Bachelor of Psychology Degree

You are curious about why people think and behave the way they do. You have had experiences that compel you to choose a career in the helping professions. You are sensitive to other people's feelings. You know that life is complicated, so you want to learn how to think systematically about people and situations. You are prepared to work hard. You love to learn and challenge yourself. You always ask why. You love to find the answers. You love helping with children, teenagers, adults, or families. You feel that God is calling you to offer your heart and mind to the service of others.

If this describes you, then the psychology degree at North Greenville University may be the best option for you. Here, NGU's Psychology Department faculty members are prepared and willing to help you begin a successful career as a psychologist.

 

Major Description 

 

As a psychology major at NGU, you will spend much of your time becoming familiar with theories and issues in psychology, understanding how psychology can be integrated with Christianity, learning how to read scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, mastering writing skills in APA style, and preparing for careers by creating resumes and exploring different jobs in psychology.

You will also learn about the integration between psychology and Christianity; scientific thinking skills in statistics, writing, and research methods; basic theory in personality, social, counseling, biological psychology, abnormal, developmental, learning and cognition, Christian integration, personality, statistics, and research methods; special topics such as grief, premarital and marital counseling, industrial-organizational psychology, positive psychology, health psychology, applied behavior analysis, small group dynamics, social work, and school psychology; and career and graduate school preparation, as well as how to apply this knowledge in your own work in the field.

Upon completion of the bachelor of psychology program, you will have a strong knowledge base and numerous hours of hands-on experiences in research methods. You will also have had opportunities to take courses in the areas of psychology that interest you and prepare you for graduate school or careers in a psychology-related field. At the conclusion of the degree, you will have completed a research project of your own in a psychology-oriented area and given a senior seminar presentation on a topic you plan to pursue in your future career.

Ultimately, the psychology degree will provide a strong education based on a biblical worldview that will prepare you for a variety of psychology-related pursuits.

 

Curriculum

 

The curriculum within the Psychology Department at NGU begins with foundational courses on theory, research methods, and integration with Christian belief and then progresses to deeper study in areas that prepare students for careers or graduate work in the field.

Professional postgraduate work in psychology generally requires a graduate degree. Our psychology students at NGU learn the basic information needed for graduate school and develop competencies in scientific thinking, writing, research, and communication.

Elective coursework can be tailored to further prepare you for a variety of psychology sub-disciplines, such as counseling, school psychology, and experimental psychology, as well as related fields such as social work.

Students interested in careers that require only a bachelor's degree are prepared with skills in communication and writing, information gathering, computer and technical skills, critical thinking, and knowledge about human behavior and cognition.

Faculty Strengths

 

There are six full-time faculty members in the Psychology Department at NGU. Each is a committed Christian whose goal is to help you discover your future in the field. Each faculty member has a unique educational and training background in psychology. Areas that are represented include counseling psychology, educational and school psychology, clinical psychology, experimental psychology, sociology, and clinical social work. This variety provides students with access to professors with a wide variety of experience and the ability to mentor students in the area of their interest. Our faculty members are approachable, and they enjoy spending time with students inside and outside the classroom. They are also highly qualified to prepare you for your future.

 

Tracks / Concentrations

 

• General Psychology elective track
• Counseling Psychology elective track

Minors

 

At NGU, we offer minors to complement your major. Each minor requires a minimum of 18 semester hours, which in some cases may even be used to meet the elective requirements for your major. View the full list of minors.

Electives

 

• Adolescent Psychology
• Applied Behavioral Analysis
• Cognitive Psychology
• Current Problems in Childhood and Adolescence
• Grief and Loss Counseling
• History and Systems
• Independent Research
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Marriage and the Family
• Positive Psychology
• Premarital/Marital Counseling
• Psych Health and Illness
• Psychology Internship
• Psychology and Aging
• Psychology and Social Work
• Psychology of Learning
• Psychopharmacology
• Research Practicum
• Small Group Dynamics
• Special Topics
• Tests and Measures
  

Career Opportunities

• Addictions Counselor
• Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapist
• Child Life Specialist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Counseling Psychologist
• Human Resources
• Lawyer
• Occupational Therapist
• Rehabilitation Therapist
• School Psychologist
• Social Worker
• Special Education Teacher
• University Professor
• Wellness Coach

Postgraduate Studies

 

• Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• College of William and Mary
• Columbia International University
• Converse College
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Francis Marion University
• Gardner-Webb University
• John Brown University
• Kennesaw State University
• Liberty University
• New Orleans Theological Seminary
• Radford University
• Regent University
• Southeastern Theological Seminary
• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Colorado Denver
• University of Georgia
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• University of South Carolina
• Winthrop University

Potential Employers

 

• ARK Hospice
• Boston Scientific
• Cherokee County Disability and Special Needs Board
• Early Autism Project
• Georgia Center for Child Advocacy
• Greenville Assessment and Learning Specialists
• Greenville Hospital System
• Kershaw County School District
• North Greenville University
• Piedmont Mental Health
• Project Hope Foundation
• RK Hospice
  

Career Preparation

Several courses are required that help prepare students for careers and applying to graduate school. You will prepare resumes, attend mock interviews, search the job market, research graduate programs, give presentations, and submit mock applications. Other experiences encourage students to explore their own personalities, strengths, and interests to best choose their path after graduation. In addition, students can take an Applied Behavioral Analysis class that leads to certification to work with children with autism while an undergraduate.

Research Experience

Psychology majors are introduced to research methods and given the opportunity to design and conduct their own research study. Students learn to communicate their research results by presenting scientific posters at our student research symposium. Students also learn to use SPSS statistical software to manage and analyze data. These experiences prepare you for critical thinking and provide you with career-related skills that are generally expected for graduate school.

Internship and Research Presentations

Opportunities to intern in the community are available through our internship class. Students interested in learning more about specific careers in psychology-related fields can earn academic credit for work at local agencies or at the placement of their choice. Students who are interested in further research and presenting their work at regional and national conferences can earn academic credit by completing an independent research project and presenting the results at our College of Science and Mathematics student research symposium or at the psychology conference of their choice.”

Psychology Clubs

The Psychology Club and the Psi Chi International Honor Society provide you with extracurricular activities, outside speakers, service and leadership opportunities, and a community of other students to join for fellowship and support.

Rat Learning Lab

Our Psychology of Learning course at NGU includes a rat lab experience that introduces students to animal training. The students have an opportunity to practice operant and classical conditioning techniques with animals. Rats are trained to run mazes. We end the class experience by teaching the rats to play basketball and compete against each other.

Work Study

The Psychology Department offers work-study opportunities, which include opportunities to work individually with a faculty member, gain leadership experience, learn administrative skills, and earn part-time money on campus.

 

Research Experience

“Psychology majors are introduced to research methods and given the opportunity to design and conduct their own research study. Students learn to communicate their research results by presenting scientific posters at our student research symposium. Students also learn to use SPSS statistical software to manage and analyze data. These experiences prepare you for critical thinking and provide you with career-related skills that are generally expected for graduate school.”

Career Preparation

“Several courses are required that help prepare students for careers and applying to graduate school. You will prepare resumes, attend mock interviews, search the job market, research graduate programs, give presentations, and submit mock applications. Other experiences encourage students to explore their own personalities, strengths, and interests to best choose their path after graduation. In addition, students can take an Applied Behavioral Analysis class that leads to certification to work with children with autism while an undergraduate.”

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3
• Year 4

Program Objectives

 

• Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the major concepts in the field of psychology, along with research and applied applications of problems in the discipline.

• Utilize scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to frame questions about human behavior and demonstrate effective research methods skills.

• Develop ethical behavior in the practice of working in applied settings and in the application and practice of research with human subjects while being sensitive to diversity and social responsibility.

• Express ideas clearly in oral, visual, and written formats and exhibit proper APA writing style and formatting in all written communication.

• Engage in personal development, self-reflection, and career preparation activities to increase competitiveness in the job market and graduate programs.

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