Best Psychology Programs in Missouri for 2027

No exceptions are made to the research methods sequence in Mizzou's psychological sciences majors: Research Methods in Psychology comes first, then Applied Statistical Methods in Psychology, then a capstone lab. Both degrees require 30 credit hours of psychology with a grade of C- or higher, at least six hours numbered 4000 or above, and a writing-intensive course. The BA suits students heading for employment or applied graduate programs such as counseling and social work. The BS adds a required science track and more math and statistics, preparing students for science-oriented graduate programs like neuroscience, for medical school and for health professions. Research, readings and internship credit count up to 12 hours. The degree is earned on campus, with some classes online, and a separate online BA in psychology is offered with UMSL.

Psychology Hours

30 credit hours with a C- or better.

Research Sequence

Research Methods in Psychology, Applied Statistical Methods in Psychology and a capstone lab.

BS Science Track

A required science track, with MATH 1100 or 1160 and an extra statistics course.

Experience Credit

Up to 12 hours of research, readings or internship credit.

Program Sources: BS in Psychological Sciences | University of Missouri Academic CatalogPsychology Major | Psychological Sciences - Mizzou

The BA and BS in psychology at Saint Louis University differ at the end of the major. The BA closes with Critical Thinking About Psychology or a capstone practicum project, while the BS closes with a two-course research sequence, Applications of Research Methods and Statistics and then Advanced Research Methodology and Statistics. Both start with General Psychology and Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics, then require one breadth course in each of four areas: cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, social and organizational psychology, and mental health in applied contexts. The BS also requires Disciplines and Practices in Psychology. Practicum settings include mental health, research, consulting and schools, and students can join a social advocacy learning community or work in a faculty lab.

Shared Foundation

General Psychology and Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics (4 credits).

Breadth Requirement

12 credits, one course from each of four clusters.

BS Capstone

Applications of Research Methods and Statistics, then Advanced Research Methodology and Statistics.

Mentoring

Two Mentoring Matters events, or equivalent, for every psychology major.

Program Sources: Psychology, B.A. < Saint Louis University Academic CatalogPsychology, B.S. < Saint Louis University Academic Catalog

A score at or above the 20th percentile on the senior Major Field Test is required to graduate from Truman's psychology program, along with a 2.25 GPA in the major. The curriculum spans five domains (developmental and social, biological, cognitive and behavioral, clinical and personality, and advanced topics), a research methods course, an upper-level statistics course and History and Systems of Psychology, and it ends with a four-hour Psychological Research capstone. Required support is 15 credits as a minor, as non-psychology coursework or as an internship, which needs a 2.75 GPA. The BA asks for intermediate proficiency in one foreign language, and the BS asks for six more credits in science, math or computing. Internship sites have included the Department of Children and Family Services and Great Circle.

Major Hours

34 credits plus 21 credits of required support.

Research Courses

Experimental Psychology, an upper-level statistics course and the Psychological Research capstone.

Senior Exam

Major Field Test at or above the 20th percentile.

BA Or BS Add-On

Foreign language for the BA; six science, math or computing credits for the BS.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology (BA) - Truman State UniversityPsychology Major - Truman State University

Missouri State offers its psychology degree 100% online as well as in seated and hybrid formats, and both the BA and the BS require a minor or second major. The 34-hour core is Introductory Psychology, Psychological Statistical Methods, Experimental Psychology and Psychology of Diversity, which doubles as the public affairs capstone, plus one professional development course such as Service-Learning in Psychology, Preparation for Graduate School or a Practicum. You then take one foundation course in each of four areas (developmental, learning and cognition, biological processes and applied) and nine hours of psychology electives. The BA adds a foreign language and fine arts. Students can use the Collaborative Care Clinic, research labs and an accelerated master's in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Core Hours

34 hours, including Psychological Statistical Methods and Experimental Psychology.

Foundation Areas

Developmental, learning and cognition, biological processes, and applied.

Minor Requirement

A minor or second major.

Delivery

100% online, or seated and hybrid formats.

Program Sources: Program Requirements - Psychology Undergraduate Program - Missouri State UniversityPsychology Undergraduate Program - Missouri State University

Seven psychology courses and a four-part social science research sequence make up the 45-credit major at Maryville. The psychology courses are General Psychology, Human Development through the Lifespan, Psychopathology, Social Psychology, Multicultural Psychology, Human Cognition and Biological Psychology. The research sequence runs from Critical Thinking in Social Science through Research Methods or Research Design and Understanding Statistical Inference to a Senior Seminar or Senior Project, and Introduction to Sociology is also required. A concentration or minor in Developmental Psychology or in Industrial and Organizational Psychology lets you go deeper, though both are currently offered only in a hybrid format that mixes online-only and face-to-face courses.

Major Hours

45 credits, within a 120-credit degree.

Research Sequence

Critical Thinking in Social Science, Research Methods or Research Design, Understanding Statistical Inference, and Senior Seminar or Senior Project.

Concentrations

Developmental Psychology or Industrial and Organizational Psychology, as a concentration or minor.

Residency

At least half the major credit hours and the last 30 hours at Maryville.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, B.A. - Maryville University

Students take at least one course from each of five core categories in WashU's Psychological & Brain Sciences major: Social/Personality, Mental Health/Affective, Biological/Neurological Bases of Behavior, Behavior and Cognition, and Lifespan Development. Required courses are Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Psychological Statistics and Experimental Psychology, and the 34-unit base major needs at least 25 units numbered 3000 or above. An optional specialization adds 9 to 12 units for a deeper focus. Research assistant positions are listed by lab and can earn course credit, a Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis works with a child with autism, and seniors with strong records can conduct an empirical Honors investigation with a faculty advisor.

Base Major

34 units, at least 25 at the 3000 level or above.

Specialization

Optional, adding 9 to 12 units.

Required Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Psychological Statistics and Experimental Psychology.

Honors Program

Senior-year empirical investigation under a faculty Honors advisor.

Program Sources: Psychological & Brain Sciences Major - WashU BulletinUndergraduate Program | Psychological & Brain Sciences

Faculty from both clinical and counseling psychology serve as core faculty in UMKC's doctorate in clinical psychology, so students train inside two philosophies at once. The full-time program is designed to produce scientist-practitioners who work as health service psychologists, with a commitment to multiculturalism, individual diversity and ethical practice. Faculty with expertise in experimental, developmental, cognitive and social psychology also support the program and serve as mentors, which widens the research options. The Ph.D. has been accredited by the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation since 2004, with the next site visit scheduled for 2027, and the department publishes student admissions, outcomes and other data for applicants to review.

Training Model

Scientist-practitioner training for health service psychology.

Enrollment

Full-time program of graduate study.

Faculty

Clinical and counseling core faculty, with experimental, developmental, cognitive and social mentors.

Accreditation

APA accredited since 2004, with the next site visit in 2027.

Program Sources: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology - Psychology and Counseling - UMKC

Applicants to the psychology PhD at UMSL choose an emphasis up front, Clinical Community Psychology or Psychological and Brain Sciences. Psychological and Brain Sciences is a 60-hour, full-time program with core work in Human Neuroanatomy, Psychopharmacology, behavioral neuroscience seminars and two quantitative methods courses, a thesis project in years one and two, then directed research, a qualifying exam, a specialty paper and a dissertation in years three to five. Doctoral students hold a teaching assistantship in their first two years. The Clinical Community emphasis follows the scientist-practitioner model and has held APA accreditation since 1977, with three years in the department's Community Psychological Services clinic, clerkships and a year-long internship.

Emphases

Clinical Community Psychology, and Psychological and Brain Sciences.

Brain Sciences Degree

60 credit hours with directed research, a qualifying exam and a dissertation.

Clinical Training

Three years in the Community Psychological Services clinic, clerkships and a full-time internship.

Assistantships

Teaching assistantships in the first and second years for brain sciences students.

Program Sources: Psychology PhD, Psychological and Brain Sciences Emphasis - UMSL BulletinPsychology PhD, Clinical Community Psychology Emphasis - UMSL Bulletin

Ozarks Technical's 61-hour Associate of Arts in Behavioral Science brings psychology, sociology and criminology together, can be taken at the Springfield campus or online, and is built for transfer. Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology are required, along with a Behavioral Sciences Seminar, Statistics for Behavioral Science, Psychological Disorders and Deconstructing Social Problems. Nine more hours come from electives such as Life Span Development Psychology, Research Methods in Behavioral Science, Psychology of Work Behavior, Social Psychology, Cultural Diversity and Sociology of Family. The 42-hour general education core and five core elective hours round out the degree.

Degree Length

61 credit hours, with a 42-hour general education core.

Behavioral Science Courses

Behavioral Sciences Seminar, Statistics for Behavioral Science, Psychological Disorders and Deconstructing Social Problems.

Electives

Nine hours from psychology, sociology and related options.

Locations

Springfield campus and online.

Program Sources: Program: Behavioral Science (A.A.) - Ozarks Technical Community College

Psychology, sociology and criminology share a 24-credit core in the Associate of Science in Behavioral Science at Drury GO, and every required course can be completed online. The core is Applied Human Development, Principles of Criminal Justice, Methods in Social Science Research and Statistical Foundations for Behavioral Sciences. The two-year plan adds Principles of Psychology, Principles of Sociology, Global Social Problems and Victimology, with elective hours that you can steer toward one discipline. At 62 credit hours, the degree finishes in two years at about 30 to 33 hours a year, and Drury GO offers several related bachelor's degrees if you want to keep going.

Degree Length

62 credit hours, with 24 hours of coursework in the program.

Required Courses

Applied Human Development, Principles of Criminal Justice, Methods in Social Science Research and Statistical Foundations for Behavioral Sciences.

Format

All required courses can be completed online.

Disciplines

Psychology, sociology and criminology.

Program Sources: Drury GO Associate of Science in Behavioral Science | Program Overview2026-27 2-year Plan: Associate of Science in Behavioral Science - Drury GO