downtown lowell photo
vertical line image
  UMass Lowell Continuing Studies & Corporate Education   UMass Lowell logi
vertical line image
 

Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree With a Concentration in Psychology (Online Program)

The online Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree offered by the University of Massachusetts Lowell allows students to pursue a broad range of subjects, providing them with a well-rounded education and preparing them to better-handle the daily demands of work and life.

This online degree program is designed to provide students with a balanced liberal arts curriculum, while also exposing them to an in-depth study of three areas of concentration. The first major area of concentration is Psychology. The second and third areas of concentration are History and Sociology. 

By providing students with a strong foundation in these three knowledge areas, this degree helps prepare them for situations that require a deeper understanding of the psychological, historical, and sociological issues affecting our society today.

Need Assistance?  Email our online advising center at: Continuing_Education@uml.edu

Program Coordinator: Professor Joseph_Lipchitz@uml.edu
Faculty and Student Support Specialist: Continuing_Education@uml.edu

Suggested Course Load

Total Credits: 120

The following course outline is only a suggested course load based on Sections I, II, and III of the Degree Program Requirements (explained in detail below).  Please note that UMass Lowell online courses are offered three semesters per year:  Fall, Spring and Summer.  Based on student experiences, we do not recommend registering for more than 3 online courses per semester.

All of the courses listed are 3-credit courses, except where noted.

First Year

First Semester
42.101 College Writing I - Available Online!
-.- - - General Education - Mathematics (see below)

Second Semester
-.- - - General Education - Behavioral & Social Sciences (f="#Behavioral">see below)
42.102 College Writing II - Available Online!

Third Semester
-.- - - General Education - Science (see below)
-.- - - General Education - Behavioral & Social Sciences (see below)

Second Year

First Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
-.- - - Major Concentration Elective (see below)

Second Semester
-.- - - General Education - Science (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Third Semester
-.- - - Second Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Third Year

First Semester
-.- - - Major Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - Third Concentration Elective (see below)

Second Semester
-.- - - General Education - Historical Studies (see below)
-.- - - 300/400 Major Concentration Elective (see below)

Third Semester
-.- - - Second Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - General Education - Literature (see below)

Fourth Year

First Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
42.224 Business Writing (recommended elective)

Second Semester
 -.- - - 300/400 Major Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Third Semester
-.- - - 300/400 Major Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - Third Concentration Elective (see below)

Fifth Year

First Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
-.- - - General Education - Science (see below)

Second Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
-.- - - General Education - Values, Concepts, & Choice (see below)

Third Semester
-.- - - General Education - Aesthetics (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Sixth Year

First Semester
-.- - - 400-Seminar Major Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Second Semester
-.- - - 300/400 Major Concentration Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Third Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Seventh Year

First Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Second Semester
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)
-.- - - Free Elective (see below)

Program Requirements

I. General Education Requirements
 Minimum of 36 credits (12 courses)

A minimum 36 credits are needed to fulfill the General Education Requirements of this degree. Students must take courses other than those in his or her major area of concentration to fulfill the General Education Requirements. For example, with Psychology as the major area of concentration, the student cannot use the course General Psychology to fulfill their General Education Requirements.

The General Education Requirements involve courses from eight different knowledge areas. Students must earn a specific number of credits in each of these knowledge areas:

A. College Writing - 6 credits required

Satisfied by taking the following two online courses:
42.101 College Writing I - Available online!
42.102 College Writing II - Available online!

B. Literature - 3 credits required

Satisfied by taking the following online course:
42.212 The Short Story - Available online!

C. Historical Studies - 3 credits required

Satisfied by taking one of the following online courses:
43.108 World History II - Available online!
43.206 American Economic History - Available online!
 43.242 The Second World War - Available online!
43.274 Native American History - Available online!
43.308 Crime and Social Control - Available online!
43.336 Problems of Modern Ireland - Available online!
 58.203 History of Art I - Available online!

D. Aesthetics - 3 credits required

Satisfied by taking one of the following online courses:
58.101 Art Appreciation - Available online!
58.321 Italian Renaissance Art - Available online!
 58.203 History of Art I - Available online!

E. Behavioral and Social Sciences - 6 credits required

Satisfied by taking two of the following online courses:
46.101 Intro to American Politics - Available online!
49.201 Economics I - Available online!
49.202 Economics II - Available online!

F. Values, Concepts, and Choice - 3 credits required

45.201 Introduction to Philosophy - Available online!
46.348 Literature, Politics & Genocide in Cambodia - Available online!

G. Mathematics - 3 credits required

Satisfied by taking one of the following online courses: 
92.120 Precalculus Mathematics I (previously 92.121) - Available online!
92.183 Intro to Statistics - Available online!

H. Science - Minimum of 9 credits required
(At least two courses of these courses must include some form of experimental learning)

Satisfied by taking the following four online courses:
83.100 Introduction to Biology - Available online!
83.105 Introduction to Biology Lab (corequisite to 83.101 to meet experimental learning requirement) - Available online!
83.214 Human Ecology - Available online!
84.101 Applied Chemistry for Non Scientists (meets experimental learning requirement) - Available online!

[Back to top]

II. Concentration Requirements
 (Minimum 36 credits - Maximum 60 credits)

Students must earn a 2.20 cumulative grade-point average in this concentration by the end of their senior year and must select at least 15 credit hours in 300-level courses or higher. Students must also take a 400-level seminar in Psychology, which has as its prerequisite the 6 courses (18 credits) previously taken in the concentration. Students must also fulfill two other areas of concentration (History and Sociology), with a minimum of 6 credits in each. A total of 36 credits (12 courses) must be completed in the concentrations. Students can take a maximum of 60 credits (20 courses) within their areas of concentration.

A. Major Area of Concentration: Psychology 
 Minimum of 21 credits required (i.e. seven 3-credit courses)

Psychology courses available online:
47.101 General Psychology
47.260 Human Development I
47.202 Abnormal Psychology
47.312 Learning and Behavior
47.335 Psychology and Women
47.351 Human Sexuality
47.360 Human Development II
47.363 Intro to Developmental Disabilities
47.477 Seminar: Contemporary Trends - Addictions

B. Second Area of Concentration: History
 Minimum of 6 credits required (i.e. two 3-credit courses)

History courses available online:
43.108 World History II
43.206 American Economic History
43.274 Native American History
43.308 Crime and Social Control
43.242 The Second World War
58.203 History of Art I

C. Third Area of Concentration: Sociology
 Minimum of 6 credits required (i.e. two 3-credit courses)

Sociology courses available online:
48.101 Intro to Sociology
48.351 Sociology of Health and Health Care

[Back to top]

III. Free Electives
Minimum of 48 credits required (i.e. sixteen 3-credit courses)

In addition to fulfilling the General Education and Concentration Requirements, students fulfill the balance of their degree requirements with "free" elective courses. The number of elective courses will vary based on the number of concentration courses taken by the student. Free elective courses may range from a minimum of 24 credits (8 courses) to a maximum or 48 credits (16 courses). Any courses listed within the General Education and Concentration Requirements that will not be applied toward those requirements can be used as Free Electives. For example, you may take 92.183 Intro to Statistics to fulfill the General Education - Mathematics requirement, and take 92.120 Precalculus Mathematics I as a Free Elective, or vice versa.

Free Electives may be chosen from behavioral and social sciences, chemistry, clinical laboratory sciences, computer mathematics, economics, fine arts, humanities, mathematics, political science, and science. While courses of a distinctly professional orientation are not applicable to the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and will not be accepted for degree credit, online courses in computer orientation and design are acceptable, and will provide the student with additional marketable skills options.

Degree Requirements Worksheet

Credits
General Education Requirements 36
Concentration Courses 36-60
Free Electives* 48-24
Total Credits Required: 120
 

*The number of Free Electives will vary based on the number of Concentration Courses taken.

[Back to top]

© 1995-2008 University of Massachusetts Lowell,
Continuing Studies and Corporate Education