largest and most pioneering schools with a comprehensive research-oriented curriculum. The department is committed to providing an internationally diverse group of students with an educational experience of the highest quality. Courses provide students thorough knowledge of many areas of psychology through the study of significant history, research, theories, and applications.
Accreditations
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Howard University
The College of Arts and Sciences
2441 Sixth Street North West
Washington, DC 20059
(202) 806-6853
E-mail: vyoung@howard.edu
Program Website
Trinity Washington University
The College of Arts and Sciences
Trinity Washington University is a Roman Catholic university located in Washington, D.C. The school is located across from The Catholic University of America and the Dominican House of Studies and under the trusteeship of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Although it received university status in September of 2004, Trinity Washington University’s College of Arts & Sciences undergraduate program maintains its original status as a liberal arts women’s college. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) operates as a historic undergraduate women’s college. The CAS is committed to providing women an education through a foundational curriculum in the liberal arts.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology encourages students have open minds, a natural curiosity about human behavior and a desire to challenge stereotype. Students in this program must have a real interest in helping others and want to pursue a career in areas such as counseling, medicine, human resources and community services. Students participate in volunteer work and internships in order to gain practical, on-the-job experience in these areas. Students also receive a solid foundation in research, statistics and experimental methods.
Accreditations
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Trinity Washington University
The College of Arts and Sciences
125 Michigan Ave. North East
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 884-9000
E-mail Form: http://www.trinitydc.edu/contact/
Program Website: http://www.trinitydc.edu/programs/psychology/
University of the District of Columbia
The College of Arts and Sciences
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is a public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of the few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. It is also the only public university in the District of Columbia. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest academic college in the University, and it is responsible for the largest portion of academic offerings and support services for students throughout the University. The College embodies the institutional expectation of a liberal arts education for all UDC students.
Name of Each degree program
The undergraduate program in the Department of Psychology and Counseling introduces students to a range of subfields within the discipline of psychology. Students are given a solid foundation in the major theoretical perspectives of psychology and its scientific approach. Upon graduation, students are prepared for graduate study in any area of psychology and for entry-level work in research or mental health settings.
Students begin study in the major field during their sophomore year. The next semester they will enroll in a skills development course designed to strengthen the critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing skills needed for more advanced study. In the junior and senior years, students take advanced courses in several course areas:
- Neuroscience, learning, sensation and perception & cognitive psychology.
- Social, personally and developmental psychology
- Abnormal, community and psychology
Accreditations
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (MSACSC)
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Contact
University of the District of Columbia
The College of Arts and Sciences
4200 Connecticut Avenue North West
Washington, DC 20008
Building 41, Suite 405
(202) 274-5000
E-mail: casgeneral@udc.edu
It is clear that students have a lot of options when choosing a school in the District of Columbia. With on campus, online, hybrid and web enhanced psychology programs, more and more students are able to work towards an undergraduate degree. As the flexibility of college programs increases, students can more easily find a program that works for them. If you are someone who feels that a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology is a step towards your career aspiration, The District of Columbia has many options to choose from.