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Behavioral psychology focuses on the study and analysis of observable human behavior, including actions, emotions and thoughts. Key concepts used by behavioral psychologists include conditioning, reinforcement and punishment. This branch of psychology, commonly refered to as "behaviorism", is based on the theory that mental and emotional disorders, and behaviors in general, can be modified using techniques such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral modeling and classical and operant conditioning.
While graduate-level education is required for most behavioral psychology careers, you must first earn a bachelor's degree in a general field of psychology to qualify for graduate school. In most graduate degree programs focusing on behavioral psychology, you'll be required to take courses in applied behavioral analysis, developmental psychology, personality disorders and various other behavioral topics. With the intent of providing students a broader knowledge base, some programs engage other areas of psychology, such as, statistical analysis, clinical psychology, behavior and developmental disabilities, behavior interventions and psychopharmacology, to name a few.
Most graduate programs also require students to complete a clinical practicum in behavioral psychology. Once you've earned your degree, depending on your career field, you'll be required to earn licensure before your can start practicing professionally. All states have licensure and/or certification requirements for both behavioral psychologists and clinical counselors. Licensing typically requires earning a doctorate degree, completing an approved internship, gaining up to 2 years of professional experience and passing a state exam.
The schools and colleges listed below offer accredited psychology degrees and programs leading to a career behavioral psychology. Before applying to any school we recommend verifying their current accreditation status.
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Athens State University
Athens, AL |
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Auburn University
Auburn University, AL |
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The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL |
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Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ |
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Mohave Community College
Kingman, AZ |
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Northcentral University
Prescott Valley, AZ |
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Southwestern College
Phoenix, AZ |
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University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, AR |
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Alliant international University
San Diego, CA |
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California Baptist University
Riverside, CA |
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California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA |
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California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA |
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California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA |
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California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA |
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California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA |
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College of Marin
Kentfield, CA |
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Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA |
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Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA |
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National University
La Jolla, CA |
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Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA |
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Palo Alto University
Redwood City, CA |
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San Diego City College
San Diego, CA |
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San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CA |
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San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA |
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San Diego State University
San Diego, CA |
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San Jose State University
San Jose, CA |
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Shasta College
Redding, CA |
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Sierra College
Rocklin, CA |
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University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA |
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University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA |
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University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA |
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University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA |
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University of La Verne
La Verne, CA |
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University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA |
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University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA |
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Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA |
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Metropolitan State College of Denver
Denver, CO |
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University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO |
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University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO |
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Connecticut College
New London, CT |
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Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, CT |
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Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT |
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Naugatuck Valley Community College
Waterbury, CT |
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Saint Joseph College
West Hartford, CT |
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University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT |
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Yale University
New Haven, CT |
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University of Delaware
Newark, DE |
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Wilmington University
New Castle, DE |
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American University
Washington, DC |
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Barry University
Miami, FL |
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Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL |
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Florida International University
Miami, FL |
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Florida Tech University
Melbourne, FL |
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Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL |
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University of Florida
Gainesville, FL |
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University of South Florida
Tampa, FL |
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Emory University
Atlanta, GA |
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Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA |
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Oglethorpe University
Atlanta, GA |
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Savannah State University
Savannah, GA |
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University of Georgia
Athens, GA |
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Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu, HI |
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University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI |
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Lewis-Clark State College
Lewiston, ID |
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Adler School of Professional Psychology
Chicago, IL |
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DePaul University
Chicago, IL |
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Dominican University
River Forest, IL |
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Illinois State University
Normal, IL |
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National-Louis University
Chicago, IL |
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Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL |
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Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL |
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Northwestern University
Evanston, IL |
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Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL |
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The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Chicago, IL |
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University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL |
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Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN |
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Indiana University-South Bend
South Bend, IN |
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Manchester College
North Manchester, IN |
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Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN |
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University of Evansville
Evansville, IN |
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University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN |
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Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA |
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University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS |
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Spalding University
Louisville, KY |
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University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY |
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McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA |
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Our Lady of Holy Cross College
New Orleans, LA |
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Tulane University
New Orleans, LA |
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University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME |
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University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD |
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University of Maryland-University College
Adelphi, MD |
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Washington College
Chestertown, MD |
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Atlantic Union College
South Lancaster, MA |
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Becker College
Worcester, MA |
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Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA |
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Boston University
Boston, MA |
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Brandeis University
Waltham, MA |
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College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA |
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Endicott College
Beverly, MA |
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Harvard University
Cambridge, MA |
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Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA |
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Northeastern University
Boston, MA |
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Simmons College
Boston, MA |
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Smith College
Northampton, MA |
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA |
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University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA |
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Western New England College
Springfield, MA |
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Westfield State University
Westfield, MA |
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Williams College
Williamstown, MA |
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Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI |
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Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI |
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Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI |
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Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI |
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Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI |
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Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI |
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Rochester College
Rochester Hills, MI |
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University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI |
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University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI |
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Wayne State University
Detroit, MI |
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Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI |
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Concordia College
Moorhead, MN |
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Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN |
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Millsaps College
Jackson, MS |
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Avila University
Kansas City, MO |
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Drury University
Springfield, MO |
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Lincoln University
Jefferson City, MO |
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Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO |
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Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO |
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University of Missouri-St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO |
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Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO |
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The University of Montana
Montana, MT |
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Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln, NE |
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Northeast Community College
Norfolk, NE |
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Nevada State College
Henderson, NV |
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University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV |
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Antioch University New England
Keene, NH |
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New England College
Henniker, NH |
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University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH |
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Caldwell College
Caldwell, NJ |
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Drew University
Madison, NJ |
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Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, NJ / Teaneck, NJ |
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Princeton University
Princeton, NJ |
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Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ |
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Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ |
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Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ |
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Barnard College
New York, NY |
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Columbia University
New York, NY |
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Cornell University
Ithaca, NY |
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CUNY-Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY |
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CUNY-Hunter College
New York, NY |
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CUNY-Queens College
Flushing, NY |
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CUNY-The Graduate Center
New York, NY |
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Long Island University – Riverhead
Riverhead, NY |
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Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY |
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SUNY-Binghamton
Binghamton, NY |
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The College of Saint Rose
Albany, NY |
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The Sage Colleges
Troy, NY |
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University at Buffalo – SUNY
Buffalo, NY |
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Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY |
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC |
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The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC |
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The University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wilmington, NC |
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Ohio State University
Columbus, OH |
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Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Lima, OH |
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Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Marion, OH |
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University of Mount Union
Alliance, OH |
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Walsh University
North Canton, OH |
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Cameron University
Lawton, OK |
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Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma City, OK |
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Murray State College
Tishomingo, OK |
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Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK |
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Seminole State College
Seminole, OK |
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Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, OK |
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University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK |
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George Fox University
Newberg, OR |
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Linfield College
McMinnville, OR |
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Albright College
Reading, PA |
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Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA |
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Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA |
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DeSales University
Center Valley, PA |
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Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA |
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Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA |
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King's College
Wilkes Barre, PA |
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Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA |
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Mercyhurst College
Erie, PA |
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Neumann University
Aston, PA |
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Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA |
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Penn State Lehigh Valley
Fogelsville, PA |
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Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia, PA |
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Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA |
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St. Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA |
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Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA |
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Valley Forge Christian College
Phoenixville, PA |
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Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, PA |
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York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA |
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Brown University
Providence, RI |
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University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI |
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Columbia College
Columbia, SC |
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Dakota Wesleyan University
Mitchell, SD |
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Carson-Newman College
Jefferson City, TN |
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East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN |
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Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN |
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Tennessee Wesleyan College
Athens, TN |
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Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN |
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University of Memphis
Memphis, TN |
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Baylor University
Waco, TX |
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San Jacinto College
Pasadena, TX |
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South Plains College
Levelland, TX |
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Texas A & M University
College Station, TX |
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Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX |
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Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX |
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The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX |
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University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX |
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University of North Texas
Denton, TX |
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Brigham Young University
Provo, UT |
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University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT |
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Utah Valley University
Orem, UT |
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Johnson State College
Johnson, VT |
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The University of Vermont
Burlington, VT |
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Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA |
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Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA |
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James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA |
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University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA |
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Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA |
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Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA |
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Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA |
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City University of Seattle
Bellevue, WA |
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Trinity Lutheran College
Everett, WA |
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University of Washington
Seattle, WA |
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Washington State University
Pullman, WA |
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Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA |
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV |
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West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV |
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Mount Mary College
Milwaukee, WI |
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Ripon College
Ripon, WI |
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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI |
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI |
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