Accredited Online Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Tennessee [2024 Guide]

Last Updated: November 5, 2024

Traditional degrees demand time, adherence to fixed schedules, and physical presence, things that you may find hard to commit to. Online psychology bachelor’s degrees are tailored for people just like you. This is your key to unlock a world where higher education doesn’t have to mean compromise.

With these programs, Tennessee brings the classroom to you. Study from the comfort of your home, a local cafe, or even on the go. Engage with experienced faculty who are passionate about teaching and committed to nurturing the next generation of psychologists, all through your computer screen.

It’s time to turn your passion into a profession, all on your terms, with online education that understands and adapts to you.

best accredited online bachelor psychology degree programs in Tennessee

Online Bachelor’s Psychology Degrees in Tennessee

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online psychology bachelor’s degrees in Tennessee:

  • University of Memphis
  • King University
  • East Tennessee State University
  • Tennessee State University
  • Middle Tennessee State University
  • PennState World Campus
  • Capella University
  • Lynn University
  • Arizona State University Online

University of Memphis

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology

The University of Memphis offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology that’s all about helping you explore the mind and human behavior. You can complete this degree entirely online. Here’s what it’s about, and what you can expect if you decide to pursue this path.

What Will You Learn?

  • Understanding Your World: You will learn about how people think, feel, and act, both as individuals and in groups. This program also helps you get a grip on different cultural and natural aspects through the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
  • Enhancing Your Skills: You will sharpen your skills in communicating, analyzing, and critical thinking, all essential tools for your future.
  • Preparing You for Life: Whether in your family, community, or wider society, this degree gets you ready to take on responsible roles. You will be guided to use your psychology knowledge to make life better for people.

This program aims to help you reach five major goals:

  1. Know Your Psychology: You will get to grasp the key ideas, themes, areas, and applications of psychology.
  2. Think Like a Scientist: Learn how to conduct research, solve problems, and apply scientific thinking in psychology.
  3. Be Ethical and Socially Aware: Understand the values that lead to responsible behavior and be sensitive to diversity in both work and community life.
  4. Communicate Well: You will practice and enhance your writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills.
  5. Get Ready for the Future: Whether you plan to work after getting your degree or continue your education, this program helps you develop the skills you’ll need.

You will need to finish at least 120 hours to graduate, and you can do this entirely online through UofM Global or combine it with other college-level learning.

Here’s a look at some of the courses you will be studying:

  • Careers in Psychology: Explore different careers and plan your long-term goals.
  • Research and Statistics I & II: Learn how to design, conduct, and analyze psychological research.
  • Psychology of Personality: Study how personalities develop and different theories about it.
  • Abnormal Psychology: Understand mental disorders and how psychotherapy works.
  • Child Psychology: Learn about children’s mental development from birth through early adolescence.
  • Social Psychology: Investigate how individuals and groups affect each other.
  • Positive Psychology: Focus on strengths and positive experiences to improve daily living.
  • Psychology of Gender: Look at how gender is understood and portrayed in our culture.
  • Perceptual Psychology: An introduction to how we perceive the world around us.
  • Learning and Memory: Explore how humans and animals learn and remember.
  • Physiological Psychology: Understand the physical processes that underlie mental functions.
  • Legal and Forensic Psychology: Learn about the connection between psychology and law, and how psychologists can work in legal settings.

In sum, this degree is a comprehensive guide to understanding the human mind and behavior. If you are curious about why people do what they do and want to use that knowledge to make a positive impact, the BA in Psychology at the University of Memphis might be the right choice for you.

East Tennessee State University

Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Services

If you are passionate about helping others and want to make a positive difference in people’s lives, then East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) online Bachelor of Science in Human Services may be the right fit for you. This nationally recognized program is designed for students interested in careers in counseling, case management, administration, and more.

Through this online program, you will gain valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of human services professionals. You will explore the characteristics of human growth and development, learn about the workings of human service agencies, and discover the theories and skills essential for working with diverse clients in various settings. Additionally, you will acquire foundational skills in program evaluation, grant writing, and fundraising.

The curriculum of this 100% online, accredited degree includes essential courses such as:

  • Child Psychology
  • Adult Psychology and Development
  • Building Interpersonal Skills
  • Understanding Social and Cultural Foundations
  • Introduction to the Field of Human Services
  • Theory and Practice of Counseling
  • Study of Developmental Psychology
  • Research Techniques in Learning and Development
  • Managing Human Services Organizations

Although the majority of your classes can be completed at your own pace, you also have the option to participate in up to 25% of them in real-time, allowing for more direct interaction with faculty members.

ETSU has a strong track record of delivering this program, with over eight years of experience and accreditation from the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE).

An integral part of the program is the 350 hours of field work required. This hands-on experience is spread across the program and focused heavily in the senior year, giving you real-world exposure to the field.

While this is typically a 4-year program, those with previous college credits may be able to shorten their time to completion by having those credits evaluated.

The Human Services degree doesn’t just end at the bachelor level. Many graduates continue on to higher education to become licensed counselors in various settings or to pursue other related health professions. This degree is also a great starting point for graduate studies in fields such as psychology, audiology, speech-language pathology, and education

Upon graduation, you may find diverse career opportunities in treatment centers, hospitals, schools, governmental organizations, foster care, community action agencies, and more.

Tennessee State University

Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology

Tennessee State University has an online psychology bachelor’s degree, and it might be just what you’re looking for. With 120 credits, you can earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. Let’s break down what that means for you.

You will take 120 hours of classes, and 42 of those will be higher-level courses. Another 42 hours will fulfill the school’s basic education requirements. Within your psychology major, you will focus on 33 credit hours of psychology studies, which includes 15 hours of must-have classes and 18 hours of special classes you get to choose from four different areas.

Getting good grades is important, too. You will need to score a “C” or better in your psychology classes. If you slip up and get a D or F, you will have to take the class again and make sure to get at least a “C.” And if one class builds on another, you need that “C” in the first one before you can move on.

Don’t forget about the 44 credit hours of General Elective classes. These help round out your degree, and with the guidance of an advisor, you can choose the ones that match your future plans.

Wondering what kind of careers you can pursue? A psychology major at TSU sets you up for lots of exciting paths, from mental health to marketing, criminal rehabilitation, and more. Plus, if you want to keep studying, it’s a strong foundation for doctoral programs.

TSU offers many exciting psychology electives courses, including:

  • Physiological Psychology: Dive into how the body and behavior are connected.
  • Principles of Learning: Explore how we learn and remember things.
  • Abnormal Psychology: Get to know different mental health conditions.
  • Drugs and Behavior: Study how drugs affect behavior and the ways to treat addiction.
  • The Psychology of Death and Dying: Explore topics related to death, grieving, and personal experiences.

Once you graduate, a wide range of job opportunities awaits, from mental health centers to businesses where understanding people is a plus. Some graduates also continue their studies in master’s or doctoral programs.

TSU knows that everyone’s journey is unique. So if you have special learning or life experiences, you might be able to get college credit for them through something called “Prior Learning Assessment” (PLA). It’s a way for the school to recognize what you have already learned outside the classroom.

Middle Tennessee State University

Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) offers an undergraduate psychology program that you can take completely online. It’s designed to suit many career paths, so it might be the perfect choice for you, and here’s why:

  1. Broad Education and Job Preparation: Want to learn the basics of psychology or prepare for a career in fields like medicine, law, or teaching? This program has got you covered. It’s not just about textbooks and theories – it’s about gearing you up for the real world.
  2. Planning for More Studies?: Thinking about diving even deeper into psychology after your undergraduate degree? MTSU’s program lays the groundwork for you to pursue advanced studies in the field.
  3. Ready for Work in Specialized Areas: If you have got your eyes on careers in mental hospitals, community agencies, or similar places, this program will make sure you’re ready with the skills and knowledge you will need.

The psychology major at MTSU is made up of 38 hours: 24 hours of core classes and 12 hours where you get to pick what interests you. The core classes are in line with the American Psychological Association’s recommendations for best practices. For instance, if you are interested in law, you can choose relevant courses in subjects like clinical psychology, economics, and criminal justice.

Alongside your major, you will choose two 15-hour minors. Options include:

  • Neuroscience: Ideal for those planning to go into psychology, counseling, biology, education, medical professions, and neuroscience, or for specialized jobs in brain-related fields.
  • Lifespan Development: Great if you are interested in understanding human development throughout life, applicable to majors like psychology, health education, nursing, sociology, and social work.
  • Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Ideal if you are planning to work in business-related careers.
  • Mental Health Services: Perfect if you are planning to work in mental health-related careers, such as social work, counseling, medicine, gerontology, health education, or child and family services.

To graduate with this major from MTSU, you will need 120 semester hours, including 41 hours of general education and 36 hours of upper-division credit. If you are a transfer student, 50 semester hours of senior college credit will be required. Lastly, keep in mind that you will need a minimum major GPA of 2.0 to graduate.

PennState World Campus

Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology

PennState World Campus offers a 123-credit online Bachelor of Arts program in Psychology. This program focuses on how psychology is linked with virtually every segment of our society. This degree will equip you with valuable research, analytical, and writing skills, which can be utilized in numerous job sectors.

The curriculum for this Bachelor of Arts degree includes introductory psychology, psychology as a science and profession, basic research methods, and a culminating experience. Additional courses can be selected to meet your specific interests and needs, enabling you to customize your degree.

Almost every field utilizes the principles of psychology, including human resources, rehabilitative therapies, educational testing, and business practices. This bachelor’s program, a collaboration between Penn State College of the Liberal Arts and Penn State World Campus, will teach these multi-dimensional skills that employers highly value.

PennState’s BA in Psychology will teach you a lot about how people think and act. Along with this, you will learn some basic things that are part of a good education, like how to communicate well, understand ethics, embrace diversity, and have good social skills. All of this will help you succeed in many types of careers or even more advanced studies.

During the program, you will have the chance to learn from some of the most respected faculty members at Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, renowned globally for its liberal arts disciplines.

If you are keen on exploring behavior – both standard and abnormal – how it’s researched, and its practical applications, then this major is tailored for you. Graduates of this program often find rewarding roles in human service agencies, industrial settings, or labs. Some pursue further education and attend medical or law school, or work towards a master’s or doctoral degree.

To be eligible for this program, you must either be a high school graduate or have a completed GED. Applications are accepted online and require a nonrefundable application fee.

Getting accepted into the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology through the World Campus depends on meeting specific Entrance-to-Major requirements (ETMs). When applying, start by selecting the BA/BS degree in Psychology. If you meet the ETM requirements at the time of your application, you will be admitted directly into the program.

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