Best Psychology Programs in Minnesota for 2027

Transfer students make up about one-third of the psychology majors at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and every major takes PSY 3801, Introduction to Psychological Measurement and Data Analysis, for statistics. The BS emphasizes scientific training in biological and quantitative psychology and requires 18 credits of outside coursework from three of four areas: philosophy, math and computer science, physical sciences, and biological sciences. Its capstone has two parts, assisting in a faculty research lab and a Capstone in Psychology: Research Laboratory. The BA is a liberal arts degree with a second-language requirement and a flexible capstone, and students in the University Honors Program can add a three-semester research sequence ending in an honors thesis.

Statistics

PSY 3801 Introduction to Psychological Measurement and Data Analysis, for both degrees.

BS Outside Coursework

18 credits from three of philosophy, math or computer science, physical sciences and biological sciences.

BS Capstone

Faculty lab research plus PSY 3901W Capstone in Psychology: Research Laboratory, three credits each.

BA Requirements

Second language and a flexible capstone.

Grade Rule

C- or better in courses counted toward the major.

Program Sources: BS in Psychology | Psychology | College of Liberal ArtsBA in Psychology | Psychology | College of Liberal Arts

The University of Minnesota-Duluth awards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology, and you can earn it on campus or entirely online. The online major is for students who already hold an AA or AS or have completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, and it admits in fall and spring with a cap of 15 new students per semester. Both versions share a core of General Psychology, Statistical Methods, Experimental Design and Methodology, Applied Methods and Measurement and History and Systems of Psychology. You then pick two courses from a group that includes Developmental, Abnormal, Social and Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and two more from physiological, learning, applied behavior analysis, cognition and sensation and perception. Twelve elective credits can follow clinical and counseling, developmental, experimental, human services or industrial/organizational interests.

Degree

Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.).

Methods Sequence

Statistical Methods, Experimental Design and Methodology, and Applied Methods and Measurement.

Elective Areas

Clinical/Counseling, Developmental, Experimental, Human Services and Industrial/Organizational.

Online Admission

AA, AS or Minnesota Transfer Curriculum; deadlines June 15 for fall and November 1 for spring.

Residency

20 credits of PSY 3xxx or higher taken through UMD.

Program Sources: Psychology B.A.Sc. | UMN Duluth CatalogPsychology Major - Online | University of Minnesota Duluth

A minor in any field is required with the Psychology BS at Minnesota State University, Mankato, so your 48 major credits sit alongside a second area of study. After Introductory Psychological Science and a math or statistics course, you take Statistics for Psychology and Research Methods and Design. You then choose one course from each of four areas: biological, cognition, developmental, and social and cultural. A four-credit capstone can be History and Systems, Communicating Psychological Science, Laboratory Research in Psychology or a Field Experience, and unrestricted electives fill the rest of the major. The department's Experimental Psychology certificate adds research experience and a credential for students heading toward graduate programs or research-based careers.

Major Credits

48 credits.

Research Courses

PSYC 201 Statistics for Psychology and PSYC 211W Research Methods and Design, four credits each.

Restricted Electives

One course each from biological, cognition, developmental and social/cultural lists.

Capstone

Four credits: History and Systems, Communicating Psychological Science, Laboratory Research or Field Experience.

Minor

Required, in any field.

Program Sources: Psychology (BS) | Minnesota State University, MankatoPsychology Undergraduate Programs | Minnesota State University, Mankato

Biological, cognitive, social, developmental and clinical perspectives structure the University of St Thomas psychology major, and you take at least one course from each. General Psychology, a senior-year History and Systems course and Research Methods in Psychology (or Neuroscience Literacy, at four credits each) are required, plus eight more courses, four of them at the 300 or 400 level and two of them labs. Introduction to Neuroscience, a biology or chemistry course and Introduction to Computational Statistics are allied requirements, and the statistics course comes before Research Methods. You can pair psychology with social work as a co-major, and Psi Chi and Nu Rho Psi chapters recognize strong students in psychology and neuroscience.

Required Courses

General Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology or Neuroscience Literacy, and History and Systems.

Additional Courses

Eight, with at least one from each of five perspectives, four at 300 or 400 level and two labs.

Allied Requirements

Introduction to Neuroscience, a biology or chemistry course and Introduction to Computational Statistics.

Residency

At least 24 psychology credits taken at St. Thomas.

Co-Major

Social Work and Psychology.

Program Sources: Psychology | University of St. Thomas - Minnesota

Statistics comes with its own lab at Saint Cloud State University, where the Psychology BA runs 41 credits and also requires Methodology in Psychology and Experimental Psychology. The core opens with Introduction to Psychology, then Psychology as a Discipline and Profession. Fifteen credits of foundation courses come from developmental, cognitive, social, personality, physiological and abnormal psychology, motivation and emotion, and sensation and perception, followed by nine elective credits. A senior capstone, which needs an application and a 2.4 major GPA, can be a field experience, history of psychology, advanced topics or research topics. Every psychology course in the major is available online, and the degree can be completed entirely online or on the St. Cloud campus.

Program Credits

41 credits within a 120-credit degree.

Core Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Psychology as a Discipline and Profession, Data Analysis Lab, Statistics, Methodology and Experimental Psychology.

Capstone Options

Field Experience, History of Psychology, Advanced Topics or Research Topics in Psychology.

Capstone Admission

Application plus a 2.4 GPA in the major.

Delivery

St. Cloud campus, online or a mix; a completely online program is available.

Program Sources: Psychology BA Requirements | St. Cloud State University CatalogPsychology | St. Cloud State University

Statistics and Research Methods run as a two-course sequence at Gustavus Adolphus College, and every major completes both after Introductory Psychology. Two basic-process courses come next, chosen from Cognitive Psychology, Brain and Behavior, and Sensation and Perception. Five upper-division electives, one of them at Level III, let you build your own emphasis in a major of at least 10 department courses planned with your advisor. Internships, research apprenticeships and directed research are available but don't count toward the major requirements. Seniors take the Major Field Test in Psychology, and study away is encouraged because most students can finish the department's requirements without using courses from abroad.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts, at least 10 courses in the department.

Research Sequence

PSY 224 and PSY 225, Stats and Research Methods I and II.

Basic Process Courses

Two of Cognitive Psychology, Brain and Behavior, and Sensation and Perception.

Upper-Division Electives

At least five courses, including one Level III.

Senior Assessment

Major Field Test in Psychology.

Program Sources: Psychological Science Major Requirements | Gustavus Adolphus College CatalogPsychological Science Major | Gustavus Adolphus College Catalog

Metropolitan State University asks Psychology BA students to choose one course from at least three of four content areas, with options such as Social Psychology, Biopsychology, Abnormal Psychology and Child Psychology. The 40 psychology credits also include General Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychological Science, Introduction to Diversity and Ethics in Psychology, a five-credit Research Methods course, History and Systems of Psychology and Professional and Career Applications of Psychology, plus at least nine credits of electives. An Application of Knowledge experience, planned in the career applications course, is required. At least 24 credits must be taken at Metro State and 30 must be upper-division, and transfer credits count toward the 40, with a Minnesota State transfer pathway available.

Required Courses

General Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychological Science, Introduction to Diversity and Ethics in Psychology, Research Methods, History and Systems of Psychology and Professional and Career Applications of Psychology.

Content Areas

One course from at least three of four areas, with options such as Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Abnormal Psychology and Child Psychology.

Application of Knowledge

An internship or applied experience planned in PSYC 407.

Credits

40 in psychology and 120 total, with 24 taken at Metro State and 30 upper-division.

Transfer

A Minnesota State transfer pathway to the bachelor's degree.

Program Sources: Psychology BA | Metro State University

A non-licensure doctorate aimed at teaching, research, program evaluation and consulting, the Walden University PhD in Psychology is offered online with six specializations: Educational Psychology, Health Psychology, Research in Psychology, Social Psychology, Teaching in Psychology and Self-Designed. Coursework is 65 quarter credits, followed by 20 to 125 quarter credits of doctoral study, and four residencies are required. A Doctoral Degree Coach tracks milestones and weekly targets, and you can earn a Master of Philosophy along the way once the PhD requirements other than the dissertation are complete. A Fast Track option can shorten coursework to five terms, and a completion program supports students who have finished everything but the dissertation.

Specializations

Educational, Health, Research in Psychology, Social, Teaching in Psychology and Self-Designed.

Coursework

65 quarter credits in the standard option; five terms in Fast Track.

Doctoral Study

20 to 125 quarter credits of dissertation work.

Residencies

Four, virtual or in person.

Licensure

Non-licensure program.

Program Sources: PhD in Psychology | Walden University

Electives let you design your own area of study in the Capella University PhD in Psychology with a General Psychology specialization, including an interdisciplinary blend with education or business. The online program runs 84 quarter credits, with up to 24 transferable, and is made up of seven core courses, three specialization courses, four electives, three virtual residencies and four dissertation courses. Residencies give you hands-on research experience with faculty, and academic coaches work with you from enrollment through the dissertation.

Total Credits

84 quarter credits, 24 maximum transfer.

Coursework

Seven core, three specialization and four elective courses.

Residencies

Three virtual residencies.

Dissertation

Four dissertation courses.

Delivery

Online, with a GuidedPath format.

Program Sources: PhD in Psychology | Online Doctoral Degree | Capella University

Principles of Counseling is one of four psychology courses in the Associate of Arts in Psychology at University of Northwestern-St Paul, alongside Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology and either Lifespan Psychology or Child and Adolescent Development with Adult Development. The 60-credit degree is offered through Adult Undergraduate (AU) Online and is built for students with few or no prior college credits. A Christian-worldview core covers Biblical thinking, ethics or philosophy, writing and speaking, math and natural science, with Statistics for the Social Sciences among the options. About 11 to 14 credits of general electives remain. Graduates can move into one of the existing BS programs or transfer to another school.

Credits

60 credits.

Psychology Specialization

16 credits: Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Psychology or Child and Adolescent Development with Adult Development, Abnormal Psychology and Principles of Counseling.

Core Curriculum

30 to 33 credits, including Biblical Thinking and Living, Public Speaking and College Writing and Research.

General Electives

11 to 14 credits.

Delivery

AU Online.

Program Sources: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027 - University of Northwestern-St Paul