Psychology, BA, Online BA
Gain in-depth knowledge of human behavior and mental processes through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree. You can learn from anywhere life takes you while still experiencing a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum.
Begin your journey with introductory courses in psychology, neuroscience and research methods. These classes equip you to take your skills to the next level in advanced psychological courses, including social and experimental psychology. You’ll graduate ready to translate your learnings into a rewarding career or further education.
Learn more about undergraduate online education, including important pricing information.
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $395 (Total Cost: $47,400*)
Credit Hours: 120 (32 Credits in Major)
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into UWM.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
Online
Why study psychology at UWM?
- Learn from the same faculty who teach our on-campus psychology courses. They bring real-world experience and research into the virtual classroom.
- Apply your knowledge in practical settings through virtual collaboration, online research projects and field placements in your local community. These hands-on opportunities set you apart in the job market and allow you to earn elective credits.
- Attend our hybrid professional development events, which cover topics like the value of a psychology major, preparing for graduate school and exploring career opportunities. Connect with professionals and peers to build a strong network.
- Prepare to elevate your career, transition into a psychology-related field or complete graduate studies.
Financial Aid
Various financial aid options are available to support your educational journey. UWM’s Student Financial Services team will guide you through the financial aid process, helping you identify and apply for the best options to fund your bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships
UWM’s scholarships encompass a wide variety of awards, including academic excellence and need-based opportunities. Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing. Explore the Panther Scholarship Portal regularly as you make progress on your degree.
Admissions
Applicants must meet UWM’s general admission requirements to be considered for admission.
Our online psychology degree consists of fundamental and upper-level courses that emphasize active learning and communication skills as you creatively design studies and review data. Elective classes allow you to explore specific topics through a psychological lens such as gender, addiction, hormonal changes and stress management.
From foundational courses in statistics and psychological methods to advanced topics like psychophysiology and neurobiology, you will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of psychology while sharpening your critical research and analytical skills.
Psychology Major Requirements
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. The undergraduate major consists of at least 32 credits in psychology, at least 15 of them at the advanced level (300 or above) taken in residence at UWM, including the following core courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PSYCH 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Psychological Statistics | ||
Or other statistics course as approved by department | ||
| PSYCH 254 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYCH 325 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Personality | ||
| Current Topics in Psychology: 1 | ||
| Introduction to Conditioning and Learning | ||
| Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology: Psychological Perspectives | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Psychology | ||
| Child Psychology | ||
| Upper-Level Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 16-17 | |
Select one advanced laboratory course and four Systems and Foundations courses (16 credits) | ||
Select two advanced laboratory courses and three Systems and Foundations courses (17 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 32-34 | |
- 1
PSYCH 211 with the topic “First Year Foundation” for 1 credit does not satisfy this requirement. All other topics of PSYCH 211, for 3 credits, satisfy this requirement.
Research Experience
The College of Letters and Science requires that students complete a research experience in their major. The Department of Psychology has structured its advanced laboratory courses to satisfy that requirement. In these laboratory courses, students run multiple experiments, collect and analyze data quantitatively, and write up the results in a standard journal article format, integrating the results with a critical survey of relevant professional literature. The Systems and Foundations courses are non-laboratory, upper-level courses designed to provide in-depth knowledge on specific topics in psychology. Students are welcome to take additional Systems and Foundations courses as electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYCH 502 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 4 |
| PSYCH 505 | Cognitive Processes | 4 |
| PSYCH 623 | Perceptual Processes | 4 |
| PSYCH 654 | Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| PSYCH 656 | Psychophysiology | 4 |
| PSYCH 660 | Experimental Child Psychology | 4 |
| PSYCH 677 | Experimental Social Psychology | 4 |
Cross-Listed Courses
One of the following courses offered by other academic units may be used to fulfill requirements of the undergraduate major in psychology (in Systems and Foundations):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 455 | Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology | 3 |
| BUS ADM 442 | Industrial Psychology | 3 |
| LINGUIS 440 | Psycholinguistics | 3 |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
A psychology bachelor’s degree opens doors to a wide range of professional paths with organizations such as non-profits, social service agencies, municipal and government offices, law firms, media companies, ad agencies and sports teams. Our graduates emerge with versatile skills — keen insight into human behavior, strong problem-solving abilities and excellent communication.
These assets led to alumni success in the following roles:
- Adoption Specialist, Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin
- After School Programs Coordinator, Houston Independent School District
- Associate Attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP
- Attorney, Northwestern Mutual
- Attorney, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Council
- Behavioral Health Technician, Aurora Health Care
- Business Process Analyst, American Red Cross
- Career Counselor, Fox Valley Technical College
- Claim Examiner, Wausau Insurance
- Data Analyst, Agnesian Health Care
- Development Director, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
- Employee Relations Specialist, Wisconsin Energy Corporation
- Family Care Coordinator, Rosalie Manor
- Financial Systems Analyst, Rockwell Automation
- Housing Coordinator, New York City Dept. of Housing
- Human Resources Specialist, BVK Ad Agency
- Human Resources Specialist, Home Depot
- Human Resources Specialist, The Rehabilitation Hospital of Wisconsin
- Inside Sales Manager, Metal ERA Inc.
- Intake Specialist, Rogers Behavioral Health
- Line Therapist, Autism Behavioral Network
- Marketing Manager, HO Bostrom Company
- Membership Coordinator, American Society for Quality Control
- Parole Agent, State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections
- Patient Care Coordinator, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
- Program Coordinator, Easter Seals
- Recruitment Manager, The Novo Group
- Sales Account Manager, Kohler
- Training and Sales Director, Marcus Corporation
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
If you are interested in careers that serve patients or clients, a graduate degree in psychology, social work, education or other related program that leads to state licensure is required.