There are 11 bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in North Dakota you can lasso in to race towards career success in the “Roughrider State.” Standing in the Upper Midwest below Canada’s Saskatchewan province, North Dakota is America’s fourth least populous state with approximately 756,900 residents. College students are increasingly attracted to North Dakota’s $36 billion economy that’s weathered recession beautifully with an oil boom. Despite the hot economic climate, North Dakota has the nation’s 14th worst quality of life according to Forbes. NAMI statistics show that nearly 30,000 adults and youth in North Dakota suffer from serious mental illness. Therefore, demand for psychology graduates is growing exponentially. North Dakota employs 200 clinical, counseling, and school psychologists with an average yearly wage of $79,910. Selecting one of these bachelor’s degrees in psychology could prepare you for improving the well-being of North Dakotans.
Dickinson State University
College of Education, Business, and Applied Sciences
Established in 1918 as a tuition-free normal school, Dickinson State University has evolved into a senior public, state-funded teaching institution with an $8.9 million endowment to educate around 1,300 students from its 110-acre urban campus in the fast-growing Stark County. Offering 75+ fields of study, Dickinson State is North Dakota’s third best value college with a net price of $10,074 per year. Graded B+ for diversity and A- for health & safety by Niche, DSU has a selective admission process accepting only 61 percent of students. The College of Education, Business, and Applied Sciences is split into five diverse departments from nursing to agriculture.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Uniquely housed in a CAEP-accredited teacher education program, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Dickinson State guides students toward effective civic engagement by fine-tuning essential thinking, decision-making, writing, and communication skills. The 46-credit major begins in the freshmen year to introduce major psychological theories on behavior. More than 82 percent of classes have fewer than 20 pupils for stimulating social science exploration. Topics addressed include neuroscience, social psychology, health psychology, personality, sexuality, group dynamics, and counseling. At least three credits of internship or cooperative education are mandated. Past placements have included Dickinson Public Schools, Badlands Human Service Center, and Southwest Multi-County Correction Center. Ambitious B.S. majors could join the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program with a minimum 3.25 GPA.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
291 Campus Drive
Dickinson, ND 58601
(701) 483-2178
dsu.psychology@dickinsonstate.edu
Program Link
Mayville State University
Education & Psychology Division
With enrollment surpassing 1,100 students, Mayville State University is public, state-supported higher learning institution that was founded in 1889 by the North Dakota Constitution upon a park-like, 301-acre urban campus in Traill County’s largest city within the fertile Red River Valley. Chosen as the #10 most affordable online school by College Choice, Mayville State is the Midwest’s 62nd best college, fifth top public university, and 41st best for vets school according to the U.S. News. Washington Monthly warns that Mayville State has the nation’s seventh worst graduation rate for Pell Grant recipients though. The Education & Psychology Division offers 11 majors, including early childhood, special education, elementary education, and applied psychology.
Applied Psychology B.A.
Mayville State’s Applied Psychology B.A. program informs undergraduates on the practical strategies utilized to foster change in people’s behavioral, social, and mental processes for improved well-being. The 36-credit major trains students to apply empirically-tested principles for addressing problems encountered by individuals or groups. Available electives range from behavior modification and sport psychology to grant writing and clinical counseling for specialization. Students could add the Psychology Education major to facilitate extra career opportunities in teaching. The average class size of 15 lends to personalized classroom learning with a technologic focus. Before the final exam, students must complete a three-credit internship within the Mayville-Portland or Greater Grand Forks area. B.A. majors can engage in community projects with Psychology Club, Multicultural Club, and Pre Health Careers Club too.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
330 Third Street NE
Mayville, ND 5857
(701) 788-4833
andrea.dulskibucholz@mayvillestate.edu
Program Link
Minot State University
College of Education & Health Sciences
Nestled atop the Drift Prairie on a 102-acre urban campus in “Little Chicago” just 100 miles north of Bismarck, Minot State University is the state’s third largest public, master’s-level teaching institution with HLC accreditation to educate more than 3,400 students. Deemed a top-choice university for Canadians, Minot State is ranked the Midwest’s 112nd best regional college and 86th top school for veterans with the 191st best online bachelor’s degrees nationwide by the U.S. News. Great Value Colleges also crowned Minot State the fourth most affordable online university. The College of Education & Health Sciences has state-of-the-art technologies and small classes to turn students into sought-after professionals.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Encouraging students to “Be seen, be heard,” the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program lays the foundation for Minot State undergraduates to apply empirical theories towards advocating societal changes that improve mental and emotional health. Housed in Memorial Hall, the 120-credit program includes 41 major credits in diverse psychology branches. Students receive generalist education that introduces social, physiological, developmental, cognitive, industrial, and counseling psychology. Majors are required to join community service projects arranged by the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL). Seniors showcase their learned skills with a research paper or field practicum. Viable placements could be the North Central Human Service Center, Trinity Health Center, and Ward County Social Services.
Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies
Created in 1987, the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies at Minot State was one of the first programs accredited by the NASAC to focus on the psychology of treating and preventing substance abuse or dependence. Undergraduates are scientifically informed on the biological, psychological, and social effects that wreak havoc when addicts abuse alcohol and drugs. The intensive 66-credit major satisfies the qualifications needed to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor in North Dakota. Administrators work closely with the Northwest Consortium to garner valuable internships for 9+ months of field experience. B.S. majors can also join the Psychology and Addiction Studies Club to help erase stigma on addiction treatment.
Bachelor of Science in Human Services
Available asynchronously online with 24/7 access, the Bachelor of Science in Human Services program is another psychology alternative at Minot State for giving back to needy individuals and communities. Designed with a built-in Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) major, the 126-credit curriculum applies psychological theories to implement effective interventions with disabled persons. Many students select the program to climb the career leader after an associate degree in human services. Required courses will include positive reinforcement, human development, behavior analysis, aging, autism, traumatic brain injury, and mental health assessment. The non-teaching major features one field experience in students’ own local communities. Online programs are currently not authorized for Kentucky, New York, or Puerto Rico.
Accreditation
National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
500 University Avenue West
Minot, ND 58707
(701) 858-3000
msu@minotstateu.edu
Program Link
North Dakota State University
Department of Psychology
Formerly known as the North Dakota Agricultural College until 1960, North Dakota State University is a flagship public, land-grant STEM-centric institution with “very high research activity” that’s enrolling more than 14,500 students from its 258-acre urban campus in Fargo and extensions from Carrington to Streeter. Noted for being in Forbes’ fifth “Top College Town for Jobs,” NDSU is ranked the 185th best national university, 103rd top public school, and 147th best college for veterans by the U.S. News. Washington Monthly placed NDSU among the Midwest’s best bang for the buck too. Actively participating in the Red River Psychology Conference, the Department of Psychology also features the 191st best psychology degrees in the United States.
Major in Psychology
Conferring a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, the Major in Psychology allows NDSU students to receive award-winning instruction that discovers the research-based roots for normal and abnormal behavior. The 122-credit curriculum begins with a first-year experience before tackling general education and major requirements. Students take one course each in social psychology, psychobiology, cognition, individual differences, and experimental design. Proficiently of a modern foreign language at the intermediate level is required for B.A. majors. For capstone, students can conduct individual research in facilities like the Cognitive Aging Lab, Visual Function Lab, or Disordered Eating Lab. Field practicum is also offered for 150 clock hours per semester. Majors also benefit from the Colloquium Series, which brings prominent psychology researchers to Fargo.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
232 Minard Hall
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108
(701) 231-8622
NDSU.psych@ndsu.edu
Program Link
University of Jamestown
Psychology Department
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the University of Jamestown is a private, co-educational Christian liberal arts institution endowed for $36 million to foster academic success among 1,000 students on its 110-acre urban campus in the James River Valley near the world’s largest buffalo monument. Named North Dakota’s most influential college in Business Insider, UJ was ranked the 36th best university and 25th top military school in the Midwest by the U.S. News. The Princeton Review also placed the HLC-accredited college among its “Best Midwestern” list. Within the Psychology Department, students can delve into the psyche to prepare for admission at prestigious graduate schools.
Psychology Major (B.S.)
Boasting a 99 percent placement rate within six months, the Psychology Major (B.S.) takes a genuinely interdisciplinary approach to teaching UJ students about the intricacies of their own and others’ behavior. Close-knit cohorts begin sharpening their experimental design and statistical analysis skills to conduct behavioral research. The 44-credit major draws PhD-level faculty with research interests spanning from legal psychology to counseling psychology. If desired, students can add the Addiction Counseling Concentration, which requires a 1,400-hour practicum to satisfy North Dakota licensure. Each B.S. major leads to thesis development and presentation in the Annual Research Symposium. Psychology students can study abroad at 50+ countries, including Ireland, Costa Rica, and Kenya. In addition to joining Psi Chi, students could participate in the Champions of Character program.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
6000 College Lane
Jamestown, ND 58405
(701) 252-3467
admission@uj.edu
Program Link
University of Mary
Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Founded by the Order of Saint Benedict in 1956, the University of Mary is North Dakota’s only private, nonprofit Catholic liberal arts institution that’s become co-educational to educate over 3,200 students from its scenic 124-acre rural campus in the capital of Bismarck and satellites from Arizona to Peru. Honored within the Cardinal Newman Society’s Guide to Choosing a Catholic College, UMary has received the CoARC National Excellence in Education Award. The University of Mary was also the state’s sole recipient of the “Colleges of Distinction” recognition. Flexible, philosophy-based programs in the Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences foster learning from music education and criminal justice to military counseling.
Psychology Bachelor’s Degree
Infused with Benedictine values, the Psychology Bachelor’s Degree gives UMary students wide-ranging options for applying knowledge on human thought, feeling, and behavior in diverse occupational paths. The Bismarck campus offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a traditional, face-to-face manner. With a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, the program’s small classes enrich students’ ability to interact with diverse cultures as Christ’s servant leaders. Completing this 120-credit program offers an average placement rate of 98 percent in careers like case management, human services, business, mental health, and education. Psychology majors benefit from great flexibility to declare a second major, such as biology or public policy.
Study in behavioral science will culminate with a hands-on internship arranged by the Career Services team.
Psychology Bachelor’s Degree with Addiction Counseling Minor
In Bismarck, undergraduates attending UMary can add to the above Psychology Bachelor’s Degree by declaring the Addiction Counseling Minor. This faith-based program better informs students on the psychological principles used when designing substance abuse interventions from a Catholic worldview. Students who join the unique Year-Round Campus can graduate with the Bachelor of Science in 2.6 years. The minor blends itself into psychology curriculum to fulfill the qualifications for becoming a licensed addiction counselor in North Dakota. Coursework will survey key topics like pharmacology, juvenile justice, corrections, familial relationships, personality, social psychology, and addiction dynamics. Completing a semester-long internship at nearby facilities like the Heartview Foundation is mandated. Post-graduation jobs in substance abuse counseling are growing by 22 percent.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
7500 University Drive
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 355-8030
enroll@umary.edu
Program Link
University of North Dakota
College of Arts & Sciences
Envisioned by George H. Walsh in 1883 before the Dakota Territory’s admittance to the Union, the University of North Dakota has a distinguished history as a public, space-grant RU/VH research institution endowed for $230 million to serve over 14,900 students from a 550-acre urban campus in Grand Forks near the Red River. Rated within the Princeton Review’s “Best 381 Colleges,” UND is crowned America’s 180th best national university, 100th top public college, and 143rd best veterans school by the U.S. News. Washington Monthly also picked UND among the top 10 four-year colleges for adult learners in America. The College of Arts & Sciences produces leaders for the new global century in 34 dynamic majors.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Admitting new students every spring and fall, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program at UND is available on-campus in Grand Forks or 100 percent online via an interactive, asynchronous virtual classroom. Requiring 125 credits, the four-year degree integrates liberal arts for developing the cognitive and analytical skills to investigate questions on human behavior. Students learn the latest methods for appraising motivation, learning, personality, development, social interaction, and more. Majors considering graduate school could add the Clinical Science Concentration. Online courses charge in-state tuition regardless of residency to study everything from social work to communication disorders. Students must participate in experiments via the SONA Research Participation System. More activities are offered through the Student Psychological Association (SPA).
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
319 Harvard Street
P.O. Box 8380
Grand Forks, ND 58202
(701) 777-6601
und.psycadvisor@UND.edu
Program Link
Valley City State University
Social Science Department
Belonging to the North Dakota University System, Valley City State University is a public, land-grant “laptop” institution that’s issued new computers to the more than 1,400 students enrolled on its 64-acre rural campus in Barnes County near the banks of the Sheyenne River. Well-known for ranking above-average in student satisfaction since 2008, VCSU is ranked the Midwest’s 43rd best university and top public college with the 143rd best online bachelor’s degrees countrywide by the U.S. News. According to OwlGuru, Valley City State is graded B as North Dakota’s sixth best college. The Social Science Department confers humanistic learning with degrees in history, psychology, social science education, and sociology.
Psychology Major (B.S.)
Based in McFarland Hall, the Psychology Major (B.S.) draws on VCSU’s social science faculty to provide quality learning experiences centered on examining influences on behavior. Flexible scheduling allows students to combine face-to-face meetings with online courses for a hybrid approach. The 41-credit major is offered to upper-division students who have attained junior standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Along with lab science courses, students study mental health, group dynamics, behavior modification, counseling theory, sexuality, gerontology, criminal delinquency, and more. Three to 12 credits are reserved for internship experience to apply learned skills in appropriate placements. Since 2011, majors have run the Human Services and Psychology Club for annual events like Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Students could also work at the on-campus Children’s Center.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
101 College Street SW
Valley City, ND 58072
(701) 845-7316
kathryn.woehl@vcsu.edu
Program Link
Whether you want to work with children, addicts, the homeless, Native American tribes, oil workers, or another North Dakota population, studying psychology is practical. Bachelor’s programs in psychology let students harness in-depth knowledge on the human condition to purposefully change the world. Continuing to graduate school and becoming a licensed psychologist will place you in a field experiencing 10-year job growth at 19 percent. However, three-fourths of graduates segue into other careers like counseling, marketing, and childcare. Develop your niche for helping others thrive by considering these bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in North Dakota.
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