Psychology
BACHELOR OF ARTS | COLLEGE FOR ADULTS
About the program
Are you interested in thinking critically about human behavior, thinking and emotion? Are you looking for ways to better understand yourself and others, and apply your learning in a wide variety of career options?
Consider a bachelor’s degree in psychology. You’ll gain insights into psychological theories and evidence-based practice with practical applications in professional and community settings.
What can I do with a degree in Psychology?
Why do people behave in different ways? How do people learn? How can groups work effectively together to make decisions? What are various types of mental illnesses, their symptoms and treatments?
Psychology graduates apply answers to these kinds of questions to a wide variety of career settings, including:
• Non-profit social service organizations
• Hospitals and clinics
• Government agencies
• Businesses
• Marketing or public relations firms
• Residential treatment centers
• Schools
The Psychology major will not prepare you to provide direct, one-on-one clinical care for individuals. Rather, you'll use this major to prepare for careers in which you'll design, deliver and evaluate programs and services. This major can also prepare you for graduate studies in counseling, social work, mental health or clinical psychology.
What will I study?
You will learn to think critically about psychological research studies and claims made about human behavior, cognition and emotions and focus on ways to apply this knowledge in practical, real-world situations. You'll also focus on issues of diversity, social justice and active engagement with communities.
Core courses will provide you with a foundation in psychological theories, research methods, current issues in psychology, and applying psychological knowledge in the world around you.
Upper-level courses will broaden your knowledge and experiences in areas such as:
• Critically evaluating, examining and applying social, historical and political aspects of psychology to education, research, and program development and evaluation.
• Analyzing and evaluating social factors and human diversity theories and practices, to influence the well-being of individuals and communities.
• Understanding evidence-based practices related to human development, as well as concepts and principles related to therapy and assessment.
Class scheduling / time to completion
Courses meet in an online, primarily synchronous format. The Psychology major may be completed in 24 months. You may take longer to complete liberal arts and elective courses.
Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Pathway
While working on your bachelor's you may be eligible to take 1-2 courses in select graduate programs at St. Kate's, such as Organizational Leadership (MAOL), Business Administration (MBA), or Library and Information Science (MLIS). A bachelor's in psychology is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in counseling, mental health, social work or clinical psychology.
Your program of study
Major courses
• PSYC 1000: General Psychology (4 credits)
• Statistics (PSYC 1090, STAT 1090, or equivalent –4 credits)
• PSYC 2850: Seminar I – Psychology Applied to the World (2 credits)
• PSYC 3000: Research Methods in Psychology (4 credits)
• PSYC 4220W: History and Systems of Psychology* (4 credits)
• PSYC 4850: Seminar II – Current Issues in Psychology (2 credits)
Major courses: Electives
In consultation with your advisor, you’ll select 20 additional credits in the major (a minimum of eight credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level) Options may include, but are not limited to:
• PSYC 2025: Lifespan Developmental Psychology (4 credits)
• PSYC 2994: Community Psychology/Leadership Psychology (4 credits)
• PSYC 3010: Understanding Psychological Disorders (4 credits)
• PSYC 3040: Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology (4 credits)
• PSYC 3650: Experimental Social Psychology (4 credits)
• PSYC 4994: Topics: Educational Psychology (4 credits)
• PSYC 4994: Topics: Psychology of Microaggressions (4 credits)
Supporting courses
• General biology with lab (also fulfills liberal arts core requirement for natural science – 4 credits)
• Communication (4 credits)
• Philosophy (two courses – 8 credits, except PHIL 2150)
Core liberal arts courses
• CORE 1000W: The Reflective Woman: The Reflective Practitioner (4 credits)
• CORE 3990W: Global Search for Justice (4 credits)
• Behavioral and Social Sciences: choose one from communication studies, economics, political science, psychology or sociology (except ECON 1080, 1090, or PSYC 1090)
• Mathematics or Logical Reasoning: choose one from ECON 1080, ECON 1090, HLTH 1090, PSYC 1090, PHIL 2150, STAT 1089, STAT 1090, or any four-credit MATH course numbered 1000 or higher, except MATH 2500 and MATH 2510
• Natural Sciences: choose one course with a laboratory and/or field component in biology, chemistry, or physics
• Arts and Humanities: choose two courses from different disciplines: philosophy (except PHIL 2150), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, art history, creative writing, classics.
• Theology: choose one 1000 or any 2000-level theology course (except 2994 Topics)
Electives
Additional courses, as needed, to accumulate a minimum of 120 semester credits required for your bachelor’s degree
CORE course exemptions
Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed a previous bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment at St. Catherine University are exempt from the LIFE core curriculum requirement
Students seeking a B.A., B.S. or B.S.N. degree who have completed an A.A. degree from a regionally accredited institution or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum can satisfy the LIFE core curriculum requirement by taking CORE 3990.
School of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences
Psychology is offered by St. Catherine’s School of Humanities, Arts and Sciences. The school offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s programs through the University’s College for Adults, College for Women and College of Graduate Studies.
All information is subject to change
The information in this document applies to students entering the College for Adults in Fall 2024 or later. Provisions of this document are subject to change at any time. Consult the St. Catherine University Undergraduate Academic Catalog for official requirements
Next steps:
• Contact your admission counselor
• Ask for a free transfer evaluation
• Apply to start in Fall, Spring or Summer
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