Bachelor’s Degree Programs

A bachelor’s degree is a type of undergraduate academic program that prepares students for a particular career or interest. Traditionally it’s pursued immediately after high school, but not always. Some may choose to take a break for work or life while others may begin with an associate degree before advancing.

A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. Some schools, like UMass Global, however offer self-paced online bachelor’s degree programs that allow students to control their own timeline, which can possibly reduce this window. Learn more about competency-based learning.

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is typically more flexible and interdisciplinary, encouraging a broad, well-rounded education with a focus on humanities, such as literature, languages, philosophy, and social sciences. At UMass Global, we offer 20 Bachelor of Arts degrees in our school of Arts & Sciences. Beyond the specific curriculum or major, however, simply attaining a bachelor’s degree of any type has been shown to result in higher lifetime earnings when compared to those having only a high school diploma. See more benefits.

Different countries have varying names for their equivalent education standards that translate to the U.S. bachelor’s degree, with most requiring about four years of study. Many professional fields expect candidates to have this foundational level completed, but employers may consider 4-8 years of work experience in a related field equivalent. This is far from guaranteed, however, as many jobs in today's working world simply require the applicant has at least a bachelor's degree to even apply.

The UMass Global psychology undergraduate program offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. A BA in Psychology provides a broad-based education, offering a wider perspective on the field of psychology. At UMass Global, the electives available within the general psychology concentration reflect this versatility, covering diverse topics such as “Issues in Aging,” “Family Systems and Dynamics,” “Child Development,” and “Survey of Forensic Psychology.” This breadth of coursework allows students to explore multiple areas of psychology and apply their knowledge across various fields and careers.

Bachelor of science degrees in psychology typically are more research-oriented, with lab-based courses targeted toward graduate study in psychology.