NIU Psychology at University Center

We’re thrilled that you’ve decided to pursue your education at a place close to home. Through our University Center program, you’ll earn your Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in psychology while gaining knowledge and developing your skills through classes taught by NIU faculty who are active researchers in the field.

The science of psychology is rapidly evolving and influences all aspects of society. Psychologists work in traditional and nontraditional settings including schools, hospitals, businesses, government, mental health organizations, laboratories and nonprofit organizations.

Completion of your undergraduate psychology major will provide you with both a strong liberal arts education and preparation for entry-level employment in a variety of career paths or for graduate training in a mental health field, such as counseling, clinical psychology or school psychology.

You have plans for the future. We’ll help you get there.

In order to pursue the psychology pathway, you must have completed PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology, MTH 165 Elementary Statistics and PSY 228 Psychology of Human Development.

How to Get Started

1. Schedule a meeting with the University Center to learn more about the program and to discuss requirements.
2. Apply to NIU as a transfer student (select the off-campus option) and submit your transcripts.
3. Setup your MyNIU account to stay updated on your application status and to accept your admission to confirm your spot.
4. Apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA.
5. Contact NIU advisors for guidance prior to registering for classes.

NIU Bachelor of Arts Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree must demonstrate competence in a foreign language. This requirement can be met by

• Completing the equivalent of the fourth-year of a foreign language with no term grade lower than C at an accredited high school.
  or
• A four-semester sequence in a traditional foreign language.

A student may be exempt from this requirement if they can demonstrate competence equal to the work required in the last course in one of the sequences listed above on a test administered through the NIU Office of Testing Services or if a student is registered as an international student at NIU with a native language other than English.

Graduation Requirements

NIU requires a total of 120 credit hours to graduate, with 54 hours required at the university level. A minimum of 40 hours must be in courses at the 300 and/or 400 level. More information is available at about these requirements.

All NIU students must meet general education requirements, which are fulfilled by an A.A. or A.S. degree from a public community college.  To track and understand all of your requirements:

• Regularly discuss your requirements with your NIU program advisor.
• Review your Academic Requirements Report in MyNIU.
• Familiarize yourself with the NIU Undergraduate Catalog paying close attention to areas such as university graduation requirements, academic requirements, other graduation requirements, and the academic calendar. 

Important Dates

• March 1: Deadline for transfer merit scholarships
• July 15: Deadline to apply for the Huskie Payment Plan for the fall semester
• Dec. 15: Deadline to apply for the Huskie Payment Plan for the spring semester

More important dates can be found in the undergraduate catalog.