Psychology
Are you a creative problem solver? Passionate about research that teaches us about how humans work? Do you want a degree that can prepare you for careers as varied as social work and counseling, human resources and organizational leadership, or even consumer behavior analysis?
When you pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, you enter a broad field that includes human thought, behavior, development, personality, emotion, and motivation. A psychology major prepares you with versatile skills for careers in mental health counseling, research, social work, teaching, management, and marketing.
Are you a creative problem solver? Passionate about research that teaches us about how humans work? Do you want a degree that can prepare you for careers as varied as social work and counseling, human resources and organizational leadership, or even consumer behavior analysis? A BA in Psychology at CBU offers a foundation for a wide range of professional paths.
About the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Have you ever wondered what drives human behavior? If you’re interested in learning about the vast theories of psychology or discovering the connection between human experiences and behavior, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology is the path. This program helps you explore the meaningful components of human thought and behavior, equipping you with skills to approach problem-solving creatively—whether in the workplace, your community, or in research.
- Experiential Learning Opportunities: Students gain real-world experience through internships, service-learning, and research projects that prepare them for graduate school and professional roles.
- Small Class Sizes & Personalized Mentorship: With a low student-to-faculty ratio, students receive individual attention, mentoring, and career guidance from faculty who are exceptional teachers, experienced practitioners, and active researchers.
Strong Graduate & Career Preparation: The program is designed to prepare students for graduate study in psychology, counseling, social work, or related fields, while also equipping them with marketable skills for careers in mental health, education, law enforcement, social media management, human resources, and social services.
As a psychology major in this program at CBU, you will engage in a variety of courses that challenge your understanding of theory. These courses span subjects such as personality, biological and social psychology, human development, and even cultural anthropology, which all work collectively to grant you a well-rounded BA psychology degree.
Some of your days may be spent learning about the main structures of the human brain, while others may be spent collaborating with faculty and students to unlock correlational research methods in the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. Through these experiences, your psychology major course requirements ensure you graduate with a strong foundation in research methods, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving, preparing you for careers where you can make a meaningful impact.
Psychology Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at CBU requires a total of 122 credit hours, consisting of general education and major courses. Additionally, you will enroll in Liberal Arts Core courses, which provide the foundation to develop critical thinking skills, essential for both professional success and graduate study. These Liberal Arts Core courses provide insight into how each discipline affects the others, with the goal of students acknowledging and communicating the interconnectedness of the disciplines.
Students in the psychology BA degree program complete coursework across four key areas:
- General Education – 25 credits
- Liberal Arts Core – 33 credits
- Major – 49 credits
- Major-Specific Electives – 15 credits
Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
CBU is internationally recognized for engaging undergraduate students in cognitive neuroscience training and research. Our Cognitive Neuroscience Lab is unique to the Tennessee region, provides psychology majors opportunities to design studies; analyze data; present research at regional, national, and international conferences; and co-author articles.
With support from the National Science Foundation, we’ve outfitted our lab with equipment such as the Brain Vision actiCHamp system, which allows us to learn about common physiological signals that can be used to study a subject’s health and well-being. CBU’s psychology faculty members work to foster innovative lab work, embracing the difficulties students meet during research to empower them to lead change, built into the psychology major requirements and the broader BA psychology program.
Psychology Minor
For students who are not majoring in psychology, Christian Brothers University offers an 18-credit Psychology Minor. Please note that the option to enroll in our 18-credit minor is not available for Applied Psychology majors. This option allows students to gain foundational knowledge in human behavior, research methods, and psychological theory, complementing other areas of study.
Complementary Minors
The Rosa Deal School of Arts offers a multitude of minors for students looking to explore their education at CBU. Each of the minors below pair well with this degree program:
- Anthropology — 19 credits in anthropology, English, international communications, history, archaeology
- Cognitive Neuroscience — 18 credits in upper level coursework
- Criminology — 18 credits in sociology and criminal justice courses
- Engineering Psychology — 30 credits in psychology and engineering
- Sociology — 18 credits hours in anthropology and sociology
Applied Psychology Major
The Department of Behavioral Sciences also offers a BA in Applied Psychology, which focuses on how theories can be applied to real-world situations. This degree program is suited for students who seek to delve deeper in the endeavor of research.
Additionally, the applied psychology major requires students to choose a concentration in either criminal justice or industrial-organizational psychology, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific professional interests. With a focus on experiential learning, this psychology major equips graduates with the skills needed for careers or advanced study.
Careers with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Although the field primarily focuses on the study of the mind and behavior, your career options with a BA in Psychology aren’t limited to treating individuals. The knowledge you gain is applicable to nearly every industry, allowing you to conceive new marketing strategies at your company, close a challenging business deal, or even serve as a mediator between coworkers.
While working as a counselor or psychologist will require graduate study along with certifications, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides the foundation for you to enter into graduate programs and work in the following entry-level psychology positions:
- Career Counselor
- Case Manager
- Laboratory Assistant
- Psychiatric Technician
For majors seeking a role outside the realm of healthcare and therapy, you may find that education, management, research, and marketing all offer an array of opportunities. The knowledge of human behavior gained through a psychology major — of knowing why we do the things we do — is a highly valuable skill in all industries. You may find work within the following job titles:
- Copywriter
- HR Specialist
- Marketing Consultant
- Market Research Analyst
- Researcher
- Teacher
- UX Researcher
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the community and social service occupations are projected to grow 10 percent by 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, highlighting the increasing demand for professionals with a strong understanding of human behavior.
Have questions about what jobs you can get with a Bachelor’s in Psychology or how the degree can fit your academic or career goals? Reach out to us by requesting more information.
Meet the Faculty
Learn About Human Behavior with a BA in Psychology
Pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree at CBU unlocks doors to graduate study and work in a multitude of fields. As every organization needs individuals that are diligent, competent, and inquisitive, that might mean you’ll find yourself working toward analyzing the positive correlation in a case study or helping someone reach their full potential. Earning your Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is the first step to accomplishing your dreams.
