What if you could take an accelerated path to a psychology career without compromising on quality, flexibility, or support?

Mental health professionals are in high demand, and that demand is only growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% increase in psychology jobs over the next decade faster than the average for all occupations. The Chicago School’s B.A. Psychology: Focused Path could be your fast, efficient, yet thorough way into a career that offers mental health care to those who need it.

Our B.A. Psychology program is offered in two formats: a 90-credit Focused Path that can be completed in about three years with fewer electives and no option for a minor, and a 120-credit Traditional Path that typically takes four years and allows for more electives and the pursuit of a minor. The Focused Path offers a streamlined sequence, while the Traditional Path provides greater flexibility and academic exploration.

Designed with transfer students and adult learners in mind, this Focused Path psychology degree empowers learners to build a strong foundational psychology education while preparing them for graduate study, licensure, and community impact.

Here’s how this transfer-friendly Focused Path offers a direct path to reach your goals faster and with the support you need to succeed.

1. Start Your Psychology Career Sooner

If your goal is to become a licensed therapist, counselor, or psychologist, the new Focused Path for The Chicago School’s psychology B.A. helps you get there faster. Unlike the standard 120-credit track, the Focused Path is designed around core psychology competencies only, eliminating the need for minors and general electives, cutting down your time to graduation without compromising quality or depth. The psychology B.A. programs’ core competencies were strategically built to meet today’s licensure requirements and current market expectations. Explore the core courses, such as Developmental Psychology, Research Methods and Educational Psychology.

“This program was built for depth, not just speed,” says Jonathan Dodrill, Ph.D., dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies at The Chicago School. “By eliminating redundancy and focusing on essential competencies, we’re giving students a rigorous academic foundation, one that prepares them not only to complete a bachelor’s degree more efficiently but to thrive in graduate study and in the communities they go on to serve.”

This pathway is ideal for those who aspire to expand access to mental health care. A 2024 report found more than one-third (122 million) of the U.S. population lives in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area.

The Focused Path psychology B.A. gives you the tools to meet that need on a timeline that suits you.

2. Save Time and Money With Maximum Transfer Credits

The Chicago School’s Focused Path is only 90 credits, making it one of the fastest and most cost-effective psychology B.A. programs in the nation. We also accept transfer credits, empowering you to leverage your prior education to maximize your potential.

That means you can finish your bachelor’s degree faster and spend less in tuition overall, about 25% less than the standard 120-credit program.

“By removing long-standing barriers to entry, accelerated degrees also help diversify the workforce, an essential step in building culturally competent systems that reflect the communities they serve,” says, Michele Nealon, Psy.D., president of The Chicago School. “Equitable access to education is more than a moral good; it’s a practical, strategic approach to solving one of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

For anyone looking to restart their education or for working adults balancing multiple priorities, we understand that saving money and time is an everyday concern.

3. Build a Foundation for Graduate Study and Licensure

The Chicago School’s B.A. Psychology equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue multiple professional pathways, whether that means entering the workforce after graduation, continuing into graduate study, or preparing for licensure in a specialized area of psychology.

Through the program, you will:

Build a strong understanding of human behavior, cognition, and emotion
Gain applied skills in research methods, data analysis, and ethical decision-making
Strengthen your written and oral communication abilities
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving strategies
Cultivate cultural competence for working in diverse settings

The 90-credit Focused Path allows you to earn your degree in about three years, giving you a head start on graduate study or your career. Along the way, you’ll gain the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to thrive in whichever path you choose.

Career Opportunities After Graduation

B.A. graduates are prepared to step into roles across industries that value a deep understanding of human behavior, including:

Organizational Training and Development: helping companies design learning programs and foster healthier workplace cultures.
Medical and Health Services Management: coordinating programs and improving patient services in health care systems.
Social and Community Service Management: leading nonprofits, community agencies, or outreach initiatives that address pressing social and mental health needs.

Preparation for Advanced Study

For many students, the B.A. is also the first step toward graduate education. The curriculum ensures you’re academically ready for master’s- or doctoral-level work in counseling, clinical psychology, applied behavior analysis, and related fields. Through core psychology courses, electives, and field experiences, you’ll gain a strong foundation in theory, research methods, and real-world application.

At The Chicago School, B.A. graduates often continue into advanced programs such as:

A. Counseling Psychology: A pathway toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
M.A. Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy: Preparing for licensure as a marriage and family therapist
S. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Training to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
D. Clinical Psychology: Advancing toward licensure as a clinical psychologist, with opportunities to specialize in trauma, forensic psychology, or health psychology

Setting the Stage for Licensure

If your long-term goal includes becoming a licensed counselor, therapist, or psychologist, this undergraduate program provides a critical first step. You’ll be introduced to professional competencies, ethical frameworks, and applied practices that will support you through the licensure process in graduate school and beyond.

Students can also gain early acceptance into the following programs:

In short, the B.A. Psychology allows you to begin a psychology career right away or take your psychology education further with confidence.

4. Learn From Faculty Who Know the Field

Even in our online format, the experienced instructors at The Chicago School ground lessons in lived practice, not just theory. With rich experiences working in clinical, counseling, or community settings, our faculty offer mentorship rooted in community impact. “My work as a clinician makes me a better academic and my work as an academic makes me a better clinician,” says Teresa Collins-Jones, Ph.D., associate dean in The Chicago School’s College of Professional Psychology. “I understand the intersections of theory and action and love having the chance to pass on that insight to the next generation of healthcare change-makers.”

You’ll benefit from 1:1 connections with faculty, too. Whether it’s career advice, academic coaching, navigating licensure pathways, or fieldwork feedback, your instructors are committed to your success from day one.

Faculty like Kito Barrow, Ph.D., embody this commitment. By making research accessible and inclusive, she empowers undergraduates to see themselves as real scientists and contributors to the field. Her work to expand hands-on research opportunities reflects the broader faculty mission at The Chicago School: to combine academic expertise with mentorship that inspires students to improve their communities.

5. Join a Community That Shares Your Values

When you enroll at The Chicago School, you’re becoming part of a community focused on expanding access to mental health care. Through our blend of education, innovation, community, and impact, we equip graduates to support communities throughout the world.

In our integrated classes, students learn side by side with peers from diverse backgrounds and connect on the shared desire to improve their communities and provide care to people who need their help. That sense of purpose translates into a supportive community full of peers sharing your drive to advance equity and well-being in the field of mental health.

This spirit of collaboration reflects what Associate Dean Susan Foster, Ph.D., calls a true “communiversity,” a vibrant space where students and faculty inspire one another and work together to expand access to high-quality care.

Start Your Career in Psychology and Mental Health

If you’re ready to make an impact in mental health, start here.

The Chicago School’s three-year psychology B.A. gives you the opportunity to start your valuable career sooner, with a 90-credit, fully online program designed to help you save time, reduce costs, and stay focused on what matters most: preparing to serve others.

Learn more about our B.A. Psychology program and launch your career.

Program availability varies by state. Not all states are eligible for enrollment. Please contact admissions to confirm eligibility based on your location.