Best Psychology Programs in Idaho for 2027

A one-credit professional development course each year, freshman through senior, runs alongside the coursework in Boise State University's Psychology BS. The major requires Statistical Methods and Research Methods, then at least one course from each of six clusters: individual differences, quantitative methods, basic experimental, applied psychology, developmental, and person in society. The applied cluster includes Introduction to Counseling Skills, Community Psychology and Psychology and Law. A data skills choice between Foundations of Data Science, Introduction to Logic and Introduction to R Programming, nine more credits of upper-division psychology and 40 upper-division credits overall bring the degree to between 120 and 122 credits.

Core Courses

Statistical Methods, Research Methods and four one-credit professional development courses.

Clusters

Individual differences, quantitative methods, basic experimental, applied psychology, developmental and person in society.

Data Skills Choice

Foundations of Data Science, Introduction to Logic or Introduction to R Programming.

Credits

120 to 122, with 40 upper-division credits.

Program Sources: Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Department of Psychological ScienceBachelor of Science in Psychology | Boise State Undergraduate Catalog

Upper-division standing in the Psychology BA or BS at the University of Idaho depends on grades: Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Research in the Behavioral Sciences need a C or better, and a 2.50 GPA is required to move up and to graduate. The 41 major credits include Quantitative Methods in Psychology or Statistical Methods, three courses each from a personal and social bases group and a biological and experimental bases group, and 12 more upper-division credits. Up to six of those can come from communication courses such as Persuasion or Conflict Management. The BA plan adds a four-semester language sequence.

Required Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Survey of Contemporary Psychology, Quantitative Methods or Statistical Methods, and Introduction to Research in the Behavioral Sciences.

Personal and Social Group

Three courses from Developmental, Personality, Abnormal, Social Psychology and Tests and Measurements.

Biological and Experimental Group

Three courses from Cognitive, Physiological, Learning, Action, Sensation and Perception and Emotion.

Communication Option

Up to six upper-division credits from Persuasion, Organizational Communication, Conflict Management or Gender and Communication.

Credits

41 in the major, 120 for the degree.

Program Sources: Psychology (B.A. or B.S.) | University of Idaho Catalog

The same 28-credit core supports four emphases in the Psychology BS at Brigham Young University-Idaho: General, Behavioral Interventions, Health Psychology and Industrial Organizational. The core covers General Psychology, Career Development in Psychology, Developmental Psychology Lifespan, Research Methods, History and Systems of Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognition, Behavioral Neurobiology, Experiencing Research and Introductory Statistics with R. Behavioral Interventions offers the chance to earn the Registered Behavior Technician certification, Health Psychology adds anatomy, biology and health science, and Industrial Organizational includes management, communication, statistics and theatre courses. Students take the ETS Major Field Test in their final semester, and the program integrates scientific principles with gospel teachings.

Emphases

General, Behavioral Interventions, Health Psychology and Industrial Organizational, 24 credits each.

Core

28 credits, including Research Methods, Experiencing Research and Introductory Statistics with R.

Credits

120 total, with a C- or higher in major courses.

Certification Option

Registered Behavior Technician certification in the Behavioral Interventions emphasis.

Assessment

ETS Major Field Test in the final semester.

Program Sources: Psychology | BYU-Idaho Academic CatalogBehavioral Interventions Psychology (B.S.) | Majors & Degrees | BYUI

No program admission requirements stand between you and the Psychology BA or BS at Idaho State University. The major takes Careers in Psychology, Basic Statistics and a four-credit Psychology Research Methods course, then two of four category 1 courses (Child Development, Psychopathology, Social Psychology, Theories of Personality) and two of five category 2 courses (Cognitive Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience I, Learning and Behavior, Cognitive Process, History of Psychology). Fifteen credits of electives, twelve of them upper-division, complete the 41 major credits. If you're planning graduate school, take Senior Seminar, where you design and run experiments, along with extra core area courses.

Required Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Careers in Psychology, Basic Statistics and Psychology Research Methods.

Category 1

Two of Child Development, Psychopathology, Social Psychology and Theories of Personality.

Category 2

Two of Cognitive Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience I, Learning and Behavior, Cognitive Process and History of Psychology.

Electives

15 credits, at least 12 upper-division, with no more than 9 from Research Experience.

Credits

41 in the major and 120 for the degree.

Program Sources: B.A. or B.S. in Psychology | Idaho State University Academic Catalog

A thesis finishes both psychology majors at The College of Idaho, and the two degrees differ in depth. The Psychology BA runs 46 to 48 credits, lets you choose three of four survey courses and takes an applied thesis with an internship. The Psychological Science BS runs 60 to 62 credits, requires all four surveys, adds 12 credits of advanced topics and a Research Thesis, and asks for at least two research-related courses such as Introduction to Social Research or Data Manipulation and Visualization. Both start with Data Analysis and Statistics or Multiple Regression Analysis, General Psychology and Critical Thinking in Psych Science, and both include Professional Pathways in Psychology and Thesis Seminar.

Psychology BA

46 to 48 credits, three survey courses, eight credits of advanced topics and an applied thesis.

Psychological Science BS

60 to 62 credits, four survey courses, 12 credits of advanced topics and a Research Thesis.

Shared Courses

General Psychology, Critical Thinking in Psych Science, Research Design and Analysis, Professional Pathways in Psychology and Thesis Seminar.

Survey Courses

Developmental, Biological, Cognitive and Social Psychology.

Program Sources: The College of Idaho - Psychology Major (B.A.)The College of Idaho - Psychological Science Major (B.S.)

Practicum is built into the Psychology BA at Northwest Nazarene University, through Psychology Pre-Practicum and Psychology Practicum. The 51 credits also include Counseling Theory and Helping Skills with a lab, Research Design, a Statistical Analysis Lab, Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis, Abnormal Psychology, Biological Foundations of Behavior with a lab, Human Sexuality, Human Diversity, Personality Theory and History and Systems of Psychology. You also choose two from courses such as Psychology of Learning and Psychology of Religion. Outcomes include a Christian integrated perspective on ethics and social responsibility, and graduates are prepared for social services, business, ministry or graduate study.

Credits

51, with 48 core credits and three elective credits.

Methods and Statistics

Research Design, Statistical Analysis Lab, and Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis.

Field Experience

Psychology Pre-Practicum and Psychology Practicum.

Counseling

Counseling Theory and Helping Skills with a lab.

Worldview

Ethics and social responsibility taught from a Christian integrated perspective.

Program Sources: Psychology | Northwest Nazarene University

Idaho's psychology MS focuses on human factors: how people use products, interfaces, vehicles, and other systems. The 30-credit program covers ergonomics, human-computer interaction, human error, and user testing, with on-campus and online options. Campus research can involve virtual environments, transportation safety, or measures of stress and workload. Students begin on the non-thesis route; moving to the thesis concentration requires program approval after at least one semester of enrollment.

Subject Focus

Human factors, ergonomics, interface design, human error, and user testing.

Thesis Entry

Students start non-thesis; thesis transfer needs approval after one semester.

Program Sources: Psychology (M.S.) | University of Idaho

Writing for the Social Sciences and Professional Development are both required in the College of Western Idaho's Psychology AA, along with Introduction to Psychology, Career Exploration, Child and Adolescent Development, Fundamentals of Social Science Research and Statistical Methods. The degree is an academic transfer program of at least 60 credits, and it is not available fully online. If you're heading to a four-year school, take MATH 153 for the math requirement and BIOL 227 with its lab for a science requirement. The general education side includes Connecting With Ideas, Human Relations for Career and Personal Success and a global perspectives choice such as Human Sexuality or Psychosocial Aspects of Dying and Death.

Major Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Career Exploration, Writing for the Social Sciences, Child and Adolescent Development, Fundamentals of Social Science Research, Statistical Methods and Professional Development.

Transfer Advice

MATH 153 for math, and BIOL 227 with BIOL 227L for science.

Delivery

Not available fully online.

Credits

60 minimum.

Program Sources: Psychology - Associate of Arts Degree (AA) | College of Western Idaho Academic Catalog

First-year students in the Psychology AA at the College of Southern Idaho take Introduction to Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development and a one-credit Careers in Psychology course. Sophomore year brings Statistical Methods and Introduction to Psychological Disorders. Statistical Reasoning, a biology course, general education and 14 credits of open electives fill in the rest of the 60 or 61 credits. An advisor can set up an alternative plan of study.

Psychology Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Careers in Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Statistical Methods and Introduction to Psychological Disorders.

Math and Science

Statistical Reasoning and a biology course.

Credits

60 to 61 credits.

Planning

Alternative plans of study through an advisor.

Program Sources: College of Southern Idaho - Psychology, Associate of Arts

North Idaho College's Psychology AS covers the first half of a psychology bachelor's degree, taught in Coeur d'Alene. You take Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Research in the Behavioral Sciences and Statistical Methods, then choose two of Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Personality and Abnormal Psychology. Fourteen elective credits numbered 100 or higher let you match the requirements of the school you plan to transfer to, and the total runs 60 to 62 credits. A grade point average of 3.00 or higher matters if you're seriously considering a psychology career, since a graduate degree is generally needed for careers specific to psychology.

Required Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Research in the Behavioral Sciences and Statistical Methods.

Choose Two

Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Personality and Abnormal Psychology.

Electives

14 credits at the 100 level or higher.

Credits

60 to 62.

Location

Coeur d'Alene.

Program Sources: Psychology - North Idaho CollegePSYC.AS Program | North Idaho College Catalog