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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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