A.A. to B.A. in Psychology Program Transfer Guide

Northern Illinois University at the University Center at Harper College

Use this guide to help plan your progress toward your degree. Please note the following:

  • Students with an A.A. or A.S. are eligible to pursue a B.A. or B.S. in Psychology. The plan provided outlines the preferred transfer path for course alignment and timely completion.
  • 7-8 total credits required for Physical and Life Sciences with one lab.
  • Refer to the Harper College course catalog for options for Humanities/Fine Arts and Social/Behavioral Sciences courses.
  • You must complete two years of college-level work in the same foreign language (or equivalent).
  • A minimum of 40 hours must be in courses at the 300 and/or 400 level.
Year One — Semester I (17 Hours)
Harper College NIU
ENG 101 Composition I (3) ENGL 103 Rhetoric and Composition I (3)
MTH 165 Elementary Statistics (4) STAT 200 Elementary Statistics (3)
SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I (4) FLSP 101 Beginning Spanish I (3)
PSY 101 Intro Psychology (3) PSYC 102 Intro to Psychology (3)
IAI Humanities or Fine Arts (3) General Education Elective
Year One — Semester II (16 Hours)
Harper College NIU
ENG 102 Composition II (3) ENGL 203 Rhetoric and Composition II (3)
SPE 101 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3) COMS 100 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)

PSY 228 Psychology of Human Development (3)

PSYC 225 Lifespan Development: Child-Adult (3)
IAI Humanities/Fine Arts (3) General Education Elective

SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II (4)

FLSP 102 Beginning Spanish II (3)
Year Two — Semester I (16-17 Hours)
Harper College NIU
SOC 215 Intro to Social Psychology (3) SOCI 260 Intro to Social Psychology (3)
IAI Social/Behavioral Science (non-PSY) (3) General Education Elective
IAI Humanities/Fine Arts (3) General Education Elective
SPA  201 Intermediate Spanish I (4) FLSP 201 Intermediate Spanish I (3)
IAI Physical Science/ Life Science (3-4) General Education Elective
Year Two — Semester II (16-17 Hours)
Harper College NIU
PSY 216 Child Psychology (3) HDFS 230 Child Development (3)
PSY Elective (3) Major Elective
IAI Social/Behavioral Science (non-PSY) (3) General Education Elective
IAI Social/Behavioral Science (3-4) General Education Elective
SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II (4) FLSP 202 Intermediate Spanish II (3)
Total semester hours completed at Harper College (65-67)
Year Three — Semester I (13 Hours)
PSYC 101 University Experience in Psychology (1)
PSYC 300 Brain and Behavior or PSYC 345 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 332 Personality or PSYC 316 Introduction to Psychopathology (3)
University Baccalaureate 100-400 Electives (online) (6)^
Year Three — Semester II (12 Hours)
PSYC 315 Developmental Psychopathology or PSYC 324 Child Development (3)
PSYC 305 Research Methods (3), prerequisite
University Baccalaureate 100-400 Electives (online) (6)
Year Four — Semester I (15 Hours)
PSYC 300 Brain and Behavior or PSYC 345 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 332 Personality or PSYC 316 Introduction to Psychopathology (3)
PSYC 306 Advanced Research Methods (3)
University Baccalaureate 300-400 Electives (online) (6)
Year Four — Semester II (15 Hours)
PSYC 315 Developmental Psychopathology or PSYC 324 Child Development (3)
PSYC 413/433 Research Laboratory (3)
University Baccalaureate 300-400 Electives (online) (9)

Total semester hours completed at NIU (55)
Total semester hours for B.S. degree (120)

Disclaimer: You’re encouraged to use this transfer guide when planning your progress toward degree completion. Following this transfer guide does not guarantee admission into the listed program. Information was updated August 2025; however, any curriculum changes reflected in the Undergraduate Catalog override the information on this guide. Contact your Harper College academic advisor for assistance in interpreting this guide.