Overview of Bachelor's Degree Program in Psychology

Overview of Bachelor’s Degree Program in Psychology

Feb 11, 2015 | 9:00 am

Bachelors in Psychology

Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology is certainly a good way to learn a whole lot about human behavior and mind. This degree can also prepare a student for further graduate studies or enter the labor market in different psychology fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the hiring of psychologists is predicted to rise by 12% from the year 2012 to 2022 – this is about as fast as the standard for every occupation.

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Explained

A bachelor’s degree in the discipline of psychology is an undergraduate-level degree. Usually, it takes 4 years to complete the degree program. However, some students can finish the course in just 3 years, while other students may take up to 5 years to complete the course.

Bachelor degree programs in psychology are offered at universities throughout the world, and the degree has become quite popular among students. This degree program can also help prepare a student for advanced study in the field of psychology and other subjects – this includes law and medicine.

How to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Those who think that a bachelor’s degree in psychology may be the ideal choice for them, it is important to know the educational requirements. Correct requirements can actually vary from one program to another; however, most programs require interested students to complete a couple of general education courses, psychology electives, and core psychology courses. Four of the generally required core psychology courses are:

•Personality psychology
•Statistics
•General psychology
•Experimental psychology

As soon as you’ve determined that earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology is an ideal choice, then you will need to start planning. For those who are still in high school, they should take any psychology course offered by their school in addition to other science subjects.

As you begin college, you must take note of the classes that you will need to take in order to graduate and build a 4-year course schedule to make sure that you complete all of the required classes – this also includes any electives that you wish to take.

Four-Year Course Schedule for Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in the Field of Psychology

A typical 4-year course schedule for a bachelor’s degree in psychology looks pretty much like this:

Year One

Fall Semester: English literature, math, introduction to psychology, and life science.

Spring Semester: English literature, life science, developmental psychology, history and careers in psychology.

Year Two

Fall Semester: Abnormal psychology, government, personality psychology, one or two elective courses.

Spring Semester: Biopsychology, psychological testing & measurement, statistics and two elective courses or general education courses.

Year Three

Fall Semester: Cognitive psychology, psychology of learning, two electives, and experimental psychology.

Spring Semester: Sensation & perception, social psychology, two electives, and ethical issues in psychology.

Year Four

Fall Semester: Senior seminar courses, history of psychology, research courses and required courses you will need to complete the degree program.

Spring Semester: Psychology elective courses, advanced level subjects or clinical practicum courses that you would want to take prior to graduating.