It’s been an exciting five weeks, and the votes are in for the 2021 Major Matchup! After an exhilarating game, a new major has been crowned the victor. Students, faculty, and alumni came together to express enthusiasm for the top 8 faculty pitches and the majors they represent from the Forbes School of Business and Technology® and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Over the course of the past few weeks, the 16 faculty members went head-to-head in the ultimate academic showdown. But only one degree could emerge victoriously. Read on to find out which faculty member and their major won this year.
Announcing the Winner of the 2021 Major Matchup
Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Rosser-Majors, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Psychology major! You made your case, rallied the support of students, alumni, faculty, and fans, and earned the top spot. Now it’s time to celebrate (and maybe even brag a little!).
“I feel very excited for our students and our instructors, as well as honored,” says Dr. Rosser-Majors, Lead Faculty for the Bachelor and Master of Arts in Psychology programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at UAGC. “It was a tough match-up this year.”
Despite the competition, Dr. Rosser-Majors isn’t surprised by this year’s results.
“We’ve been doing the match-up for a couple of years now, and some of our students expressed really wanting to win it this year, so they voted, which is fantastic!” she explains. “I’d like to give a big shout out to our students, alumni, and instructors who took the time to vote, affording us this great honor. Thanks so much, everyone!”
Instructors also played a role in the outcome this year.
“I do feel our instructors have also become dedicated to creating relationships with our students, and this, I am sure, has really helped as they encouraged them to vote to get us to the top,” Dr. Rosser-Majors adds.
Additionally, she says the UAGC Psych Club became very engaged and contributed to the results.
A Look at the Competition
This year, we began with 16 UAGC majors and faculty from each college. Ultimately, it came down to Psychology, with Dr. Rosser-Majors representing her programs, and Organizational Management, with William Woods speaking on behalf of his major.
Both presented convincing arguments for why their major should take home the title of champion, which is what helped propel them to the finals. In her video, Dr. Michelle Rosser-Majors delivered the top 10 reasons psychology should win in a mindful and well-packaged presentation. And Dr. Woods demonstrated his rap skills with a skilled slam poem-style pitch.
During the final match, they both brought their A-Game during a Facebook Live Event.
Take a look back at the live event:
What is a Degree in Psychology?
In the end, the votes were tallied, and psychology became this year’s ultimate fan favorite.
Why did psychology take home the most votes? Perhaps it’s because of what you learn.
“Personally, I think anyone who wants to learn about human behavior and how it applies to our personal and professional lives better will be fulfilled with a degree in psychology,” Dr. Rosser-Major notes.
So, what exactly is a degree in psychology, and what do you learn in these programs?
Dr. Rosser-Majors explains:
“Psychology is unique and one of the most popular majors because the understanding of human behavior can be applied to practically any career, or to one’s personal development, or even to one’s life journey. It can even help someone understand why their new mother-in-law must serve every holiday meal at her house.
"It also encompasses leadership, motivation, personality, human development, abnormal, learning, and organizational behaviors. In addition, Psychology majors can gain the knowledge to support their children, or grandchildren, with making friends, developing more confidence, or even improving school outcomes. In business, having this knowledge can support them in applying strategies to support employee improvement, increase performance motivation, and lend a perspective to understanding why their boss thinks they must stay until 5:05 every day to be a good employee. What good does that do? Having psychology knowledge can help you understand this not-so-helpful belief/behavior.
"In the community, psychology knowledge supports us as volunteers at the local homeless shelter, church, or mosque, or when working in an after-school youth program. Psychology provides the knowledge to support any area where human behavior is at play, even in the world of working with animals. In a nutshell, psychology, the understanding of human behavior, helps us to be more self-aware and ready to take on our goals."
Watch Dr. Majors' original video pitch:
In addition to this personal take on the BA and MA psychology programs, below we take a closer look at the degrees offered at UAGC.
What is a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree?
With your online bachelor’s degree in psychology* from the University of Arizona Global Campus, you will better understand human beings, their motivations, emotions, and thought processes. In an undergraduate psychology degree program, you will be introduced to a vast set of subject matters from human behavior and research to data analysis and communication. You will also receive a better understanding of how human behavior impacts the dynamics of a business or organization and will be able to use the knowledge you gain from a bachelor’s degree in psychology to help businesses and organizations make a lasting and meaningful impact in their practices and endeavors.
As you work toward your bachelor’s degree in psychology, you will begin to gain the knowledge of major psychological ideas and practices, which will allow you to provide the value and contribution that modern-day organizations are seeking in their employees.
The online bachelor’s degree in psychology curriculum includes subjects such as physiology, research and statistics, human development, and current psychological therapies and theories. The program will also build on solid liberal arts foundations that can provide you with the skills needed to communicate your ideas and psychological research findings.
What is a Master of Arts in Psychology Degree?
When you enroll in the Master of Arts in Psychology** program at UAGC, you will explore the mind by gaining additional research knowledge. You will learn how to integrate psychological research into real-world applications and gain an understanding of what moves people into action and then effectively employ that information to your staff, your clients, and your colleagues. This psychology program demonstrates your expertise at applying psychology to your career and can help support you in taking your psychology education to the next level.
In UAGC’s online master’s degree program, you will be guided through an in-depth exploration of the discipline. At the core of the master’s degree program is the generalist model, a conceptual framework that emphasizes an understanding of the processes that underlie human experience and behavior, as well as core knowledge, theories, and research methods in the field of psychology.
When you pursue your online master’s degree in psychology at UAGC, you will take courses in developmental, social, and counseling psychology and learn how to use psychological theories in any professional endeavor. You will also evaluate the scientific merit of psychological research and literature, which will give you a solid foundation of psychological knowledge.
What is a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Degree?
In the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)† online degree program at UAGC, you will build your knowledge base in the history and systems of psychology, and then you will focus your PsyD degree by selecting a specialization that aligns with your specific career and research interests
UAGC’s PsyD program is designed for students who are or are seeking to become practitioners in disciplines that have in common a desire to demonstrate service to the community through improving the emotional and mental health of clients, such as Criminal Justice, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Sport and Performance Psychology, Industrial Organizational Psychology, and others. Online PsyD students become practitioner-scholars by gaining knowledge of the theory, research, and evidence-based practice in their specializations.
Careers in Psychology
Psychology can be applied to just about any professional setting and add value in a wide variety of business settings.
“Knowledge of psychology is a great career-goal skillset to have,” says Dr. Rosser-Majors.
If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding path, the following opportunities should pique your interest based on your degree level.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
With your BA in psychology, you will build your career while continuing your passion for the study of human behavior and mental processes. Whether you desire to explore the skills and knowledge acquired from continuing your education or are just getting started in your career, an online psychology degree from UAGC can provide you with many options after graduation. Many undergraduate students opt to use their degree as a foundation to support their graduate studies in psychology or pursue careers in a variety of fields. Some of the potential career options that can be possible with an online bachelor’s degree in psychology from UAGC include:
- Public Administration
- Sales
- Criminal Justice
- Social Services
- Human Resources
- Business
Master of Arts in Psychology
When you earn your MA in psychology from UAGC, you will gain a broad background and specialized knowledge in psychology that can be applied in many settings. The skills that you will develop include cultural competence, responsible leadership, and emotional intelligence.
These skills will prepare for career opportunities that include:
- Social Services
- Child and Family Services
- Community Organizations
- Government – Local, State, or Federal
- Human Resources
- Law Enforcement
- Market Research
- Health care
- Nonprofit sector
- Education
Doctor of Psychology:
The PsyD from UAGC prepares you for a wide variety of careers that require a deep understanding of the human mind. Because of the many specialties in the field, you will be able to tailor your passion to fit your specific interest. Some career opportunities include:
- Psychologist
- Human Resources Specialist
- Postsecondary Business Teacher
Getting Started with a Degree in Psychology
Whether you choose to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree in psychology — or both —, Global Campus has the flexibility you need to earn your online degree while balancing school with life.
If you’re interested in learning more about these programs, contact an advisor today.
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Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.
*Successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree by itself does not lead to licensure or certification in any state, regardless of concentration or specialization. Further, UAGC does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate's application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession are strongly encouraged to carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment. Requirements may vary by state. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in this field of study.
**This program does not lead to certification or licensure. The Master of Arts in Psychology is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional. The University of Arizona Global Campus does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification or licensure. Students seeking licensure or certification in the field of psychology should carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment. Requirements vary by state. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in this field of study.
California Students: This program does not lead to licensure. According to the California Board of Psychology, candidates for licensure must have a doctorate degree in clinical or counseling psychology. The Board of Behavioral Sciences which governs licensure for LMFT, LPC, LPCC, and LCSW, requires candidates to meet didactic requirements and rigorous practicum/supervised professional hours that range between 500 to 2000 hours depending on the type of license. Coursework in the MAPSY may partially meet didactic requirements for CA licensure but that evaluation is done by the respective boards, and the purpose of the program is not designed to prepare students for licensure of any type. A criminal history background check by fingerprint via a Live Scan service must be passed that may include an investigation into felony and misdemeanor convictions. For additional details regarding the CA requirements for obtaining licensure, please visit: http://www.psychology.ca.gov/licensees/.
Washington Students: This program may not necessarily qualify a student for licensure in Washington State. All Washington students should contact the Health Professions Quality Assurance Division of the Washington Department of Health at 360.236.4700 to inquire about the criteria for licensure.
†The Doctor of Psychology program is not a licensure program. The University of Arizona Global Campus cannot confirm whether its courses or programs meet requirements for professional licensure in your state. For information regarding professional licensure requirements in your state, you should contact the applicable licensing board or agency in your state and determine whether the program meets requirements for licensure in the state where you reside.
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. While the University of Arizona Global Campus does not collect applicant criminal background, certain criminal histories may prevent students from obtaining licensure, certification or employment in their chosen field of study.