Bachelor's in Psychology (BA)

Courses in the Psychology BA program address a wide variety of topics within the discipline. In your classes, you will examine how people "work" -- Why do people behave the way they do? How are personalities formed? What is normal and abnormal behavior? How do psychologists help people with psychological disorders? The major addresses the research and experimental foundations of psychology. You will learn how psychologists ask and answer questions. This perspective will help you understand topics such as how the brain influences our behavior, how our senses and minds perceive the world, and how we learn and remember.

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Location: Chicago, Schaumburg

Start Term: Fall, Spring, Summer

Program Type: Major, Minor

There are four optional concentrations in the Psychology BA program:

The Concentration in Mental Health allows undergraduates to learn about psychological well being and distress, personality, and the ways that mental health professionals address these concerns. This concentration also includes an internship course that provides students with first-hand experience assisting others in the community.
The Concentration in Neuroscience allows students to analyze the biological basis of behavior and organizational principles of brain functioning in depth. This concentration is well suited for students planning on entering neuropsychology, medicine, pharmacy, neuroscience or allied health fields.
The Concentration in Child and Family Studies allows undergraduates to learn about child development from an interdisciplinary perspective, and addresses such areas as parenting, schooling, and the place of children and families in society. It culminates in a 72-hour field placement working directly with children in the community.
The Concentration in Forensic Psychology allows students to study the field of psychology and the law in detail. Students will explore area such as police investigation, court proceedings and eyewitness testimony that can be applied to a range of professions in the forensic and criminal justice professions.

What Differentiates Us

Serve The Community

Many classes include service learning so students can apply their knowledge to help others in the community. Students volunteer as part of several of our classes, and the Psychology Department offers more extensive field placements and internships for students who are interested.

Learn Alongside Dedicated Faculty

Students have opportunities to participate in faculty members’ research teams. Students can receive individual mentorship from full-time professors.

Honors Available

The university offers the Psychology Honors Track within the Honors Program for students who qualify.

Expectations & Requirements

Standards

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in Psychology consists of 12 courses and accomplishes the following goals:

Students gain a solid grasp of the knowledge base of psychology, which includes major concepts, theories, research findings and history of the field.
Students understand and learn to apply the basic research methods in psychology, which include how to design a study, analyze data and interpret findings.
Students learn critical thinking skills and the scientific approach to solve problems related to psychology.
Students learn how to apply psychological principles to address personal, social and organizational challenges, with a concern for social justice.

Minor Requirements

Requirements for the minor are six courses in psychology, including a course in introductory psychology. Two courses must be at the 300 level. Students must select courses from at least two different core areas; the remainder are electives.

Sample Courses

Abnormal Psychology
Theories of Personality
Childhood and Adolescence
Brain and Behavior
Social Psychology
Health Psychology
Law and Psychology

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Outcomes

Career Options

An undergraduate major in psychology provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in psychology or immediate entry into a career. Related jobs often involve working closely with people. Psychology graduates find work in the helping professions and applied health care fields. They also work in areas such as human resources, business, and sales using their knowledge of people and relationships.

Grad Schools Attended By Our Alumni

Our students have attended many different universities after graduating, including our own MA program at Roosevelt University and many schools nearby such as University of Chicago, Loyola University, Adler University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Other undergraduate alumni have enrolled in programs across the country, such as University of Nevada Reno, Wayne State University, University of Central Florida, University of Minnesota, St. Louis University, and Harvard University.

More Opportunities

Clubs & Activities

We encourage students to participate in our two co-curricular groups. We have active chapters of the Psi Chi Honor Society on both campuses. The Psychology in Action Club is open to all students interested in psychology and learning more about career opportunities.

Study Abroad

Students can study psychology abroad and make progress towards their degree at University of Sussex and the Danish Institute for Study (DIS). We have detailed plans to help transfer coursework from these programs. Our department also offers our own study abroad class in Latin America.

Testimonials

“The reason I want to work with kids in the city is that I’ve seen a lot of things there that didn’t get addressed. I want to give back and help meet the needs of some of these kids.”

Lucy Lopez - Psychology BA, with a concentration in Child/Family Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice '14

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"When people ask me what makes an education at Roosevelt University distinctive, I explain that we are more ambitious than many colleges because of our social justice mission. Students learn more than important knowledge or facts at Roosevelt. We go beyond an education of the head, and provide an education of the heart. Our University provides a value-rich experience in which students become more aware of social inequalities, discover why they should care, and develop compassion and empathy."

Steven Meyers

Professor of Psychology, Roosevelt University

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