Louisiana has a wide variety of options for undergraduate students hoping to earn their bachelor’s degree in psychology. Maybe you’re a student who plans to pursue a career in the field of psychology. Or you may be considering a career in another field but feel psychology is a good start. There is a psychology program to fit your needs. There are options for traditional, on-campus learning, online learning as well as a combination of the two. Each student can find a degree plan that will meet all of his or her educational needs.
Nicholls State University
The College of Education
Nicholls State University is a public university located in Thibodaux. It confers degrees at both the bachelor’s and master’s level. Nicholls State is a member of the University of Louisiana System. The school was established in 1948 as the Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, named for a former governor of Louisiana, and a member of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The school is located about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans and 60 miles southeast of Baton Rouge.
One of the fundamentals that underlies all academics at Nicholls is the “Quality Enhancement Plan” (QEP). It is an academic initiative with a strong focus on critical thinking skills. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Nicholls as the 87th best institution in the southern region of the United States. The College of Education is considered the “educational provider” for two academic departments: Teacher Education and Psychology. The college offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, most of which are nationally recognized through:
- the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Association of School Psychologists
- the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program trains students in the intricacies of the human psyche while exploring what makes individuals both different and similar. The program offers psychology majors a strong foundation so they will be prepared to pursue advanced degrees in psychology or related fields. Students in this program are also prepared with a strong liberal arts education that can be applied to a variety of fields. The curriculum combines lectures and hands-on experiments in campus laboratories. All have a strong emphasis on:
- psychological knowledge
- skills
- research
Psychology majors learn about the development and composition of personalities. They learn about disorders of the nervous systems and their effects on behavior as well as diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behavior. The curriculum also emphasizes research design and methods related to human and animal behavior, career planning and psychological testing for:
- intelligence
- attitude
- achievement
- personality
Accreditations
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Contact
Nicholls State University
College of Education
Department of Psychology, Counseling and Family Studies
P.O. Box 2075
Thibodaux, LA 70310
(985) 448-4370
E-Mail: Kristy.terrio@nicholls.edu
Program Website
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
The Department of Psychology
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU) is a four-year public university whose main campus is located in Natchitoches. NSU is a member of the University of Louisiana educational System. The school was founded in 1884 as the Louisiana State Normal School. It was the first school in Louisiana to offer degree programs in nursing and business education. NSU was one of the first six colleges to enter into NASA’s Joint Venture Program, where students worked with NASA scientists to help analyze data and do research for the 1996 Space Shuttle Columbia shuttle mission.
The university is home to the Louisiana Scholars’ College, Louisiana’s designated honors college in the liberal arts and sciences. NSU offers more than 50 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked NSU as the 87th best academic institution in the southern region of the United States. The Department of Psychology offers bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Addiction Studies, including the state’s first online Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. It also offers a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology.
Bachelor of Science in Addictions Studies
The unique BS in Addictions Studies offers a way for students to prepare for careers in the field of substance abuse treatment. In keeping with the university educational mission, students are encouraged to pursue research and scholarship by both faculty and the rest of the student body. This program has been designed to foster professionalism, increase opportunities for employment and graduate training. It prepares graduates with a strong academic framework to pursue graduate education or immediate employment and service in the community.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology degree program is a broad empirically based program. It trains students about how the field of psychology investigates and explains the human mind and behavior. The curriculum is grounded in the current theory, research, and applications of the field.
Psychology majors develop mastery and incorporation of terminology and theory, as well as critical thinking and analytical skills. This is done through the various educational experiences that emphasize technological savvy and diversity. Students can earn a BS in psychology in both traditional on-campus and online formats. Students also have the ability to choose an options area of concentration in either substance abuse counseling or prevention specialist.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Contact
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
The Department of Psychology
175 Sam Sibley Drive
Natchitoches, LA 71497
Dr. Susan Thorson – Department Chair
(318) 357-6594
E-Mail: barnetts@nsula.edu
Program Website
Our Lady of Holy Cross College
The Department of Counseling Programs
Our Lady of Holy Cross College (OLHCC) is a Catholic, liberal arts college located in New Orleans. The Marianites of the Holy Cross founded the school in 1916 as a two-year women’s “normal school.” The college became a four-year college in 1938. The school offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide variety of areas. The Department of Counseling Programs offers degree options in a range of areas at the associate’s and bachelor’s degree levels. Students can opt to pursue an undergraduate psychology degree in:
- Addictions Counseling
- Applied Behavioral Science
- Psychology
- Social Counseling
Bachelor of Science in Social Counseling
The BS in Social Counseling degree program is an excellent start for students interested in a career as a professional counselor. The curriculum used by faculty introduces students to both psychological and counseling theories, history, and methods. It also emphasizes the importance of critical thinking skills and ethical practice.
Bachelor of Science in Addictions Counseling
The BS in Addictions Counseling degree program was created to train students in the practice of addiction counseling. Students in this program learn the ways in which counseling professionals work alongside individuals battling addiction. They learn how to use empirically driven theories and practices to become empathetic, caring counseling professionals.
Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavioral Science
The BS in Applied Behavioral Science degree program is a good fit for students who plan to pursue a career in applied behavioral analysis. This program prepares students for immediate entrance into the workplace at the entry-level of applied behavioral analysis. They are also prepared to puruse a graduate degree in the field.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology degree program is designed to teach students the many different areas of psychology. The curriculum covers many of the broad subject areas including:
- developmental psychology
- abnormal psychology
- child psychology
- experimental psychology
Students learn how important empirically based science is to the field of psychology as a science. Upon graduation, students can enter the workforce in a wide variety of areas as well as pursue graduate training in psychology or a related field.
Accreditations
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Contact
Our Lady of Holy Cross College
The Department of Counseling Programs
4123 Woodland Drive
New Orleans, LA 70131
Dr. Carolyn White – Director of Counseling Programs
(504) 398-2149
E-Mail Form
Program Website
Southeastern Louisiana University
The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University (SELU) is a public university located in Hammond. The university was founded in 1925 as Hammond Junior College. Once the campus began to achieve success, it was moved to north Hammond and became known as Southeastern Louisiana College. It achieved university status in 1970.
Southeastern is made up of five colleges with 26 academic departments and programs. It offers 71 degree programs at the associate, baccalaureate and graduate degree level. Enrollment is just under 15,000 students coming from 43 states and 66 different countries. In the mid-1990s Southeastern was named the fastest-growing college in the United States and is currently the third-largest in Louisiana. The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at SELU is among the largest at the university. Some of the major highlights of this college include:
- Offers the majority of courses required by the university’s general education curriculum
- Students have the ability to work alongside faculty on research projects and scholarly and creative activities
- Students are nationally competitive when applying for:
- graduate programs
- prestigious awards and recognition
- career opportunities
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program teaches students to comprehend human and animal behavior. They will gain exposure to a number of relevant psychological topics, such as:
- motivation
- learning
- sensation
- perception
- development
The curriculum used by the department includes a range of specialty fields and topical areas within the larger field of psychology. Some of these include:
- addictions studies
- eating disorders
- industrial/organizational psychology and many others
Graduates of this program are properly prepared for graduate training in Psychology as well as a number of other careers or graduate programs.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Contact
Southeastern Louisiana University
The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
SEH 236
Hammond, LA 70402
E-Mail: scoats@selu.edu
Program Website
Southern University and A & M College
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge. The University is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the flagship institution of the Southern University System. The 512-acre campus is a beautiful setting, complete with an agricultural experimental station on an additional 372-acre site. In 2015 US News & World Report ranked Southern University as the 45th best historically black college or university in the United States. The mission at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is to “advance research on societal issues, inspire new generations of scholars to seek solutions through undergraduate and graduate studies, and share those solutions with the community through public education and outreach”.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Department of Behavioral Sciences offers training in social work and sociology, as well as a bachelor’s in psychology. This degree program prepares students for two future courses. The first is an immediate entrance into the working world. For some graduates, this will mean psychology-related professions such as:
- mental health technician
- research assistant
- career counselor
It could also mean the start of a career in:
- law
- medicine
- business
- human resources and more
The second course is training for graduate studies in psychology or a related field. This degree plan prepares students for either option with a strong curriculum covering many of the subject areas within the field of psychology.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Contact
Southern University and A & M College
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Behavioral Studies
1014 T.H. Harris Hall
PO Box 9231
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70813
(225) 771-4500
E-Mail Form
Program Website
Southern University at New Orleans
The College of Arts and Sciences
Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) is a historically black university located in New Orleans. It is a member institution of the Southern University System and a member-school of Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The New Orleans campus was established as a satellite campus of Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (Southern University) in Baton Rouge in 1956. Less than a month later SUNO began offering courses at the 17-acre site located in historic Pontchartrain Park. The College of Arts and Sciences is made up of five domains, representing different components:
- the Departments of Arts and Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Health Information Management Systems
- the General Studies Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology was created to achieve the following broad objectives:
- To increase students’ understanding of their cultural and natural worlds through greater familiarity with the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences
- To enhance their skills in communication, quantitative analysis, and critical reasoning
- To prepare them to fulfill their roles as responsible members of their families, community and society generally
The more specific goals put forth by the Department of Psychology have been generated by data published by the American Psychological Association. In order to complete this program, all students must:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
- Understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including:
- research design
- data analysis
- interpretation
- Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
- Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
- Be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.
- Demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.
- Be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
- Recognize, understand, and respect the complexity 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-improvement.
- Emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Contact
Southern University at New Orleans
The College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. John Penny – Chair, Social Sciences
Park Campus
6400 Press Drive
New Orleans, LA 70126
Multipurpose 230
(504) 286-5154
E-Mail: jpenny@suno.edu
Program Website
The time has never been better to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. An undergraduate degree in psychology can start you on the path for a career in:
- psychology
- social work
- social services
- business
- law
- government
Regardless of whether you see yourself as a part of a large university system or if you prefer a small campus environment, Louisiana colleges and universities offer something for everyone.
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