Best Psychology Programs in North Dakota for 2027

Applied experience is required of every psychology major at the University of North Dakota, whether through Practical Experiences in Psychology, Instructional Experiences in Psychology, Psychological Helping Skills (BA) or Advanced Individual Research (BS). Both degrees take 36 major hours with Introduction to Psychology, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods, Professional Development and Ethics, and History and Systems. The BA adds two 400-level courses from a list that includes Diversity Psychology, Perception, Cognitive Psychology and Introduction to Clinical Psychology. The BS adds an advanced research methods course, a laboratory-based course such as Psychology of Learning or Perception, and more 400-level work. Both degrees require a world language and two lab sciences.

Major Hours

At least 36, within a 120-credit degree.

Research Courses

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences and Research Methods in Psychology, four credits each.

BA Extras

Two 400-level courses and two credits of applied experience.

BS Extras

Advanced Research Methods, a laboratory-based course and two credits of applied experience.

Outside Requirements

Level II world language and two lab sciences.

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts with Major in Psychology | University of North Dakota Academic CatalogBachelor of Science with Major in Psychology | University of North Dakota Academic Catalog

Group A and Group B electives structure the upper level of the psychology major at North Dakota State University, with two 400-level courses from each. Group A leans experimental, with Sensation and Perception, Memory and Knowledge, Psychobiology and Neuropsychology, and Group B covers Organizational Psychology, Personality, Health Psychology and Advanced Psychopathology. Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods I and II and a first-year Skills for Academic Success course come first, along with an advanced writing course. Undergraduate Research credit can count toward either group. Bachelor of Science students also choose a track: Natural Science, Social Sciences, a minor or an approved accelerated track.

Major Credits

51 to 53 credits.

Research Courses

PSYC 350 Research Methods I and PSYC 351 Research Methods II, three credits each.

400-Level Groups

Two courses from Group A and two from Group B.

Undergraduate Research

Up to three graded credits of PSYC 493 can apply to Group A or B.

BS Track

Natural Science, Social Sciences, Minor or Accelerated, 14 to 16 credits.

Program Sources: Psychology Major < North Dakota State University

Catholic Christian Psychology is one of the upper-level options in the University of Mary psychology major, where you learn to bring psychological principles into dialogue with Christian anthropology. Required courses include General Psychology, History and Systems of Psychology, Lifespan Development, Psychological Disorders and Treatment, Behavioral Sciences Research Methods, Dimensions of Diversity, Applied Statistics and a Senior Capstone. You choose one of Social Psychology, Theories of Personality or Industrial and Organizational Psychology, two of options such as Forensic Psychology and Clinical Psychology, and one each from cognitive, health or neuropsychology and from educational, sexuality or child psychology. The BS is the default degree and the BA the alternative, and an online BS is available.

Degrees

Bachelor of Science (default) or Bachelor of Arts.

Research and Statistics

Behavioral Sciences Research Methods and Applied Statistics, with College Algebra.

Choice Courses

One social, personality or I/O course; two from Sport and Injury, Forensic, Testing and Assessment, Catholic Christian or Clinical Psychology.

Capstone

PSY 490 Senior Capstone in Psychology.

Delivery

On campus; an online BS is also offered.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology Major - University of MaryPsychology | University of Mary in Bismarck, ND

Seniors at Minot State University take the Psychology Major Field Exam during Senior Seminar and must score no lower than half a standard deviation below the national mean to graduate. A baseline exam comes earlier, in Foundations of Psychology. The core also includes Research Methods, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Treatments, Social Psychology, Psychology of Adulthood and Aging, Personality Theories and Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. Area choices cover biological, learning, applied and preprofessional topics, such as Psychopharmacology, Industrial Organizational Psychology or Introduction to Counseling. A Behavioral Research concentration adds Research Methods II, Directed Behavioral Research, a Thesis Proposal and a Senior Research Thesis.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts, 120 credits.

Required Core

Foundations, Research Methods, Child and Adolescent, Disorders, Social, Aging, Personality, Behavioral Neuroscience and Senior Seminar.

Area Choices

Biological, Learning, Applied and Preprofessional components.

Field Exam

Psychology Major Field Exam taken in Foundations and again in Senior Seminar.

Research Concentration

Behavioral Research, 14 credits ending in a Senior Research Thesis.

Program Sources: Psychology | Minot State University Academic Catalogs

Practical experience is built into Dickinson State University's psychology BS, which totals 46 credits: an undergraduate research credit, a three-credit psychology internship, externship or co-op, and two Research and Experimentation courses. The rest of the core covers Developmental Psychology, History and Systems, Biological Psychology, Psychology of Learning, Social Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Treatment, Theories of Personality, Health Psychology and a Seminar in Psychology. Nine elective credits come from options such as Dynamics of Addiction, Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling, Counseling Psychology, Drugs, the Brain and Behavior, and Probability and Statistics, and the major is offered on the Dickinson campus and through DSUlive.

Major Credits

46: 37 in the core and 9 in electives.

Research Courses

Research and Experimentation in Psychology I and II, plus one credit of Independent Study or Undergraduate Research.

Field Experience

Psychology Internship, Externship or Cooperative Education, three credits.

Electives

Nine credits, including Forensic Psychology, Counseling Psychology and Sensation and Perception.

Locations

Dickinson campus and DSUlive.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, B.S. - Dickinson State University

A professional internship can carry three to twelve credits in Valley City State University's psychology BS, and past placements include state hospitals, outreach centers, police and sheriff departments, community corrections, Head Start and public school counseling offices. The 38-credit major requires Introduction to Psychology, Cognition and Brain Science, Developmental Psychology, Understanding Statistics, Research Methods and a one-credit Capstone. Twenty-one directed elective credits come from courses such as Social Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Treatment, Counseling Theory and Practice, Health Psychology and Undergraduate Research. Courses are offered through a mix of face-to-face and online instruction.

Major Credits

38 credits within a 120-credit degree.

Required Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Cognition and Brain Science, Developmental Psychology, Understanding Statistics, Research Methods and Capstone.

Directed Electives

21 credits, including Group Dynamics, Personality Theories and Behavior Modification.

Internship

Three to twelve credits; junior standing and a 2.5 GPA to begin applying.

Delivery

Face-to-face and online courses.

Program Sources: Psychology Program Fact Sheet - Valley City State UniversityPsychology | Valley City State University

Psychology majors at the University of Jamestown pick an area of emphasis: Addiction Counseling, General, Pre-Social Work, Sports Psychology or Forensic Psychology. All emphases start from the same core psychology courses, and the flexible General Emphasis totals 40 credits: General Psychology, Psychology in Context, Research Methods, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, a one-credit Junior Seminar and History and Systems, then Abnormal Psychology or Theories of Personality, one of Biological Psychology, Health Psychology or Psychopharmacology, and two of Social Psychology, Motivation and Emotion and Cognition, with 12 elective credits. A senior thesis through Independent Research in Psychology is available with faculty permission. Students aiming for graduate school can add a Technical Writing certificate or a Leadership minor.

General Emphasis Credits

40 credit hours, with 12 credits of electives.

Emphases

Addiction Counseling, General, Pre-Social Work, Sports Psychology and Forensic Psychology.

Research Courses

Research Methods and Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, three credits each.

Senior Thesis

Independent Research in Psychology: Senior Thesis, three to six credits, with faculty permission.

Graduate Preparation

Technical Writing certificate, Leadership minor, internship or relevant work experience.

Program Sources: University of Jamestown - Psychology, B.S.

A checkpoint sits in the middle of the University of North Dakota's general/experimental psychology PhD: after completing the MS in general psychology, you need a 3.5 graduate GPA, the MS finished within three years of enrollment and approval from a majority of the core and associated faculty to continue. The PhD takes at least 60 credit hours beyond 30 from a master's, for 90 in all, including Advanced Univariate Statistics, Multivariate Statistics for Psychology and Experimental Design. A PhD examination in experimental psychology and an empirical dissertation follow. Applicants submit a personal statement naming potential faculty advisors and a CV that emphasizes research, and are encouraged to bring a 3.20 undergraduate GPA.

Credits

60 hours beyond a 30-credit master's, 90 in total.

Scholarly Tools

Advanced Univariate Statistics, Multivariate Statistics for Psychology and Experimental Design.

Candidacy Checks

3.5 graduate GPA, MS within three years and faculty approval.

Final Milestones

PhD examination in experimental psychology and an empirical dissertation.

Application Materials

Personal statement, CV and a list of quantitative courses with grades.

Program Sources: Doctor of Philosophy in General/Experimental Psychology | University of North Dakota Academic Catalog