Best Psychology Programs in Arizona for 2027

Arizona State University's Psychology BA and BS, from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, make you cover most of the field. After Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Statistics and a four-credit Research Methods course, you take four courses from four of five areas: cognitive and learning, developmental, personality and mental health, physiological, and social. Two 400-level depth courses and nine hours of electives follow, along with 12 credits from related fields such as biology, philosophy and sociology. The BA asks for a second language through the intermediate level, while the BS asks for two Science and Society courses instead.

Foundation Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods (4 credits), each with a C or better.

Breadth and Depth

Four breadth courses from four of five areas, then two 400-level depth courses.

Related Fields

12 credit hours from disciplines related to psychology, with at most nine at the lower division.

BA Requirement

Second language proficiency at the intermediate level.

BS Requirement

Two Science and Society courses, at least one upper division.

Math

Finite Mathematics or Precalculus.

Program Sources: Psychology, BA - Program Requirements - ASU Degree SearchPsychology, BS - Program Requirements - ASU Degree Search

The University of Arizona's Psychology BA is built around community engagement and designed for students who want marketable skills for entering the workforce right after graduation. The 33-credit major, 18 credits of it upper division, requires one course from each of three domains: Clinical Science, Social-Personality Science and Cognitive Neuroscience. Up to two active learning experiences such as independent study, an internship or a practicum can count toward the major. Students aiming at a psychology PhD or advanced science training can choose the Psychological Science BS, a 43-unit major with Advanced Research Methods, Advanced Statistics, 15 units of 400-level topic courses and 6 units of research experience.

Major Size

33 credits, 18 of them upper division.

Domain Requirement

One course each in Clinical Science, Social-Personality Science and Cognitive Neuroscience.

Active Learning

Up to two of independent study, internship or practicum.

Research-Focused Option

Psychological Science BS with 43 psychology units, advanced methods and statistics, and 6 units of research.

Program Sources: B.A. Psychology - The University of ArizonaB.S. Psychological Science - The University of Arizona

Flagstaff students in Northern Arizona University's Psychological Sciences BS can start the MA in Psychological Sciences before finishing the bachelor's, sharing six units between the two degrees. The 37-unit major has four foundation courses worth 10 units, nine units chosen from eight area courses, 12 upper-division units that can include up to six units of applied and internship courses, and a junior-level writing course. A minimum grade of C is required in every major course. The degree is offered in Flagstaff, online and at the Yuma campus, and students heading for the Occupational Therapy OTD take a set of three required area courses.

Major Size

37 units, at least 15 of them taken at NAU, each course with a C or better.

Course Structure

Four foundation courses (10 units), nine units from eight area courses, and 12 upper-division units.

Applied Credit

Up to six of the upper-division units can be applied and internship courses.

Accelerated Master's

Flagstaff students can start the MA in Psychological Sciences and share six units.

Campuses

Flagstaff, Online and Yuma.

Program Sources: Psychological Sciences, Bachelor of Science - Northern Arizona University Academic Catalog

Prescott College teaches psychology from a critical angle, studying the individual mind alongside the social, political and environmental systems around it, including power, privilege and oppression. The 120-credit BA has a 40-credit major built on Introduction to Psychology, Foundations of Critical Psychology, Social Science Research Methods, Lifespan Development: A Cultural Approach, Social Cognition, Psychopathology & Health and a Senior Project. The suggested plans include a six-credit internship, and open elective slots can go toward a concentration such as Climate Justice, Outdoor Leadership or Education for Social Justice. The degree also feeds the accelerated MS in Counseling and MEd in School Counseling. Transfer students with 60 or more credits can follow an online pathway, full-time or part-time.

Required Psychology Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Foundations of Critical Psychology, Social Science Research Methods, Lifespan Development: A Cultural Approach, Social Cognition, Psychopathology & Health and Senior Project.

Degree Size

120 total credits, 40 of them in the major.

Concentrations

Adventure Education, Climate Justice, Education for Social Justice, Environmental Studies, Equity Studies in Outdoor Leadership, Natural History Interpretation, Marine Studies and Outdoor Leadership.

Certificates

Environmental Education and Sustainable Food Systems.

Internship

A six-credit internship appears in the suggested on-campus and online pathways.

Graduate Pathway

Accelerated MS in Counseling or MEd in School Counseling.

Online Pathway

Full-time and part-time maps for transfer students with 60 or more credits.

Fall Application Deadlines

March 1 for early action, June 1 priority and August 1 regular.

Program Sources: Earn a BA in Psychology from Prescott CollegeBA: Psychology On-Campus Undergraduate Map 2026-27

At ASU's West Valley campus, the 36-credit psychology MS follows a research mentorship model for students completing a thesis or applied project. Students develop studies, analyze data, and prepare presentations or manuscripts with faculty guidance. A behavioral data science route can instead culminate in an approved capstone, such as a portfolio, technical report, or extended analysis. All students take research methods and statistics, while additional campus coursework depends on research interests and the approved culminating experience. Campus applicants specify whether they are applying for the thesis or applied project option or the behavioral data science capstone.

Campus Completion

A thesis or applied project selected with faculty, or an approved behavioral data science capstone.

Core Methods

Six credits in research methods and statistics; additional methods coursework depends on research interests and the approved culminating experience.

Program Sources: Psychology Degree, MS | ASU

Northern Arizona's Psychological Sciences MA lets students develop research with faculty whose interests range from mindfulness and decision-making to child development and industrial-organizational psychology. Students may work in more than one research laboratory, with mentoring also built into thesis and research projects. Before enrolling, applicants need at least 18 psychology credits, including introductory psychology, statistics, and research methods. The program asks applicants to explain what they intend to study at NAU, making a clear connection between their proposed training and the department's available research expertise.

Preparation

18 psychology credits including introductory psychology, statistics, and methods; an approved social/behavioral methods course may count.

Preparation

18 psychology credits including introductory psychology, statistics, and methods.

Program Sources: Application instructions | Psychological Sciences

Grand Canyon University's PhD in General Psychology comes with emphases in Cognition and Instruction, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and Integrating Technology, Learning and Psychology, and the first two are offered with a qualitative or a quantitative research track. The Cognition and Instruction track requires 60 credits, with courses in cognitive science, social cognition, history and systems of psychology and quantitative data analysis, while the Industrial and Organizational track adds personnel and human resource management and consulting and coaching. Up to nine doctoral credits can transfer, classes run online in 8-week terms or in the evening, and you write a dissertation with research support and doctoral residencies. The degree does not lead directly to licensure.

Emphases

Cognition and Instruction, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and Integrating Technology, Learning and Psychology.

Research Tracks

Qualitative or quantitative, depending on the emphasis.

Credits

60 credits, with up to nine doctoral credits accepted in transfer.

Format

Online in 8-week courses, or evening classes.

Dissertation

Required, with two hands-on doctoral residencies in the technology emphasis.

Program Sources: Psychology Doctoral Programs Online - GCUOnline PhD in Psychology - Cognition and Instruction (Quantitative) - GCUPhD Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Quantitative) - GCUPhD in General Psychology: Integrating Technology, Learning and Psychology - GCU

Chandler-Gilbert Community College's Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology is written to match five bachelor's programs: Forensic Psychology and Psychological Science at Arizona State University, the Psychological Sciences BS at Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona's Psychological Sciences BS and Psychology BA. You take Introduction to Statistics (alone, with a one-credit lab or as a four-credit course with lab), Introduction to Psychology, a first-year experience course and the 35-credit Arizona General Education Curriculum. Program courses must earn at least a C, and the degree runs 60 to 64 credits.

Transfer Partners

ASU, NAU and the University of Arizona psychology majors, including ASU Forensic Psychology and Psychological Science.

Statistics Options

Introduction to Statistics, Introduction to Statistics plus Laboratory for Statistics, or Introduction to Statistics with Lab.

General Education

The 35-credit Arizona General Education Curriculum.

Degree Length

60 to 64 credits, with a C or better in program courses.

Campus

2626 East Pecos Road, Chandler.

Program Sources: 8122 - Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology - Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Math choices depend on where you plan to transfer in Estrella Mountain Community College's Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology. A MAT14 or MAT15 level math course is recommended for NAU's Psychological Sciences BS and the University of Arizona's Psychology BA, while ASU students are pointed to College Algebra plus Plane Trigonometry, Precalculus or Brief Calculus. Core courses are Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Statistics, Research Methods and a one-to-three-credit college success course, with the Arizona General Education Curriculum around them. Recommended psychology electives include Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychological Disorders and Biopsychology.

Required Psychology

Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods.

Recommended Electives

Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychological Disorders, Biopsychology and Psychology of Human Sexuality.

Math by Destination

MAT14 or MAT15 level for NAU and the University of Arizona. College Algebra with Plane Trigonometry, Precalculus or Brief Calculus for ASU.

Campus

3000 North Dysart Road, Avondale.

Program Sources: 8122 - Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology - Estrella Mountain Community College

Recommended electives in Mesa Community College's Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology run from Psychology of Parenting and Sports Psychology to Introduction to Forensic Psychology, African/Black Psychology and Biopsychology. The degree's learning outcomes include describing key theories in psychological science, using scientific reasoning to investigate behavior, applying ethical standards and using psychological principles to strengthen community. Required work includes Research Methods, Introduction to Statistics and the introductory psychology course, plus a first-year experience course and the Arizona General Education Curriculum. The plan is built to match bachelor's programs at ASU, NAU and the University of Arizona.

Recommended Electives

Psychology of Parenting, Sports Psychology, Health Psychology, Psychology of Gender, Positive Psychology, Introduction to Forensic Psychology, African/Black Psychology and Biopsychology.

Required Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods.

Outcomes

Key concepts and theories, scientific reasoning, ethical standards, community application and psychological writing and presentation.

Campus

1833 West Southern Avenue, Mesa.

Program Sources: 8122 - Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology - Mesa Community College