Tennessee Community Colleges
Psychology Programs
Psychology programs at community colleges in this state. Intro psych, abnormal, developmental, and transfer-track coursework for four-year programs.
12 colleges · 478 sections · 16 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Intro and developmental psychology are among the highest-enrollment sections at Tennessee 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. 478 sections across 12 TBR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville State Community College | 57 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Pellissippi State Community College | 53 | 7 | — | — | — |
| Chattanooga State Community College | 50 | 8 | 35 | — | — |
| Walters State Community College | 48 | 7 | — | — | — |
| Motlow State Community College | 46 | 6 | 16 | — | — |
| Volunteer State Community College | 39 | 5 | 11 | — | — |
| Northeast State Community College | 36 | 4 | 12 | — | — |
| Columbia State Community College | 34 | 4 | 13 | — | — |
| Dyersburg State Community College | 34 | 6 | 17 | — | — |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 34 | 8 | 3 | — | — |
| Jackson State Community College | 31 | 4 | 17 | — | — |
| Cleveland State Community College | 16 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
Psychology Availability Snapshot
How psychology sections are being offered across 12 colleges in Tennessee this term (478 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person352 (74%)
- online126 (26%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)147
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)81
- Evening (5 PM and after)21
- Asynchronous / TBA229
Start dates
Sections begin on 13 distinct dates. 457 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 71 distinct instructors across 12 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chattanooga State Community College2 programs
Cleveland State Community College2 programs
Columbia State Community College1 program
First Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 16
First Year - Spring Semester - Credit Hours: 15
Source: College catalog
Dyersburg State Community College2 programs
Jackson State Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
62 credits- PSYC 1030General Psychology(3 cr)22 sections
- ENGL 1020English Composition II(3 cr)16 sections
- MATH 1530Introductory Statistics(3 cr)38 sections
- ENGL 1010English Composition I(3 cr)66 sections
- COL 1030College to Career Navigation(3 cr)45 sections
- COMM 2025Fundamentals of Communication(3 cr)32 sections
- BIOL 1120General Biology II(4 cr)9 sections
- BIOL 1110General Biology I(4 cr)27 sections
Source: College catalog
Motlow State Community College1 program
GENERAL EDUCATION (41 credit hours)
41 creditsSee catalog for course list
Communications (9 credit hours)
9 creditsHumanities/Fine Arts (9 credit hours)
9 credits- ELEC XXXThree of the following:not offered
- ART 1035Introduction to Art16 sections
- ART 2000Art History Survey I4 sections
- ART 2020Art History Survey II3 sections
- ENGL 2045Introduction to Literature21 sections
- ENGL 2055African American Literature5 sections
- ENGL 2130Topics in American Literature7 sections
- ENGL 2235Topics in British Literature3 sections
- ENGL 2310Early World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2320Modern World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2330Topics in World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2860Introduction to Film5 sections
- ENGL 2900Creative Writing I4 sections
- MUS 1030Introduction to Music21 sections
- MUS 1035History of Jazz2 sections
- RELS 2020Religions of the World1 section
- THEA 1030Introduction to Theatre17 sections
Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)
6 credits- ELEC XXXTwo of the following:not offered
- AAST 2200African American Studies2 sections
- ANTH 1100Introduction to Anthropology1 section
- COMM 1010Introduction to Mass Communications5 sections
- ECON 2100Principles of Macroeconomics12 sections
- ECON 2200Principles of Microeconomics6 sections
- GEOG 1012Cultural Geography7 sections
- GEOG 2010World Regional Geography2 sections
- HPE 2340Wellness Perspectives and Lifestyles3 sections
- POLS 1030American Government10 sections
- POLS 2025State and Local Government1 section
- RELS 2030Religion and Society1 section
- SOCI 1010Introduction to Sociology21 sections
- SOCI 1040Social Problems5 sections
- SOCI 2010Marriage and Family1 section
History (6 credit hours)
6 credits- ELEC XXXOPTION 1 Two of the following, taken in any order:not offered
- HIST 2310Early World History7 sections
- HIST 2320Modern World History3 sections
- HIST 2350The Modern Middle East1 section
- ELEC XXXOR OPTION 2 Two of the following, taken in any order:not offered
- HIST 2010Early United States History43 sections
- HIST 2020Modern United States History11 sections
- HIST 2030Tennessee History5 sections
- HIST 2060African American History1 section
Natural Science (8 credit hours)
8 creditsMathematics (3 credit hours)
3 credits- MATH 1530Introductory Statistics30 sections
AREA OF EMPHASIS REQUIREMENTS (19 credit hours)
19 creditsForeign Languages (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester One (15 credit hours)
15 creditsSemester Two (13 credit hours)
13 creditsSemester Three (16 credit hours)
16 creditsSemester Four (16 credit hours)
16 creditsSemester One (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Two (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Three (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Four (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Five (4 credit hours)
4 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Six (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Seven (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSemester Eight (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Nine (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSemester Ten (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Nashville State Community College2 programs
Northeast State Community College2 programs
Southwest Tennessee Community College2 programs
Volunteer State Community College2 programs
Walters State Community College3 programs
Common Psychology courses
- PSYC 1030Introduction to Psychology(298 sections)
- PSYC 2130Lifespan Developmnt Psychology(95 sections)
- PSYC 2120Social Psychology(37 sections)
- PSYC 2110Psychology of Adjustment(16 sections)
- PSYC 215Child Growth and Development(6 sections)
- PSYC 223Psychology of Aging(5 sections)
- PSYC 2100Psychology of Human Development - On-campus instruction(4 sections)
- PSYC 2125Abnormal Psychology(4 sections)
- PSYC 2220Psychology of Human Sexuality(4 sections)
- PSYC 2210Biological Basis of Behavior - On-campus instruction(2 sections)
- PSYC 243Psychology Death and Dying(2 sections)
- PSYC 2000Coping: Addictions/Disorders(1 section)
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee’s psychology programs stack up.
Other programs in Tennessee
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.