Psychology (BA)
Changing the world—one person at a time.
Why do we think, feel and act the way we do? A bachelor’s degree in psychology from Houghton Online will help you gain perspective on your own experiences, develop empathic understanding of others and learn ways to help people in need.
18 months
Students taking a full course load can complete the program in as few as 18 months.
Learn on Your Time
Instead of 'live,' in-class sessions, you will participate in video content, readings, and online discussions at your convenience. Scheduled real-time video conferencing allows you to interact with faculty and classmates.
What will I learn?
Through Houghton’s BA in Psychology you will:
- Conduct psychological research collaboratively with faculty and peers
- Acquire conflict management, ethical reasoning, and critical thinking skills
- Obtain hands-on field experience with one of our many internship opportunities
- Prepare for further study at the graduate level
- Hone your written, communication and presentation skills for diverse audiences
- Gain an understanding of how people think and act and how to help and motivate them
- Deeply integrate rigorous academic study with the Christian faith
Ready to Learn More?
Let's get started
Credit Info
124 credits
40 Required Credits
84 Elective Credits + General Education
Who is this degree for?
Individuals wanting to pursue a career in psychology and need a bachelor’s degree to open doors; professionals in any field who want to improve how they work with people; anyone wishing to advance their career in the helping professions, or students who plan to go to graduate school.
Learn from Faculty with Real-world Experience
Faculty includes psychologists from the following fields: clinical, social, developmental, personality, and counseling.
Get Experience in the Field
Internships give you hands-on learning in a real-world setting, giving you the chance to integrate theory with professional practice. Opportunities include group homes, foster care programs, schools, direct care work; or students can suggest an appropriate customized internship in their local areas.
Meet a faculty member
Alison Young Reusser, PhD (‘07)
"Working with psychology students at Houghton is extremely rewarding. I am encouraged every semester by their engagement in class, their drive to tackle challenging material, and their willingness to contribute to this unique, Christ-centered learning community. Together, we grapple with difficult questions within social psychology and neuroscience as well as plan and execute rigorous research, all in preparation to work as transformative servants of Christ in academia, clinical work, or industry."
Cost and Affordability
The 2020-21 cost per credit hour for the Psychology degree is
$392
Cost per credit hour
$15,680
Program cost
(40 credits)
$150
Audit fee per class (non-degree-seeking)
Program Outcomes
Students earning a BA degree in Psychology from Houghton Online are prepared to enter graduate school for further study, or careers in:
- Clinical and counseling psychology
- School psychology
- Social work
- Human services
- Student and personnel development
- Psychological research
- Third-party conflict intervention like mediation, negotiation or arbitration
- Youth work, therapeutic recreation, or the camping industry
Application Requirements
Choose a start date
- January 19, 2021
- March 15, 2021
- May 10, 2021
- July 5, 2021
Documents and supporting materials
You’ll be asked to provide your official high school transcript, 1 recommendation letter, and your test scores (can be waived)
Personal Statement
Your personal statement should be between 300 and 500 words (roughly a half of page to a page of typed writing). Get started with these suggested writing prompts