2023-2024 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook with Spring Addendum [Archived Catalog]
BS Business Psychology
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Program Overview
The BS Business Psychology program prepares students for a career in business, applying psychological principles to create lasting solutions to tough problems and unlock an organization’s potential. Graduates will be prepared to use their education to further their professional careers in various settings through the program’s three distinctive tracks in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Leadership, or Behavioral Economics, earning graduate program credit while completing their BS Business Psychology degree.
Students in their final year will choose one of three tracks of master’s level program coursework, which will count for 15 credits toward the BS Business Psychology Program, as well as toward the related MA program. Students completing the graduate courses while enrolled in the BS Business Psychology program will also earn the graduate certificate related to their chosen track;
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Organizational Leadership
- Behavioral Economics.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program students will be able to:
Professional Practice
- Synthesize relevant psychological research into strategies for addressing complex workplace problems.
- Collaborate effectively and fulfill various leadership functions in a team environment, to include managing projects and supporting the development of practical workplace solutions.
- Apply business and human resource management principles to maintain the operations of an organization.
- Analyze data typically collected in the measurement of organizational behavior and workforce dynamics.
Diversity
- Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion when developing workforce initiatives.
Professional Behavior
- Make ethical decisions in the application of psychological principles to workforce initiatives.
- Communicate effectively in oral presentations and written reports, translating scientific research and statistical findings to both professional and layperson audiences.
Scholarship
- Search scientific literature to identify foundational psychological principles and theories.
- Analyze statistical data and apply logical reasoning to explain human, organizational, and workforce behaviors.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the BS Psychology program is open to any person who meets entrance requirements as outlined below. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to successfully complete an undergraduate degree program. Generally, a high school cumulative GPA of a 2.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission. However, applicants with a cumulative high school GPA below 2.3 or applicants seeking admission with a GED will be considered for admission with the submission of additional required documents. It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all undergraduate schools where credit was received (and no degree was earned) to support their application and request for transfer credit. (See Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy). The Chicago School does not accept transfer credit for BA300 Foundations of Psychology, BA340 Research Methods, BA380 Statistics, and BA400 Capstone.
Factors and materials to be considered for admission will include:
- Completed application and $50 application fee
- Applicants must provide proof of the qualifying conferral - high school graduation (or the equivalent) or proof of an earned Associate degree. Information about acceptable proof of qualifying conferral can be found here.
Applicants with a cumulative high-school or undergraduate GPA below 2.3 and applicants seeking admission with high school equivalency documentation that does not show a GPA (such as GED, home school, or testing) are required to submit additional documentation.
- Resume/CV
- One Letter of recommendation (optional)
- Essay of intent
- Please compose a written essay to answer the questions below. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, and three pages (approximately 500-750 words) while clearly addressing the program for which the applicant is applying.
- Psychology is a vast discipline with many career options:
- Why are you interested in this particular program to earn your undergraduate degree in psychology? Cite specific experiences and examples.
- What are your professional career goals as they relate to this degree? Why do you believe this program will assist you in reaching these goals?
- Why is it important to you to study this discipline at a school that emphasizes cultural awareness, competence, and understanding of diversity (see our Commitment to Diversity Statement)?
- If you are a first generation undergraduate degree student, please integrate this into your essay.
- SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission, however applicants who have taken the SAT/ACT may submit their scores to enhance their application.
Applicant Notification
The Chicago School reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once review begins, complete applications will be considered by the Admission Committee and applicants will be notified regarding the admission decision. The Chicago School does not share information or provide any feedback regarding admission decisions.
If a student is offered admission, in order to secure a place in the incoming class, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $100 will be required by the deposit deadline indicated in the offer of admission. The non-refundable deposit will be applied in full toward the student’s tuition upon enrollment.
Policies
The following policies are located under Academic Policies and Procedures : Admissions Requirements, Attendance, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Service Learning, and Transfer Credit/Course Waiver.
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The Curriculum
Business Psychology Major: 55 Credit hours
General Education: 44 Credit Hours
- Students entering with an A.A.S. or A.A. degree may have this requirement waived
- Total number of general education credits to be completed at The Chicago School depends on transfer credit as evaluated per The Chicago School transfer credit policy
- All BS Business Psychology students must complete SBS 100 Introduction to Pychology, MATH 107 Algebra, and PLS 100 Introduction to Biology with Lab or their equivalent.
Specilized Track: 21 Credit Hours
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Organizational Leadership
- Behavioral Economics
Program Total: 120 credit hours
General Education for Baccalaureate Programs
The Chicago School’s bachelor’s programs share a common core of 44 credit hours of general education requirements, including a capstone experience. The coursework is designed to meet general education requirements in all 50 states and the District of Columbia while providing the groundwork for success in the following years of study of the Bachelor’s Degree.
General Education Courses are all delivered in online format.
General Education Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the general education coursework, students will be able to:
Professional Practice
- Interact and collaborate with others effectively
Diversity
- Demonstrate knowledge of individual and cultural difference with consideration for domestic and transnational diversity in a manner that promotes inclusion and understanding.
Professional Behavior
- Assess their own ethical values and the social context of problems, recognize ethical issues in a variety of settings, applying differing ethical perspectives to dilemmas, and consider the ramifications of alternative actions.
Scholarship
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of the fundamental theories and principles of their major (and chosen minor, if applicable) area of study.
- Deliver well organized oral and written presentations that include a central message with logical themes, using language and terminology appropriate to the topic and audience.
- Craft logical evidence-based arguments leading to solutions of practical problems.
- Acquire and utilize information through library research with the use of computer search engines and information databases, evaluate the reliability of the source, and identify peer-reviewed and scholarly sources.
- Apply quantitative (mathematical) reasoning to solving practical problems.
General Education Capstone
The CAP 200 Introduction to Research Methods course serves as an introduction to various research methodologies and techniques. This course helps set a foundation for students to apply learned knowledge of research approaches in future program of study courses, the workforce, and their communities at large. During the course, students will demonstrate their knowledge by completing a research proposal signature assignment. All undergraduate students will complete this course except for those who transfer into the institution with an earned associate degree from an accredited institution.
General Education Required Core (44 Credit Hours)
Writing and Communication (9 Credit Hours)
Humanities and Fine Arts (9 Credit Hours)
Mathematics (6 Credit Hours)
MATH 107 is required for BS Business Psychology and BS Healthcare Management students.
Physical and Life Sciences (8 Credit Hours)
Students are required to take at least one Life Science and one Physical Science course.
If a student resides in Louisiana, they are required to complete 9 credit hours of Life and Physical Science coursework to meet general education requirements.
PLS 100 is required for BS Business Psychology students.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 Credit Hours)
If a student resides in Arkansas, one of the three courses is required to be completed in US History or US Government.
BS Business Psychology students must take SBS100 Introduction to Psychology
Capstone (3 Credit Hours)
Prior Learning Assessment - Portfolio (Electives)
A student may develop a portfolio that documents acquired college-level learning from non-college experiences-those that did not occur in a classroom setting. The portfolio is a collection of essays, documents, or other materials that provide evidence of that learning, such as professional training, life experiences, civil or military service, job related activities, or volunteer work. To participate in Portfolio Review, students are required to enroll in a sequence of two .5 credit hour online courses (PLA101 and PLA102) that provide step-by-step guidance on the development of an electronic portfolio. Once enrolled, the portfolio development course facilitator will help students determine what documentation is necessary to demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes for the targeted course(s). Department approval is required for enrollment in these courses.
Business Psychology Major (55 Credit Hours)
Industrial Organizational Psychology Track (21 Credit Hours)
Courses with the IO prefix are graduate level courses and may be also applied toward the MA Industrial/Organizational Psychology program providing the student meets the admission requirements for that program. Students successfully completing the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Track may petition for conferral of the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Generalist Certificate upon completion of IO 510 Organizational Behavior and any two of the remaining courses with the IO prefix.
Organizational Leadership Track (21 Credit Hours)
Courses with the IO and MP prefixes are graduate level courses and may be also applied toward the MA Organizational Leadership program providing the student meets the admission requirements for that program. Students successfully completing the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Track may petition for conferral of the Certificate in Organizational Leadership upon completion of IO 525 Organizational Leadership and any two of the remaining courses with the IO or MP prefix.
Behavioral Economics Track (21 Credit Hours)
Courses with the IO and BE prefixes are graduate level courses and may be also applied toward the MA Behavioral Economics program providing the student meets the admission requirements for that program. Students successfully completing the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Track may petition for conferral of the Certificate in Behavioral Economics s upon completion of BE 505 Fundamentals of Behavioral Economics and any two of the remaining courses with the IO or BE prefix.
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