Students who hope to pursue an undergraduate psychology degree in the state of Iowa have a wide variety of options available. Now, more than ever before students are flocking to colleges and universities to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. There are a few reasons why this is occurring. The first is the predicted rise purported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook. It is expected that psychology in general will see a 12 percent rise with many areas of psychology expecting more than 25 percent increases in employment opportunities. Additionally, more students are pursuing their education because of the increased flexibility in how, when and where you can attend classes. With online opportunities, weekend and evening courses and part-time plans of study, more students can fit a degree plan into their busy lifestyle. One more reason students are pursing this degree is because a psychology degree can help you begin a career as a psychologist but graduates with a Bachelor’s of Psychology can also pursue many other fields including business, law, nursing, human resources and many others.
Luther College
The Department of Psychology
Luther College is a private coeducational Liberal Arts College located in Decorah, Iowa. Norwegian immigrants originally established the school as a Lutheran seminary in 1861, and to this day the school remains affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Luther is considered an exclusively undergraduate institution, enrolling just under 2,500 students and employing 182 faculty in 2012-13. The college is a member institution of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and the Annapolis Group. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Luther as the 89th best National Liberal Arts College. The mission statement offered by the college is a unique three part series of commitments:
- In the spirit of Martin Luther, Luther College confirms the redemptive power of faith and learning. As a school of many backgrounds, they embrace diversity and challenge one another to learn in community, to listen for a calling and to serve with distinction for the common good.
- As a college of the church, Luther is rooted in an understanding of grace and freedom that emboldens us in worship, study, and service to seek truth, examine our faith, and care for all God’s people.
- As a liberal arts college, Luther is committed to a way of learning that moves us beyond immediate interests and present knowledge into a larger world—an education that disciplines minds and develops whole persons equipped to understand and confront a changing society.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Traditional undergraduate Psychology curriculum covers the discipline broadly, including courses in learning, development, cognition, perception, psychobiology, psychopathology, social influence and emotion. Students enrolled in the Psychology major at Luther College are exposed to these general areas while also receiving thorough training in the scientific method. Luther’s psychology program emphasizes the basic psychological processes: learning, memory development, perceiving, emotion expression, motivation, and thinking. The psychology curriculum was created to give students both knowledge of these important topics as well as an understanding of how this knowledge is scientifically acquired and applied. Therefore, many of the departmental required courses include a laboratory component. The curriculum is also designed to give the student not only knowledge of behavior and mental processes, but also an understanding of how this knowledge is scientifically acquired and applied.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Luther College
The Department of Psychology
David Njus – Professor of Psychology
Valders 340G
700 College Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101
(563) 387-1633
E-Mail: njusdavi@luther.edu
Program Website
Morningside College
The Department of Psychology
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a 68-acre (280,000 m2) campus in Sioux City (area population 143,157 in 2008.[2]). The Morningside Historic District, which includes Grace United Methodist Church and most of the campus, is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Morningside as the 23rd best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. The Department of Psychology at Morningside offers undergraduate psychology training with the option to choose an emphasis in one of the four following areas of study:
- General Development psychology
- Counseling psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Biopsychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The psychology major at Morningside College allows students to flourish through both classroom learning and experiential learning tailored to help each student reach their individual goals. Course work in the psychology major covers psychology’s historical, theoretical, cultural and ethical dimensions. The program offers opportunities for motivated students to participate in independent research or collaborative research projects with other students and faculty as early as freshman year. The faculty in the Psychology Department focuses on students as individuals, spending a great deal of time outside of class to advise and mentor students in this major. The undergraduate psychology program offers four distinct areas of emphasis for majors:
- General Development Psychology is the ideal choice for students with a desire to investigate different areas of the discipline. Graduates of this emphasis are prepared for either immediate employment or graduate studies.
- Counseling psychology is the best choice for students who are interested in a career in counseling, clinical or school psychology. Graduates of this emphasis are qualified to pursue graduate study in order to qualify for professional licensing in the human services fields.
- Developmental psychology is a great emphasis area for students with a desire to study developmental issues across the lifespan. Graduates from this emphasis are qualified for graduate school or work related to children, families and aging adults.
- Biopsychology is an interdisciplinary emphasis focusing on the neurological foundations of behavior and mental processes in humans and animals.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Morningside College
The Department of Psychology
1501 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51106
(800) 831-0806 ext. 5511
E-Mail: mscadm@morningside.edu
Program Website
Mount Mercy University
The Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work
Mount Mercy University is a four-year, private, co-educational Catholic Liberal Arts University located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Sisters of Mercy originally founded the school in 1928. There are two major tenets promoted by the University; Intellectual Development and Strong Career Preparation. These are the “twin anchors” of academic life at Mount Mercy. All students, regardless of major, complete a core of liberal arts courses that arm them with a thorough framework for many precise areas of study including: English, fine arts, history, mathematics, multicultural studies, natural science, philosophy, religious studies, social science and speech/drama. The University offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in both liberal arts and professional programs, as well as additional four graduate programs. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Mount Mercy as the 21st best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. The Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work at Mount Mercy offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to motivated and excited students wishing to pursue a degree in the field of social services.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology Degree offered by Mount Mercy teachers with an empirical scientific approach to the study of individual behavior and experience. Several of the courses offered in the psychology major accentuate self-awareness and critical thinking, in order to better prepare a graduate for graduate training or pre-professional employment. The psychology major can be combined with a number of other majors and minors to complement training in a related professional program. The university maintains close-knit associations with organizations throughout eastern Iowa to provide students with opportunities for internships and experience before graduation, putting them ahead of other eastern Iowa psychology majors. For students with a desire to pursue entrance into a graduate program, the Mount Mercy University’s Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree is an excellent option.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Mount Mercy University
The Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402-4797
(319) 363-8213
E-Mail: damsteeg@mtmercy.edu
Program Website
Northwestern College
The Department of Psychology
Northwestern College is a private Christian Liberal Arts College located in Orange City, Iowa. It is often referred to as Northwestern IA so it is not confused with Northwestern University. The college is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Northwestern was founded in 1882 as an academy, eventually receiving junior college status in 1928. It wasn’t until 1961 that Northwestern became a four-year college. The mission at Northwestern College is to be “a Christian academic community engaging students in courageous and faithful learning and living that empowers them to follow Christ and pursue God’s redeeming work in the world”. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Northwestern IA as the 5th best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. The Department of Psychology at Northwestern offers four unique study options, including:
- Psychology major/minor
- Developmental psychology minor
- Neuroscience career concentration
- Psychology education endorsement
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Psychology majors at Northwestern learn “what it means to be a self-conscious creature (human, in other words) and how we learn, develop and relate to others—as well as how our psychological functioning is influenced by biology (nature) and the social world in which we live (nurture)”. Graduates of this program are qualified to enter careers in:
- Community and social services
- Counseling
- Mental health
- Human resources
- Marketing and advertising
- Sales
The Psychology Department emphasizes the value of empirical research in Psychology. This is why every psychology major is required to complete a research project before they graduate, working one-on-one with a psychology professor. Student research may develop out of collaboration with a faculty member or they can explore an area of personal interest. Graduates of this program report this research and writing experience is ideal preparation for graduate studies.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Career Concentration in Neuroscience and Persons
Northwestern also offers a career concentration in Neuroscience and Persons (NAPs). This concentration area introduces students to the study of both the brain and the mind. The NAPS program is among the few undergraduate programs in this area at Christian colleges throughout the United States. Northwestern’s interdisciplinary neuroscience program includes courses in:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer science
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Religion
The Neuroscience Career Concentration can be paired with a major in any of those disciplines, as well as education or social work, to provide students with a cerebral edge in their future career or graduate school. The NAPs program is ideal preparation for careers in:
- psychiatry
- neurology
- anesthesiology
- pharmacology
- cardiology
- audiology
- speech-language pathology
- occupational and physical therapy
- orthotics and prosthetics
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Northwestern College
The Department of Psychology
Dr. Jennifer Feenstra
101 7th Street SW
Orange City, Iowa 51041
(712) 707-7076
E-Mail: jfeenstr@nwciowa.edu
Program Website
Saint Ambrose University
The Department of Psychology
St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational, Liberal Arts University affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. The campus is located in a residential area of Davenport. The university was founded in 1882 as a seminary and school of commerce for young men. The affiliation with the Diocese remains strong today. In 2015, US News & World Report ranked St. Ambrose as the 34th best college or university in the Midwestern Region of the United States. St. Ambrose University allows its students to “develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others”. The university is recognized as a leading Midwestern university with strong roots in its diocesan heritage and Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Faculty, staff and students are committed to:
- academic excellence
- the liberal arts
- social justice
- service
The Department of Psychology offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Sciences in General Psychology, Neuroscience and Forensic Psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology Degree Program is for students who plan to immediately enter the job market upon completion of an undergraduate psychology degree. This degree can be used by qualified students as a foundation for post-baccalaureate training in psychology and closely related fields. Students earning the BA in psychology are advised to complete additional work in another program closely tied to the work force, such as:
- business
- economics
- mass communications
- education
- sociology
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology Degree Program is for students interested in the intersection of the science of psychology and the criminal justice system. This BS degree is very different from an undergraduate Criminal Justice degree. The Forensic Psychology major focuses on the application of the empirical knowledge of psychology in the areas of:
- clinical
- developmental
- social,
- cognitive areas
- legal situations
Students in this program develop a strong foundation in the areas of:
- human behavior
- psychological theory
- research methods in psychology
- the application of psychological principles to specific areas of the legal system
Students must complete coursework from both the Psychology and Criminal Justice departments. This means that Forensic Psychology majors are given an interdisciplinary background appropriate for students who plan to pursue careers in:
- psychology
- social work
- law enforcement
- juvenile justice
- other criminal justice professions
Students may also go on to graduate, law, or medical school. The BS degree has traditionally been considered an option for students who are pursuing graduate training and need a stronger background in psychological research and the physical sciences (biology, chemistry, physics). Forensic Psychology majors are required to complete three credit hours of internship at one of the universities’ sites. Some students elect to complete more credit hours (up to 6 is allowed). Students are placed at local criminal justice or human service agencies. They complete 8-10 hours per week at the site while receiving training and supervision by on-site staff.
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
The BS in Behavioral Neuroscience Degree Program is for students with a strong interest in the biological bases of behavior and thought. This degree is ideal for students who are considering professional or research careers in:
- medicine
- pharmaceuticals
- physical therapy
- veterinary medicine
- animal science
- neurology
- behavioral medicine
- neuroscience
Careers in many of these fields require a graduate degree such as a PhD, PsyD, or an MD. However, many entry-level positions in medical or pharmaceutical areas also welcome students with a Liberal Arts background and a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The BS in Psychology Degree Program is geared toward students who are considering advanced work in psychology or a related field. It’s also for students entering the work force immediately after graduation. The BS in Psychology degree more successfully trains students for post-baccalaureate education and provides a solid foundation in the scientific bases of psychology. Many graduate programs in psychology are increasing the required number of prerequisite hours in the natural sciences and mathematics, regardless of the concentration.
Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Contact
Saint Ambrose University
The Department of Psychology
John Stachula, PhD – Department Chair
518 W. Locust Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803
(563) 333-6434
E-Mail: StachulaJohnP@sau.edu
Program Website
Regardless of what you are looking for you will be able to find the perfect degree program to suit your academic and career goals. There are plenty of options for online, part-time, weekend and evening learning. Students can also choose degree plans that will open doors into many different fields. Upon graduation from these various schools, students are prepared for graduate training in psychology or many related fields. They’re also ready immediate entrance into the field of psychology or employment in a variety of other related and non-related careers. No matter where you plan to take your career, a degree from one of the fully accredited, highly respected colleges in Iowa is an excellent start.
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