Of CSU Grads Land Jobs Related to Their Career Plans
95%
Of Online Undergraduate Students Would Choose CSU Again
$52K
Average Starting Salary of Recent CSU Grads
Degree Overview
CSU's online bachelor's degree in psychology teaches you to creatively and strategically use science to address real-world problems, allowing you to make a difference through a variety of career paths. Hear more from associate professor, Bryan Dik.
Online psychology degree from CSU
Discover the basic theories, principles, laws of behavior, and scientific methods used in psychological research with this online bachelor's degree in psychology. CSU's program blends training in communication and critical thinking with scientific methodology, giving you skills that apply to a wide variety of professions, and preparing you to pursue an advanced degree if you choose.
Develop skills that employers value
This degree features a well-rounded curriculum that cultivates a strong science and liberal arts foundation. Courses help you hone a versatile skill set that is vital to career success — regardless of what field you go into. Through this program, improve your abilities in:
Written communication
Oral communication
Analytical thinking
Critical thinking
Cooperation/teamwork
Learn fundamental psychological concepts
Lecture and lab pairings in this online psychology degree program will give you the opportunity to apply first-hand the scientific principles you learn. Upon completion of your degree, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge of psychological concepts across several basic content areas. The areas of study include:
Social psychology
Organizational psychology
Psychological Measurement and Testing
Industrial psychology
Cognitive psychology
Biological psychology
Study online in a collaborative atmosphere
Studying online doesn't mean studying alone. With an average class size of 21 students, you have the opportunity to interact closely with your instructors and peers. Class interactions involve discussion forums, chat, and video conferencing.
"I really needed to go to a school where I felt like I had staff and faculty who were invested in me, because, let's be honest, I was a little bit nervous about going back. I wanted to be able to engage in conversations and build relationships. I knew right out of the gate, that's exactly what I had here."
— Aaron Bachler, online psychology graduate
Watch these videos to hear more of what CSU's online students say about their learning experiences.
In addition to earning your psychology degree, you have the option to further specialize your knowledge with a degree minor. Choose from nine minors, including:
Agricultural Business
Anthropology
Business Administration
Economics
Gerontology
Global and Environmental Sustainability
Media Studies
Political Science
Sociology
Explore Careers
This online psychology degree can lead to upward career mobility or serve as a jumping off point for moving on to a master's program, which is required for professional careers in psychology.
Because of the program's well-rounded curriculum, transferable skills being taught, and electives based on particular fields of interest, this degree will be seen as valuable by not only psychology-based employers, but more importantly, those across industries, including business, government, education, law and medicine.
Students can graduate with a combination of online psychology courses and experiences to qualify for semiprofessional jobs in this or closely related fields. In addition, participation in paid or volunteer work, internships, study abroad, and experiential education opportunities are highly recommended as they will enhance your employment opportunities.
Possible career opportunities include, but are not limited to:
Human services worker
Case worker
Probation officer
Community relations officer
Occupational therapist (with advanced degree)
Program developer/administrator
Human resources administrator
Public relations specialist/special events administrator
Advertising producer/writer
Account services representative
Media representative
Market researcher
Human factors assistant
Data analysis assistant
Government program administrator
Business manager
Buying agent
Sales representative
Real estate broker
Lawyer (with advanced degree)
Physician (with advanced degree)
Hear from Our Students
Hear about our students' experiences in the online psychology bachelor's program, and what they say about CSU's faculty and courses.
Aaron Bachler
See how Aaron was able to build on the credits he had already earned to finish his degree and change his story.
Jessica Risbell
See how this psychology program has given Jessica the flexibility she needs to raise her family while she develops her knowledge and completes her bachelor's degree.
CSU's Online Students
See what it’s like to study online with CSU, and discover how earning a bachelor’s degree can open up new opportunities for you.
Why Choose CSU?
As a student in CSU’s online psychology bachelor’s program, you receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect:
A Degree That Gives You Professional Options: Our program sits at the intersection of the arts and sciences, blending training in communication and critical thinking with scientific methodology. This gives you knowledge that applies to a wide variety of fields, and also prepares you to pursue an advanced degree if you choose.
An Applied Learning Experience: Deepen your understanding of how science impacts human behavior by participating in lecture-labs, in which you apply scientific methods to solve complex problems in creative ways.
Instruction from Expert Faculty: Study with faculty who incorporate their current research in their courses. Learn from the experts about the latest advances in areas like: the brain’s empathetic system, and the correlation between sensation and perception.
A Quality Learning Experience: With an average class size of 21 students, this program gives you the opportunity to interact closely with your instructors and your peers.
A Customizable Curriculum: With the choice of six lecture-lab courses in a range of psychological subject areas, this program allows you to choose courses that best suit your educational and professional goals.
The curriculum for this degree is outlined below and is based on the required courses for students following the Colorado Statewide Articulation Agreement for a bachelor completion in psychology. Students may need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. You have the option to use the TransferologyTM website to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how previous college coursework may transfer to CSU.
Elective credits should be chosen in consultation with your advisor. Elective credits can be satisfied by completing courses 100 level or above. The number of elective credits will vary based on your transferable credits.
Degree Minors
Grow your knowledge and focus on a topic that interests you. A degree minor can help you discover new passions and talents, and further specialize your education so you become more marketable to employers. Relevant courses often apply to both major and minor requirements, so a minor can be added without greatly changing your degree plan.
Courses already taken can apply to a minor regardless of when the minor is added to your student record. All minor requirements must be completed prior to graduation.
Build knowledge of production management, financial management, marketing management, international development, and trade through an agricultural lens. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Get a cross-cultural view of humanity and the broadly conceived dimensions of human behavior. You have the option to focus your anthropology studies on one or more sub-disciplinary divisions, including physical anthropology, archaeology, ethnology, or applied anthropology. To earn the minor, you must complete 22 credits from the following courses:
Explore creative writing in one or more of the following genres: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. In addition to broadening your writing repertoire, gain workshop experience at an advanced level. To earn this minor, you must complete a minimum of 21 credits in courses with E or CO subject codes, with at least 15 upper-division credits.
The Minor in Design Thinking provides students with an opportunity to develop creative methods and processes for solving societal problems. This human-centered approach engages users and stakeholders in interdisciplinary co-design processes and applies elementary or emerging technologies to develop prototypes that improve spaces, objects, services, problems and ideas benefitting daily experiences and overall quality of life. Students will gain an awareness of the impact of design thinking and its application – to their major, discipline, or profession. Nancy Richardson Design Center course offerings are available in a mix of online, hybrid, or face-to-face. For a full list of learning opportunities offered by the RDC, please visit the courses page.
To earn the minor in Design Thinking online, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Gain insight into current socioeconomic problems in the areas of resource allocation, inflation, unemployment, income distribution, environmental degradation, international trade, and monopoly power. This minor prepares you for careers in business management, teaching, government, banking, and public policy. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Prepare for a variety of careers in gerontology and develop an understanding of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of adult development and aging. This interdisciplinary minor prepares you to fill the need for well-trained professionals to support aging adults, and can be paired with any CSU major.
Prepare to meet today's pressing environmental challenges with this interdisciplinary minor offered by The School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES). Explore innovative research to understand how to solve problems that arise between humans and the environment. To earn your minor, you must complete 21 credits (12 upper-division credits) from the following courses:
Expand the breadth of your knowledge by earning an undergraduate minor in history. Choose from a range of courses based on your interests. This minor may be particularly useful for students who plan to pursue careers in education, public service, government, museums and archives, law, and other professions that require skills in research, writing, and the analysis of information. To earn the history minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses. (Note: You must complete at least 12 upper-division credits and 9 lower-division credits).
Growing and managing plants requires you to understand the science and the business of cultivation, and this online bachelor's degree minor emphasizes both. To earn the horticulture minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses.
The Human Development and Family Studies minor provides students across all majors with an opportunity to select course work relevant to their career goals. Students will learn about human development at various stages of the lifespan, within the context of diverse families and social identities. This minor offers students the opportunity to expand their thinking about how relationships, family, culture, biological make-up, and environmental factors influence outcomes related to thinking skills, physical health, and social-emotional well-being across the life cycle. Students will gain an awareness of how to optimize their own and other's development in their careers and personal lives. The HDFS department is committed to promoting the success and well-being of students from heterogeneous backgrounds and experiences.
Effective Fall 2023
Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- & 400-level) credits. Additional courses may be required due to prerequisites.
Courses from this list may not double-count for the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor.
A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in each course used to satisfy the requirements of the Minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Courses used as substitutions also require a minimum grade of C (2.000).
Develop an understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and peoples with courses in international and global history, politics, languages and cultures, economics, and environmental issues. To earn this minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
This interdisciplinary minor is sponsored by departments in different colleges across CSU: Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, English and Journalism and Media Communication. The program is designed for students seeking a broad foundation in information technology, but not seeking to major in a specific information technology-related field. The program requires 21 credits and is open to students majoring in any field other than computer science, computer information systems, and electrical and computer engineering.
Understand the role and influence of mass media in American society and other cultures by studying media and film history, criticism, law, ethics, social effects, cultural consequences, and multicultural and international media issues. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
Gain a foundation in political theory and prepare for careers in law, teaching in the social sciences, journalism, and public service. To earn the minor, you must complete 21 credits from the following courses:
The minor in Science Communication is designed to educate highly qualified communicators who have interests in specialized academic disciplines and career fields. Because science often involves complicated research and processes, communicating the results of that work requires special skills. This program is designed to prepare students for a wide range of niche career opportunities in media, corporate communication, science-related industries, and scientific environments.
Please connect with your assigned advisor to request to add a minor. Note that you must apply and be admitted to the University for a bachelor's degree program before you can add a minor to your student record. Once you are admitted, one or more minors may be added to your student record.
Open to all undergraduate students, the Certificate in Design Thinking will improve not only the way students learn and find solutions to problems in their current coursework, but will also help make students more employable with sought-after marketable skills. Students will gain an awareness of the impact of design thinking and its application – regardless of discipline, profession, or major. Nancy Richardson Design Center course offerings are available in a mix of online, hybrid, or face-to-face. For a full list of learning opportunities offered by the RDC, please visit the courses page.
To earn the certificate in Design Thinking online, you must complete 12 credits from the following courses:
For students interested in working in animal science, veterinary medicine, or related fields, this certificate program teaches intermediate-level Spanish for use in agricultural and animal care settings. Learn to communicate in Spanish about livestock, equine, and small animal breeds, give directions for animal care and handling, issue instructions for safety and drug administration, and more.
Prepare for a career as a seed analyst with online courses in seed technology. These courses, led by Colorado State University and supported by three other major universities (Iowa State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Kentucky) and the Crop Science Society of America, offer a comprehensive overview of seed analysis, a technical skill requiring patience, attention to detail, and a scientific understanding of seed biology. After completion, you will be prepared to complete the examinations to become a Registered Seed Technologist.
Planning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.
Previous college credit may be transferred into the online psychology bachelor's degree program, and minimum credits required can vary depending on previous coursework completed.
2.0 cumulative GPA (2.5 cumulative GPA preferred) from all coursework previously completed*
* A 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college work attempted is the threshold for consideration. Applicants who have a cumulative GPA below 2.5 should be prepared to demonstrate academic success in the form of an upward GPA trend and no D/F grades in their most recent terms.
† Additional information may be required for international applicants. Please connect with a coach to learn more.
Call or email our student success team to find out if the program is a good fit for your goals. Our coaches are available Monday-Friday to help you find the right program and navigate the application process.
Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application and pay the $50 nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online) or waiver (if eligible).
Select "Psychology — online degree program" when choosing major.
Online applications must be submitted before 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on the deadline date. If you miss the application deadline, you may still register for courses to begin your program of study as a non-degree student. Students seeking Federal financial aid must be admitted prior to enrolling.