Applied Psychology
Why do people do what they do? An applied psychology major spends four years finding out, then puts that understanding to work solving real problems in workplaces, classrooms, clinics, and communities. CBU’s BA in Applied Psychology is built for students who want more than theory: you’ll design studies, analyze real data, and apply psychological science to the human relations challenges organizations actually face.
Are you a creative problem solver? Someone who’s fascinated by the research behind human behavior? An applied psychology major can prepare you for careers as varied as social work and counseling, human resources and organizational leadership, or consumer behavior analysis. When CBU says this degree is practical, that’s not a slogan, it’s a curriculum built around applied research, real data, and real career outcomes.
Applied Psychology Program Highlights – Why CBU?
CBU’s BA in Applied Psychology doesn’t have students just read about research methods, they run them. A few things that set the program apart:
- Choose a concentration that fits your goals – Applied psychology students elect a concentration in either Criminal Justice or Industrial-Organizational Psychology, tailoring the degree toward the specific professional path they want to pursue.
- Intentionally recognized undergraduate research – CBU is recognized internationally for engaging undergraduates in cognitive neuroscience training and research, a level of hands-on applied research access that’s uncommon at the undergraduate level.
- Real outcomes, not just theory – Applied psychology graduates go on to advanced degree programs across the country, and others move directly into roles at organizations like FedEx and AutoZone.
If you’re interested in the human side of technology, the Engineering Psychology minor lets you connect psychological science with engineering and design.
Applied Research in Psychology: The Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
Applied research is at the center of this degree, and CBU’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab is where it happens. The lab is unique in the region, giving applied psychology students the opportunity to design original studies, analyze data, present research at regional, national, and international conferences, and co-author published articles alongside faculty. With support from the National Science Foundation, the lab is outfitted with equipment such as the Brain Vision actiCHamp system, used to study physiological signals connected to health and well-being. This is the kind of hands-on applied research experience many students don’t encounter until graduate school.
What You’ll Study in the Applied Psychology Major
The applied psychology major requires 122 credit hours, structured to build both a strong liberal arts foundation and deep major-specific expertise:
- 25 credits — General education: math, English, religious studies, social science or history, natural or physical science
- 33 credits — Liberal arts: foreign language, humanities, and social sciences
- 61 credits — Major requirements, including your chosen concentration in Criminal Justice or Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- 3 credits — Free elective
- 3 credits — Major-specific elective
View Applied Psychology Course Requirements
Applied Psychology Program Highlights
The Applied Psychology major requires 122 credit hours:
- 25 credits: General education. Math, English, religious studies, social science or history, natural or physical science
- 33 credits: Liberal arts. Foreign language, the humanities and social sciences
- 61 credits: Major requirements
- 3 credits: Free elective
- 3 credits: Major-specific elective
Minors That Pair Well With Applied Psychology
- Anthropology — 19 credits in anthropology, English, international communications, history, archaeology
- Cognitive Neuroscience — 18 credits in upper level psychology coursework
- Psychology — 18 credits in upper level psychology coursework
- Criminology — 18 credits in sociology and criminal justice courses
- Engineering Psychology — 30 credits in psychology and engineering
- Sociology — 18 credits in anthropology and sociology
What Can You Do With an Applied Psychology Degree?
Graduates with an applied psychology bachelor’s degree leave CBU with research skills, real applied experience, and a concentration aligned to a specific professional interest, which opens doors across a wide range of fields connected to psychology and human relations.
Common paths for Applied Psychology graduates include:
- Social work and counseling (often paired with graduate study)
- Human resources and organizational leadership
- Consumer behavior and market research analysis
- Criminal justice and law enforcement (Criminal Justice concentration)
- Industrial-organizational consulting (I-O Psychology concentration)
- Education and student services
- Graduate study in psychology, counseling, or related fields
CBU Applied Psychology graduates have gone on to advanced degree programs across the country, and others have moved directly into roles at organizations such as FedEx and AutoZone, proving that a psychology and human relations background translates directly into the workplace, not just the clinic or classroom.
Applied Psychology vs. Psychology at CBU
CBU offers two related but distinct behavioral science degrees. The BA in Psychology provides a broad foundation in psychological theory, ideal for students planning graduate study in psychology, counseling, or social work. The BA in Applied Psychology goes a step further for students who want to dig deeper into research: it requires a concentration in either Criminal Justice or Industrial-Organizational Psychology, tailoring the degree to a specific professional direction from day one.
Related Programs
Applied Psychology is part of CBU’s Behavioral Sciences department, which also offers:
- BA in Psychology
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory
- Criminology Minor
- Sociology Minor
- Engineering Psychology Minor
Frequently Asked Questions: Applied Psychology, B.A.
What can you do with an Applied Psychology degree?
An Applied Psychology degree prepares graduates for careers in social work and counseling, human resources and organizational leadership, consumer behavior and market research, criminal justice, and education, as well as graduate study in psychology, counseling, or related fields. CBU Applied Psychology graduates have gone on to advanced degree programs nationwide and to roles at organizations including FedEx and AutoZone.
What is the Applied Psychology major at CBU?
The Applied Psychology, B.A. is a 122-credit-hour degree that applies psychological theory to real-world problems. Students choose a concentration in either Criminal Justice or Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and many take part in applied research through CBU’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab.
What is the difference between Applied Psychology and Psychology at CBU?
The BA in Psychology offers a broad foundation in psychological theory suited to graduate study in psychology, counseling, or social work. The BA in Applied Psychology requires a concentration in Criminal Justice or Industrial-Organizational Psychology and places a stronger emphasis on applied research, tailoring the degree to a specific professional path.
Does the Applied Psychology program include applied research opportunities?
Yes. Applied Psychology students have access to CBU’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, where they design studies, analyze data, present research at conferences, and co-author articles with faculty — research experience that’s uncommon at the undergraduate level.
How does an Applied Psychology degree connect to human relations careers?
Applied Psychology’s focus on real-world behavior and organizational dynamics prepares graduates for human relations-focused careers such as human resources, organizational leadership, and consumer behavior analysis, in addition to traditional counseling and social work paths.
Meet the Faculty
