Bachelors
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, Summer
Online
About the Applied Psychology BA at Loyola
Ranked #4 nationally for best online undergraduate degree in psychology by U.S. News and World Report (2024), 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
- 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.
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.
2024-2025 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 variety of estimated total cost options for the Applied Psychology BA below.
On average, students in the Applied Psychology BA program transfer 60 credit hours to Loyola and 11 hours of non-traditional credit. We can accept and apply up to 36 credit hours of non-traditional credit (CLEP, DSST, and American Council on Education).
Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
| Credit Hours | Cost Per Credit Hour | Estimated Total Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 45 (Minimum number of credit hours completed at Loyola.) | $790.00 | $35,550.00 |
| 71 (Average number of credit hours completed at Loyola.) | $790.00 | $56,090.00 |
| 120 (Maximum number of credit hours completed at Loyola. Please note that this number does not include any potential transfer credit or non-traditional credit.) | $790.00 | $94,800.00 |
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.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Applied Psychology BA are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall I: August 5
Fall II: Oct 5
Spring I: Dec 21
Summer: May 20
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Applied Psychology BA include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
2.0 Minimum GPA
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Applied Psychology BA program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
APPLY TODAY