Psychology Schools in Rhode Island
The following guide to psychology schools in Rhode Island, which features profiles of several graduate and undergraduate psychology programs in the state, is designed to make choosing a psychology program less stressful. Rhode Island’s colleges and universities allow students to earn a psychology degree in a full range of areas, including forensic psychology and clinical psychology. An online bachelor’s or master’s degree program in psychology offers an affordable and convenient alternative to a traditional degree.
Quick Facts
- There are 8 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Rhode Island.1
- No schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 8 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 5 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- No schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.4
- 1 school ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Psychology Programs in Rhode Island
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- Brown University (#33)
Continue reading to learn more about a few of the undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at Rhode Island’s universities.
Schools in Rhode Island with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island confers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology to students who successfully complete the four-year undergraduate program. Students will complete major requirements and electives encompassing such topics as alcohol and drug counseling, clinical psychology, child development, and school psychology. Students must complete at least one internship. Psychology majors who live on campus may want to live in a Living Learning Community with other psychology students. Study abroad opportunities are also available, and psychology majors may find a graduate student or faculty member mentor through the Psychology Club or Psi Chi, both on-campus organizations open to psychology majors.
Providence College
Undergraduate students at Providence College may pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. In addition to core college requirements, psychology majors must complete 12 psychology courses to fulfill degree requirements. Core courses cover topics including biopsychology, health psychology, learning, cognitive psychology, and psychological testing and analysis. Students are encouraged to assist faculty members with research to gain the skills necessary to continue to graduate study. Psychology majors may become involved by contributing to Analyze This, the newsletter of the psychology department or, if eligible, by joining Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College features a 30-credit graduate program leading to the Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology. Graduate students may complete the program full-time or part-time, and both day and evening classes are available. Specializations are available in health psychology, organizational psychology, or psychology and the law. Students will complete such core course requirements as research and design analysis, child and adolescent development, personality theory, and social psychology. A directed research project is also mandatory. Assistantships and scholarships may be available for qualified students to help defray educational costs. Prospective applicants must submit GRE scores and may be required to complete a personal interview.
Salve Regina University
Salve Regina University is home to a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis that qualifies graduates to sit for certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts. The broad curriculum prepares students for work in a variety of settings including schools, government entities, businesses, and treatment centers. Students may take courses at either the Newport or Warwick campuses. A minimum of 36 credit hours is required to earn the master’s degree. Core courses include Ethics and Professional Conduct; Behavior Change Techniques and Procedures; and Behavioral Assessment and Selecting Interventions. Students also complete an intensive practicum to gain real-world experience under supervision.
Online Psychology Programs
Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University offers an online Bachelor of General Studies in Psychology that emphasizes research and critical thinking skills in preparation for graduate school as well as entry-level careers. Diversity and awareness of ethical issues in psychology and the social sciences are also focus areas of the program. Required psychology courses include Introduction to Psychology, Quantitative Analysis, and Research Methods. Students also take 15 credit hours of psychology electives. A minimum of 120 credit hours are required to earn the degree, including 24 credit hours within the psychology major and 66 credits of additional electives. The elective portion of the degree plan allows students to highly tailor their degree towards personal and professional interests.
Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University offers an online Master of Science in Organizational Psychology that prepares graduates to work in human resources, employee compensation, and training in both public and private organizations. Students learn the fundamentals of team dynamics, talent development, and other areas of organizational success. Flexible eight-week schedules for classes allow students to focus their studies on a limited number of courses at a time. Courses offered include Leadership Theory and Practice, Organizational Theory and Change, and Team Dynamics. Those enrolled in the program may choose to culminate their degree with either a capstone project or a thesis; the capstone is considered a professional focus, while the thesis is considered an academic focus. It is recommended that applicants have an undergraduate degree with a major and a minor in business and/or psychology.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Rhode Island
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Rhode Island on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2017.6 Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.6
| School | BA/BS | Grad Prog. | Online Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 95% | — | — | — | 26^ | $27,238 |
| Bryant University | Yes | No | No | — | 81% | — | — | — | — | $38,102 |
| Johnson & Wales University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | — | 67% | — | — | — | — | $28,089 |
| Providence College | Yes | No | No | — | 86% | — | — | 95 | — | $37,842 |
| Rhode Island College | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 50% | — | — | — | — | $9,273 |
| Roger Williams University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 70% | — | — | — | — | $37,138 |
| Salve Regina University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 72% | — | — | 229 | — | $33,291 |
| University of Rhode Island (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 67% | 83% | 12 | — | 131^ | $19,731 |
| University of Rhode Island (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 67% | 80% | 5 | — | 131^ | $19,731 |
Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion.1
Schools with Psychology Degree Programs in Rhode Island
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Roger Williams University
1 Old Ferry Rd
Bristol, RI 02809
(401) 253-1040
https://www.rwu.edu/
Student Review: “I greatly enjoyed being a part of the psychology program at Roger Williams University. I enjoyed that certain classes were challenging, and enjoyed how they really encouraged you to think deeply about certain issues. One thing that I enjoyed most was the small class sizes, giving me a way to connect with each professor. This became a great tool so that I was able to have a professor who knew me by name to come to with any problems or struggles. Other than class time, there were a lot of panels and fairs to allow us to really get our names out and connect with people working in the psychology field. Overall, it was an excellent experience!” – Student at Roger Williams University
University of Rhode Island
45 Upper College Rd
Kingston, RI 02881
(401) 874-1000
https://www.uri.edu/
Student Review: “I was satisfied with the education I received while working towards my bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island. The best part of the experience for me was that I attended the satellite campus of the university, allowing for smaller class sizes and more professor availability. The one thing that I would change about the program would be to condense some of the courses, especially the higher level major-specific ones. I feel that I spent too many credits rehashing the same information, just under a different course title. Another thing I appreciated about my education experience was the quality and level of qualifications of all my professors. I was always confident that they were the best teachers I could have had.” – Student at University of Rhode Island
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Table
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2017.
4. PsychologyDegree411 Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/subject-ranking/psychology
6. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2017_Doctoral_Report.pdf
7. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
8. US News & World Report Best Graduate Psychology Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings