Turn insight into impact — and build a career that works for you.
A people-first, evidence-based psychology degree built for purpose-driven adults who want to understand human behavior and apply it to supporting individuals, strengthening communities, and leading with empathy — combining scientific rigor, flexible pathways (career-entry or graduate prep), and a learning model and support system built for students balancing school with real life.
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The online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at WSSU is designed for working adults who are ready to finish their degree and apply what they learn to understanding human behavior in real, practical ways. As a fully online program, you can pick up where you left off and continue forward with a clear, structured path that fits your schedule.
Our Psychology Students
You’ve taken college courses, built real-world experience, and you’re ready to finish your degree in a way that connects to how people think, behave, and grow. Whether you’re looking to move forward in your current field or prepare for what’s next, you want your education to be practical, relevant, and grounded in real impact.
In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation in human behavior, research, and data through a flexible, online format with 7.5-week terms that keep you progressing. You’ll learn from engaged, research-active faculty connected to the communities they serve, while contributing to meaningful research focused on helping individuals and communities develop safer, healthier behaviors. Learn to approach your work with a clear focus on equity and social responsibility.
You can shape your path through two distinct tracks — Community, Culture, & Health or Development, Reasoning, & Society — each designed to support entry into the field or continued professional advancement. Through hands-on learning, research, internships, and a capstone experience, you’ll graduate with practical, job-ready skills. And with 24–90 transfer credits accepted, you can finish more efficiently and cost-effectively while earning a respected degree from a SACSCOC-accredited institution.
Learn psychology through real-world application that connects theory to practice in research, community work, and everyday human behavior.
Choose a path aligned to your goals, whether entering the workforce or preparing for graduate study, with structured support for both.
Small classes, faculty with real-world credentials, and a mentor culture that doesn't end at graduation. The full WSSU experience, fully online.
100% online, 8-week terms, five start dates a year. No commute. No rigid schedule. Just progress at your pace and a support system you can count on.
Graduates of WSSU’s online psychology programs are prepared for further study or to immediately apply what they’ve learned to make a greater impact in their community. As part of the UNC System, these respected degrees deliver strong outcomes, and WSSU grads can earn more than similar graduates in North Carolina.¹ Explore career options and their North Carolina salaries below.2,3
nationally for psychologists between
2024–2034, outpacing all other occupations3
nationally for counselors from 2024–20343
in North Carolina’s healthcare and social assistance sector are projected to be added between 2024 and 20342
1. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
2. North Carolina Department of Commerce, 2026
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2026
“Watching students go after their dreams and thrive while balancing school with everything else in their lives is truly inspiring. Being part of that feels really special.”
The online B.A. in Psychology is a 120-credit undergraduate degree offered through WSSU’s College of Arts, Sciences and Education. It includes 36 credit hours of General Education, with 42 credits in both Psychology and General Electives.
The online psychology degree’s curriculum is designed to give you a strong foundation in how people think, behave, and interact while preparing you for real-world application. It combines core coursework in research, statistics, and human behavior with opportunities to explore areas aligned to your goals.
You’ll choose from two tracks (a career-entry path or a pre-professional track for graduate study) so your degree supports what comes next. Along the way, internship opportunities and a capstone experience help you graduate with practical, job-ready skills.
Flight Path students transfer in a minimum of 24 credit hours, with up to 90 credits accepted. The more credits you bring, the fewer courses you’ll need to complete. Most students finish in 2.5–3 years, with the potential to graduate in as little as 1.5 years — or under a year with the maximum transfer credits.
The online B.A. in Psychology program’s courses that are designed to build practical skills and support your progress from start to finish.
This course introduces students to the major theories, principles and concepts of psychological science. Areas of study are drawn from: research methodology, development, perception, learning, memory, motivation intelligence, personality, abnormal behavior and social psychology.
This course serves as a general introduction to human lifespan development, covering prenatal development, and continuing through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, late adulthood, and death. For each life stage, emphasis will be given to relevant physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional variables and adaptations.
This course is designed to prepare psychology majors for upper-level courses in psychology, with a main objective of teaching students to write a literature review in American Psychological Association (APA) format. Students will read empirical papers, on selected topics in psychology, as models of experimental design and professional literature reviews. Students typically write several short assignments and one major paper based upon extensive library research.
Psychologists use a wide variety of research methods and statistical techniques to study the attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and behaviors of people and groups. This course is designed to introduce students to descriptive and correlational research. Students will learn how to collect and analyze quantitative data from these research designs, and write up results in a research paper. Students will also learn how to use SPSS and conduct rudimentary statistical tests. (z-scores, descriptive statistics, correlation, independent (samples t-test).
This seminar course examines the theories, research, and applications of a selected current issue in psychology with the specific topic chosen by the instructor. The seminar provides students with opportunities for more in-depth focus in an area of psychology congruent with faculty research interest. Assessment is expected to comprise of a major paper and an oral presentation. The lab portion of the course will focus on practical demonstrations, discussion and applied experiences appropriate to the particular issue being studied.
This course is designed to be a capstone course for senior psychology majors. It provides majors with opportunities to reflect on the science and profession of psychology as a whole, and to consider their future interests and direction. This course aims to address the professional development of students through critical thinking and application, communication and interpersonal skills, and information literacy and writing. Discussions include: graduate school in psychology, entry-level positions with a degree in psychology, how the field of psychological science is currently developing, and what issues and conflicts must be addressed if psychology is to maintain a viable and effective influence in society. Themes, topics, and activities will integrate the following: diversity in psychology, gender issues, multiculturalism, social responsibility, ethics, development of a personal philosophy, and the role of scientific psychology in society.
Winston-Salem State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Winston-Salem State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Questions about the accreditation of Winston-Salem State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
WSSU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or ability. WSSU Online Flight Path programs are open to applicants who have previously attended college and meet the university’s standard admissions and transfer requirements. The information below is a high-level overview of current WSSU Online policies. Official requirements and final determinations are governed by WSSU. For full details and program exceptions, visit the main WSSU transfer admissions page.
At least 24 transferable credit hours from the last or current institution attended.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all attempted coursework.
A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required in any coursework considered for transfer.
Applicants must be in good academic standing at their current or most recent institution.
Official transcripts are required from all colleges and universities previously attended.
Submission of WSSU’s online application for admission, including all required materials.
To qualify for in-state tuition rates, North Carolina residents must first confirm their in-state status by completing an application through the Residency Determination Service (RDS). To learn more about how to apply for NC residency, please refer to the North Carolina Residency page.
WSSU’s Flight Path programs are designed to make earning your degree affordable, transparent, and predictable.
Tuition is subject to change.
Financial aid options may be available to help cover the cost of your degree, including federal aid, grants, scholarships, and loan programs.
Please note that tuition is subject to change. Fees and additional expenses are not included. To qualify for in-state tuition rates, North Carolina residents must first confirm their in-state status by completing an application through the Residency Determination Service (RDS).
Dr. Breonte Guy is an Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences and Interim Chair of the Department of...
A distinguished professor and Dean with a background in Veterinary Medicine and Physiology, Dr. Bhat focuses on the...
Dr. Barnes has 20 years of experience in higher education, having worked in both academic affairs and student affairs.
The College Promise
The College Promise is extended to each student as they take up our institutional motto “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve”. This promise is audacious, challenging, and demanding. The world requires nothing less. Grounded in three overlapping principles, the College Promise reinforces the distinctiveness of WSSU’s academic community and our shared values.
Creative
We promise a creative education that fully integrates the best of our intellectual traditions with the latest innovations in knowledge to fully prepare each student for life in a
global society.
Collaborative
We promise a collaborative learning community networked together to advance the holistic development of each student so that they may reach the fullness of their potential.
Committed
We promise a committed faculty dedicated to the highest standards of teaching, scholarship, and service in the interests of advancing academic excellence and student
academic success.
Our admissions team can help you explore your options, including other online programs in technology, business, or other fields — so you can find the program that best matches your career goals and experience.
Most students complete our online B.A. in Psychology in 2.5 to 3 years, on either the two distinct tracks (Community, Culture, & Health or Development, Reasoning, & Society). Each track is designed for graduates to immediately enter the field or to continue with professional advancement. The program requires 120 total credits for graduation and a minimum of 24 transfer credits to enroll. WSSU accepts a maximum of 90 transfer credits, and students who transfer the maximum can graduate in less than one year.
If you want a degree that builds both impact ability and career flexibility, psychology is a strong choice. The program develops in-demand skills in analysis, communication, and human behavior that can be applied across industries. Graduates earn a respected WSSU degree designed to support long-term career growth.
The online psychology program at WSSU is built around two distinct tracks (Community, Culture, & Health or Development, Reasoning, & Society). Each track is designed for graduates to immediately enter the field or to continue with professional advancement. From there, graduates apply their skills across people-focused fields including human services, healthcare, education, business, and community organizations.
Common roles for psychology graduates include case manager, behavioral health technician, human services assistant, community outreach coordinator, and research assistant, across healthcare, education, and social services. The degree also provides a foundation for graduate study in counseling, social work, or psychology.
The online B.A. in Psychology is a strong fit for working adults with prior college credit who want a degree that applies across people-focused careers or prepares them for graduate study. Two distinct tracks (Community, Culture, & Health or Development, Reasoning, & Society). Each track is designed for graduates to immediately enter the field or to continue with professional advancement. Dedicated support is available throughout, and the fully online format fits your schedule.
You can contact an admissions representative to learn more about if the online B.A. in Psychology program is a good fit.
No. WSSU awards the same B.A. in Psychology whether you complete the program online or on campus. The degree carries full SACSCOC accreditation and UNC System recognition.
Most programs require 120 total credits. You’ll enter with at least 24 transfer credits, and WSSU accepts up to 90, which directly impacts how long it takes to finish. Courses run in 7.5-week terms, and students typically spend 15-20 hours per week on coursework and studying outside of class.
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WSSU Admissions Representative
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WSSU Admissions Representative
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WSSU Admissions Representative
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