Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Finish Your Degree at ECU

Newsweeks

Ranked in the top 10 of America’s Top Online Colleges in 2023 by Newsweek

Transfer Friendly

Transfer friendly; 24 credits required

Career Advancement

Applicable skills for career advancement

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Find Your Focus With ECU Online’s Psychology
Degree Program

In today’s dynamic professional world, psychology underscores every decision, interaction, and strategy, providing valuable insights into human behavior and motivation. At East Carolina University®, our online BA in Psychology program offers a streamlined and comprehensive exploration of this fundamental discipline, deepening your understanding of the human experience and preparing you to utilize these insights in your life and career.

Through practical, real-world learning, our curriculum delves into core areas such as information processing, memory, and the biological basis of psychological phenomena. Then, we give you the tools to apply that understanding to key areas of any career such as critical thinking, written communication, and interpersonal collaboration.

Upon graduating from the program, you’ll be well-positioned to advance in industries like business, communication, mental health services, government, nonprofit, and more. Beyond academics, we pride ourselves on robust student support, from comprehensive academic advising to dedicated career coaching that sets you up for success.

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What You’ll Learn

ECU’s online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology is designed to help you recognize your own unique perspective while enriching the connections with the people you meet and work with every day. Our widely applicable program allows you to complete a bachelor’s degree that employers recognize and value, as you’ll learn key skills such as:

  • Behavioral science and research design
  • Interpreting data in decision-making
  • Operating effectively in an organization
  • Managing high stress situations
  • Information processing and memory
  • Professionalism and communication
  • Critical thinking and cooperation
  • Human behavior and the social environment

Career Outcomes With a Psychology Degree

A BA in Psychology can help you reach your career goals in practically any field, including business, government, nonprofit, and health services. Some job titles that some of our graduates hold include:*

Project Management Specialist

Median Annual Salary: $95,370

Market Research Analyst

Median Annual Salary: $68,230

Public Relations Specialist

Median Annual Salary: $67,440

Human Resources Specialist

Median Annual Salary: $64,240

Fundraiser

Median Annual Salary: $61,190

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor

Median Annual Salary: $48,520

Curriculum & Courses

Psychology is a dynamic major, and that’s reflected in our curriculum. The BA degree requires 120 total credit hours, with 40 hours of general education courses, 12 hours of a foreign language (1001 to 2004), 35 hours in the study of Psychology, and general electives.

Keep in mind that as a degree completion program we accept transfer credits, which may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate. The required psychology courses include:

Introductory Course (choose one) – 3 credit hours

PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology\

PSYC 1060 - Honors Introduction to Psychology

Statistics Course (choose one) – 4 credit hours

BIOS 1500 - Introduction to Biostatistics\

MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods\

MATH 2283 - Statistics for Business\

PSYC 2101 - Psychological Statistics

Research Methods Course – 4 credit hours

PSYC 2210 - Research Methods in Psychology

Learning and Cognition Course (choose one) – 3 credit hours

PSYC 3225 - Psychology of Learning\

PSYC 3226 - Cognitive Psychology\

PSYC 3227 - Learning Theories and Applications

Biological Bases Course (choose one) – 3 credit hours

PSYC 3310 - Introduction to Neuroscience\

PSYC 3311 - Neuropsychology\

PSYC 3312 - Sensation and Perception

General Courses (choose two) – 6 credit hours

PSYC 3206 - Developmental Psychology\

PSYC 3221 - Social Psychology\

PSYC 3300 - Psychology of Personality\

PSYC 3325 - Introduction to Psychological Testing\

PSYC 3375 - Abnormal Psychology

Capstone Course – 3 credit hours

PSYC 4000 - Advanced General Psychology

You will choose an additional 9 credit hours (three courses) as electives from the list above.
"I fully encourage anyone who might be considering distance education, to give East Carolina University serious consideration. Living at home and taking classes online meant that I had much more flexibility in my schedule and the ability to work full time without sacrificing my education. As a result, I was able to graduate on schedule, without any debt, and with a useful degree."
‐ Mariah James, ECU Online Graduate

Tuition and Financial Aid

Per Credit Hour

$386 per credit hour

Credit Hours

120 CREDIT HOURS*

*Transfer credits may reduce number of hours

Financial Aid Assistance Available

FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

ECU online program tuition for in-state students is just $386 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition is $463 per credit hour plus fees. With transfer credits and financial aid, your bachelor’s degree is within reach.

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Widely Applicable Skills

WIDELY APPLICABLE SKILLS

You’ll gain key insights and professional competencies to lead organizational success across industries and effectively manage interpersonal relationships.

Advance Your Career

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

The program will deepen your understanding of human behavior, empowering you to make the transition to management or increase your impact in your current role.

Transfer Friendly

TRANSFER-FRIENDLY

You can transfer credits from coursework you’ve already completed and fast-track your path to a BA—with just 35 core credits required for our online psychology degree.

Beyond Academics

BEYOND ACADEMICS

Our focus on individualized attention, student support, and career services ensures that you leave not only with academic proficiency but the tools for advancement.

Top Ranked

TOP RANKED

ECU was ranked in the top 10 of America’s Top Online Colleges 2023 by Newsweek, meaning that you’ll graduate with a degree respected by employers nationwide.

Community Connection

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

ECU is more than a university—it’s a community. Even as an online student, you’ll benefit from a powerful network of peers and faculty who truly care about your success.

The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!

Advance to Management

The program will deepen your understanding of human behavior, empowering you to make the transition to management or increase your impact in your current role.

Apply Now

Admissions

Online undergraduate students are required to have a minimum of 24 hours of transferable credits for admission. Students are evaluated under the transfer applicant criteria below:

  • A minimum of 24 hours of transferable college-level coursework (complete or in progress).
    • Only courses with a grade of “C” or higher from regionally accredited institutions are eligible to transfer and can be used to gain admission.
    • Students under the age of 21 will also be expected to meet NC High School Minimum Course Requirements and are required to submit a final high school transcript.
  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework attempted.

Undergraduate Students Application Materials

  • A completed online application .
  • All official transcripts from each college, technical institute, or university attended, if applicable. Send transcripts to:

    Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    Mail Stop 517
    East Carolina University
    Greenville, NC 27858-435

    We also accept electronic transcripts from most transcript services. Please request to have them sent directly to transfer@ecu.edu .

Residency Determination

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) has been established by the North Carolina State Legislature as the centralized service for determining residency for students. If you are a student applying for admission and claiming in-state residency for tuition purposes, you must visit NCresidency.org NCresidency.org to verify your residency.

If you’ve already completed the residency verification process and obtained your Residency Certification Number (RCN), you can enter your RCN when filling out our application. If you do not already have your RCN, you may submit your application and then come back and enter your RCN once you have it.

For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Residency page , or contact RDS at 1-844-319-3640 or rdsinfo@ncresidency.org .

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits are generally required to complete an online bachelor’s degree at East Carolina University?

For most programs, 120 total credit hours are required to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits you earn at ECU.

Can I transfer credits from other institutions to an online program at East Carolina University?

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply.

Are online programs at East Carolina University accredited?

Yes. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Learn more about accreditation .

Get Started

ECU online program tuition for in-state students starts at just $386 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition starts at $463 per credit hour plus fees. Learn more about financial aid opportunities .

About ECU Online

ECU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) and was the first university in North Carolina to offer online degrees. We’ve continued to enhance the online experience ever since. As an established institution in North Carolina, we pride ourselves on offering a student-first, community-centric experience that empowers graduates to complete their online degrees from a reputable institution that employers recognize.

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*General labor market and salary data are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment. ECU does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions.