Program Overview

Introduction to the Online Bachelor of Community Psychology and Health Promotion

The Online Bachelor of Community Psychology and Health Promotion is a degree program offered by Southwest Minnesota State University. This program emphasizes community development, prevention programming, advocacy, and mental health education.

Program Details

• The program is a cross-disciplinary degree that combines courses from psychology, communications, social work, and management.
• It requires 43 credits in the major and includes two internships to gain valuable field experience.
• The program can be completed in two to four years.
• A waivable application fee is available.

Curriculum

Core Courses

The curriculum includes 14 major courses, each 16 weeks in duration. Some of the core courses are:

• PSYC 101: General Psychology
• PSYC 120: Introduction to Community Psychology
• PSYC 200: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
• PSYC 235: Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 339: Positive Psychology
• PSYC 440: Advanced Health Psychology

Elective Courses

Students must select at least 6 credits from the following elective courses:

• COMM 260: Media Writing
• MGMT 333: Conflict Resolution
• MGMT 450: Diversity Management
• PE 300: Recreation Diversity & Leadership
• POL 440: Public Administration
• PSYC XXX: Any Psychology Course
• SOCI 220: Social Problems
• SOCI 310: Sociology of Aging
• SWRK 280: Substance Abuse & Other Addictive Behaviors

Admissions Requirements

• Admission to the program begins with submitting an application.
• A $20 waivable application fee is required.
• Official high school transcripts are needed, and transfer students must send transcripts from each institution attended.
• A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required, with 3.0 recommended.
• International students may need to provide additional information and meet specific requirements.

Tuition and Aid

• The cost per credit hour is $323.30.
• The total estimated cost for the program is $38,796.
• The university offers in-state tuition rates to all students, along with various financial services, including military benefits, financial aid opportunities, and scholarships for qualifying applicants.

Program Outcomes

The program is designed for students interested in pursuing graduate study in community psychology, health psychology, mental health counseling, or health promotion. It also prepares students to enter the field immediately and make a direct impact in entry-level roles. Graduates can handle real-world situations, prevent major psychological health problems, strengthen natural support systems, create prevention programming, advocacy, and mental health education, and pursue careers in various fields.

Career Opportunities

Jobs in community psychology and other health promotion degree jobs play an essential role in every community. Graduates can work as health education specialists, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, among other roles. The job growth in this field is expected to grow faster than the national average through 2032.