Bachelors
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Spring II, Summer
Online
About the Applied Psychology BA at Loyola
Ranked #1 nationally for best online bachelor's degree in psychology by U.S. News and World Report (2022), Loyola's bachelor of arts in applied psychology offers training in the scientific study of human behavior, emotion, cognition and motivation with an emphasis on developing skills for creative problem-solving.
The program, offered through Loyola's School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS), focuses on preparing adult learners for occupations that apply psychological theory and methods to promote evidence-based practical solutions that benefit individuals, organizations, and society.
Program Structure
Two program track options allow you to customize the degree to your area of interest:
Organizational Track: focuses on organizational behavioral science to prepare professionals who aspire to lead change in organizations through careers in human resources, training and development, consulting, and program evaluation
Counseling Track: focuses on individual and family problems and prepares professionals for careers as counselors, wellness coaches, and/or therapists
Major courses are offered in 8-week sessions with fully online and on-campus options. Classes include both synchronous and asynchronous components and evening or Saturday morning meetings. The applied psychology major can be completed fully online.
On-campus classes are held at Loyola's Water Tower Campus, conveniently located off the Red Line in the heart of Chicago.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology?
Loyola University is an accredited, respected, nonprofit college with a 100-year track record of providing outstanding educational opportunities for adult learners. Our programs are taught by professors at the top of their fields who are experienced in teaching and working with adult learners.
- We understand the unique needs of adult learners
- Comprehensive curriculum and versatile skills
- Bring your transfer credits
- Fast track to a graduate degree
- Our network is the beginning of your professional network
Evening/weekend courses allow you to complete your degree around your work schedule and life commitments. Online or on-campus — you'll be learning with other adult students who, like you, bring a variety of experiences and knowledge to the classroom.
Become well-versed in science-based problem solving, organizational psychology, health promotion and strategic evidence-based communication. Choose to focus on counseling theory and practice, multicultural counseling practices, and the principle of human development across the lifespan (Counseling Track), or human resources and employee motivation, promoting health workplaces, and best practices in leading contemporary organizations (Organizational Track).
Loyola accepts transfer credit you've earned from community colleges, other regionally accredited universities, corporate or military training, and proficiency tests. Ask for a Free Transfer Credit Evaluation to better understand how your transfer credit can apply to a Loyola degree and your timeline to degree completion.
If you have completed either an A.A., A.S., or General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) at a community college, you will have met the Loyola core curriculum requirements.
Earn course credit toward Loyola's School of Education (SOE) graduate counseling programs. The counseling track allows you to take three graduate-level courses that can apply towards credit to an SOE master's program. The curriculum also is excellent preparation for law school, social work, and human resource management graduate programs.
In addition to networking and mentoring opportunities offered through the program, you can take advantage of networking opportunities (virtual and local/Chicago) available through professional organizations like Chicago Industrial Organizational Psychologists (CIOP).
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Continuing and Professional Studies faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Applied Psychology BA program.
Faculty and StaffApplied Psychology: Career Connections
Psychology is an emerging field, with related jobs growing each year. Many employment opportunities exist in the helping professions, human resources, psychometric and statistical analysis, and persuasion sciences.
Individual, organizational, and global problems require innovative solutions based on psychological research on what motivates people to change. Moreover, robotics and increased automation will spur increased demand for employees adept at systems thinking who can address the complexity of human behavior. As a result, companies and organizations continue to discover new roles for people with psychology-related higher education degrees.
Specific job options with a bachelor's degree may include:
- Sales and marketing specialist
- Market research analyst
- Research associate in public and private sectors
- HR specialist
- Recruitment professional
- Employee assistance professional
- Account managers/client relationships
- Psychometrician
- Education specialist at non-for-profit
- Business analyst
- UX researcher
Many career opportunities begin with the strong foundation in applied psychology acquired at the bachelor's degree level, but require an advanced degree (master's or Ph.D.) and/or licensing for employment. These include:
- Licensed clinical social worker
- Licensed professional clinical counselor
- Licensed psychologist
- Industrial-organizational psychologist
- Therapist-private practice
- College and university faculty professors
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for psychology-related careers and other fields that interest you.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Applied Psychology BA program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Applied Psychology BA learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2023-2024 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogApplied Psychology BA: Results and Skills
The skills you will develop in this program include:
- How to analyze complex questions and investigate social problems
- How to read the scientific literature
- How to interpret and draw conclusions from data
- How to closely observe and systematically analyze human behavior
- How to measure complex, social, subjective, and interpersonal variables
- Communication and presentation skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Ethical thinking
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your return to school a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
Tuition and Costs
Students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies will likely have the ability to influence their total cost through the use of transfer credit and non-traditional credit. Please keep that in mind when reviewing the total cost for the Applied Psychology BA below.
The estimated tuition and fees for the Applied Psychology BA totals $91200.00, or 120 (includes Loyola academic credit and potential transfer credit and non-traditional credit) credit hours at a cost of $760.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
Applied Psychology BA Scholarships
Degree-seeking students in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (SCPS) who have completed the scholarship application will be considered for the many scholarship opportunities available to students each semester.
Achieve the Degree Scholarships include both merit and need-based scholarships. Newly-admitted undergraduate degree-seeking students can expect to receive $2,000 in their first semester while awards for current students range from $1,100 to $3,000 per semester.
Students receiving tuition reimbursement from their employer should also consider seeking admission to the SCPS Fellow Scholarship program that will match up to $5,250 per academic year the reimbursement total you're eligible to receive from your employer.
For detailed information about tuition, costs, and aid, please visit the SCPS Tuition & Financial Aid page.
Visit and Connect With Us
Take advantage of a variety of different visit opportunities to find your place in our Loyola community. Loyola offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
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Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Applied Psychology BA are listed below. We encourage you to apply early as decisions may take longer during busy periods.
Rolling applications, recommended deadlines are:
Summer 2023: May 19, 2023
Fall I 2023: August 4, 2023
Fall II 2023: October 6, 2023
Spring I 2024: December 21, 2023
Spring II, 2024: February 23, 2024
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Applied Psychology BA include:
2.0 Minimum GPA
International Student Requirements
Additional information regarding the application process for international students can be found on the International Student Requirements page.
Additional Details
For general information and a step-by-step guide to applying for graduate and professional study, please visit our Admission Process page.
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