Psychology Program Overview
Our online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program provides a broad foundation of psychological science knowledge and emphasizes vital written communication and research skills that can inform and assist you in helping professions and beyond.
Through this intensive online program, you’ll develop the ability to reason about empirical research, write strong, cohesive arguments, and think critically regarding both the theoretical and applied aspects of psychology. With the skills, knowledge, and experience you’ll gain in this program, you can become more competitive in the professional arena.
Upon successful completion of the BA in psychology program, you’ll receive the same distinguished degree as campus-based graduates and be poised to excel in a diverse range of professional roles. If work and family responsibilities take up a large part of your daily schedule, you may find this flexible online program is best suited to your needs.
BA in Psychology Focus Areas
Our program allows you to choose an area of focus aligned with select specializations in the field of psychology. Each focus features a designated set of related courses. Focus areas include:
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Clinical psychology, which concentrates on studying, evaluating, diagnosing, preventing, and treating behavioral and emotional disorders.
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Developmental psychology, which centers on examining the physical, mental, and behavioral changes occurring from zygote stage to the end-of-life stage.
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Forensic psychology, which applies psychological principles and techniques in civil and criminal legal system contexts.
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Health psychology, which explores links between behavior, thought, physiology, and social/environmental factors in health outcomes; uses psychological and biological research to develop evidence-based interventions; and assesses the physical and psychological state of patients in all stages of treatment.
Note: Focus areas are optional. If you elect to pursue a focus area, it will not appear on your degree or student transcript.
Program Rankings
- #19 for Most Affordable Online Psychology Degree by STEPS.
- #11 for Top Online Bachelor of Psychology Degree Programs by TopCounselingSchools.org.
- #16 for Best Online Psychology Degrees by OnlineU.
Alumni Pathways
As a graduate of our online BA in psychology program, you’ll be poised to continue your education and pursue a career in psychology. However, the foundational knowledge you’ll gain in our program, particularly the communication, research, and critical-thinking skills, are highly sought after in a variety of industries.
Below are a just a few of the businesses our BA in psychology alumni work for:
- Dell
- AT&T
- General Motors
- Fidelity Investments
- Edward Jones
- USAA
- Baylor Scott & White Health
Careers for BA in Psychology Graduates
An online BA in psychology from The University of Texas Permian Basin provides a solid base of knowledge that can help you thrive in numerous roles, including:
Students must complete 42 credits from the following areas of study to complete general education requirements: communication (ENGL 1301 & 1302); language, philosophy, and culture (3 credits - ENGL 2322, ENGL 2323, ENGL 2327, ENGL 2328, COMM 1301, or PHIL 2300); American history (HIST 1301 & HIST 1302); political science (PLSC 2305 & PLSC 2306); life/physical science ( 8 credits - BIOL 1306/1106, BIOL 1308/1108 or A & P with lab, and a second life/physical science with lab); mathematics (MATH 1314, MATH 1324, MATH 1332, or MATH 2412); creative arts (ARTS 1301, DRAM 1310, MUSI 1306, or MUSI 1301); social/behavioral science (SOCI 1301, ECON 2301, or ECON 2302); COMM 1315; component area option ( 1 credit, if MATH is 3 credits - COMM 1115 or ENGL 2323).
13 credits minimum (5 courses).
15 credits (5 courses). Each student is required to take at least one course from five pairs of courses: PSYC 3303 or PSYC 4311; PSYC 3311 or PSYC 4306; PSYC 3321 or PSYC 4351; PSYC 4307 or PSYC 3344; PSYC 4302 or PSYC 4304. PSYC 1301 is a prerequisite for all upper-level PSYC courses.
9 credits (3 courses). If the student completed extra courses under the "courses within pairs of courses" section, then the extra courses may be counted as an elective.
A minimum of 18 credits are required for the minor chosen in consultation with the major advisor, at least 12 credits of which must be junior/senior. Psychology majors cannot have a minor in Child and Family Studies.
Admission Requirements
The SAT and ACT Exams are optional. Test scores will be used as supporting documents to determine admission and scholarship opportunities.
Transfer Student Admission Requirements
- Minimum of 24 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university
- GPA of 2.0 or higher in previous college-level coursework
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Dual-credit high school courses must be included
- Completed application
Use our transfer calculator to find out how your classes will transfer to UT Permian Basin and which classes will count toward your degree.
Incoming Freshman Admission Requirements
If you have completed less than 24 hours of transferable college-level work from a regionally accredited college or university after graduating from high school or receiving your GED, please provide the following:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (including dual-credit work while in high school)
- Official high school transcript showing GPA, class rank, and expected graduation date or GED scores
- SAT and/or ACT scores from within the last five years (see below for minimum score requirements)
- Completed application
Official Transcripts
Official copies of transcripts must come directly from the school in a sealed envelope and should be mailed to:
UT Permian Basin
Office of Admissions
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Official transcripts in electronic format can be sent to admissions@utpb.edu.
Minimum Score Requirements for Freshman Admission
| High School Graduation Class Rank | SAT | ACT |
| Top 25% | No minimum score | No minimum score |
| 2nd Quarter | 1020 | 20 |
| 3rd Quarter | 1160 | 24 |
| 4th Quarter | 1280 | 27 |
Application Fee
The application fee is $40.
If you are a freshman applicant, you may request a fee waiver when you apply by sending us your official college application fee waiver form provided by the SAT or ACT. You may also request a fee waiver if the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) listed on your Student Aid Report is zero.
Faculty Bios
Clinical Teaching Specialist
Department of Psychology
rathbun_s@utpb.edu
Contact Professor Rathbun with inquiries regarding the online psychology program.
Assistant Professor
Interim Department Chair
Graduate Program Head
Department of Psychology
chen_w@utpb.edu
Director of Counseling and Psychological Services
Lecturer
Department of Psychology
collier_t@utpb.edu
Professor
Department of Psychology
olson_j@utpb.edu
Click here to read more about Dr. Olson and his experience with UT Permian Basin's psychology program.
Lecturer
Department of Psychology
piper_c@utpb.edu
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
vollet_j@utpb.edu
Assistant Dean of Student Wellness and Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
ausmus_j@utpb.edu
Clinical Visiting Professor
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
rila_b@utpb.edu
Administrative Assistant for Psychology & Social Science
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
Department of Social Sciences
perry_t@utpb.edu
