“It really came down to cost and what was most convenient for me. A lot of my credits transferred easily. [UTPB] just seemed like the right option.”
–Bailey Sutton, online BA in psychology graduate
Bailey Sutton has lived her entire life in Midland, Texas. When she decided to earn a degree that could advance her career, The University of Texas Permian Basin was a logical choice … but not just because it was close by.
Sutton worked a full-time job from home—as production director for her church—while completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology online and raising her three-year-old son. She graduated cum laude in August.
Here, Sutton shares her experience with UTPB’s online program and how earning her degree has brought her closer to her career goals.
Why Major in Psychology?
Sutton started college in an associate degree program, taking psychology as a general requirement. “I did well at it,” she explained. “I was interested, but at the time, I was a biology major.”
Then, as it does, life happened: She got married and had a son. During that break in her education, her husband asked what she would do if she could do anything. “I’d be a therapist,” she told him. So, she started looking into ways to make that happen.
“The next step for me was finishing my undergraduate degree,” Sutton said. “And although psychology wasn’t required for graduate school in counseling, I knew it was going to give me a bit of a leg up in that.”
Finding the Right Program
When Sutton decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree, UTPB—which offers the UT System’s only online undergraduate psychology program—was just down the road.
“I’ve toured UTPB,” Sutton explained. “Our schools would take us [on field trips]. But it really came down to cost and what was most convenient for me. I looked at the programs, the availability being online, but I knew if I had to go in person, I could. A lot of my credits transferred easily because I was already in the area. It just seemed like the right option.”
Beyond that, Sutton really appreciated how UTPB valued its students. “Not only was it affordable, there were so many scholarship options. Even if they didn’t apply to me, I admired that education was prioritized over profit and I could tell that they just had a heart for educating the people.”
The Unexpected Benefits of Going Online
What was the online experience like for Sutton?
“I’m working from home most of the day, and it didn’t seem possible to sacrifice that time with my son for school,” Sutton said. UTPB’s online option meant she didn’t have to choose between education and family time. But online learning had other unexpected benefits that reinforced her choice: strong connections and time management skills.
“Most classes have discussion posts, so you have to communicate with your classmates,” Sutton explained. “You can’t get through the content without discussing it with your classmates. I’d actually argue that it’s almost easier to get to know people online. It’s less intimidating.”
Sutton always got prompt attention from the online program faculty: “Anytime I’d reach out to my professors, they’d respond within the day. It was not difficult to get ahold of them at all.”
Sutton also discovered that the online format helped her polish up her time management skills.
“I didn’t know what to think about online learning going in,” she explained. “But it really prepared me for grad school because a lot of the work is having to figure out a time to do it at home. It’s your own time. I wouldn’t say it’s more difficult, but it puts more responsibility on you, and I think that’s actually beneficial.”
Courses That Made an Impact
Sutton singled out some courses that left a strong impression and will help her as a therapist.
“I think the one that stuck with me the most was Physiological Psychology,” she recalled. “I just find it so interesting. I did really well in that course.”
But that was just one standout course.
“I feel privileged to have not had any knowledge of what addiction looks like,” Sutton said. “Because of the Drugs and Behavior class, I got this whole new perspective on how horrible it can be.”
Next Steps: Graduate School
So, what’s next for the aspiring therapist? Sutton’s psychology degree opened the door to UTPB’s master’s program in clinical mental health counseling.
“I’m coming to the end of my first semester of grad school,” Sutton said. “Some classes are remote, but I can see why this needs to be in person.”
Sutton’s also seeing some familiar faces from her undergraduate program and reconnecting. “They’ll be like, ‘I remember your posts. You always said this, that. You’re smart. You’re good at what you do.’ I’m like, ‘I remember you, too!’ We actually have a group text that’s the counseling cohort.”
Sutton’s Advice for Prospective UTPB Online Psychology Students
How does Sutton feel about the psychology program now that she’s finished it?
“I’d definitely recommend it,” she enthused. “There’s a youth at my church asking me about psychology and if it’s right for her. And I’ve already told her my experience.”
What advice does she have for those who follow through and apply? Find your rhythm.
“People talk about work-life balance, school-life balance,” Sutton explained. “I think instead of aiming for balance, we should be aiming for rhythm. You might say you’re going to do all your homework on Tuesday, and you’ll be fine the rest of the week. Well, that doesn’t actually work.
“But if you have this rhythm: ‘I’ve got two free hours. I’m going to listen to my chapter and clean the house’ or something … Find a rhythm and don’t set that expectation of ‘I have to have it all done’ like you would in an in-person class. Finding that rhythm—it’s huge.”
Every student’s path looks different. Bailey made hers work by choosing a program that respected her time, her budget, and her responsibilities at home. If you’re trying to figure out how to fit a psychology degree into your life, UTPB’s online program is designed for exactly that.