Illinois Community Colleges
Psychology Programs
Psychology programs at community colleges in this state. Intro psych, abnormal, developmental, and transfer-track coursework for four-year programs.
15 colleges · 380 sections · 69 unique courses · Fall 2026
Intro and developmental psychology are among the highest-enrollment sections at Illinois community colleges — partly because most college students take at least one psych course as a general-education requirement, and partly because the field is a popular transfer-track major. 380 sections across 15 Illinois Community Colleges colleges this term cover general psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psych, and statistics for psychology.
A psychology associate is almost entirely transfer-prep. Direct career roles in psychology (clinical, counseling, school) require a graduate degree, but the CC associate completes the first two years of a four-year psychology bachelor's at lower tuition. Adjacent career paths — social services case manager, behavioral technician, mental-health technician — open up with just the associate plus relevant certifications.
Colleges offering Psychology
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakton College | 63 | 19 | 32 | — | — |
| Triton College | 59 | 12 | 22 | — | — |
| Waubonsee Community College | 46 | 9 | 19 | — | — |
| McHenry County College | 41 | 9 | 22 | — | — |
| Parkland College | 35 | 9 | 17 | — | — |
| Morton College | 23 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | 22 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Kankakee Community College | 21 | 6 | — | — | — |
| South Suburban College | 21 | 5 | 10 | — | — |
| Danville Area Community College | 14 | 5 | 3 | — | — |
| Shawnee Community College | 14 | 5 | 4 | — | — |
| Lincoln Trail College | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Olney Central College | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Wabash Valley College | 5 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Frontier Community College | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
Psychology Availability Snapshot
How psychology sections are being offered across 15 colleges in Illinois this term (380 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person217 (57%)
- online129 (34%)
- hybrid34 (9%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)141
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)66
- Evening (5 PM and after)25
- Asynchronous / TBA148
Start dates
Sections begin on 20 distinct dates. 92 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 110 distinct instructors across 15 colleges.
Common Psychology courses
- PSY 101Intro to Psychology(75 sections)
- PSY 100Intro. to Psychology(66 sections)
- PSY 151INTRO PSYCHOLOGY(23 sections)
- PSY 120Human Development(15 sections)
- PSY 1101GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY(13 sections)
- PSY 205Adult Psychology(13 sections)
- PSYC 131General Psychology(13 sections)
- PSYC 1813Introduction to Psychology(13 sections)
- PSY 250HUMN DEV LIFE SPAN(8 sections)
- PSYC 100Intro to Psychology(8 sections)
- PSY 201Educational Psychology(7 sections)
- PSY 209Human Growth and Development(6 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a therapist or psychologist with a CC degree?
- No. Clinical and counseling psychology require at least a master's degree (Licensed Professional Counselor) and often a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) plus state licensure. The CC associate is the first two years of the path; expect 6+ more years of education after the bachelor's to practice clinically.
- What jobs are available with just an associate in psychology?
- Direct-service roles that benefit from psych foundations but don't require licensure: behavior technician (especially in autism / ABA settings), mental-health technician at residential facilities, social-services case manager, school paraprofessional, and intake or admissions specialist at human-services agencies. Pay is modest but the work is meaningful and the field has steady openings.
- Does psychology credit transfer to a four-year program?
- Yes — intro psych, developmental, abnormal, social, and psychology statistics all transfer cleanly to Illinois state universities under the standard articulation agreement. The structured associate-of-science-in-psychology pathway is the safest route to ensure every credit applies toward the major.
- Is community college a good place to start psychology?
- Often yes — the intro psychology sequences are the same content at CC and four-year, taught at substantially lower tuition with often smaller class sizes. Students serious about clinical careers should plan for the bachelor's and graduate work to follow; students considering related applied fields (social work, counseling, education) can use the associate as a flexible foundation.
Compare Psychology programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Illinois’s psychology programs stack up.
Other programs in Illinois
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.