Bachelor degree in psychology. For students who have little or no college-level schooling and are looking for a strong core program in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in psychology is the best choice.
Students can get a taste of potential specialty by taking elective courses like abnormal psychology or psychiatry, a degree with a medical focus. Graduates have a thorough awareness of practically all of the responsibilities of psychological practitioners. The key characteristics of a bachelor’s degree in psychology are listed below, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each characteristic.
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Advantages of a Bachelor degree in psychology
- It offers a diversity of careers to choose from, especially when compared to associate in psychology degree-holders.
- It prepares students for additional education; people with bachelor’s degrees in psychology can start careers in a range of psychology-related fields.
- Numerous alternatives, payment schedules, and psychology scholarships are available.
Disadvantages of a Bachelor degree in psychology
- Employers may only require a bachelor’s degree in psychology, thus candidates with higher levels of education or specialized training will be given preference.
- To acquire a clinical field license, students frequently require additional education.
- Many psychology majors return to school to obtain an advanced degree despite financial assistance, which might increase their student debt.
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Admission Requirements for a Bachelor’s in Psychology Program
-
Minimum Education Level: High school diploma or GED certificate -
Transcripts: High school -
Recommendations: 2-5 -
Writing Sample: Personal statement of intent, writing sample -
Standardized Tests: ACT/SAT - Additional Required Materials: Immunization records
What Should I Expect in an Undergraduate Program in Psychology?
Degree Completion Specifics
- Number of Required Credits: 160
- Typical Length of Program: Four years
- Culminating Experience Project/Paper/Exam: Program dependent
- Practicums/Internships: Program dependent
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How to Choose Between a BA and a BS in Psychology
Students who pursue a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) in psychology receive training in cognitive processes, human behavior, and mental health issues. Graduates with a BA or BS in psychology may work in human resources, business, sales, or education as they apply their degree knowledge to analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Students who earn a BA or BS in psychology have the chance to pursue rewarding employment and lay the groundwork for further education. Even if they are different, one degree is not always superior to the other. This article will explain the main distinctions so you can decide which degree is best for you.
What Is a BA in Psychology?
An undergraduate arts degree in psychology serves as training for jobs in psychology. It is feasible to pursue interests other than psychology-related courses with this degree because it has more electives than the BS in psychology. The emphasis of the electives is on the humanities, social sciences, and the arts, enabling students to pursue careers outside of psychology.
Specializations in psychology are available for BA degrees, such as forensic psychology, counseling psychology, and career counseling.
After graduation, students will solve issues relating to behavior and mental processes by applying critical thinking abilities, creativity, and a scientific viewpoint.
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What Is a BS in Psychology?
A bachelor’s degree in psychology is a science for undergrads. The BS degree is comparable to the BA but substitutes additional scientific and math courses for electives. Students interested in academic or research-related employment might consider the BS in psychology degree because of its emphasis on statistics, research techniques, and data analysis.
Students will have a solid understanding of scientific inquiry, critical thinking, the study of human behavior, and how scientific understanding affects, predicts, and explains human behavior by the time they graduate.
Differences Between a BA and BS in Psychology
Although there are differences between the typical psychology BA and BS curriculum, both typically address psychological theory, principle, and practice. The decision between a psychology BS and BA depends on the student’s personal and career objectives.
Within each bachelor’s program, degree specializations—which are briefly discussed below—allow students to discriminate across curricula and choose the degree that best suits their needs.
Curriculum Variations Between a BA and BS in psychology, undergraduate students can pursue coursework in history, political science, and sociology while taking classes in cognitive, behavioral, and social psychology. Many BA degrees might let students choose to focus on forensics or social work. These choices increase the program’s scope and prepare students for careers in those sectors.
Similar courses plus more complex ones in clinical psychology, statistical analysis, and neuroscience are covered in a psychology BS. Students are prepared for graduate employment in the subject through concentrations in areas like workplace, developmental, and addiction psychology. Alternately, some BS schools provide a bridge option from a BS to a master’s in psychology.
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Career Possibilities Having earned a BA or BS in psychology
A BS is tailored for educational, research-based, and clinical professions, whereas a BA frequently prepares students for careers in social work, criminal justice, or the field of mental health. Some bachelor’s degree programs in psychology give students the option to focus on fields like organizational psychology or forensic psychology.
The two degrees do, however, have a lot in common. The following professions are adequately prepared with both degrees:
- Counseling and psychiatry fields
- Criminal justice system
- Writing careers
- Public relations
- Case management
- Advertising and marketing
- Human resources
- Organizational training and development
- Medical and healthcare careers
- Community services management
- Social services
A BA and a BS in psychology will both qualify students for graduate psychology programs.
Salary Differences Between a Psychology BS and BA
Due to the overlap in careers, salaries for a BA and BS in psychology are comparable. Payscale data from January 2023 shows that the typical base pay for a position needing a BA in psychology is $66,000 annually. The average compensation for a BS in psychology is $64,000 per year, according to Payscale.
According to Payscale data from January 2023, an average base salary for someone with a master of science (MS) in psychology is $62,000. A doctorate in psychology is said to bring in an average salary of $84,000 a year.
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Advantages of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology
Depending on your job and educational objectives, a BA in psychology has various advantages over a BS. These may consist of:
- A bachelor’s degree in psychology equips students for master’s or doctorate programs that train for careers as psychologists or therapists rather than for careers in medicine (such as that of a psychiatrist).
- There are more alternatives for elective courses outside of psychology.
- More specialized studies, including child psychology or forensic psychology, are part of a psychology BA.
Advantages of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology
Earning a BS in psychology has some benefits. Students interested in becoming psychiatrists or pursuing leadership roles can consider the BS program. A psychology BS degree has the following advantages:
- Students who want to enroll in graduate programs that emphasize psychological research sometimes start with a BS in psychology.
- A bridge program from a BS to an MS in psychology is a possibility.
- Numerous BS programs have business focus tracks with management and leadership courses.
FAQs on Bachelor degree in psychology
Where can you work with a bachelor’s in psychology?
Bachelor's programs in psychology give graduates a range of versatile skills in communication and the social sciences, making them great candidates for several careers. Individuals may pursue careers in employment counseling, human resource advising, writing, or customer service.
How much can you make with a bachelor’s in psychology?
Earning potential varies based on several factors, including location, employer, industry, and experience. According to Payscale in February 2023, those with a BA in psychology earn an average annual salary of $67,000.
Which degree in psychology is the best?
To practice psychology clinically, you must earn at least a master's, but preferably a doctorate to practice counseling. Earning a master's in psychology or social work is the minimum for licensure in most states. A bachelor's degree in psychology prepares students for graduate education.
What’s the difference between a BA and a BS in psychology?
Students can choose from a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS) in psychology at some schools. Both the BS and BA would be acceptable for master's programs in counseling, social work, or psychology. However, BS degrees emphasize studies in science, with more courses in topics such as biology, chemistry, and mathematics, and tend to prepare students who want to pursue psychiatry or clinical psychology.
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