Psychology

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Psychology at a glance

North Central’s Psychology major will prepare you with the theoretical framework, critical thinking skills, field experience, and applicable knowledge you need to pursue graduate school or a career in the field. Here at NCU, we teach from the ‘bio-psycho-social-spiritual’ model of understanding of how we, as human beings created in the image of God, think, behave, emote, and respond to creation. Taught from a Christian Perspective, courses will give you a strong foundation in human development, psychopathology, personality, and psychotherapy. You will explore the human mind and the scientific explanations for behavior as you pursue your calling to help others improve their lives.

What sets us apart

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Christian Foundation

Our courses are taught from a Christian perspective.

Gain a strong christian foundation for your psychology education

In our program, we see Christ as the unifying, magnetic center that holds all education together. Students follow Christ’s example of love and compassion while learning to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives. When you graduate, we want you to be prepared with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you need to excel in your career; additionally, we also want you to have a fortified faith and desire to spread the love of Christ.

Internships

Gain hands-on training and real-world experience in an internship.

Gain practical experience and make valuable connections

An internship is a required part of the Psychology program at North Central University, and you’ll find that our unique location in the heart of Minneapolis offers many opportunities for internships that will prepare you to accomplish your career goals.

There are many benefits to participating in an internship. You gain hands-on experience, make valuable contacts within the field, increase your potential for graduate school acceptance, and learn new skills through real-world training.

Here are just a few of the possible internship sites:

ACR Homes
American Red Cross
Center for Solutions
Children’s Home Society & Family Services
Dakota Valley Psychologists
Fairview Recovery Services
Hennepin County Foster Care
Hennepin County Juvenile Probation
Minnesota Teen Challenge
Minnetonka Lifecare Center
Regions Hospital
St. Louis Park Counseling Clinic

North Central hosts a chapter of the International Honor Society in Psychology.

Psi Chi

Psi Chi is an international honor society for psychology students.

Pursue excellence in Psi Chi

Psi Chi is an international honor society whose purpose is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology.

Founded in 1929, Psi Chi is the largest student psychological organization, with over 600,000 members. By joining Psi Chi, you’ll be connected with an extensive network of fellow students and established scholars in the field.

Learn more about Psi Chi.

Skills you’ll gain
When you graduate from the Psychology program, you’ll be prepared to:
- Understand and apply key psychological theories, principles, and themes
- Design, conduct, and interpret psychological research
- Use critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgements
- Apply ethics to psychological practice
- Build and enhance relationships
- Continue learning and growing as your pursue career goals
- Integrate psychology and Christian theology
Potential careers
Our graduates succeed in a variety of jobs and careers. Here are just some of the possibilities (some require students to pursue a master’s degree after graduating from NCU):
- Mental health psychologist
- School psychologist
- Parole officer
- Counselor
- Organizational psychologist
- Speech pathologists
- Behavior therapists
Minors & supporting programs
We want you to be well-rounded and well-prepared when you graduate, so you’ll have the opportunity to choose a minor or supporting program so you can explore another area of interest. Here are some possibilities:
- Business Administration
- Church Ministries
- Deaf Culture Studies
- Intercultural Studies
- Nonprofit
- Pre-Law
- Social Services
See the full list of minors and supporting programs.

Graduate Student, Rosemead School of Psychology (Biola University)

Jesika Austad '14
La Mirada, CA

"I enjoyed the academic and spiritual nature of the courses and the classroom at NCU. Being with peers and professors who were passionate about both the field of Psychology and Jesus Christ was a unique and formative experience."

Requirements

All students must complete the General Education Core and Christian Studies Core. General electives may be added or an optional minor may be selected. You need 124 total credit hours to complete the Psychology degree.

View course listing

Meet your professors

Andy Schuttinga

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Psychology is such an exciting field to teach and be a part of! I love helping students see how the science of psychology not only informs our faith, but helps us understand who God is as well. And, psychology is a science every person can benefit from studying.

What are your areas of expertise?

Counseling, developmental psychology, performance psychology

What do I love about teaching at NCU

The students! My colleagues are pretty great too. NCU is a fantastic place for students to grow in their faith, their core competencies for content-area knowledge, and their integration of the two. I love being able and encouraged to teach such a fascinating subject from a biblical, Christian perspective.

Mallory Knipe, MSW, LGSW

Director of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

I love encouraging students to be the change they wish to see in the world! The social and behavioral sciences allow people to do that in so many ways, and it’s very exciting to be a part of.