Best Psychology Programs in Arkansas for 2027

Research credit is the main way undergraduates at Arkansas get into faculty labs: you sign up for a lab course (2810V for non-majors, 3810V as the introductory course for majors, 4810V as the advanced one), with an honors credit version for honors students. The BA itself requires General Psychology, Introduction to Statistics for Psychologists, 12 hours of 30000-level psychology and 9 hours of 40000-level psychology, plus an introductory philosophy or ethics course and a world language or world culture requirement. Each psychology course must be passed with at least a C. If graduate school is the goal, the department strongly encourages the advanced research course PSYC 40803, and it points students aiming at business or human services toward related coursework in marketing, sociology or social work.

Psychology Hours

34 hours of psychology, with a C or better in each course.

Statistics

Introduction to Statistics for Psychologists.

Lab Research Courses

2810V, 3810V and 4810V, taken with a faculty mentor.

Language Or Culture

World language through Elementary II or six hours of world culture courses.

Program Sources: Degree Requirements | Psychological Science | University of ArkansasResearch Experience | Psychological Science | University of Arkansas

Two research methods courses and a quantitative methods course set the BS apart from the BA at Arkansas State. BS students take History of Psychology, Quantitative Methods for Behavioral Sciences, Research Design in Psychology and Experimental Methods in Psychology, then pick two natural science courses such as Introduction to Neuroscience or Physiological Psychology, three social science courses and twelve hours of integrative electives that include Psychometrics and a Psychological Seminar. The BA major is shorter at 30 hours, with Research Design and Analysis, Motivation, Cultural Psychology, Learning Processes and Cognitive Psychology, and it ends in a Professional Preparation Capstone. Both degrees open with a first-year Making Connections seminar on psychological wellness, and the BA leaves 52 hours for a minor and electives.

BS Research Sequence

Quantitative Methods for Behavioral Sciences, Research Design in Psychology and Experimental Methods in Psychology.

BA Capstone

Professional Preparation Capstone.

First-Year Course

Making Connections: Psychological Wellness seminar.

Credit Hours

120 total for each degree; the BA major is 30 hours and the BS major is 39 to 43.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, BS - Arkansas State UniversityProgram: Psychology, BA - Arkansas State University

A year-long apprenticeship in a faculty research lab or applied setting sits at the center of the psychology BS at UCA. The 45 hours begin with Introduction to Psychology and Applications of Psychology, add Psychological Statistics and Research Methods, then ask for one course each in biological foundations, learning and cognition, individual differences, social influences, and inclusion and diversity. Psychology Apprenticeship I and II follow, along with a capstone called Psychology in Context and nine hours of electives that range from Health Psychology to Media Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis. A minor, second major or professional certificate is also required. Students aiming at the Specialist in School Psychology program can join an undergraduate pathway and mentoring program.

Major Hours

45 credit hours, at least 15 earned at UCA.

Research Foundation

Psychological Statistics and Research Methods.

Apprenticeship

Two-course sequence in a faculty-led lab or applied site.

Minor Requirement

A minor, second major or professional certificate of 13 or more hours.

Program Sources: Undergraduate Program - Psychology and CounselingBachelor of Science in Psychology Checksheet - University of Central Arkansas

Three focus areas shape the 36-hour psychological science major at UA Little Rock, and you take at least one upper-level course in each. Area A covers Health Psychology, Social Psychology and Abnormal Psychology. Area B covers Sensation-Perception, Cognitive Psychology, Physiological Psychology and Learning and Memory. Area C covers Industrial, Consumer Behavior, Personnel and Organizational Psychology. Required courses are Psychology and the Human Experience, Applied Psychology, Research Methods I, Statistics and Methods I and a Capstone, with nine more upper-level hours of electives. The same requirements apply on campus and online. Internships are optional, open to juniors with preference for a 3.0 GPA, and up to six hours can count toward the major.

Major Hours

36 hours of psychology, 33 of them upper level.

Research Courses

Research Methods I and Statistics and Methods I.

Format

Completely online or on campus, with the same requirements.

Internship

Optional, three or four credits, up to six hours toward the major.

Program Sources: Online Psychological Science Degree - Psychological Science - UA Little RockInternships - Psychological Science - UA Little Rock

Five paired choices make up the 15-hour topical core in Arkansas Tech's BA in psychology: Abnormal Psychology or Personality Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience or Sensation and Perception, Childhood or Adolescent Development, Psychology of Learning or Cognitive Psychology, and Evolutionary Psychology or Social Psychology. Around that core you take General Psychology, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Research Design for the Behavioral Sciences and a one-hour Careers in Psychology course, then finish with a capstone in advanced research methods with a lab, advanced psychological science or psychology in the community. The BA also asks for a minor, an associate's degree or a second degree. The program is aligned with three accelerated master's options, including the MS in Higher Education and Student Affairs, where up to 12 graduate hours can replace parts of the capstone and electives.

Topical Core

15 hours, one course from each of five pairs.

Research Courses

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences and Research Design for the Behavioral Sciences.

Capstone Choices

Advanced Research Method and Lab, Advanced Psychological Science, or Psychology in the Community.

Minimum Grade

C or higher in psychology courses.

Program Sources: Psychology, Bachelor of Arts | Arkansas Tech University Academic Catalog

Graduate school plans shape the electives Harding advises for its psychology BS: Counseling, Group Processes, Techniques of Counseling and Advanced Research, which most clinical, counseling, school and industrial programs expect and often require as leveling courses if you skip them. Harding's 36-hour major covers General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics, Personality, Psychopathology, History and Systems, Psychological Testing, Social Psychology, Data Analysis with a lab, Neurophysiology, and Cognition and Learning. Internship I and II are suggested, and an 18-hour minor is part of the degree plan. Students headed for medical fields are pointed toward the Preprofessional Health Science second major, and the psychology major cannot be paired with a Cognitive Neuroscience double major.

Major Hours

36 hours, plus an 18-hour minor.

Research Courses

Research Methods, Statistics and Data Analysis with a lab.

Suggested Internships

Psychology Internship I and II, three credits each.

Medical Pathway

Pair the major with the Preprofessional Health Science second major.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology Major (PSY), BS - Harding University

Most of the required courses in John Brown's psychology BS are offered both on campus and online, although Theories of Personality and Sport and Exercise Psychology are on campus only. The department sets 43 hours: Ethics in Psychology Research and Practice, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods, Career Development in Psychology, a Research Seminar, Abnormal Psychology and Psychology and the Christian Faith, plus choices in cognition and learning, development and social psychology, testing and selected topics, and counseling or field experience. You also complete a minor, an area of interest, a double major, a dual degree or nine hours in the Accelerated Master's Program in Counseling. Students aiming at graduate study are advised to add anatomy, physiology or neurobiology with labs.

Department Hours

43 hours specified by the department.

Research Courses

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods and Research Seminar.

Applied Choices

Theories of Counseling, Helping Skills or Field Experience.

Additional Requirement

Minor, area of interest, double major, dual degree or accelerated master's counseling hours.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, B.S. - John Brown University

Psychology majors at Henderson choose between a BA that adds a mental health course and a BS that adds a second statistics course. Both degrees run 39 hours and share General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental or Social Psychology, Research Statistics, Learning, Research Methods, Psychological Tests and Measurements, a multicultural course such as Human Differences or Cross-Cultural Psychology, and nine elective hours. The BA mental health choices include Mental Health and Wellness, Counseling Theories and Techniques and Applied Behavior Analysis, while the BS requires Advanced Experimental Statistics and a natural science or writing elective. Every graduating senior takes the Major Field Test in psychology, and a Certificate in Behavioral and Mental Health can be earned alongside the major without extra credit hours when planned early.

Major Hours

39 hours for the BA and the BS.

BA Add-On

One mental health course and a behavioral science or writing elective.

BS Add-On

Advanced Experimental Statistics and a natural science or writing elective.

Certificate Option

Behavioral and Mental Health certificate, 12 credit hours.

Program Sources: Henderson State University 2026-2027 Undergraduate CatalogPsychology | Henderson State University

Doctoral students in Psychological Science at Arkansas get five years of funding and start research in the first year under a primary faculty advisor. The department trains PhD students in two programs. Clinical follows a scientist-practitioner model, with practica at the department's in-house Psychological Clinic and training consistent with the Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology. Experimental offers specializations in cognitive, developmental and social psychology and neuroscience; its first two years combine coursework with research and end in a written thesis and oral defense that satisfy a non-terminal master's degree, followed by a third-year project. Some students teach their own classes as instructor of record, and an endowment supports conference travel and student projects.

Programs

Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychology.

Experimental Specializations

Cognitive, developmental and social psychology, and neuroscience.

Milestones

Second-year thesis and defense, then a third-year project and the dissertation.

Funding

Five years of funding, with fellowships and an endowment for student research.

Program Sources: Graduate | Psychological Science | University of ArkansasExperimental Psychology | Psychological Science | University of ArkansasClinical Psychology | Psychological Science | University of Arkansas

Transfer is the purpose of Cossatot's Associate of Science in Psychology, which is set up as an articulated 2+2 with Southern Arkansas University and the University of Central Arkansas. The 60-hour plan pairs the 35-hour general education state core with 25 hours of psychology requirements: General Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Abnormal Psychology, plus Introduction to Sociology, a biological science elective, Personal and Community Health and Microcomputer Applications. Two short courses, Success Strategies and a Transfer Seminar, help you plan the move to a four-year campus. Check the receiving school before you register, since UCA also asks for Microbiology (BIOL 2094).

Degree Length

60 credit hours: a 35-hour state core and 25 hours of psychology requirements.

Psychology Courses

General Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Abnormal Psychology.

Transfer Partners

Southern Arkansas University and the University of Central Arkansas (2+2 agreements).

Science Requirement

A biological science elective, with Microbiology required for UCA transfer.

Program Sources: Psychology Associate of Science Degree Plan 2025-26 - Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas