All throughout Iowa, interested students can find undergraduate psychology programs with all of the characteristics they are looking for. Many of these programs are now offering instruction either fully online or partially online. This allows more and more students to have the chance to earn their degree. Each student can find a college offering the degree of online learning that best suits their needs. What many students find is that online learning can seem daunting at first, but the many benefits outweigh the negatives. Aside from the obvious increase in flexibility of how, when and where you learn, online learning has many other benefits. Typically schools have the same faculty teaching both traditional on campus and online classes. Students often report that online courses allow them more ability to interact with their professors and classmates. There are a number of significant advantages to online learning.
Grinnell College
The Division of Science
Grinnell College is a private Liberal Arts College located in Grinnell, Iowa. The college has a strong reputation for its rigorous academics and history of social responsibility. The school was established in 1846 when a group of New England Congregationalists founded the Trustees of Iowa College. In 2014 US News & World Report ranked Grinnell as the third best school for economic diversity as measured by low-income students receiving federal Pell Grants. Also in 2014, US News & World Report ranked Grinnell as the 17th best National Liberal Arts College in the United States as well as the 7th Best Value School in the nation. When the College outlined its charter in the Iowa Territory, it set forth a mission to educate its students “for the different professions and for the honorable discharge of the duties of life.” To this day Grinnell staff and faculty pursue this mission by delivering a strong Liberal Arts education with free inquiry and an open exchange of ideas. The Division of Science offers students the option to study a variety of sciences, including everything ranging from Biology to Computer Science to Psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students enrolled in the BA in Psychology program will gain a wide array of skills including:
- learning how to read textbooks closely
- designing and conducting empirical research using cutting-edge technology
- analyzing and interpreting statistics
The curriculum teaches students to evaluate the natural science and principles of behavior. It helps them become adept in how to morally apply these areas to help people who are in need. Students can be active in a Journal Club, independent study, and internship opportunities. Psychology Majors graduating from this program are qualified to go on to graduate school or begin a career in:
- teaching
- scientific research
- clinical work
- medicine
- law, and more
The curriculum in this BA program highlights the behavior of organic organisms living in social environments. Students learn to use empirical scientific methods to study behavior and to use critical thinking skills to evaluate empirical methods. The curriculum is steeped in the liberal arts tradition. The psychology program empowers all students with tools for thoughtful investigation of the field.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Grinnell College
The Division of Science
The Psychology Department
David Lopatto – Department Chair
Noyce Science Center
1115 Eighth Ave
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 269-3172
E-Mail: lopatto@grinnell.edu
Program Website
Iowa State University
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Iowa State University of Science and Technology is commonly referred to as Iowa State University or ISU and is located in Ames. The university is a Land Grant of the Iowa University System and a public land grant and space-grant research university. ISU was founded in 1858 as a coeducational school, at which time it became the nation’s first designated land-grant institution. Until 1959 the school was known as the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Iowa State’s various degree programs are supported by eight individual colleges, including the graduate college, with:
- more than 100 Bachelor’s Degree Programs
- 112 Master’s Degree Programs
- 83 degree options at the Ph.D. level.
ISU is classified as a Research University with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is a group member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and the Universities Research Association. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked ISU as the 106th best National University in the United States as well as the #50 Top Public School. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) at Iowa State University is a nationally recognized educational and research community. It is ISU’s most academically diverse college. It trains students to become “global citizens, providing rigorous academic programs in the sciences, humanities and social sciences within a supportive personalized learning environment”. The college enrolls more than 8,100 students throughout 22 departments, the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, and over 20 other programs. The faculty members at LAS teach more than half of all student credit hours throughout the University, leading to nearly 50 Baccalaureate Degrees, in addition to Doctoral and Master’s Degrees.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Psychology Department offers both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) as well as a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. The major difference in the BA program of study is that students must complete a minor or additional major to earn the degree. Students in this program are provided with training in psychology background. This background is often applicable in many different career path that involve the needs of and interactions with people. The curriculum covers many of the areas where psychologists are often involved including:
- Creating new information knowledge through active research opportunities
- Applying the knowledge you have gained to help solve problems experienced by individuals or groups
- Teaching this knowledge to others
As a psychology major students have the opportunity to participate in cutting edge research under the direct supervision of field leaders. Students also learn outside of the classroom throughout experiences such as psych club and competing in the spring poster competition.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS degree at ISU is considered the traditional academic route and requires students to complete additional courses in Math and Natural Sciences that exceed the ISU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education requirements. Choosing a minor or additional major is optional for students. Students have the opportunity to:
- volunteer
- complete internships
- participate in practicum experiences
- complete research assistantships
- compete in the annual poster competition
- become involved with Psych Club and Psi Chi.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Contact
Iowa State University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
W112 Lagomarcino Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3180
(515) 294-1742
E-Mail: psychadv@iastate.edu
Program Website
Iowa Wesleyan College
The Psychology Department
Iowa Wesleyan College is a private, coeducational four-year Liberal Arts College located in Mount Pleasant. The college was founded in 1842. It’s Iowa’s first co-educational institution of higher learning and the oldest of this type west of the Mississippi River. Some of the college’s most exciting innovations have included:
- concepts learned in undergraduate lab science
- experiential career experiences
- service-learning opportunities
The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Two buildings on campus, Old Main and the Harlan-Lincoln House, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Harlan-Lincoln House is the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln and is now a museum featuring various artifacts from the Harlan and Lincoln families. The general Liberal Arts curriculum at Wesleyan encourages students to investigate the liberal arts and sciences and their practical application. This education will then “enhance students’ abilities to achieve their potential and foster students’ capability to respond to the transitions most will encounter after graduation due to changes in careers, the re-shaping of daily life by new technologies, and in response to the call made to be responsible local and global citizens”.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Psychology Major at Wesleyan offers a traditional program of the many areas of psychology, highlighting major content areas and preparing students for graduate school. The Psychology Department places a strong emphasis on research and applied areas of the field, such as mental health counseling. It is consistent with common student interests and current trends in the field. Students completing the Psychology major will:
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic principles, theories, and techniques of psychology
- Demonstrate the ability to think critically about fundamental, enduring issues in the field of psychology
- Apply skills in oral and written communication
- Have firsthand job-related experience in an area of special interest in psychology
- Be prepared for graduate training in an APA accredited program.
The Psychology major offers outstanding training for a number of careers in such areas as:
- social services
- health care
- government
- business
- teaching (in conjunction with the education major or an advanced degree)
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Iowa Wesleyan College
The Psychology Department
601 N. Main St.
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-6338
E-Mail: cwalljasper@iwc.edu
Kaplan University – Des Moines Campus
The Department of Psychology
Kaplan University’s Des Moines campus is rooted in Mason City, where the main campus of Hamilton College has functioned as a business career college since 1900. The Des Moines campus was added as the third branch campus of Hamilton College in 1988. In 2007, all seven Hamilton College campuses became part of Kaplan University. Each campus keeps close community ties with its surrounding area, resulting in graduates employed throughout the Midwest. The Des Moines campus of Kaplan offers a variety of Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees with the flexible choice of day, night, and online classes. In 2015 US News & World Report ranked Kaplan as the 79th best online Bachelor’s Degree Program. The Department of Psychology at Kaplan offers online, on-campus and hybrid learning opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Kaplan University BS in Psychology program offers a broad Liberal Arts Education combined with a rigorous evaluation of how psychology relates to actual life. The program was created to assist students in the examination of the major concepts and historical trends in psychology as they apply to human behavior, learning, and development. The learning method used in this program is either Online or a blend of online and onsite instruction. Each student has the option to select one of four emphasis areas:
- Child Development: This emphasis area allows students to explore behavioral development from birth to adolescence. Students study the various approaches to understanding and helping children with special needs and diverse backgrounds. They gain insight into the importance of social relationships created and maintained during childhood.
- Applied Behavior Analysis: This is a field of science examining human behavior. ABA involves the systematic evaluation of the complex contingencies between behavior and the environment. The program helps prepare students to pursue myriad career opportunities in such areas as:
- education
- developmental disabilities
- mental health
- business
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology (IO): Broaden your knowledge and apply the principles of I/O psychology in business and organizational settings. Study psychology-related strategies that can help you pursue a career helping organizations improve the performance, satisfaction, and motivation of employees.
- Addictions: The addictions emphasis area is for students interested in careers with persons affected by drugs and alcohol. Students will examine:
- addiction
- pharmacology
- the recovery process
- prevention
- case management skills
- how to apply ways to guide clients in maintaining sobriety
Accreditations
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
Contact
Kaplan University
The Department of Psychology
4655 121st Street
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 727-2100
E-Mail Form: http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/request-information.aspx
Program Website
Loras College
The Department of Psychology
Loras College is a private, Catholic, Liberal Arts College in Dubuque. It has an enrollment of about 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It’s one of four, four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque and one of three Catholic colleges in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Rev. Mathias Loras, the first bishop of Dubuque, founded Loras in 1839 as the Saint Raphael’s Seminary. The goal of that Seminary was to train young men for the priesthood with the direct intention of also offering an opportunity for higher education to the citizens of the area. The current name was adopted at the time of the school’s centennial in 1939. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked Loras College as the 11th best College or University in the Midwestern Region of the United States as well as the 6th Best Value School. The Department of Psychology offers both the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as well as a Master of Arts in either General Psychology or Clinical / Counseling Psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology Degree program at Loras is among the oldest, largest and most widely recognized psychology programs in the midwestern portion of the US. Graduate of the program are able to:
- think critically
- comprehend research
- apply psychological theories and concepts
- respond ethically to important human dilemmas
The staff is made up of six full-time Ph.D. faculty members with diverse areas of interests and professional backgrounds. The Psychology Major curriculum meets the standards for undergraduate education endorsed by the American Psychological Association. Students gather a solid framework of knowledge in the traditional areas of psychological study. They engage in hands-on learning through internships and research labs. Students can learn about more modern psychological disciplines such as:
- Positive Psychology
- Cross-cultural Psychology
- Psychology of the Arts
Because the curriculum focuses on many different aspects of the human experience, this program is an ideal field of study for just about any occupation. Loras Psychology graduates have gone on to be successful in a number of different careers and graduate programs:
- Human services
- Counseling
- School Psychology
- Human resources
- Business
- Medicine
- Computer technology
- Health sciences
- Research
- Advertising/Marketing
- Law
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Loras College
Information
and Administrative Offices
The Department of Psychology
1450 Alta Vista Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
(800) 245-6727
E-Mail: admissions@loras.edu
Across the state students have the ability to find a school that will work for them. With increasing flexibility in learning online, hybrid learning, part-time and weekend programs and adult learner programs, students much flexibility in how, when and where they learn. With so many options throughout Iowa, more students than ever before are pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology.
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