Psychology, BA
Are you curious about the innerworkings of the human mind and how you can use this knowledge to enhance both your personal growth and professional success? Our Psychology BA program provides a scientific understanding of human behavior, motivations, and mental processes. Through psychology, you will learn how people think while acquiring the skills needed to take this knowledge into the real world.
Program Overview
A Psychology BA prepares students to study human behavior and mental processes through flexible coursework, internships, and research in faculty-led labs.
A BA in psychology is a great fit for students who want to understand the diversity of human behavior and experience, whether that be the experiences of others, themselves, or even the world. The psychology program prepares students for impactful careers and for research opportunities in graduate school.
Students will learn to think through problems from multiple angles, connect ideas to formulate solutions, and communicate those solutions with precision. With two flexible concentrations, an Honors pathway, and minor options, they’ll have the opportunity to choose the pathways that best fits their interests.
Concentrations
Our current selection of concentrations includes:
- Psychology, BA (general)
- Health Services Psychology concentration
Whether you’re interested in pursuing general aspects of psychology—such as cognition and learning or human behavior and development—our concentrations offer a pathway for you.
Our health services concentration is especially tailored for students who would like to dive deep into aspects of human behavior, whether that be biological, cognitive, developmental, affective, etc.
Honors
The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience also offers an Honors pathway for students interested in the general Psychology, BA. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a psychology GPA of 3.5 or better may apply.
Minors
Our current minors include:
- Psychology minor
If you’re interested in supplementing your primary fields of study with psychology, the generalized minor in Psychology would be a great fit.
Online Programs – Vols Online
The Psychology, BA program is also offered through Vols Online, UT’s distance education program, which has been ranked #10 nationally for online bachelor’s programs. This unique option allows you to earn your bachelor’s degree completely online.
Why Study Psychology?
At UT, a bachelor’s degree in psychology prepares students to create value that matters through professional development, experiential learning, and research, all of which makes them highly sought after in the workforce.
In our program, each student can take PSYC 396N, the department’s dedicated course for internships, where they gain real-world experience in healthcare, non-profit, or educational settings. Our faculty-led labs also prepare undergraduate students with one-on-one mentorship and research opportunities in fields such as social psychology, cognitive and developmental science, counseling psychology, and clinical psychology, teaching them the ethical, scientific inquiry, and communication skills needed to excel in the field.
Whatever students’ unique interests are, the department’s available concentrations, minors, and Honors pathways allow them to create a professional DNA that fits their career aspirations.
What Can You Do with a BA in Psychology After Graduation?
Getting a degree in psychology opens up a world of possibilities for your career. You can bring what you’ve learned into various different fields, such as human services, research, education, human resources, and business!
Many of our alumni go on to work as mental health technicians, child care workers, college admissions counselors, or social service directors. You could also bring psychology to the business world as an employment counselor, marketing researcher, or occupational analyst, using your skills to help support people and organizations around you.
With an advanced degree in this field, you could even go into clinical counseling, research analysis, school psychology, or industrial-organizational psychology.
Featured Courses
PSYC 335 Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation
This course introduces students to the theory, research, and practice of intergroup dialogue facilitation; preparation to become peer facilitators of intergroup dialogues focused on social identities and inequity.
PSYC 470 – Theories of Personality
In this course, students will learn the major theories of human personality and their development.
COUN 480 Skills for Counseling
This course introduces students to basic helping skills necessary to the preparation of counselors, teachers, and others involved in human service delivery.
SOCI 341 Social Inequalities
This course examines the causes, types, and consequences of inequalities based on social, ethnic, racial, sexual or economic differences in communities, regions, nations, and the world. There will be a special emphasis on American society. Policies and proposed solutions associated with different types of inequalities (and combinations of inequalities) are critically examined and evaluated.
Complementary Degrees, Minors, and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
- Neuroscience Minor
- Sociology, BA – Criminology and Criminal Justice concentration
- Social Work, BSSW
Looking For More Options?
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline.
Admissions and Aid
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