Best Psychology Programs in Oregon for 2027

Oregon State University's Psychology BA and BS run in Corvallis, through Ecampus and at OSU-Cascades, with a 72-credit major inside a 180-credit degree. A two-part Introduction to Psychology sequence leads into a methods sequence of Thinking Like a Psychological Scientist, Quantitative Methods in Psychological Science and Research Methods in Psychological Science. The upper-division core asks you to choose between Brain and Behavior or Cognitive Psychology, Human Lifespan Development or Social Psychology, and Personality or Psychology of Mental Health. You also take a Difference, Power, and Oppression course and three specialized electives such as Psychopharmacology, Psychology of Addiction or Conservation Psychology.

Methods Sequence

Thinking Like a Psychological Scientist, Quantitative Methods in Psychological Science (or two statistics courses) and Research Methods in Psychological Science.

Upper-Division Core

Brain and Behavior or Cognitive Psychology, Human Lifespan Development or Social Psychology, and Personality or Psychology of Mental Health.

Specialized Electives

Three courses, for example Psychology and the Law, Perception, Psychotherapy or Positive Psychology.

Locations

Corvallis, Ecampus and OSU-Cascades.

Major Size

72 credits within a 180-credit degree.

Program Sources: Psychology Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS) - Oregon State University Catalog

Statistics comes first at Portland State University: students finish the required statistics courses before taking any 400-level psychology course. The major runs 60 credits and pairs Elementary Statistics I with Introduction to Probability and Statistics II, then adds Introduction to Psychology I and II, Research Methods in Psychology, 16 credits of 410 to 498 level seminars and 20 more upper-division credits. A human diversity course is required, with options such as Cross-cultural Psychology, LGBTQ Psychology, Native American Psychological Healing and Psychology of Women and Gender. Courses need a minimum grade of C-, and pass/no pass doesn't count. Both the BA and BS total 180 credits.

Statistics

Elementary Statistics I and Introduction to Probability and Statistics II, or a sociology statistics option, plus Social Science Research Methods II.

Psychology Core

Introduction to Psychology I and II, and Research Methods in Psychology.

Advanced Work

16 credits at the 410 to 498 level and 20 more upper-division credits.

Human Diversity Requirement

One 300- or 400-level course from approved subjects, such as Black Studies, Indigenous Nations Studies or Psychology of Stigma and Social Inequality.

Degree Length

60 psychology credits within 180 credits for either the BA or BS.

Program Sources: Psychology B.A./B.S. - Portland State University Bulletin

A sophomore thesis is part of the Psychology BA at Lewis & Clark College: Psychology Methodology, the last foundation course, ends with an individually written thesis that students must pass to pass the course. Statistics and the introductory course come first. Seven more courses follow, including one in development, abnormal or social psychology, one in cognition or brain and behavior, an advanced lab in cognition, behavioral neuroscience or cognitive neuroscience, and a capstone such as Psychology of Sustainability or Human-Computer Interaction. Psychology faculty also lead programs in Australia and Ireland that count toward the degree and include internships.

Foundation Courses

Introduction to Psychology, a statistics course (Statistics I recommended) and Psychology Methodology.

Area Courses

One in development, abnormal or social psychology, and one in cognition or brain and behavior.

Advanced Lab

Cognition, Behavioral Neuroscience or Cognitive Neuroscience.

Capstone

One seminar such as Advanced Topics in Psychology, Educational Psychology or Human-Computer Interaction.

Major Size

At least 40 semester credits, or 10 courses.

Study Abroad

Faculty-led programs in Australia and Ireland with credit toward the major.

Program Sources: Majoring - Psychology - Lewis & Clark CollegePsychology - Lewis & Clark College

Brain, mind and behavior are the three levels that sort the upper-division electives in the University of Portland's Psychology BA. You take at least one course from each group, such as Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognition or Social Psychology, within 21 upper-division credits. The 36-credit major starts with Psychological Science, Research Methods: Design and Research Methods: Analysis, then an applications course (Mixed Methods Research, Advanced Research Methods or an internship) and a senior capstone seminar, applied project or thesis. Internship placements count for course credit.

Required Courses

Psychological Science, Research Methods: Design and Research Methods: Analysis.

Applications Course

Mixed Methods Research, Advanced Research Methods or Internship.

Capstone

Senior Capstone seminar, applied projects or thesis.

Brain, Mind and Behavior Groups

Group choices include Behavioral Neuroscience, Learning and Memory, Cognition, Health Psychology, Life Span Development and Social Psychology.

Major Size

36 credit hours, of which no more than six can be non-classroom credit.

Program Sources: BA in Psychology - University of PortlandPsychology, B.A. - University of Portland Bulletin

Western Oregon University teaches psychology online, in hybrid formats and in person, and the major is the same 56 credits for the BS and the Bachelor of Applied Science. A 36-hour core covers a two-part Introduction to Psychology sequence, an introductory research methods course, Developmental, Social and Cognitive Psychology, Quantitative Methods, Research Methods and one industrial and organizational course. Twenty elective hours are chosen with an adviser, and 40 of the 56 credits must be upper division. Practicum, teaching assistantships, peer advising and youth mentoring are open to majors, and the BS encourages a 27-credit minor.

Core Courses

Introduction to Psychology I and II, Introduction to Research Methods, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Quantitative Methods, Research Methods and one Industrial Organizational Psychology course.

Major Size

56 credits: a 36-hour core and 20 hours of electives, with 40 credits upper division.

BS Degree

180 credits, including 55 general education, an optional 27-credit minor and 42 general electives.

Opportunities

Practicum, teaching assistantships, peer advisor, youth mentoring and Psi Chi.

Program Sources: Psychology Major - Western Oregon University

The BS in psychology at Pacific University needs 48 credits to the BA's 40, because it adds two laboratory courses from the natural sciences. Everyone takes a research methods and statistics pair, Introduction to Psychology and a four-credit senior capstone chosen from Applied Psychological Practicum, capstones in cognitive, sociocultural, health and well-being, developmental psychology or biopsychology, or Psychological Research. You also pick one course from each of three sub-discipline groups, such as Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology or Abnormal Psychology, plus one advanced topics course. The program is in person in Forest Grove, and Psi Chi is the department's honor society.

BA and BS Credits

40 credits for the BA, 48 for the BS with two additional natural science laboratory courses.

Core

Introduction to Psychology, research methods and statistics, and a senior capstone.

Sub-Disciplines

One four-credit course from each of three groups spanning cognition and neuroscience, social and cultural psychology, and health, abnormal and personality psychology.

Capstone Options

Applied Psychological Practicum, five topical capstones, or Psychological Research (2 to 6 credits).

Format

In person at the Forest Grove campus.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, BA or BS - Pacific UniversityPsychology Major - Pacific University

Field Experience puts George Fox University psychology majors in placements with a faculty mentor, at sites such as Providence Newberg, Willamette Valley Medical Center, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility and the Newberg School District. The 50-semester-hour major comes as a BA, which leans toward applied learning, or a BS in Psychological Science, which leans toward scientific methodology and has four tracks: experimental psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and human and artificial intelligence. Richter Scholars can run research studies under a faculty member, and the university's Doctor of Psychology program gives undergraduates access to more faculty, library resources and research opportunities.

Degree Options

BA with an applied emphasis, or BS in Psychological Science with a scientific-methods emphasis.

BS Tracks

Experimental psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and human and artificial intelligence.

Major Size

50 semester hours, plus an 18-credit-hour minor option.

Field Experience

PSYC 475, supervised by a faculty mentor at an agency or institution.

Research

Original research presented on local and national platforms, and Richter Scholars grants.

Program Sources: Undergraduate Psychology Program - George Fox University

Social and personality, developmental and abnormal, and biopsychology and cognition are the three concentrations in Linfield University's psychology major, and you take one four-credit introductory course from each. Two upper-division seminars from two different concentrations follow, such as Drugs and Behavior, Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology of Women and Gender or Media and Child Development. The required courses are Professional Development, Survey of Psychology, Quantitative Methods for Psychology, a research methods course and Senior Seminar. The 41-credit major is available as a BA or a BS, and courses count only with a minimum grade of C-.

Required Courses

Professional Development: Psychology Major, Survey of Psychology, Quantitative Methods, Research Methods and Senior Seminar.

Introductory Choices

One each from social and personality, developmental and abnormal, and biopsychology and cognition.

Seminars

Two upper-division courses from two different concentrations.

Major Size

41 credits, including four credits of psychology electives.

Degrees

Bachelor of arts or bachelor of science.

Program Sources: Psychology Major - Linfield University Catalog

Southern Oregon University's psychology degree can be done 100% online, apart from one required biology class that transfer students can take elsewhere. The BS core is Introduction to Psychology I and II, The Psychology Major, Methods Statistics and Applications with a lab, Writing and Research in Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience and a Psychology Capstone. Nine project-based courses follow, among them Learning and Memory, Health Psychology, Psychopharmacology and Psychological Disorders, along with 12 elective credits. The capstone is designed with an adviser as fieldwork or a research project and documented in a portfolio or paper.

Entry Courses

Elementary Statistics I and one general biology or anatomy and physiology course, each with a C- or better.

Core Courses

25 credits, including Behavioral Neuroscience, Writing and Research in Psychology and Psychology Capstone.

Project-Based Courses

32 credits across nine courses, including Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development and History and Systems of Psychology.

Credits in Psychology

At least 61, with at least 40 upper division.

Online Option

100% online except one required biology class.

Program Sources: Psychology BA/BS - Southern Oregon UniversityPsychology, BS - Southern Oregon University Catalog

Two four-credit courses, Introduction to Psychology I and Introduction to Psychology II, open the Psychology emphasis in Linn-Benton Community College's Associate of Science. Program courses also include Social Psychology, Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, Thinking Like a Social Scientist and Quantitative Methods in Psychology and Social Science, and each of those four can be swapped for electives. The 90-credit degree adds Elementary Statistics I, Composition I and Technical Writing, 35 credits of general education and 15 credits of liberal arts core. Graduates are expected to explain the interplay between social or natural forces and individuals and to synthesize psychological concepts into reasonable conclusions.

Required Psychology

Introduction to Psychology I and Introduction to Psychology II, four credits each.

Program Courses

Social Psychology, Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, Thinking Like a Social Scientist and Quantitative Methods in Psychology and Social Science, each replaceable by electives.

Statistics and Writing

Elementary Statistics I, Composition I and Technical Writing.

Degree Length

90 credits, including 18 elective credits.

Program Sources: Psychology emphasis, Associate of Science - Linn-Benton Community College Catalog