Frequently Asked Questions

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Services, you will be qualified to apply for a broad range of positions in human services and related fields. Check out a sampling of job titles you can apply for here, along with a range of salaries. Studies show that individuals with a Bachelor’s degree earn $400,000 more in their lifetime with a college degree.

The program is offered through a blended model with a combination of online courses and one, three-hour, in-person Saturday session per course. In addition, there are three, one-hour optional synchronous sessions per course, which will be offered on a weeknight evening.

We offer our BS in Psychology and Human Services both full time and part time, so you can complete the program at your own pace. The program can be completed in two years full time or 3-4 years part time. You can look at the curriculum here.

This bachelor’s completion program consists of 20 three-credit courses, totaling 60 credits. It operates as a blended model with a combination of asynchronous online courses and one, three-hour Saturday session per course. It is designed in a cohort model so you will have a learning group that accompanies you throughout your matriculation. Additionally, the specific course sequence is fixed, meaning all students complete a prescribed set of courses in each semester.

Most students complete the program in three years part time (2-3 courses a semester) or two years full time (4 courses a semester). However, some students choose to complete the program in 2.5 years (3 courses a semester) or 3.5 years (2 courses a semester) Courses are scheduled in the fall, spring, and summer semesters of each year.

In the final Spring semester, you will engage in a field experience within a human service organization. Here, you will learn and experience applying psychological, sociological, and other related theories and techniques to actual cases while under the supervision and mentorship of the internship instructor and partnering-site supervisors. Many students working in the human services field complete this internship at their current place of employment.

Yes, some of your work experience may qualify for credit in this program. If a student wishes to receive credit for lived experience, they will be directed to area community colleges for a “Credit for Prior Learning” evaluation. Credits granted by these institutions will be honored by William James College. (More information is available at http://myexperiencecounts.mass.edu)

Absolutely! This program’s blended format serves the needs of today's busy student. The synchronous component of the program helps you create close bonds with classmates and professors, and covers material that is best taught face-to-face. The distance element of the program provides greater flexibility, especially for students:

• Who are in the workforce and for whom retaining full-time or part-time employment is necessary or relevant to their studies.
• With family obligations.
• Who wish to earn an income while in school.
• Who enjoy the flexibility of learning from home.
• Who are self-motivated and proactive learners.
• Who seek high levels of engagement with faculty and peers.
• Looking for in-depth, intensive learning and training opportunities.

As an incoming student, you will be assigned a Faculty Advisor who will oversee your progress throughout the course of study and will deliver ongoing feedback regarding your status in the program. In addition, you will be assigned a Mentor to assist with navigating the demands of creating a work-life balance and to begin the process of exploring career opportunities post-graduation. And for those seeking academic help for certain subjects, our Academic Resources Center offers free professional and peer tutoring services for all.

Prior to matriculation, all incoming students are required to participate in a brief Student Technology Orientation course. This online course provides you with important information on William James College's technology, systems, and databases, as well as best practices for e-learning. In addition, William James College has a highly skilled IT Support and EdTech staff ready to address any technological concerns or problems you may have, whether you are on campus or at a distance.

Vist our webpage for more information about distance learning support.

Typically, only 60 credit hours of coursework will be applied towards required coursework for the awarding of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Services. Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, who have additional credits for courses equated to those in our core curriculum, may be eligible to transfer additional credits. This situation requires consultation with, and approval from, the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Students can begin taking classes in our program in the Fall or Spring Semester.

WJC accepts applications for this program on a rolling admission basis. You can find specific admission and application information here.

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Services is a bachelor's completion program. Individuals with an AA or AS degree or with 45 undergraduate semester credits from an accredited college or university can apply to study for their bachelor's degree in a work friendly, three-year program. In order to receive an offer of full admission, students must demonstrate completion of a minimum of 22 credits, distributed across the following areas: Arts/Humanities (3 credits), Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 credits), Mathematics (3 credits), Natural/Physical Science with a Lab (4 credits), English Composition/Writing (6 credits), General Education (3 credits). Students who do not meet these foundational requirements may be offered a letter of Conditional Admission.

Students are required to complete 22 credits of foundational general education coursework prior to receiving an offer of Full Acceptance. The 22 credits must be distributed as across the following areas: Arts/Humanities (3 credits), Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 credits), Mathematics (3 credits), Natural/Physical Science with a Lab (4 credits), English Composition/Writing (6 credits), General Education (3 credits). Students who do not meet these foundational requirements may be offered a letter of Conditional Acceptance.

Yes. However, applicants with a cumulative grade point average of between 2.0 and 2.49 will be considered for admission following an in-depth review of the applicant’s readiness for advanced undergraduate study.

No.

No.

There is no application fee for this program.

All courses in the program are offered on the Canvas Learning Management System. Courses vary in specific requirements but typically involve three hours of information delivery each week (videos, lectures, readings etc.) and the expectation that students will devote an additional 4-6 hours per week (per course) to preparing assignments (discussion board posts, reflection papers, research papers, projects etc.) and studying for online exams/quizzes. Each class will have one required, three-hour synchronous session per semester, along with three, one-hour optional synchronous sessions per course. These will be offered on a weeknight evening.

Students are expected to attend the on-campus synchronous session offered for every course. Synchronous sessions are offered on Saturdays and the dates for these sessions are set at the beginning of the course. Each Saturday session is three hours.

There are no requirements for completing the program in a specific timeframe. However, courses are offered in a sequence and students who do not commit to a standard full or half-time course sequence may be delayed in their quest to complete all required courses. Completion times may also vary based on Fall or Spring start.

All faculty and advisors are responsive to email sent to their William James address. Faculty and advisors will schedule individual meetings online (Zoom) or on campus, at mutually convenient times.

The beauty of asynchronous learning is that you will be able to participate in courses at the time of day that works best with your own internal clock and external work or family demands. You may access course materials at any time of day; however, please note faculty are typically available only between 9–5, Monday–Friday. Successful students access their William James email daily and login to their CANVAS courses at least three times a week, though this is not a fixed requirement.

After you complete 30 credits of the BS program, you will be eligible to apply for the Honors Program where, pending approval, you will be able to take up to six pre-specified graduate level courses.

The William James College Academic Resource Center (ARC) offers writing, organizational and study skills support to students in all William James College programs. The ARC also assists students with documented disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations, which allow them access to the curriculum and the school environment.

Career services are offered through the College’s Dean of Students Office and include individual career counseling appointments, resume help, workshops and other resources. Collaborating with Alumni Relations, Field Education and Academic Departments, our Career Services resources help students and alumni at all stages of their career development.

The William James College library is available for students and faculty online or at a distance. It supports the research needs of the WJC community through its collection of materials, interlibrary loan services, computer services, online reference databases and opportunities for instruction on library and research skills.

For more specific information about library services and hours, please visit our library webpage.

The William James College campus is located at One Wells Ave in Newton, MA. Our campus has a large, free parking lot that does not require parking stickers or registration.

For directions and local restaurants, lodging, and transportation information, please click here.

William James College is a military and veteran friendly institution with a robust and supportive military community. Our Train Vets to Treat Vets® program, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Veteran Services, provides support, mentorship, paid work opportunities and more for military and veteran students across all programs. Find more resources for veterans here.

The BS in Psychology and Human Services degree should increase your earning and hiring potential. Successful graduates of the program will qualify for more challenging jobs in mental health, human services, and related fields. For those interested in graduate study, you can also consider applying for master’s and doctoral level programs in many mental health, human services and other healthcare fields.