Earning bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Carolina can prepare undergrads for gratifying careers improving the state’s mental health climate. According to SAMHSA, 4.5 percent of South Carolina’s adults (155,000) are battling serious mental illness like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Over half-million South Carolinians self-treat with alcohol and have become dependent on the depressant. The “Palmetto State” recently received a Youth Suicide Prevention Grant for programming in 80 school districts too. High school graduates who are called into the mental health field should consider these psychology schools in South Carolina (E-R).
Erskine College
Social Sciences Department
Devoted to teaching “Knowledge joined with Morals,” Erskine College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution established in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church that’s enrolling a Flying Fleet of 575 from 90 rural acres in Due West. Ranked America’s 269th “Best Christian College” by Niche, Erskine was placed 127th among national liberal arts colleges by high school counselors on the USNWR. According to Forbes, Erskine is graded “C” financially as the South’s 110th top college. The Social Sciences Department maintains a 14:1 student-faculty ratio for majors in history, psychology, political science, and sociology.
Psychology Major (B.A.)
Boasting a nearly 100 percent placement rate, the Psychology Major (B.A.) at Erskine melds medicine with philosophy and religion to improve students’ understanding of God’s creations, both human and animal. Taking a Christian worldview, the 120-credit curriculum prepares future PhD-level researchers by requiring an independent research project. Students often gain hands-on internship experience with the Anderson Mental Health Center, Harris Psychiatric Hospital, Charles Aiken Academy, and more. Majors may benefit from adding the Biomedical Science Concentration or Family Studies Minor. Strong study abroad partnerships also exist with Oxford University and Universidad de Alicante.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
2 Washington Street
P.O. Box 338
Due West, SC 29639
(888) 359-4358
elsner@erskine.edu
Francis Marion University
College of Liberal Arts
Chartered by Governor Robert E. McNair in 1970, Francis Marion University a public, co-educational liberal arts institution named after a Revolutionary War Brigadier General that’s teaching over 4,100 Patriots from a 400-acre rural campus in Florence County. The U.S. News applauded FMU as the South’s 84th best college and 33rd top public university. On Niche, Francis Marion was deemed America’s 310th “Most Conservative College” and South Carolina’s 14th “Most Diverse College.” The College of Liberal Arts retains 67 percent of freshmen with 13 engaging majors from English to astronomy.
Psychology Major (B.A. or B.S.)
Housed in the Cauthen Educational Media Center, FMU’s Psychology Major develops upon a rigorous liberal arts core to confer a B.A. or B.S. to students interested in researching the mind and behavior. The 39-credit major spans several psychology branches, including social, cognitive, developmental, experimental, and biological. Courses culminate in a capstone project, which can be an internship or research study. Budding scientists benefit from state-of-the-art labs like the Gail and Terry Richardson Center for the Child. Other valuable opportunities include joining Psi Chi, volunteering at McLeod Health Hospital, and studying in Leicester.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
4822 E. Palmetto Street
P.O. Box 100547
Florence, SC 29502
(843) 661-1641
psychdesk@fmarion.edu
Furman University
Social Sciences Division
Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Furman University is a selective private, co-educational liberal arts institution endowed for $650 million that’s serving around 2,700 scholars from 50+ countries upon a 750-acre suburban campus in Greenville. Ranked America’s 61st “Best Small College” on Niche, Furman is declared the 53rd best liberal arts school and fifth most veteran-friendly university by the USNWR. Furman University also received the AASHE Sustainability Award for “green” practices. The Social Sciences Division has a four-year graduation rate of 79 percent with majors from education to accounting.
Psychology, B.A./B.S.
Furman’s Psychology, B.A./B.S. program uses innovative, discovery-based learning to broaden students’ understanding on the major concepts and empirical findings on human behavior. The 11-course major develops scientific literacy with face-to-face sessions for psychometrics, research methods, biopsychology, lifespan development, health psychology, and more. Two-credit explorations are available with each optional May Experience. Study away programs are arranged at 30+ universities outside the United States, including the University of Helsinki. Past majors have interned at the Yerkes Primate Center, Mayo Clinic, and Carolina Center for Behavioral Health. Completing a capstone seminar or thesis project is also required.
Neuroscience, B.S.
Since 2004, the Neuroscience, B.S. program has attracted Furman Paladins into challenging, interdisciplinary study into the human brain and its various neural pathways. Focused on hands-on lab experience, the 18-course major investigates everything from genetics and analytic geometry to organic chemistry and psychopharmacology. Students can join the Society for Neuroscience chapter while engaging in cutting-edge research within the Sleep Lab or Sanders Science Library. Summer fellowships are offered with stipends up to $3,500. Majors learn alongside PhD-level faculty trained at prestigious schools like Wake Forest and Stony Brook. Over three-fourths of alumni follow their footsteps for graduate degrees.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
(864) 294-2205
donna.greene@furman.edu
Lander University
College of Education
Originally named the Williamston Female College in 1872, Lander University is South Carolina’s second-smallest public, co-educational teaching institution enlightening around 3,000 Bearcats from 123 wooded acres near Greenwood, a town noted for its Festival of Flowers. Noted for America’s 166th “Best College Food” on Niche, Lander is ranked the 19th best college and fourth top public school in the South by the USNWR. The Washington Monthly honored Lander as the 66th best baccalaureate university nationwide too. Within the NCATE-accredited College of Education, students flex their minds in teacher preparation, exercise studies, and psychology.
B.S. in Psychology
Offered with optional minors like human services and nonprofit management, the B.S. in Psychology at Lander follows the APA’s undergraduate guidelines to instill the fundamentals of psychological science. The 122-credit curriculum nurtures the analytical skills to conceptualize solutions that resolve problematic behaviors for improved well-being. Beyond the classroom, majors get involved in Psych Club, intern at the Burton Center for Disabilities, participate in the Academic Day Quiz Bowl, and travel to Africa or Central America for world perspective. The four-year degree sequence allows for five electives to specialize. Additional funding is also available with the Dr. William T. Martin Scholarship.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Carnell Learning Center 366
320 Stanley Avenue
Greenwood, SC 29649
(864) 388-8740
jbassett@lander.edu
Limestone College
Undergraduate Division
Opened by Thomas and William Curtis in 1845 as South Carolina’s first women’s college, Limestone College was evolved into a private, co-educational Christian institution serving over 3,500 Saints from its main 125-acre suburban campus in Gaffney, seven extensions, and online. Limestone was ranked the South’s 41st best college with the 175th best online bachelor’s programs by the USNWR. According to Niche, Limestone is America’s 90th “Best Online College” overall. The Undergraduate Division has a 13:1 student-faculty ratio for 33 baccalaureate majors from biochemistry to musical theatre.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Delivered face-to-face at eight South Carolina locations or wholly online, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Limestone orients students to the science of the mind for application in treating behavioral problems. The 123-credit curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts and humanities with two semesters of foreign language required. Diverse electives are available from interpersonal violence to biopsychology and family counseling. For capstone, majors select an experimental thesis or fieldwork. Partnerships exist with Novant Health, Cherokee County Schools, The Palmetto Project, and more. Courses presently cost $1,260 each, but military discounts could cut tuition in half.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Another of the bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Carolina at Limestone confers a Bachelor of Science to examine the physical, social, and environmental bases of behavioral patterns. Choosing this science-intensive, 123-credit curriculum will immerse students in courses like organic chemistry, statistics, and biopsychology rather than liberal arts. Sessions are arranged asynchronously online or on-site during evenings from Gaffney to Aiken. The degree satisfies graduate school admission criteria for pursuing certification under the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). General education credits can be transferred from A.A. or A.S. programs at colleges like Trident Tech and Spartanburg Methodist.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1115 College Drive
Gaffney, SC 29341
(864) 489-7151
mreger@limestone.edu
Morris College
Division of Social Sciences
Training over 1,200 Hornets to “Depart to Serve,” Morris College is a private, co-educational historically black institution affiliated with the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention from a 33-acre suburban campus in Sumter within the east-central Piedmont region. Graded B for safety, Morris was deemed America’s 60th “Best HBCU School” on Niche. According to the Washington Monthly, Morris is the 165th top baccalaureate university nationally for contribution to the public good. The Division of Social Sciences admits 100 percent of applicants to majors ranging from criminal justice to sociology.
B.A. in Liberal Studies – Psychology Minor
At Morris, undergraduates wishing to sharpen their understanding of the brain and behavior must enter the B.A. in Liberal Studies program and declare the Psychology Minor. This 127-credit curriculum takes an extremely interdisciplinary approach to inspire positive life skills like critical thinking and communication. Students can freely customize their study with courses in physiology, organizational behavior, applied psychology, public relations, microbiology, religion, and more. High school seniors could get a jumpstart with the Upward Bound program. Other valuable opportunities include joining Alpha Lambda Delta, participating in the Army ROTC, studying abroad in Peru, and interning at Palmetto Health Tuomey.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
100 W. College Street
Sumter, SC 29150
(803) 934-3200
webcomment@morris.edu
Newberry College
Social & Behavioral Sciences Department
Endowed for $23 million, Newberry College is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to academically and spiritually enlighten over 1,050 Wolves from 94 urban acres just 43 miles northwest of Columbia. Honored as America’s 59th “Most Conservative College,” Newberry is named the 16th best college, eighth best for vets school, and third top value in the South by the USNWR. BestColleges.com also ranked Newberry as South Carolina’s 17th best school overall. The Social & Behavioral Sciences Department retains 70 percent of freshmen studying the human condition.
Psychology Major (B.A.)
Since 2013, the Psychology Major (B.A.) at Newberry has taught undergraduates about the theories and scientific evidence that have shaped the field’s knowledge on human behavior from two distinct tracks. The Experimental Psychology concentration is the lab-oriented option for gaining research experience for presenting at the SEPA Conference. The Forensic Psychology concentration studies people’s thoughts and motivations from a criminal justice perspective. When declaring the 45-credit major, internships are encouraged with agencies like Growing Home Southeast and Caris Healthcare. Students could also pursue the Military Science Leadership Minor, pledge Phi Beta Sigma, and join the Summerland Honors Program.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
SCM Hall Room 119F
2100 College Street
Newberry, SC 29108
(803) 321-5242
Sara.peters@newberry.edu
North Greenville University
College of Science & Mathematics
Chartered in 1904, North Greenville University is a private, nonprofit teaching institution linked with the Southern Baptist Convention to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to over 2,500 scholars from a 330-acre rural Appalachian campus in Tigerville near Greer. Rated #5 for best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, NGU is the South’s 84th top college according to the U.S. News. Forbes named North Greenville the 196th best liberal arts university in America. The College of Science & Mathematics has a net price of $15,118 for eight undergraduate majors, including outdoor leadership and biology.
Psychology (B.A./B.S.)
Integrated with Christianity, the Psychology (B.A./B.S.) program at North Greenville nurtures students’ God-given calling to helping professions where knowledge of behavioral and mental processes is highly prized. Adhering to APA guidelines, the four-year, 120-credit curriculum offers two elective tracks for General Psychology or Pre-Counseling/Clinical Psychology. From a Biblical perspective, students will engage in on-site or online courses like applied behavior analysis, industrial relations, aging, and psychometrics. Research and SPSS skills are developed hands-on within the Rat Learning Lab. Graduates have an 87 percent job placement rate at top employers like Piedmont Mental Health, Project Hope Foundation, and ARK Hospice.
Interdisciplinary Studies (B.S.) – Psychology Concentration
NGU Crusaders could choose another of the bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Carolina though with the Interdisciplinary Studies (B.S.). This multi-faceted option unlocks the greatest freedom to customize your Christ-centered education in various disciplines. The four-year sequence requires declaring a 24-credit concentration, such as Psychology. Students doing so obtain the creative problem-solving abilities to apply behavioral knowledge for positive individual or social change. Going interdisciplinary allows majors to practice an Etiquette Dinner, present at the Poster Symposium, integrate service learning like Habitat for Humanity, and conduct a capstone literature review. Alumni are found at top-notch graduate schools like Gardner-Webb and Clemson.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
7801 N. Tigerville Road
P.O. Box 1892
Tigerville, SC 29688
(864) 977-7000
Admissions@ngu.edu
Presbyterian College
Psychology Department
Occupying a 240-acre suburban campus in Clinton just 44 miles southeast of Greenville, Presbyterian College is a private, nonprofit Christian liberal arts institution carrying a $97.5 million endowment to employ 84 full-time faculty and serve over 1,300 students. Distinguished as America’s 47th “Best College with No Application Fee” on Niche, Presbyterian is ranked the 119th top liberal arts school by the USNWR. According to Money magazine, PC is the 84th most value-added college at the right price. The Psychology Department teaches behavioral science to live out the college’s motto “Dum Vivimus Servimus.”
Major in Psychology
Featuring a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, the Major in Psychology at Presbyterian offers exciting curricular activities to dissect the human brain for studying cognition and social interaction. The 40-credit major aligns with career paths like advertising, human resources, counseling, education, social work, and more. Students are “Inspired for Life” with traditional daytime or hybrid online courses. The PC Blue Nose adhere to an Honor Code while obtaining the professional skills for graduate school. Majors can also conduct studies for the Big South Undergraduate Research Conference, intern with agencies like Laurens County Memorial Hospital, study abroad in Vietnam, and become inducted in Psi Chi.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
503 South Broad Street
Clinton, SC 29325
(864) 833-8215
jaaskew@presby.edu
Numerous SACS-accredited colleges are helping promising psychologists follow in the footsteps of other former Carolinians like John B. Watson and Barbara L. Frederickson. There’s a good reason why 6 percent of U.S. college students study psychology – it’s both intriguing and flexible. Undergraduate psychology majors lay the groundwork for in-demand human services jobs poised for faster-than-average job growth of 10 percent through 2024. Continue seeking your ideal college fit with our final list of bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Carolina here.
Related resource:
Top 20 Graduate Degree Programs in Forensic Psychology