The state of Michigan is home to many accredited and highly regarded bachelor’s degree programs in psychology. Whether a student is hoping to pursue a graduate degree in psychology or they are unsure which career direction they would like to head, an undergraduate psychology degree is an excellent option. A psychology degree is a strong Liberal Arts Degree that provides students with an excellent foundation for many areas of professional interest. Undergraduate psychology degree earners can be found employed in:
- business
- law
- medicine
- education and many others
A bachelor’s degree in psychology is also for individuals who will go on to earn a master’s or doctoral degree to pursue a career as a professional psychologist.
Ferris State University
The Social Sciences Department
Founded in 1884 as Big Rapids Industrial School, Ferris State University is a coed public university located in Grand Rapids. Ferris is the ninth-largest university in Michigan with about 14,500 students enrolled on the main campus and at 19 off-campus locations.
Ferris awards both two and four year degrees through eight colleges and graduate degrees from six graduate divisions. In 2016, US News and World Report Best Colleges ranked Ferris University as the 61st best among Regional Midwest Colleges. The mission of the Social Sciences Department at Ferris is “developing socially responsible students engaged and prepared for both work and continuing education in the social/behavioral sciences and related fields”.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS Psychology major provides a study of the core principles of:
- psychology
- the science of thought
- emotion
- behavior
Students develop a set of interdisciplinary skills broadening their experience and increasing their career marketability. During their senior year, students must complete a research project or internship to culminate their study in psychology. Topics of study include:
- learning principles
- personality traits
- approaches in counseling
- social influences
- thought
- emotional development
- intelligence
- consciousness
- perceptual processes
Upon graduation, future career paths include:
- counseling
- marketing
- human resources
- management
- education
- engineering
- law
- community studies
Students are required to complete General Education requirement for a Bachelor of Science along with the following requirements for the major in Psychology:
- Minimum of 27 credits of Core Psychology Courses
- 15 credits of major directed electives (must be approved by program advisor)
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Ferris State University
The Social Sciences Department
820 Campus Drive, ASC 2108
Big Rapids, Michigan 49307
(231) 591-2735
E-Mail: DaveSchrock@ferris.edu
Program Website
Grand Valley State University
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Established in 1960, Grand Valley State University is a coed Liberal Arts University located in Allendale. Enrollment is about 25,000 students on the sprawling 1,322-acre main campus. In 2016, US News and World Report Best Colleges ranked Grand Valley State University as the 26th best among Regional Midwest Colleges. The Grand Valley’s Lakers compete in NCAA Division II sports in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a mission to “provide a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life”.
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students can choose whether they wish to pursue the BA or BS degree in Psychology, depending on their specific area of career focus. Psychology careers offer the ability to specialize in many different areas including:
- clinical
- counseling
- developmental
- physiological
- neuropsychology
- industrial
- educational
- experimental
- cognitive
- social
- cross-cultural
This unique ability to specialize in one area of interest paired with training through a wide range of courses leads to a top-notch undergraduate curriculum. Course work for the major includes a study of:
- humanities
- social sciences
- natural sciences
Studentslearn about concepts, theories, strategies and tactics that apply to human behavior. The Psychology major in Psychology requires 36 credits for completion and includes:
- 12 credits Psychology Major Courses
- 18 Credits Category Requirements
- Third-semester proficiency in a foreign language
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology
In addition to the psychology major courses and category requirements necessary for a BA degree in psychology, the Bachelor of Science requires the following 3 credit courses for completion:
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Advanced Research in Psychology
- Introductory Applied Statistics
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Grand Valley State University
The Psychology Department
2224 Au Sable Hall
Allendale, Michigan 49401-9403
(616) 331-2195
E-Mail: psydept@gvsu.edu
Program Website
Hope College
The Psychology Department
Founded in 1866, Hope College is a private coed institution located in Holland, Michigan. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Students at Hope can choose from more than 90 academic majors and minors. The mission “is to educate students for lives of leadership and service in a global society through academic and co-curricular programs of recognized excellence in the liberal arts and in the context of the historic Christian faith”.
In 2016, US News and World Report Best Colleges ranked Hope College as the 100th best National Liberal Arts College. The undergraduate enrollment is about 3,400 students. The Flying Dutchmen (men’s) and Flying Dutch (women’s) varsity teams participate in the NCAA Division III Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BS in Psychology program is for students who want a career in human services. Students who want to pursue a graduate education should select coursework aimed at developing both helping skills and research/evaluation skills. The psychology major requires a minimum of 32 credits and includes the following:
- Nine credits of core courses
- Twelve credits of survey courses
- Four credits of Topical Seminars
- Four credits electives in Psychology
- Six credits of Global learning Focus
- Students are required to participate in one service-learning course
Graduates of the psychology major are equipped with communication skills. They have the ability to collect, organize, analyze and interpret data and a deeper understanding of human behavior. Psychology graduates may work in human resources or communications. They are well prepared to pursue graduate education that will open paths toward clinical practice and research.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Hope College
The Psychology Department
A. Paul Schaap Science Center – Room 1110
35 East 12th Street
Holland, Michigan 49423
(616) 395-7730
E-Mail: psych@hope.edu
Program Website
Kalamazoo College
The Department of Psychology
Founded in 1833, Kalamazoo College is a private coed college located in southwest Michigan . It enrolls about 1,500 students. Kalamazoo College awards degrees in over 25 undergraduate liberal arts fields.
In 2016, US News and World Report ranked Kalamazoo College as the 66th best National Liberal Arts College. First and second year students have the opportunity to participate in a two-week Discovery Externship Program, living and working with alumni who work in the students’ areas of study. The mission of Kalamazoo is “preparing graduates to better understand, live successfully within, and provide enlightened leadership to a richly diverse and increasingly complex world”.
Bachelor of in Psychology
Curriculum for the psychology major includes the study of:
- human growth and development
- neural organization of the brain and learning
- abnormal syndromes
- drug treatments
- cognition and effect of social and cultural influences on our thoughts
- behavior
- identity and psychotherapy
Students enrolled in the psychology major study several more specialized topics including:
- psychology of music
- language, dreams & consciousness
- organizational behavior
- psychopharmacology
- feminist psychology of women
- cultural psychology of Arab-Muslim societies
Psychology deals with the scientific methods used to discovering facts and confirm theories. The psychology major focuses on how to understand and use research skills and techniques. Psychology is a diverse field with a connection to:
- biology
- education
- philosophy
- sociology
Because of this diversity, psychologists enter careers in:
- education
- government
- business
- industry
- medicine
- research
- mental health
The Psychology major provides graduates with the skills to enter careers immediately after graduation in management, criminal justice, or human services.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Kalamazoo College
The Department of Psychology
1200 Academy Street
Kalamazoo Michigan 49006-3295
(800) 253-3602
E-Mail: admission@kzoo.edu
Program Website
Lake Superior State University
The School of Public Safety, Community and Behavioral Sciences – The Psychology Department
Founded in 1946, Lake Superior State University is a public coed university located in Sault Saint Marie. With a current enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, it is Michigan’s smallest public school. Because it is situated so close to the Canadian border and the twin city Sault Sainte Marie Ontario, Lake Superior State has a close relationship with Canada.
In 2016, US News & World Report ranked Lake Superior State University as the 57th best among Best Regional Midwest Colleges. The University awards undergraduate degrees in 45 areas of study. The Psychology Department at Lake Superior State provides a research focused undergraduate education in Psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Psychology majors learn from a strong curriculum in:
- psychology research
- experimentation
- computer applications
- a senior-research sequence
The program is an excellent preparation for graduate work in a wide variety of psychology disciplines. Topics of study for the major include:
- learning and motivation
- neuroscience
- methodology in research
- cognition
- personality
Students can choose 6 credits of electives including:
- Abnormal Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Development
The BA degree requires one year of a modern language. The Psychology major requires 41-42 credits for completion including:
- 35-36 required Psychology credits
- Six Elective Psychology Credits
- Foreign Language Requirement
Graduates of the major are prepared to enter graduate schools and focus on fields such as:
- clinical or counseling psychology
- social work
- public health
- general experimental psychology
Areas of employment include:
- psychology assistants
- sales and marketing
- psychiatric technicians
- human resources and research assistants
The majority of graduates from the program enter graduate schools
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology degree program is very similar to that of the BA with a few notable differences. The BS program major requires 41-42 credits for completion including:
- 35-36 required Psychology credits
- Six Elective Psychology Credits
- Additional credits in laboratory study, mathematics and sciences
The BS program places a stronger emphasis on the importance of psychological research. Students in this program will learn to use the empirical scientific method to conduct and analyze psychological research.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Lake Superior State University
The Psychology Department
650 West Easterday Avenue
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan 49783
(906) 635-2231
E-Mail Form
Program Website
Across the state of Michigan students have a wide range of options for how and where they can earn their undergraduate psychology degree. The many colleges and universities offer students both on campus and online options to choose from. There are large universities with a strong focus on research and empirical study. There are smaller, more intimate colleges offering a strong Liberal Arts background. There are programs offering a general psychology degree and others allowing students to chose a specialized area of focus. Regardless of your academic and career goals there is a program that is right for you.
For More Bachelor’s Degrees in Michigan – A
For More Bachelor’s Degrees in Michigan – C-E
For More Bachelor’s Degrees in Michigan – L-M
For More Bachelor’s Degrees in Michigan – N-R