UW-Stout’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology will train you to understand how and why people think, feel, and behave the way they do. Designed according to American Psychological Association guidelines, our program provides a foundation in psychological theory and the application of psychology to real-world issues. Our goal is to prepare you to contribute to the improvement of the human condition, regardless of which discipline within psychology you pursue—clinical, cognitive, developmental, social, industrial/organizational, biological, neuroscience, climate/environmental, forensic, health, human factors/engineering, sports/health, rehabilitation, or others. If you care about people and want to understand and help them, a bachelor’s degree in psychology is a great place to start.
Graduates from our program develop strong skills in writing, critical thinking, and working with people which makes them attractive candidates for a wide variety of entry-level positions in human services, education, health, government, and business. Importantly, our graduates also have the background to pursue advanced training in areas such as counseling, research, medicine and law.
All B.S. Psychology students develop a secondary area of depth by pursuing the accelerated M.S. Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology program, a degree concentration, degree minor, certificate program, or a second undergraduate major at UW-Stout.
Choose from 70+ minors to expand your knowledge in a personal interest or pursue a minor that aligns with your career interests.
As a transfer-friendly program, we're dedicated to helping you graduate faster without sacrificing the quality of your education. Many of our transfer students bring in 60 or more transfer credits from prior coursework or professional experience.
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.
"I love being involved at UW-Stout. I think that participating in student orgs while also working part-time has given me the necessary skills outside the classroom to continue developing as a leader and as an individual."
~ Kylie Anderson
B.S. Psychology
Some required credits for this program can be earned through academic testing, portfolio submission, or a demonstration of competency. Learn more by reviewing the program-specific details on our Credit for Prior Learning page.
Forget TA-taught classes and 200-person lectures. At UW-Stout, building close relationships with our industry-experienced and academically accomplished psychology faculty will play a key role in your polytechnic education. Learn more about your future instructors!
Your UW-Stout polytechnic education will be distinguished by experiential project-based learning and lab-based instruction that take you beyond the classroom. Run technology-driven stimulus/response experiments using E-Prime software from our Psychology Lab while recording and analyze the results from related observation rooms. Record and measure electrophysiological signals, including heart rate, temperature, eye movements, palm sweat, brain waves, finger pulse, lung volume, grip strength, muscle activity, and more using BioPac data acquisition hardware in our Psychology Teaching Lab.
Do good through your degree and drive innovation by creating real-world solutions to existing societal challenges! Unlike traditional theoretical research, your applied research opportunities in psychology will focus on translating inquiry into meaningful action and impact.
Recent Psychology Research Topics
Take your education into industry and earn while you learn through UW-Stout’s award-winning Cooperative Education & Internship Program (CEIP) and other placements. Unlike traditional internships, our professional paid and unpaid credit-earning experiences connect you with leaders in your field, including Fortune 500 employers, impactful non-profits and government agencies, to ensure you’re set up for success long before you graduate. More than a third of Stout students accept positions after graduation with their internship employer.
Recent Internship Employers
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Each year, Stout psychology graduates are among the most sought-after hires to enter the workforce, routinely beating out applicants for coveted positions with a wide range of employers—from mental health providers to law firms. Why? Everything you learn at Stout enhances the skills you'll use on day one of your career. Where others list their education, you’ll be able to identify your experience.
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The Psychology Program is designed according to the most recent recommendations from the American Psychological Association. Students who complete the bachelor’s degree in psychology should meet the following goals:
Knowledge, Skills, and Values Consistent with the Science and Application of Psychology
Goal 1. Knowledge Base of Psychology
Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.Goal 2. Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods.Goal 3. Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity.Goal 4. Communication
Students should demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.Goal 5. Professional Development
The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation.
Psychology is a diverse field and graduates pursue careers in a wide variety of areas. The psychology program is designed to help you develop critical skills for success in whatever career you choose.
With a bachelor’s degree graduates get jobs like these:
Graduates go into graduate and professional programs in:
| First Name | Last Name | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel | Bauer ('17) | Lead Media Manager | AT&T |
| Desiree | Budd | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Kathryn | Hamilton | Professor; Chair, Psychology Department | UW-Stout |
| Kyle | Johnson ('11, '14) | Deposit Products Manager | FourLeaf Federal Credit Union |
| Kayla | Klapper ('24), LADC | Clinical Supervisor | Wayside Recovery Center |
| Michael | Mensink | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Gina | Sprague-Connors ('08) | Licensed Psychologist | Mulemind Therapy |
| Phillip | Stoeklen ('12, '17) | Partner | Viable Insights |
| Cait | Versella ('11) | Business Manager, Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Basic Science | The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia |
| Cameron | Weaver | Senior Clinical Psychologist, Primary Care Behavior Health | Hennepin County Medical Center |
| Sarah | Wood | Professor; Program Director | UW-Stout |
