University of Massachusetts Global offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology online, with concentrations in General Psychology, Child Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Advanced Study in Counseling, and Advanced Study in Psychology. UMass Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and operates as a nonprofit affiliate of the University of Massachusetts system, based in Aliso Viejo, California.
University of Massachusetts Global traces back to 1958, when Chapman College began offering classes to military personnel at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The school became an independent institution named Brandman University in 2009, then affiliated with the University of Massachusetts system in 2021 and adopted its current name, University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global). The university still serves working adults through fully online, accelerated programs, including a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
University of Massachusetts Global: Accreditation Details
UMass Global is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This institutional accreditation covers the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and all other degree programs. UMass Global also holds program-specific accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for its social work degrees and recognition from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for its education programs. There is no separate specialized accreditor for bachelor’s-level psychology programs, so WSCUC institutional accreditation is the relevant credential for prospective psychology students.
UMass Global participates in state authorization agreements allowing it to enroll students in most U.S. states, though some professional licensure programs have state-specific restrictions.
| Degree | Format | Credits Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA in Psychology | 100% online | 120 | $500 (standard); $250 (active military and spouses) |
University of Massachusetts Global: Application Requirements
UMass Global’s undergraduate programs are built for working adults, including those returning to school with prior college credit. Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent, and students with fewer than 12 transferable credits or a GPA below 2.0 are required to complete a first-session student success course.
The application itself asks for a list of every college, university, or military institution where the applicant earned credit. UMass Global then requests official transcripts from those institutions on the applicant’s behalf where allowed. Students can transfer up to 90 credits toward the 120-credit psychology degree, meaning up to 75% of the program can be completed with prior coursework. International applicants must submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation from a NACES-accredited evaluation service, completed within the past year.
University of Massachusetts Global: Tuition and Financial Aid
Standard tuition for the online BA in Psychology is $500 per credit, or roughly $60,000 for a full 120-credit program before transfer credit or financial aid. Active duty military personnel and their spouses pay a reduced rate of $250 per credit. Students who transfer in credits reduce both the cost and time to completion.
Eligible applicants can apply for federal aid, including the FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal student loans, as well as UMass Global scholarships and employer tuition assistance programs where available.
Psychology Programs at University of Massachusetts Global
UMass Global’s undergraduate psychology program is a Bachelor of Arts built around core coursework in the history and systems of psychology, research methods and statistics, human development, and abnormal psychology, followed by a senior capstone applying psychological theory to real-world issues.
Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students choose a concentration to focus their remaining coursework:
- General Psychology, covering human behavior from biological, behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic perspectives
- Advanced Study in Psychology, preparing students for graduate work in psychology-related fields
- Advanced Study in Counseling, focused on clinical issues in mental health as a foundation for graduate study in counseling or marriage and family therapy
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology, applying psychological principles to workplace dynamics, employee assessment, and organizational management
- Child Psychology, emphasizing child development, learning, and treatment approaches for children with developmental challenges
Graduates with this degree may pursue entry-level roles such as social and human service assistants, community health workers, human resources specialists, or research assistants, and the degree also provides a foundation for graduate study in counseling, clinical psychology, or industrial/organizational psychology.
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