Our online B.S. in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a sociocultural context.
Credit Hours: 120 | Transfer: Up to 90 Credits | Tuition Cost
What is the Family Studies Option in Applied Psychology?
The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a socio-cultural context. Students explore the variables affecting human behavior within both individual and group settings and gain a solid foundation in psychological principles and their practical applications in real-world settings. The program enables students to learn skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, quantitative literacy, and interpretation of research findings. The major positions students for either post-college employment or advanced education.
Throughout this program, students have the opportunity to explore major areas of applied psychology, including the biological bases of behavior, cognition, developmental psychology, research methods and statistics, social systems, personality theory, and psychopathology. Students who choose the family studies option will also study topics such as childhood, adulthood and aging, and family relationships.
Why study the Family Studies Option in Applied Psychology at UNH College of Professional Studies?
Our B.S. in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a socio-cultural context. You’ll explore the variables affecting human behavior within both individual and group settings, with an emphasis on applying what you learn to real-world settings. By choosing the option in family studies, you will delve deeper into applying psychology in this area and learn about the dynamics of family systems. With this knowledge, you will be better prepared to provide support and services to both individuals and family groups.
Potential Career Areas
- Social and Human Service Assistant
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist
- Child, Family, and School Social Worker
- Rehabilitation Counselor
- Psychiatric Aide
Course Highlights
- Introduction to Psychology
- Statistics
- Human Development
- Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
- Principles of Psychopathology
- Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
- Biopsychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- …and more!
Why UNH CPS?
- Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
- Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
- Affordable tuition.
- Nationally ranked online programs.
- About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
- Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
- Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
- We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.
Whether you completed your associate degree or took a few courses, we have experience working with community college students nationwide and we are experts at maximizing your transfer credits. We are proud of our formal partnerships to support community college graduates through our Transfer Pathways.
Students pursuing an associate degree at a New Hampshire community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway below.
- Completion of our free, online application for admission
- High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
- Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC
Get started by connecting with an advisor.
An advisor trained in our professional communication program will contact you to learn more about your academic and career goals.
We’ll also share our course schedule so you can read more about the College’s programs, students, and faculty.
Eligible individuals can apply for tuition assistance through the Early Childhood Tuition Assistance (ECTA) which is funded by the NH Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration! 100% of tuition is covered for up to two classes per term.
Eligible individuals include childcare workers, preschool teachers, and elementary school paraprofessionals.
Curriculum & Requirements
This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.
Sample Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| PSY 410 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| CRIT 501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| MTH 402 or MTH 504 or MTH 510 | Math for Our World or Statistics or Pre-Calculus | 4 |
| PSY 470 or PSY 525 | Child Development or Human Development | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COM 480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| MTH 504 | Statistics | 4 |
| PSY 530 or SOSC 602 or SOCI 601 | Social Psychology or Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives or Society and the Individual | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| IDIS 560 | Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| PSY 602 or PSY 685 | Theories of Personality or Principles of Psychopathology | 4 |
| Major Elective | 4 | |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRIT 602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| PSY 630 or SOSC 630 | Psychology of Adulthood or Aspects of Aging in a Modern Society | 4 |
| PSY 646 or SOCI 675 | Psychology of Occupational Stress or Child Abuse and Neglect | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 725 | Cognitive Psychology | 4 |
| PSY 480 or PSY 470 | Infant and Toddler Development or Child Development | 4 |
| SOSC 675 or SOSC 680 | Dynamics of Family Relationships or Stress and the Family | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| IDIS 601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| PSY 740 | Biopsychology | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 797 or PSY 795 | Integrative Capstone: Project in Applied Psychology or Integrative Capstone: Internship in Applied Psychology | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
General Education Program Requirements
A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.
All General Education requirements, including CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| COM 460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| COM 480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| CRIT 501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
MTH 402 | Math for Our World | |
MTH 504 | Statistics | |
MTH 510 | Pre-Calculus | |
| Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems | 4 | |
| Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World | 4 | |
| Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression | 4 | |
| CRIT 602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| IDIS 601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Writing Program Requirements
All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENG 420 | The Writing Process | |
One Writing Intensive course in the Major | ||
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above | ||
One Additional Writing Intensive Course | ||
Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.
Major Requirements
Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Applied Psychology | ||
| Foundation Courses | ||
| PSY 410 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| PSY 470 | Child Development | 4 |
| or PSY 525 | Human Development | |
| PSY 530 | Social Psychology | 4 |
| or SOSC 602 | Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives | |
| or SOCI 601 | Society and the Individual | |
| MTH 504 | Statistics | 4 |
| Intermediate Courses | ||
| PSY 602 | Theories of Personality | 4 |
| or PSY 685 | Principles of Psychopathology | |
| IDIS 560 | Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
BEHS 675 | Terrorism: Domestic and International | |
or BEHS 695 | Internship in Behavioral Science | |
or CRIM 425 | Juvenile Justice | |
or MGMT 566 | Organizational Behavior | |
or PSY 530 | Social Psychology | |
or PSY 602 | Theories of Personality | |
or PSY 603 | Crisis Intervention | |
or PSY 626 | Educational Psychology | |
or PSY 630 | Psychology of Adulthood | |
or PSY 646 | Psychology of Occupational Stress | |
or PSY 654 | Counseling Theories | |
or PSY 665 | Principles of Assessment | |
or PSY 685 | Principles of Psychopathology | |
or SLA 506 | Language Acquisition | |
or SOCI 675 | Child Abuse and Neglect | |
or SOSC 602 | Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives | |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| PSY 725 | Cognitive Psychology | 4 |
| PSY 740 | Biopsychology | 4 |
| Option in Family Studies | ||
| PSY 480 | Infant and Toddler Development | 4 |
| or PSY 470 | Child Development | |
| PSY 630 | Psychology of Adulthood | 4 |
| or SOSC 630 | Aspects of Aging in a Modern Society | |
| PSY 646 | Psychology of Occupational Stress | 4 |
| or SOCI 675 | Child Abuse and Neglect | |
| SOSC 675 | Dynamics of Family Relationships | 4 |
| or SOSC 680 | Stress and the Family | |
| Integrative Capstone | ||
| PSY 795 | Integrative Capstone: Internship in Applied Psychology | 4 |
| or PSY 797 | Integrative Capstone: Project in Applied Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 56 | |
Electives
Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.
- Differentiate and critically analyze biological, developmental, cognitive, and sociocultural theories that provide an understanding of behavior and communicate this knowledge effectively.
- Use computer technology, as well as quantitative and scientific reasoning, to function as informed consumers of psychological research.
- Apply ethical principles that guide and inform the conduct of research and clinical practice.
Your Prior and Current Learning Counts
Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.
Career Outcomes
Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.