Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Request More Information

Three Start Dates per Year

100% Online Learning

Graduate in 2-4 Years

Generous Transfer Credits

Programs Curriculum Careers

Prepare to Impact Human Behavior and Lifespan

Carlow’s online BA in Psychology provides fundamental knowledge for career advancement in a field you are passionate about. Through courses taught by caring, expert faculty, you will study personality theory, abuse prevention, and treatment. With up to 90 transfer credits accepted, you can graduate in as little as one year.

The curriculum consists of 12 graduate-level credits of coursework at the undergraduate tuition rate, which can be applied toward an online master’s program from Carlow, including our online MA in Psychology program.

  • Complete your degree faster with 8-week courses
  • Accessible instructors and supportive peers
  • Helpful advisors assist with transfer credits and financial aid

Choose the Path That Leads to Your Ideal Career

Develop broad industry knowledge or tailor the degree with one of three concentrations: child development, counseling, or crisis and trauma. Build expertise in developmental psychology, receive preprofessional counselor training, or dive deeper into trauma-informed care.

  • Modality: 100% Online 
  • Credit Hours: 120 Credit Hours
  • Duration: 2-4 Years

Program Benefits

  • Broad-Based Psychology Curriculum 
  • Diverse Elective Offering 
  • Accelerated Graduate Track Options Available 
  • Generous Transfer Credit Policy 

An online psychology degree opens many doors. We accept up to 90 transfer credits, meaning you could graduate from Carlow with as few as 30 credit hours, ready to launch an impactful career or pursue further study. All of our students have completed the psychology GRE prep in their final year. 

To fast-track your education, you can take up to 12 credits of graduate-level coursework at the bachelor’s-level tuition rate to apply to our Master of Science programs in psychology, professional counseling, and fraud and forensics. 

Request Information
  • Modality: 100% Online
  • Credit Hours: 120 Credit Hours
  • Duration: 2-4 Years

Program Benefits 

  • Take Leading-Edge Child Development Courses 
  • Build a Foundation of Theory and Research 
  • Practice Advocacy Skills for Vulnerable Populations 
  • Stand Out in Diverse Child Development Careers 

The child development concentration in Carlow University’s online BA in Psychology explores developmental milestones at different ages from birth to adolescence. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of how children mature affectively, physically, socially, and cognitively.

With a child development bachelor’s degree, you can pursue roles in behavioral therapy, childcare leadership, education, and more.

Request Information
  • Modality: 100% Online
  • Credit Hours: 120 Credit Hours
  • Duration: 2-4 Years

Program Benefits 

  • Discover Vast Influences on Human Behavior 
  • Explore Prominent Counseling Theories 
  • Examine Several Aspects of Family Systems 
  • Learn from Faculty with Counseling Experience

Carlow University’s online BA in Psychology with a counseling concentration helps you open the door to a wide variety of entry-level clinical jobs related to treatment and support for those with mental health needs. If you’re passionate about working in direct support, family counseling, milieu therapy, patient services, substance abuse, counseling, and more, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to jump-start your career. 

With Carlow’s online bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in counseling, you’ll be on your way to a career as a family specialist, direct support professional, case manager, milieu therapist, behavioral health associate, patient services representative, and more. You can apply your knowledge and skills to a career that serves a wide variety of populations and communities. 

Request Information
  • Modality: 100% Online
  • Credit Hours: 120 Credit Hours
  • Duration: 2-4 Years

Program Benefits 

  • Build a Foundation of Theory and Research 
  • Learn from Experienced Psychology Faculty 
  • Gain Advocacy Skills for Vulnerable Populations 
  • Prepare for Graduate Psychology Programs 

Investigate the widespread impact of trauma for individuals and families and develop skills that can help. The crisis and trauma concentration of Carlow University’s online BA in Psychology gives you a solid foundation in theory and research pertaining to crisis, abuse, and trauma. 

Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma as you explore the most effective trauma-informed treatment modalities. You can utilize skills from this concentration in nearly any profession that helps others. 

Request Information

Build Fundamental Knowledge and Versatile Skills

Develop a strong foundation in psychology theory, research, and industry best practices. Through the comprehensive curriculum, you will learn critical thinking skills, scientific literacy, statistics, and social awareness. Choose one of three optional concentrations and select your career-focused electives to personalize your degree to fit your goals.

Pursue Roles in Social or Community Service

Prepare to promote public well-being through the growing field of psychology. Build in-demand critical thinking, scientific, and statistical skills while developing your understanding of behavioral health for a psychology-based career. Explore career options during your Designing Your Life courses.

Five Psychology Careers

Here are some examples of the positions you can pursue as a graduate of the online bachelor’s in psych program. Tailor your learning toward your ideal career with a concentration in crisis and trauma, child development, or counseling.

Community Service Manager $78,240 per year1

Human Resources Specialist $72,910 per year2

Rehabilitation Specialist $73,996 per year3

Behavioral Health Specialist $64,104 per year4

Succeed with a Unique Online Experience

Flexibility

Carlow’s online programs offer the ultimate flexibility through courses that fit into your schedule, coursework that aligns with your passions and concentrations tailored to your interests.

Expert Faculty

Each instructor brings diverse experiences to the classroom to provide a more well-rounded, multi-perspective, ethical view of the world.

Support

Our diverse community welcomes and empowers. We work to help you achieve success on your terms through a tight-knit community of accessible instructors and fellow students who support their peers.

Student Resources

Our helpful advisers work hard to help you navigate our transfer credit policies and financial aid. We also offer technology support and the Center for Academic Achievement, which offers academic coaches and other resources to enable your success.

About Carlow University

Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929, Carlow’s curricula and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice, along with ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership and service to the community. Rooted in its Catholic identity and embodying the heritage and values of the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow offers educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners. Transformational coursework and experiences at Carlow empower learners to excel in their chosen work as compassionate, responsible leaders in the creation of a just and merciful world.


Sources

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Social and Community Service Managers.” Retrieved Oct. 16, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Human Resources Specialists.” Retrieved November 3, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov.
  3. Salary.com. “Rehab Specialist Salary in the United States.” Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.salary.com.
  4. PayScale. “Average Behavioral Health Specialist Hourly Pay.” Retrieved November 3, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com.