Applied Psychology: Family Studies Option (B.S.)

Applied Psychology: Family Studies Option (B.S.)
A family speaking with a female counselor.
  ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Program

Our online B.S. in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a sociocultural context.

 Credit Hours: 120  |   Transfer: Up to 90 Credits  |   Tuition Cost


What is the Family Studies Option in Applied Psychology?

The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a socio-cultural context. Students explore the variables affecting human behavior within both individual and group settings and gain a solid foundation in psychological principles and their practical applications in real-world settings. The program enables students to learn skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, quantitative literacy, and interpretation of research findings. The major positions students for either post-college employment or advanced education.

Throughout this program, students have the opportunity to explore major areas of applied psychology, including the biological bases of behavior, cognition, developmental psychology, research methods and statistics, social systems, personality theory, and psychopathology. Students who choose the family studies option will also study topics such as childhood, adulthood and aging, and family relationships.

Why study the Family Studies Option in Applied Psychology at UNH College of Professional Studies?

Our B.S. in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a socio-cultural context. You’ll explore the variables affecting human behavior within both individual and group settings, with an emphasis on applying what you learn to real-world settings. By choosing the option in family studies, you will delve deeper into applying psychology in this area and learn about the dynamics of family systems. With this knowledge, you will be better prepared to provide support and services to both individuals and family groups.

Potential Career Areas

  • Social and Human Service Assistant
  • Social and Community Service Manager
  • Clinical and Counseling Psychologist
  • Child, Family, and School Social Worker
  • Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Psychiatric Aide

Course Highlights


  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Statistics
  • Human Development
  • Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
  • Principles of Psychopathology
  • Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
  • Biopsychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • …and more!

Why UNH CPS?


  • Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
  • Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
  • Affordable tuition.
  • Nationally ranked online programs.
  • About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
  • Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
  • Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
  • We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.

Whether you completed your associate degree or took a few courses, we have experience working with community college students nationwide and we are experts at maximizing your transfer credits. We are proud of our formal partnerships to support community college graduates through our Transfer Pathways. 

Students pursuing an associate degree at a New Hampshire community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway below.

  • Completion of our free, online application for admission
  • High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
    • Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC

Get started by connecting with an advisor.

An advisor trained in our professional communication program will contact you to learn more about your academic and career goals.

We’ll also share our course schedule so you can read more about the College’s programs, students, and faculty.

Eligible individuals can apply for tuition assistance through the Early Childhood Tuition Assistance (ECTA) which is funded by the NH Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration! 100% of tuition is covered for up to two classes per term.

Eligible individuals include childcare workers, preschool teachers, and elementary school paraprofessionals.

Curriculum & Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology provides an understanding of human behavior within a socio-cultural context. Students explore the variables affecting human behavior within both individual and group settings. The major positions students for either post-college employment or advanced education. The family studies option introduces students to the issues associated with providing human services to individuals as well as family groups.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
·¡±·³ÒÌý420 The Writing Process 4
±Ê³§³ÛÌý410 Introduction to Psychology 4
General Education Course 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
COMÌý460 Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics 4
CRITÌý501 Introduction to Critical Inquiry 4
MTHÌý402
or MTHÌý504
or MTHÌý510
Math for Our World
or Statistics
or Pre-Calculus
4
PSYÌý470
or PSYÌý525
Child Development
or Human Development
4
ÌýCredits16
Second Year
Fall
COMÌý480 Visual Communication 4
MTHÌý504 Statistics 4
PSYÌý530
or SOSCÌý602
or SOCIÌý601
Social Psychology
or Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
or Society and the Individual
4
General Education Course 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
IDISÌý560 Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences 4
PSYÌý602
or PSYÌý685
Theories of Personality
or Principles of Psychopathology
4
Major Elective 4
General Education Course 4
ÌýCredits16
Third Year
Fall
CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking 4
PSYÌý630
or SOSCÌý630
Psychology of Adulthood
or Aspects of Aging in a Modern Society
4
PSYÌý646
or SOCIÌý675
Psychology of Occupational Stress
or Child Abuse and Neglect
4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
PSYÌý725 Cognitive Psychology 4
PSYÌý480
or PSYÌý470
Infant and Toddler Development
or Child Development
4
SOSCÌý675
or SOSCÌý680
Dynamics of Family Relationships
or Stress and the Family
4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Fourth Year
Fall
IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar 4
PSYÌý740 Biopsychology 4
Elective 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
PSYÌý797
or PSYÌý795
Integrative Capstone: Project in Applied Psychology
or Integrative Capstone: Internship in Applied Psychology
4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits8
ÌýTotal Credits120

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0 is required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: General Education Program
Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*GPA: Major and any state certification GPA requirements may be higher and are indicated in program details.
Ìý
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Major coursework. Some programs may have higher grade requirements for Major coursework as noted in the Major requirements section below. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor, and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor. Please note that Option requirements are considered part of the Major. Students must complete 16 upper-level credits in majors within the College of Professional Studies, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ.

General Education Program Requirements

A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.

All General Education requirements, including CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.

·¡±·³ÒÌý420The Writing Process4
COMÌý460Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics4
COMÌý480Visual Communication4
CRITÌý501Introduction to Critical Inquiry4
Select one of the following:4
MTHÌý402
Math for Our World
MTHÌý504
Statistics
MTHÌý510
Pre-Calculus
4
4
4
CRITÌý602Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking4
IDISÌý601Interdisciplinary Seminar4
Total Credits40

Writing Program Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University as follows:

·¡±·³ÒÌý420
The Writing Process
One Writing Intensive course in the Major
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above
One Additional Writing Intensive Course

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

Major Requirements

Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

Major in Applied Psychology
Foundation Courses
±Ê³§³ÛÌý410Introduction to Psychology4
PSYÌý470Child Development4
orÌýPSYÌý525 Human Development
PSYÌý530Social Psychology4
orÌýSOSCÌý602 Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
orÌýSOCIÌý601 Society and the Individual
MTHÌý504Statistics4
Intermediate Courses
PSYÌý602Theories of Personality4
orÌýPSYÌý685 Principles of Psychopathology
IDISÌý560Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences4
Major Electives
Select one of the following:4
BEHSÌý675
Terrorism: Domestic and International
orÌýBEHSÌý695
Internship in Behavioral Science
orÌýCRIMÌý425
Juvenile Justice
orÌýMGMTÌý566
Organizational Behavior
orÌýPSYÌý530
Social Psychology
orÌýPSYÌý602
Theories of Personality
orÌýPSYÌý603
Crisis Intervention
orÌýPSYÌý626
Educational Psychology
orÌýPSYÌý630
Psychology of Adulthood
orÌýPSYÌý646
Psychology of Occupational Stress
orÌýPSYÌý654
Counseling Theories
orÌýPSYÌý665
Principles of Assessment
orÌýPSYÌý685
Principles of Psychopathology
orÌýSLAÌý506
Language Acquisition
orÌýSOCIÌý675
Child Abuse and Neglect
orÌýSOSCÌý602
Men and Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Advanced Courses
PSYÌý725Cognitive Psychology4
PSYÌý740Biopsychology4
Option in Family Studies
PSYÌý480Infant and Toddler Development4
orÌýPSYÌý470 Child Development
PSYÌý630Psychology of Adulthood4
orÌýSOSCÌý630 Aspects of Aging in a Modern Society
PSYÌý646Psychology of Occupational Stress4
orÌýSOCIÌý675 Child Abuse and Neglect
SOSCÌý675Dynamics of Family Relationships4
orÌýSOSCÌý680 Stress and the Family
Integrative Capstone
PSYÌý795Integrative Capstone: Internship in Applied Psychology4
orÌýPSYÌý797 Integrative Capstone: Project in Applied Psychology
Total Credits56

Electives

Open electivesÌýare coursesÌýstudents will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order toÌýsatisfy the remaining credit totalsÌýfor their programs. Open electivesÌýareÌýdefinedÌýas any creditÌýcourseÌýoffered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor.ÌýStudents will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Division of the College of Professional Studies.

  • Differentiate and critically analyze biological, developmental, cognitive, and sociocultural theories that provide an understanding of behavior and communicate this knowledge effectively.
  • Use computer technology, as well as quantitative and scientific reasoning, to function as informed consumers of psychological research.
  • Apply ethical principles that guide and inform the conduct of research and clinical practice.

Your Prior and Current Learning Counts


Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.

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Career Outcomes

Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.