Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in Iowa

The state of Iowa is full of colleges and universities offering undergraduate training in psychology. Many students pursue a degree in Psychology, which is why it is one of the largest majors at many schools. This is partly because a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology is the first step to becoming a professional psychologist. However, there are many other reasons to choose this degree path. One is to pursue immediate entrance into the workforce. This can be done in fields related to psychology like a mental health technician or career counselor. It can also be an entrance into a field like business or human resources. Another option available upon completion of an undergraduate psychology degree is pursuing graduate training in any of these areas. A psychology degree from an accredited school can be the start of so many areas of work or further education.

Cornell College

The Department of Psychology

Cornell College is a private Liberal Arts College located in Mount Vernon. The school was founded in 1853 as the Iowa Conference Seminary. Four years later the school’s name was changed to Cornell College, in honor of iron tycoon William Wesley Cornell. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Cornell College as the 105th best National Liberal Arts College and the 29th Best Value School in the country. The Department of Psychology, as well as other departments at the college, utilize the “One Course At A Time” curriculum. This allows students and faculty to use class time in a flexible way to accommodate the subject matter rather than fitting the subject into traditional 50-minute classes. Most classes are a combination of:

short lectures
film clips
demonstrations
small group discussion

Some classes give students the chance to watch feature-length films and discuss the psychological principles shown in those popular films. Students may use their psychological knowledge to train a virtual rat or to practice counseling skills learned in the classroom. One Course At A Time enables students to take field trips and participate in internships.

Featured Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology degree program approaches Psychology as a varied field with career options ranging from research and healthcare to social service and public policy. The Psychology Department offers three tracks for psychology majors to choose from:

The Psychology Specialist option prepares students for a wide variety of activities in psychology, including graduate study and a range of areas of practice. This area has been labeled “specialist” because it allows students to choose a generalist option or to develop individualized specializations while also completing requirements critical for advanced study in Psychology.
The Psychological Scientist option offers more classes in mathematical and natural science areas to better prepare students for research-oriented positions, health-related careers, or graduate study. Graduate studies include areas of psychology that are more closely associated with the natural sciences, such as learning, cognition, neuroscience, and biopsychology.
The Psychological Services option prepares students for work in a variety of mental health and human service areas. It is also preparation for graduate training at the master’s degree level in applied aspects of psychology and related fields. These include student services, social work, rehabilitation, and career counseling). This option allows students to complete either a Senior Seminar or a practicum as a capstone experience.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Cornell College
The Department of Psychology
600 First Street SW
Mount Vernon, IA 52314
(800) 747-1112
E-Mail: admission@cornellcollege.edu
Program Website

Dordt College

The Department of Psychology

Dordt College is a private, Christian, Liberal Arts College located in Sioux Center. The school was established in 1955 and is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The college enrolls about 1,300 students from more than 30 states, seven Canadian provinces, and 10 other countries. The intentionally small college offers a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Dordt maintains a commitment to a Reformed, Christian perspective that embraces the Bible as the word of God. The college offers 90 programs of study that lead to:

Associate of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Bachelor of Social Work
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Master of Education degrees

In 2015, US News & World Report Ranked Dordt as the 5th best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. Dordt’s Core Program helps students understand what it means to have a Reformed worldview or Christian perspective on life. Students enrolled at the college often read and reflect on writings by John Calvin, Abraham Kuyper, and other Reformed thinkers. The goal is to assist students to better understand “why they think as they do or understand why they don’t agree with what they’re being taught”. Students are required to complete an upper-level course in Advanced Reformed Thought, applying a Reformed perspective in their major and the capstone course called Calling, Task, and Culture.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Program is committed to “the understanding that all people are created in the image of God”. The Department has dedicated faculty who teach from a Reformed Christian perspective. This helps students in the program:

gain an understanding of the psychological concept base
practice analytical and critical thinking skills
improve professional and interpersonal communication skills

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to work in social services or enter private practice. The curriculum gives students the tools to pursue their individual interests while offering a biblically-based setting for learning. The mission statement of the department is to “disciple servants of Christ through a biblical and psychological understanding of persons”. The psychology program offers chances for students to enhance their skills, learn about resources and take advantage of individualized attention in a variety of ways. The Department offers:

Advanced Training Opportunities—Students get experiential training through work experiences. They are offered testing and measurement classes that are usually offered only in graduate programs.
Graduate School Preparation—Students have the opportunity to attend professor-led workshops on the various components of graduate school processes and opportunities.
Faculty Relationships—Students will get to know their professors, and they get to know their students. Professors have students over for a fall welcome picnic, encourage them along the way, and host a dinner in the students’ honor when they graduate.
Professional Development Opportunities—Students attend at least six professional development events throughout the program designed to expose them to the many facets of the field of psychology.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Dordt College
The Department of Psychology
498 4th Avenue NE
Sioux Center, Iowa 51250-1606
(800) 343-6738
Program Website

Drake University

The Department of Psychology

Drake University is a private, coeducational university located in Des Moines. The university provides several undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in business, law, and pharmacy. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Drake as the 3rd best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States as well as the 13th Best Value School. The Department of Psychology offers a variety of undergraduate training programs including:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
Interdisciplinary Concentration of Human Resource Management
Interdisciplinary Concentration of Behavioral Analysis of Developmental Disabilities
Interdisciplinary Concentration of Comparative Animal Behavior
Interdisciplinary Concentration of Women’s Studies
Interdisciplinary Concentration of Leadership Education and Development

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology Degree Program has a strong emphasis on the investigation of human behavior through empirical study. This prepares students for careers in a variety of fields. Graduates of this program have gone on to pursue graduate training in psychology, neuroscience, and related fields. They have also entered professional programs in medicine or law. Others have started exciting careers in:

business
human services
research laboratories

Experiential learning opportunities and a rigorous curriculum combine applied, experimental, and theoretical approaches. Students gain practical skills that help them thrive in a wide range of professional settings. The BA degree program is for students planning to pursue careers in areas other than psychology or related sciences. A BA in psychology can be completed as part of many pre-professional programs of study, including:

pre-business
pre-law
pre-social work

Students in this program are encouraged to complete course work in the arts and sciences that improve their verbal, quantitative and critical reasoning abilities.

Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

The BS in Neuroscience Degree Program addresses the strong psychological and biological foundations of this multidisciplinary field of study. This unique undergraduate program enables students to prepare for careers in neuroscience or related fields. Students get a strong scientific foundation in the natural sciences. The neuroscience major is ideal preparation for students considering advanced work in:

medicine
behavioral neuroscience
clinical neuroscience
clinical neuropsychology

This program emphasizes:

basic life sciences
chemistry, statistics and research methods
the study of advanced neurobiological systems

Topics include:

neuropharmacology
sensory physiology
neuroendocrinology
neurochemistry
genetics

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The Department of Psychology also offers a BS in Psychology Degree Program. The core curriculum requirements in psychology are the same for both the BA and BS degree programs. However, the BS program requires students to complete an additional 12 hours of natural science coursework outside of psychology. This program is ideal for students planning on pursuing a scientific career. The BS in Psychology is for students who plan to attend graduate school in psychology or a related area of study. The course requirements reflect the breadth and depth required to prepare for the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE’s) and graduate study.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Drake University
Department of Psychology
318 Olin Hall
Drake University
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311
(515) 271-2876
E-Mail: joan.anderson@drake.edu
Program Website

Graceland University

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – The Division of Social Science

Graceland University (GU) is a private, Liberal Arts University with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa and Independence, Missouri. Graceland offers degree options and Master’s Level Programs at satellite campus locations in Centerville and Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Trenton, Missouri. GU also supports undergraduate and graduate programs online. Graceland was founded in 1895 by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The main campus location is the Lamoni campus, which is a residential campus offering:

more than 50 academic programs
9-preprofessional programs
35 undergraduate majors

The Lamoni campus also offers 19 varsity sports, campus-wide activities, and intramural sports. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Graceland as the 103rd best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States as well as the 148th best online Bachelor’s Degree Program. The Division of Social Science houses majors of study including:

History
International Studies
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Human Services

The entire Division supports approaches to a better understanding of human diversity and the commonality of the human experience. Faculty challenge students to think critically and communicate effectively. Students will gain skills that are a traditional part of a liberal arts education.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology prepares Psychology majors for employment as well as graduate training in psychology and many other areas. Students in this program are strongly encouraged to carve out a niche area of psychology that excites them. All students are provided with:

classroom teaching
experiential learning opportunities
solid training in empirically-based research

Upon completion of this program, students are ready to pursue many different areas of psychology, including

military
government
industry
management
education to counseling

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Graceland University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Division of Social Science
1 University Place
Lamoni, Iowa 50140
(641) 784-5000
E-Mail: jcali1@graceland.edu

Grand View University

The Department of Social Services

Grand View University is a private, non-profit Liberal Arts College located in Des Moines. The school was established in 1896 and remains affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Enrollment is about 2,300 students with 40 undergraduate majors and several post-graduate programs. The faculty and staff are committed to “the development of the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – and to preparing students for successful careers and responsible citizenship both in their communities and in a diverse and changing world.” Grand View offers a liberal arts education that:

Challenges students to evaluate with a trained and analytical mind, communicate effectively, and display an awareness of the global issues that affect mankind
Supports a community of learners with differing perspectives, friendly interactions, and where intellectual and personal integrity is expected
offers a supportive environment where students can participate in the community with others, discover their life purpose and grow in leadership.
Affirms Christian faith and ethics as a vision for life, a vision that enhances our respect for the diversity and dignity of all people, for relating to others, and for the pursuit of lifelong learning.

In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Grand View as the 54th best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. The Department of Social Services offers Bachelor’s Degree options in:

Criminal Justice
Human Services
Organizational Studies
Paralegal Studies
Political Studies
Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The BA in Psychology Degree Program promotes a learning experience with regular face-to-face interactions with accomplished instructors. There’s plenty of opportunity for experiential learning. The internship options, opportunities, and rigorous curriculum all help students build a strong knowledge base that will help them to succeed in both graduate school and employment.

The Grand View Psychology Research Track courses encourages students to choose a topic of special interest early in the program and to study it in depth throughout several courses. Research preparation is important for students who wish to complete graduate training in any of the specialty areas of Psychology:

clinical
counseling
industrial
developmental
experimental
neuroscience
personality
social psychology
human perception

Despite the emphasis on helping students for success in graduate training, immediate employment is still an option. Graduates of Grand View have secured positions as:

psychology technicians at local hospitals
program managers in human services agencies
claims representatives in insurance companies
other related employment

Students with a Psychology undergraduate degree are attractive to many employers. They graduates demonstrate an ability to think and write clearly and manage data, which are all skills valued in the modern workplace.

Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)

Contact
Grand View University
The Department of Social Services
1200 Grandview Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 263-2800
E-Mail Form: http://dotheview.grandview.edu/Datatel.ERecruiting.Web.External/Pages/prospectinquiry.aspx?f=c152d787-1d96-4330-ac21-ed8893e7b949
Program Website

What all of these schools have in common is the desire to offer students a flexible, easily accessible psychology degree. Whether you are hoping to use your Bachelor’s as a degree to enter the workforce, or you plan to apply to graduate school, an undergraduate psychology degree can get you there. Students graduating with these degrees can continue their careers in the field of psychology or they can apply their education to many different fields of study or employment. Some of these include:

medicine
nursing
law
law enforcement
business
many more

A fully accredited undergraduate psychology degree from one of Iowa’s many collegiate institutions is an excellent start to many different career paths.

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