3 Reasons You Should Get a Degree in Psychology as an Adult Undergraduate Student

The American Psychological Association describes psychology as the “study of the mind, how it works, and how it affects behavior.” This field revolves around aspects of the brain, the development of children, and support for adults. In simpler terms, studying psychology develops a better understanding of people and how best to equip them with skills to improve their well-being. At University of Northwestern – St. Paul (UNW), our psychology programs prepare students within a Christian context to understand people better to effectively minister to them. For adult undergraduates, this degree is intentionally designed to be both realistically attainable and undeniably valuable. This online psychology degree provides a theoretical and applied understanding of psychological principles to prepare you for graduate study in psychology or entry-level positions in the helping profession.

Here are 3 reasons why an adult undergraduate degree in psychology can benefit your career:

Increased employment opportunities 

Occupational outlook data indicates that a bachelor’s degree increases the likelihood of obtaining employment and increased salary.  By simply finishing any degree, the job pool widens. A psychology degree can open the doors for careers in counseling, social work, human resources, education, and marketing, among many others. With its focus on understanding people, psychology is a versatile foundation for a wide range of professions. 
 
At UNW, the adult undergraduate psychology program prepares students for graduate school and positions directly in the field. For those interested in clinical psychology, research, or specialized fields like forensic or sports psychology, Northwestern’s adult undergraduate degree lays the groundwork for graduate programs and professional certification. The program emphasizes knowledge of the mental health field and is taught by faculty who are professionals in the areas that they teach. The program emphasizes the importance of a Christian perspective for evaluating truth claims in psychology.  The program culminates in the capstone course “Integration of Psychology and Theology,’ and makes a great first step towards a meaningful impact in a chosen field of expertise.

Growth Outside the Degree

Studying psychology is unique. It teaches life skills in ways other degrees may not. This degree fosters growth in skills such as compassion, empathy, and effective communication. It also provides a deeper understanding of human behaviors and emotions. While skills like compassion can be learned through other life experiences, a program that shapes you personally and professionally is valuable. 
 
Dr. Don Johnson, Department Chair of Psychology, Criminal Justice, & Law Enforcement at Northwestern notes “our program is dedicated to encouraging critical thinking, problem solving, and research skills all of which are valuable in any occupational setting and life in general.”

Apply Christianity to Psychology

Psychology is a field that concentrates on the nature of humans, their development, learning, and challenges.  It is necessary to evaluate psychological truth claims using Scripture.
 
David Powlison in his article God, Psychology, and Christian Care of the Soul writes, “every psychological act, every interaction between people is an expression of life in God’s world, and we don’t just simply let the diagnosis of the human dilemma be defined autonomously and then bring in God later as though Christ somehow fixes what we define in some other way.” Psychology assesses the situation one may be facing in which we can have hope through Jesus that the hardships we face as humans are set free in Him. 
 
The beauty of this degree is that it is built on truth which offers light in hard situations. This is reflected in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This calling is what we ought to bring into a field that deals with heavy life events. 
 
Psychology is unique in the fact that the work you do in your degree not only benefits your career but also life. Finishing your degree in psychology adds the advantage of obtaining a full-time job and an increased salary. The growth outside of professional work is incomparable to other degrees – the opportunity to learn skills such as compassion is not always available. And investing in a degree that is backed with Truth serves to share the Gospel is invaluable. This degree holds much beauty in its versatility. 
 
Interested in finishing your psychology degree at UNW? Connect with Admissions here!