Maryville University Online Bachelor’s Programs in Psychology and Forensic Psychology

Maryville University offers a fully online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology, as well as an online BA in Forensic Psychology. Both programs include psychology courses that foster the study of human behavior and offer a unique progression that promotes research, analysis, and research presentation. The psychology coursework meets the standards of the American Psychological Association (APA).

The Forensic Psychology program includes criminal justice courses and an internship, applying psychology to the legal field.

Psychology courses for both programs focus on the study of general psychology, critical thinking, human development, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and human cognition. Social science research courses focus on research design in the social and behavioral sciences, including ethics, observation, and data analysis; descriptive and inferential statistics, testing hypothesis, and chi-square tests. A capstone experience rounds out the social science curriculum, in which students collaborate with a social science faculty member to complete an interest-based research project.

Graduates of the Bachelor’s in Psychology program may go on to careers in professional settings, fostering positive work environments or focusing on consumer behavior concerning informed decision-making in organizations. Career paths may include jobs in advertising, research, human resources, marketing, counseling, and psychotherapy. Note that clinical fields such as counseling and psychotherapy require graduate-level study.

The Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology combines psychology and criminal justice, fostering career development in healthcare and law enforcement fields. In addition to psychology and sociology courses, forensic psychology focuses on criminology and criminal justice. This broad range of study allows students to acquire valuable skills in critical thinking, investigative research, forensic analysis, psychological assessment, intervention, and treatment in correctional settings. Career paths may lead to jobs in corrections, psychology, education, law enforcement, social services, probation, and legal arenas.

Coursework for the undergraduate psychology programs is 100 percent online, with start dates landing in the fall, spring, or summer. No application fee or entrance exam is required. Students may have the opportunity for early access, beginning their psychology bachelor’s education sooner. Application materials include an online application, high school transcripts, and official transcripts from previously completed undergraduate studies. As a bachelor’s program, the degree is designed to be completed full-time in approximately four years and includes 128 credit hours.

Maryville University delivers asynchronous courses through the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Here students can view recorded lectures and VoiceThread presentations, participate in discussion boards, read articles, and complete projects and assignments. Sessions last eight weeks each, and online orientation is included at the beginning of the program. Each student is assigned to a dedicated support advisor and has access to an online life coach, 24-hour technical support, the smart thinking online tutoring program, an online library, and a writing studio.

Online Bachelor’s in Psychology courses include General Psychology; Abnormal Psychology; Human Development Through the Lifespan; Social Psychology; Human Cognition; Multicultural Psychology; and Biological Psychology. The social sciences research sequence includes Critical Thinking in Social Science; Understanding Statistical Inference; either Research Methods or Research Design; and either Senior Seminar or Senior Project.

Online Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology courses include those listed for the BA in Psychology, plus Psychological Tests and Measurements and Forensic Psychology. Criminology courses include Introduction to Criminal Justice; Introduction to Criminal Investigations; Multi-Cultural Policing; Corrections and Society; Criminal Law and Procedure; Criminological Theory; Criminal Behavior; Juvenile Delinquency; and Police Psychology. Included with the other courses listed for the social sciences research sequence, forensic psychology students complete an internship, including 135 hours onsite in addition to the coursework.

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).