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    The Chicago School
   
 
  Oct 03, 2024
 
2024-2025 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
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2024-2025 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook

BA Psychology


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Chicago - *Dallas - *Los Angeles - *San Diego - Distance Learning 

Program Overview

The Chicago School’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program is a 120 credit hour program consisting of a 44 credit hour General Education foundation, optional minors in health science, addiction studies, and applied behavior analysis, a variety of electives that are pre-requisites for The Chicago School graduate programs, and a 45 credit hour psychology major. Taught by practitioner faculty, the goal of this program is to provide strong preparation in the development of skills related to an understanding of human behavior in order to work within a variety of professional roles and professional settings, as well as to prepare students for graduate study in psychology, counseling, or health sciences.

Program Philosophy

The BA Psychology program is designed to provide students a basic foundation in psychology and research while deepening their ability to apply knowledge regarding principles of psychology to various settings. Students will be able to apply learned theories, concepts, and best practices absorbed from the various minors within the program including Health Science, Addiction Studies, and Applied Behavior Analysis. The  program is designed to accommodate those who seek to complete their degree while effectively maintaining both their professional and personal commitments. This program provides a gateway to graduate programs in the field of psychology thereby further enhancing the student’s psychological knowledge.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the psychology major coursework, students will be able to:

Professional Practice

  • Participate in their diverse communities through their knowledge of individual and group behaviors as well as their civic understanding.
  • Apply psychological principles to individual, social and organizational issues.
  • Demonstrate strong interpersonal communication skills that include effective speaking and listening skills.
  • Interact and collaborate with others effectively.

Diversity

  • Recognize, understand and respect sociocultural, international and cognitive diversity, especially in regard to its impact on psychology

Professional Behavior

  • Analyze personal issues and questions by applying psychological and ethical principles.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues that frame the practice of psychology.

Scholarship

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the major theories, empirical findings, and historical and current trends within the field of psychology.
  • Read analytically, write clearly, using the APA Style Manual, and speak articulately about the study of psychology.
  • Critically and creatively evaluate psychological concepts and research.
  • Acquire information through library research with the use of computer search engines and information databases.
  • Design research projects using quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods.

Licensure

For information on where The Chicago School meets or does not meet program licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit: https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/admissions/licensure-disclosures/.

Admission Requirements

*The Chicago School is not currently enrolling new students in this program at the Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Diego Campuses.

For information on where The Chicago School is currently authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to approval, please visit https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/why-us/state-authorization/

Admission to the BA 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.

  • Curriculum Vitae/ Resume
  • 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 you are 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.

Articulation Agreements

The Chicago School has established agreements between the BA Psychology program and the programs listed below to allow qualified students to enroll in master’s level courses while completing their bachelor’s degree that will then count toward the master’s degree. Click on the link of the program that interests you for details.

Degree Completion Requirements

Completion of 120 credit hours to include:

  • Successful completion of General Education requirements as listed
  • Successful completion of Core Curriculum as listed
  • Successful completion of Psychology Major Capstone

Policies

The following policies are located under Academic Policies and Procedures : Academic Calendar, Admissions Requirements, Attendance, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Service Learning, and Transfer Credit/Course Waiver. 

Pathways to Success

Students must enroll in and successfully pass BA305 Pathways to Success in their first term in the BA program. Students who do not pass the seminar will be re-enrolled every term until they earn a Satisfactory grade (pass).

Psychology Major Capstone

The BA 400 Capstone Course  is designed to allow students the opportunity to integrate and apply learning from their undergraduate courses into a comprehensive presentation. The Capstone Course is an independent study project that consists of a formal research project, intended to demonstrate skill in research and critical thinking. The project is composed of a detailed research question and a literature review component. Students are encouraged to design projects that prepare them to achieve their next goal, whether academic or professional. While no actual data is generated or data analyzed, the project is intended to incorporate and expand upon the depth of knowledge gained from previous years of study, and the student’s personal educational and professional interest.

Ethical Guidelines

Students are expected to learn and to follow the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association, APA’s current Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct for Psychologists during and after their work at The Chicago School, as well as the professional norms, standards, and guidelines relevant to the profession. A class in ethics is required, and student adherence to ethical codes is evaluated both formally and informally.

The Curriculum


Psychology Major (must equal at least 45 credit hours)

  • Psychology Major Required Core: 33 credit hours
  • Psychology Major Upper Division Required Electives: minimum 12 credit hours

Upper Division General Electives: 15 credit hours students may fill general electives with courses from any undergraduate program where a student has met the necessary pre-requisites. Course lists can be found on each program’s Program of Study page in the academic catalog. A list of programs The Chicago School offers can be found here.  

Lower Division General Electives: 16 credit hours (students having completed 48 credit hours of lower division courses may substitute upper division general electives for lower division general electives with advisor approval).

General Education

  • Required General Education: 44 credit hours

Optional Minors (replaces 15 credit hours of General Elective requirements, including at least 6 Upper Division)

  • Health Science (15 credit hours, 6 credit hours must be Upper Division)
  • Addiction Studies Minor (15 credit hours, must take BA350AS and BA417AS)
  • Applied Behavior Analysis Minor (24 credit hours, replaces 3 additional credit hours of required major upper division electives, must take BA427 or BA455)

B.A. Psychology total program: 120 credit hours

General Education for Baccalaureate Programs


Overview

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)


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.

Psychology Major Required Core (33 credit hours)


Psychology Major Upper Division Electives (minimum 12 credit hours)


May also be used as Upper Division General Electives.

Lower Division Electives


Optional Health Science Minor (15 credit hours)*


*This minor is only offered to Online Students.

Students take 15 credit hours from this list, at least 6 credit hours must be Upper Division from the Health Science Minor (300 or 400 level).

Optional Addiction Studies Minor (21 credit hours)


Students registered in this program incur a one-time $195 Experiential Learning Technology Fee.

Students completing coursework for licensure may have state specific coursework requirements. 

All Addiction Studies Minor students must complete BA360AS as a part of the Core Psychology courses and BA417AS as a part of the Psychology Electives. Addiction Studies Minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher, which includes any course with the “AS” prefix or suffix and BA 350  Abnormal Psychology.  Students earning a grade below C will be required to retake the course. 

The 6 credit hour practicum sequence replaces 6 credits of Upper Division General Electives to meet degree completion requirements

Optional Applied Behavior Analysis Minor (24 credit hours)


All Applied Behavior Analysis Minor students must complete BA427 or BA455 as a part of the Psychology Major Upper Division Electives. Three additional units of credit hours taken in the ABA Minor replaces required Major Upper Division Electives to meet degree requirements. 

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