Let’s continue traversing down the Beaver State’s famed Interstate 5 from Portland to Ashland to explore the second half of bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Oregon. In alphabetical order (P-Z), we’ll list regionally accredited undergraduate schools offering majors rooted in behavioral science for future psychologists.
Pacific University Oregon
College of Arts & Sciences
Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, Pacific University Oregon is a private, nonprofit institution established in 1849 that’s presently educating over 3,500 co-educational students from its main headquarters in Forest Grove just 23 miles west of downtown Portland. Placed in America’s top 25 by the Center for College Affordability & Productivity, Pacific is the West’s 22nd best regional university according to the U.S. News. The College of Arts & Sciences holds an 11:1 student-faculty ratio for majors from creative writing to social work.
Psychology Major (B.S.)
Pacific University’s Psychology Major leads to a Bachelor of Science for Oregonians interested in studying the building blocks of the human mind and their behavioral effects. Undergraduates explore the main sub-fields of modern psychology, including cognitive, personality, social, developmental, experimental, and clinical. Critical inquiry skills are sharpened through hands-on, NIH-funded research with the OHSU Primate Center and Oregon Traumatic Brain Injury Association. Service learning placements are available through the Center for Civic Engagement. Psychology majors also complete a capstone for presentation on Senior Projects Day in April. Entering freshmen in Forest Grove benefit from the university’s four-year graduation guarantee.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Carnegie Hall Room 315
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(503) 352-1544
schultzt@pacificu.edu
Portland State University
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Established in 1946 as the Vanport Extension Center, Portland State University is a public, co-educational research institution endowed for $58 million to enlighten over 28,200 students from its 50-acre urban campus in the West Hills district of Oregon’s largest city. Applauded among the country’s “Top 50 LGBT-Friendly Universities” on CampusPride.org, Portland State is recognized by the U.S. News as the ninth most innovative college. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is further distinguished for America’s 177th best psychology department.
Bachelor of Arts or Science in Psychology
Featuring a 72 percent retention rate, the Bachelor of Arts or Science in Psychology program sharpens the intellects of PDX undergraduates to broaden in-depth critical thinking ability. Starting with the Freshman Inquiry course, the 180-quarter credit curriculum helps students apply behavioral theories for societal problems. Bachelor of Arts students are responsible for more courses in liberal arts and foreign language, whereas Bachelor of Science majors fill up on natural and social sciences. Every psychology student will participate in community-based learning (CBL) with agencies like Children First of Oregon or Multnomah County Health Department. There’s also an engaging Edith Sullivan Memorial Speaker Series.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Cramer Hall Room 317
1721 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 725-3923
psyadvis@pdx.edu
Reed College
Division of Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, and Linguistics
Noted for over 50 Fulbright Scholars, Reed College is a private, non-sectarian liberal arts institution standing proudly on a 116-acre, Tudor-Gothic suburban campus in the Eastmoreland district of Portland to educate around 1,400 students within the Annapolis Group. Honored as America’s 87th best liberal arts college by the U.S. News, Reed placed #2 nationally for the Princeton Review’s “Most Active Student Government.” The Division of Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, and Linguistics stimulates undergraduates’ minds for 92 percent retention.
Psychology Major
Reed’s selective Psychology Major accepts just 39 percent of applicants who are interested in a liberal education that emphasizes the study of cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes. From an empirical perspective, the 11-unit curriculum gives students the foundation for answering psychological questions. Scholars gain access to cutting-edge laboratories through the Adolescent Health Research Project, Cognitive Electrophysiology Project, and more. Close partnerships exist with the Oregon Health & Science University for senior thesis work too. Psychology students could join the Squier Retreat at Menucha, participate in the Colloquium Series, or pursue the McGill Lawrence Summer Internship.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Psychology Building 116
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 771-1112
jmeyer@reed.edu
Southern Oregon University
Department of Psychology
Belonging to the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLA), Southern Oregon University is a state-funded, co-educational teaching institution founded in 1926 that’s presently serving over 6,200 students upon its 175-acre rural campus in Ashland just 16 miles from the California border. Crowned America’s 166th “Most Diverse College” on Niche, SOU is ranked the 76th top Western university and 25th best public school by the U.S. News. The Department of Psychology offers mental health preparation, including a CACREP-accredited master’s, with a 23:1 student-faculty ratio.
Psychology Major
Attracting over 475 Raiders, the Psychology Major at SOU confers a B.A. or B.S. to support undergraduates interested in human services career goals. From state-of-the-art classrooms in the Education/Psychology Building, students explore the intricacies of human behavior for application in today’s society. Traditional, daytime courses are delivered in Ashland with optional Psychology Club membership. The 57-credit major could be partnered with the Certificate in Management of Human Resources. Adhering to APA guidelines, the curriculum includes field practicum with organizations like Jackson County Mental Health and the Women’s Resource Center. Students can also join the Annual Undergraduate Research in Psychology Contest.
Human Service Degree Completion
In collaboration with the Sociology Department, SOU’s Human Service Degree Completion program confers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) for students who’ve already completed an Associate of Arts transfer degree. Requiring 60+ credits for admission, the program helps working adults finish their learning through evening courses in Ashland or Medford. Online courses are also available via Moodle, except to Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Minnesota residents. Rooted in psychological principles, the 24-month curriculum enhances human relations skills to strength students ability to advocate community change. Human service majors could also add the 24-credit Psychology Minor.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
E/P Building 236
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 552-6939
christoc1@sou.edu
University of Oregon
College of Arts & Sciences
Classified as a flagship public, doctoral RU/VH research institution, the University of Oregon carries a $753 endowment to educate over 23,600 students from its beautiful 295-acre urban campus in Eugene along the Willamette River and near Spencer Butte. Named America’s 16th best midsize employer on Forbes, UOregon is deemed the 103rd best national university, 46th top public school, and 66th most veteran-friendly college by the U.S. News. The College of Arts & Sciences also stands out for the 30th best graduate psychology degrees countrywide.
B.S. in Psychology
Oregon Ducks seeking to solve the mystery of the human mind could earn the B.S. in Psychology within four years full-time. The 56-credit major draws on the PhD-level faculty’s research interests in clinical, cognitive, social-personality, and developmental psychology for evidence-based practice. Students can engage in cutting-edge research with the Stress Neurobiology Lab, Cognitive Dynamics Lab, and more. The Robert and Beverly Lewis Center for Neuroimaging even houses a Siemens 3T Skyra MRI machine. Applied internships are available through the on-site Psychology Clinic as well as community partners like HIV Alliance. Psychology study abroad trips are planned from London to Rosario, Argentina, too.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Straub Hall Room 139
1451 Onyx Street
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 346-4921
sanjay@uoregon.edu
University of Portland
Department of Psychological Sciences
Opened as Columbia University in 1901 by Archbishop Alexander Christie, the University of Portland has developed into a four-year private, Roman Catholic teaching institution with over 4,100 students studying on its 124-acre residential campus in Portland’s University Park neighborhood near St. Johns. Crowned the 65th best private value on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, UP is ranked the West’s seventh top university and fifth best for vets school by the U.S. News. The Department of Psychological Sciences employs doctoral-trained faculty hailing from Washington State, Yale, UC Berkeley, and other prestigious universities.
Psychology, B.A.
Guided by its Holy Cross tradition, the Psychology B.A. program promotes good citizenship by giving UP undergraduates a generalist understanding of human and nonhuman behavior. The liberal arts-based curriculum emphasizes the education of the head, heart, and hands for application in human services positions. Through the senior capstone, the 33-credit major surveys courses in counseling, gerontology, health psychology, lifespan development, personality, and more. Students are encouraged to complete a semester-long internship with agencies like Portland Impact and Bradley Angle House. Majors ranking in the upper 35th percentile could also join the Psi Chi Honor Society chapter.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Buckley Center Room 144
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203
(503) 943-7348
guesta@up.edu
Warner Pacific College
Social Science Division
Sitting upon a 15-acre urban campus adjoining Mount Tabor Park in Southeast Portland, Warner Pacific College is a private, nonprofit Christian liberal arts institution linked to the Church of God since 1937 to enlighten approximately 1,300 Knights in 27 majors. Picked among the “50 Great Affordable Colleges in the West,” Warner Pacific is ranked the region’s sixth best college and seventh top value by the U.S. News. Within the Social Science Division, students develop ethical leadership for psychology, social work, human services, and family therapy.
Psychology Major
Taking a generalist approach, the Psychology Major confers a bachelor’s degree to Warner Pacific students fascinated by the biological and mental processes that spark certain human behaviors. Great emphasis is given to psychological functioning in larger social environments, including the family. Completing the 40-credit major includes passing courses like child welfare, organizational behavior, personality, psychological testing, and counseling theory. Boasting an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, the program engages students in first-year learning communities. Majors volunteer through Local Connect with organizations like the Oregon Department of Human Services and Providence Mental Health. Students could also join the college’s largest club, ENACTUS.
Developmental Psychology Major
Another of the bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Oregon at Warner Pacific is the Developmental Psychology Major. This pre-professional, interdisciplinary option centers around physical and psychological changes that typically occur from conception through death. Rooted in life sciences, the 45-credit major lays the foundation for graduate study in all human services. Unique course offerings include prenatal development, child psychology, genetics, neuroscience, gerontology, and mammalian physiology. Academic support is available through the Murdock Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). High school scholar-leaders could benefit from WP’s unique full-tuition Act Six Scholarship program in cahoots with Portland Community College.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
2219 SE 68th Avenue
Portland, OR 97215
(503) 517-1020
admissions@warnerpacific.edu
Western Oregon University
Behavioral Sciences Division
Within the Oregon University System, Western Oregon University stands as a public, co-educational liberal arts institution with enrollment surpassing 6,000 on its 157-acre rural campus in Monmouth just 15 miles west of Salem on Route 99W. Distinguished for the 187th “Best College Food” nationally on Niche, WOU is ranked the 67th best regional university and 19th top public school in the West by the U.S. News. The Behavioral Sciences Division holds a 15:1 student-faculty ratio for creating lifelong learners from the scientist-practitioner model.
Psychology Major
Available with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, the Psychology Major allows WOU to build a general liberal arts background for service-oriented application of behavioral science principles. After the 55-credit LACC Block, students complete the 56-credit major with a healthy dose of free electives from biochemistry to social work. Western Oregon requires declaring at least one minor, such as Forensic Psychology, Organizational Leadership, or Gerontology. Outside the classroom, majors can actively engage in the Psychology Student Association and Psi Chi International Honor Society. Students frequently study abroad in countries like Japan, Germany, Argentina, and Sweden. Approximately 38 percent of alumni attend graduate school.
AB Degree in Psychology
Transfers without an AAOT who need a quicker alternative to most bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Oregon could consider the AB Degree in Psychology at WOU. Some partnering schools include Chemeketa Community College and Portland Community College. Students holding at least 60 credits benefit from a modified liberal arts “core” for greater flexibility. Incoming transfers segue seamlessly into the 56-credit major for studying human behavior through social, cognitive, developmental, and organizational lens. The Applied Baccalaureate will qualify graduates for admission into graduate school and entry-level human services employment. There’s also an AB Degree in Gerontology to consider.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Terry House Room 309
345 Monmouth Avenue N
Monmouth, OR 97361
(503) 838-8344
kunzel@wou.edu
Willamette University
College of Liberal Arts
Formerly called the Oregon Institute, Willamette University is the Pacific Northwest’s oldest private, nonprofit liberal arts institution opened in 1842 that’s capitalizing on a $242 million endowment to educate over 2,800 Bearcats from an 80-acre urban campus in Salem south of the State Capitol Building. Recognized in Loren Pope’s acclaimed Colleges That Change Lives, Willamette is named America’s 72nd best liberal arts university by the U.S. News. Noted as a top Fulbright Scholar producer, the College of Liberal Arts confers 35+ diverse majors ranging from communication to religious studies.
B.A. in Psychology
Rooted in liberal arts, the B.A. in Psychology program at Willamette nurtures students’ inquiry skills to investigate fundamental questions about human motivation, emotion, and values. The 10-course major includes tracks in Biological and Psychophysical Processes, Learning and Cognitive Processes, Developmental and Personality/Social Psychology, and Clinical/Applied Psychology. Upperclassmen must satisfy capstone requirements with an internship. Previous placements have included the Marion County District Attorney’s Office and Salem VA Medical Center. Ambitious majors could pursue the Honors Program and its thesis with a minimum 3.7 GPA. Students also compete for the Noel F. Kaestner Award in Psychology.
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Smullin Hall Room 254
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 375-5306
psych-info@willamette.edu
National demand for psychologists is booming with 10-year projected job growth at 20 percent in the clinical, counseling, and school sub-disciplines. Oregon will create a good portion of these openings because mental health issues are rising. Lifeline Connections reports that one in 18 Oregon adults and one in nine children are diagnosed with a psychological disorder. Suicide is currently the leading cause of death for Oregon veterans under 45 years old too. Although a PhD or PsyD is required for clinical licensure, the baccalaureate provides the perfect springboard for graduate study. Choosing any of these bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Psychology can lead to gratifying careers improving personal and community well-being.
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