High Educational Value
Nationally recognized educational quality at an affordable price.
CAREER OUTLOOK
What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology and Biophilic Design?
92
K
Interior Designers jobs in the U.S., 2023
Interior Designers jobs in the U.S., 2023
$ 61
K
Interior Designers average pay, 2024
Interior Designers average pay, 2024
+ 5
%
Projected growth for Interior Designers jobs through 2033
Projected growth for Interior Designers jobs through 2033
*Source: ONet Online/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unity cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents averaged earnings for occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.
In the BS in Applied Psychology and Biophilic Design Program You’ll Learn To:
- Explore how built environments shape behavior by analyzing their impact on mood, cognition, attention, and social interaction.
- Apply biophilic design principles to foster human-nature connections that support psychological well-being and sustainability.
- Use human-centered research methods like surveys, observational studies, and environmental assessments to evaluate user experience.
- Design spaces that promote mental and physical health by integrating insights from environmental psychology and design thinking.
- Advance sustainable design practices that strengthen community ties and encourage environmental responsibility through intentional spatial planning.
What Will You Study
Applied Psychology and Biophilic Design Course Examples
Art, Nature, and Biophilia
The purpose of this course is to explore the relationship between human creativity, natural environments, and the built world through the lens of biophilic design and environmental art. Topics include how artistic expression draws from nature, reconnects people to natural systems, and promotes psychological wellbeing, environmental awareness, and sustainability.
Neuroscience of Place: Evolution, Emotion, and Design of WellBeing Environments
This course investigates how our evolutionary biology, emotional systems, and neurophysiological processes shape our experience of place. Grounded in biopsychology and cognitive neuroscience, topics include the brain’s drive for homeostasis, the influence of the parasympathetic nervous system, and the emotional regulation of responses to built and natural environments.
Of Birds and Buildings: Adaptive Investments in Biodiversity and Public Health
The purpose of this course is to explore the connections between biodiversity, environmental resilience, passive survivability, and public health through biophilic design. Topics include strategies to minimize harm and maximize benefits for living organisms in shared spaces, with a focus on equitable micro-habitat interventions known as ‘biophilic acupuncture.’
FAQ
Learn More About Degrees and Careers in Applied Psychology and Biophilic Design
Applied Psychology and Biophilic Design explores how psychological principles can shape built environments that support human well-being, cognition, and emotional health. This interdisciplinary field combines human-centered design with nature-inspired (biophilic) strategies to create spaces that reduce stress, boost mood, and promote sustainability. Students learn to evaluate how environments affect behavior, apply research to real-world design challenges, and foster deeper connections between people, place, and the planet—making it ideal for careers in design, wellness, sustainability, and community development.
The BS in Environmental Psychology and Biophilic Design trains students to understand and influence how people interact with the built and natural environment. Combining psychology, sustainability, and design theory, students learn to create human-occupied spaces—both indoor and outdoor—that promote well-being, inclusion, and ecological harmony. With a foundation in environmental psychology, human factors, and biophilic design, graduates are equipped to shape environments that reduce stress, enhance mental health, and encourage sustainable behavior. This program prepares learners for impactful careers in sustainable planning, interior and landscape design consulting, wellness architecture, and human-centered community development.
Your online education should be affordable and manageable. Thanks to our promise to keep tuition flat through 2030, you won’t be burdened with unexpected increases or fees.
Our team of Distance Education concierges will work with you through the admissions process to help you plan and pay for your degree. Learn more about the costs here.
Our comprehensive 120-credit program can be tailored to fit your schedule and goals! Completion time is flexible, determined by the number of credits you choose to take each term (8 terms/year) and less time with transfer credits. Without transfer credits, you can anticipate the following completion times:
- 24 credits/year: Complete in just 5 years
- 30 credits/year: Achieve your degree in 4 years
- 48 credits/year: Fast-track your education in only 2.6 years
General Education Core: 35 credits
Environmental Professional Core: 13 credits
Elective Courses: 3 credits
Program Core: 69 credits
- Biology: Foundations of Life
- The Mind-Body Connection: Human Anatomy and Physiology for Applied Psychology
- Neuroscience of Place: Evolution, Emotion, and Design of Well-Being Environments
- Embodied Experience of Place Laboratory
- Embodied Cognition and Intersensory Design
- Biophilic Patterns: Physiological Optimization in Built Environments
- Biophilic Elements and Place/Space Design
- The Economics of Biophilic Design: Case Studies, Data, and Analysis
- Economic Development Within Planetary Boundaries and Sustainable Development Goals
- Psychology of Cultural Diversity
- Of Birds and Buildings: Adaptive Investments in Biodiversity and Public Health
- Psychology of Motivation and Behavior Change
- Research Methods in Applied Psychology
- Biophilic Design Studio
Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology and Biophilic Design Academic Information
Degree Requirements and Courses Needed
The applied psychology and biophilic design degree requires 120 credits. You may transfer in up to 90 credits from outside institutions. View our full course catalog for a better look into your program. Then apply online for free to get started.
Realizing Your Potential. Protecting Your Planet.
Why Unity Distance Education?
Sustainability Core
Committed to sustainable practices to prepare for a future of environmental awareness.
Personalized Guidance
Dedicated to turning career and academic aspirations into tangible achievements.
Transfer-Friendly
Accepting up to 90 transfer credits to graduate sooner and save money.
Inspiring Faculty
Connect with experts who share your passion for working in the industry.
Future Success
Ranked #1 independent university in the U.S. by the Social Mobility Index.
Multiple Start Dates
With up to 8 terms a year, you can take a break without jeopardizing financial aid.
Learning Flexibility
Balance life, work, and education by studying when and where you want
Real Students, Real Impact
Real Students, Real Impact
Read Ron’s Full Quote“I have found value in each course. I have been able to apply each course to real-world experiences.”
