Make an Impact in Your Community

If you have a passion for helping others achieve mental wellness, earn a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology from City University of Seattle.

The BA in Applied Psychology program is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in behavioral science at a practical level that will prepare you for a profession in human services or for advancement to graduate studies in counseling, education, or business.

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology program, you’ll have the necessary interpersonal skills, critical-thinking abilities, theoretical knowledge, ethical consciousness, cross-cultural competence, and self-awareness to be a contributing member of your community. This program can be completed in as little as three years.

CityU’s applied psychology faculty is made up of active practitioners who share their expertise in psychological theories, abnormal psychology, neuropsychology and ethics; family, organization, and diversity issues; and research methodology and professional report writing.

Learning Outcomes

Throughout the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology program, you’ll learn:

  • Various philosophical approaches to ethical decision making and practical applications
  • Major theories of personality
  • An overview of human learning and its processes
  • How power and oppression affect individuals, families, groups, and communities
  • The behavior of individuals and groups within the organizational setting
  • The relationship between brain and psychological concepts
  • Concepts of social psychology
  • Problems of anxiety, mood, mind and body, social impact, psychosis, and personality

Required Credits (180 Credits)

For full course descriptions please visit the 2019-2020 Course Catalog. 

Lower-Division Requirements

College Composition: 5 credits
College Mathematics: 5 credits
Humanities: 15 credits
Social Science: 15 credits
Natural Science/Mathematics: 15 credits
Lower - Division Electives 25 credits

Preparatory Courses (10 Credits)

PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology (5)

PSY 202 Understanding Human Development (5)

Applied Psychology Core (60 Credits)

PSY 240 Critical Thinking and Writing Skills in Social Sciences (5)

PSY 209 Fundamentals of Research Methods in Social Sciences (5)

PSY 313 Ethics (5)

PSY 314 Personality Theory (5)

PSY 315 Learning Theory (5)

PSY 316 Psychology of Difference (5)

PSY 245 Introduction to Social Psychology (5)

PSY 411 Organizational Behavior (5)

PSY 413 Neuropsychology (5)

PSy 220 Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology (5)

SOC 412 Sociology of the Family (5)

PSY 498 Senior Seminar (5)

Upper Division Elective (5 Credits)

BAAP Specialized Study (25 Credits)*

The Specialized Study emphasis allows students to frame a degree focus in a specific area consistent with their current or anticipated field of interest or specialization. Students work with their advisor to identify the courses required for the specialized study concentration and document the rationale for the selections. The concentration proposal is subject to approval by the Program Director.

*Credits must be approved by Program Director.

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology degree prepares undergraduate students for impactful careers in counseling, social services, and human services. Most graduates go on to complete advanced degrees, such as a Master of Arts in Counseling, in order to pursue careers as counselors, psychologists, or social workers.

Upon completion of this program, you’ll be qualified to seek positions such as:

  • Case manager
  • Agency manager or coordinator
  • Educational counselor
  • Social worker
  • Human resources specialist
  • Assistant behavioral analyst

Networking Opportunities

At CityU, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your professional network by connecting with faculty working in your field, students from around the globe, and alumni employed at Seattle’s top companies. Plus, you’ll be part of a supportive community that’s dedicated to helping you reach your career goals.

Tuition Cost

Learn more about tuition and fees for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

Financial Aid Opportunities

At CityU, we’re committed to helping students achieve their academic goals no matter their economic situations. Our financial aid counselors are here to find the resources you need to pay for your education, including grants, loans, work study, and scholarships.

Learn more about financial aid opportunities at CityU, or contact our Financial Aid Team at 800.426.5596, 206.239.4540, or finaid@cityu.edu.

Military Tuition Benefits

As a Yellow Ribbon school, CityU is proud to serve those who have served in the military. We offer military tuition discounts for active-duty servicemembers and their spouses and accept military benefits such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Tuition Assistance.

Learn more about military tuition benefits, VA benefits, and military partnership programs designed to help you reach your military and career goals.

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