Introduction

Northeastern’s Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Our comprehensive Psychology program exposes you to various areas of psychology as well as opportunities for hands-on research and optional field experience.

The department faculty members represent a number of theoretical approaches as well as a wide range of content areas, enhancing your opportunity to become acquainted with the full scope of this broad and complex subject. Because of the need to create a combination of courses consistent with their career goals, students are urged to form a continuing relationship with a department faculty advisor early in their major.

The interdisciplinary nature of psychology requires familiarity with other fields. Students intending to pursue graduate studies should have a strong background in mathematics and the natural sciences. All Psychology majors will benefit from course work in philosophy, physiology, literature, history, the social sciences, and computer science.

Program Benefits

The field of psychology is a science. Furthermore, it is one that is increasingly gaining recognition as a “STEM” (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) discipline. The Psychology program at Northeastern Illinois University offers several benefits over other psychology programs throughout the Chicago area.

Psychology students at Northeastern will take part in a structured curriculum where they will take foundational courses early in the major which will serve as preparation for success in higher level psychology classes. Integrated into the curriculum is a concentration on the research process, beginning with General Psychology and continuing into Capstone, which builds critical skills necessary for both graduate school and work-bound graduates.  

Students are guided through the scaffolding curriculum by forming strong relationships with faculty advisors.  Faculty advisors serve as guides for efficient completion of the major and they also serve as mentors for work/graduate school preparation. Creating strong relationships with faculty can help students obtain recommendations which are critical for post-graduation plans including working and graduate school.    

Students gain many marketable quantitative and qualitative skills through our Psychology major, including:

  • Effective verbal communication           
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Basic clinical skills
  • Problem solving
  • Knowledge of human behavior and development
  • Knowledge of group behavior, decision making and organizations
  • Interpretation of research
  • Technical writing and reading
  • Information gathering and synthesis
  • Public speaking/presentation skills
  • Computer skills
  • Analytical skills/statistics/SPSS statistical software

Career Options

There are many things the broad-based foundation of a bachelor's degree in Psychology can prepare you for, such as:

  • Case Management     
  • Human Services
  • Nonprofit Administration
  • Education/Higher Ed
  • Human Resources
  • Research
  • Sales
  • Management
  • Marketing/Market Research
  • Advertising/Public Relations
  • Technical or Proposal Writing

With additional schooling and/or credentialing, you can also pursue careers in:

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Counseling
  • Physical or Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Pathology
  • Art, Music, Dance or Drama Therapy
  • Gerontology
  • Child Life Specialist
  • Law
  • Medicine

… and much, much more!  For further information, you can refer to the American Psychology Association's Careers in Psychology.

For more detailed career information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Academic Catalog Information

Take a closer look at the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and the courses offered toward the degree.

Psychology, B.A.

Department and Contact Information

If you are interested in the program or have questions, please contact Psychology at (773) 442-5840.

Psychology Department Homepage

About Northeastern

Northeastern Illinois University is home to students from all corners of the world and is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the nation. Our small class sizes, flexible schedules and dedicated faculty can help you succeed in your studies.

We offer an education with value.

Apply to Northeastern