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Students pursuing a Psychology degree from Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø collaborate on a project in class

Not a traditional undergraduate student? Visit our continuing education Psychology degree program...

In a world faced with unprecedented challenges and uncertainties, it is more important than ever to develop the tools necessary to promote positive mental health, resiliency, and well-being. A degree in Psychology from Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø will not only provide you with the resources to help enhance immediate and long-term emotional, social, and psychological functioning, but will also equip you with the skills to make your mark in nearly every field and every profession – from human services to health care, from counseling to crisis intervention, from business to education, from public relations to law, from advertising to child care, from human resources to marketing, and so many more.

When you major in Psychology at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø, you will develop critical thinking skills and discover new passions, and you will grow as an individual and future professional. Learn how the brain influences behavior and mental processes. Explore and understand the biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that affect how and why people think, feel, and act as they do. Our program teaches Psychology as a science, but we emphasize Psychology’s practical applications for promoting human welfare and helping address the psychosocial needs of others.  Our small classes are taught by faculty who are experts in the field of Psychology. Teaching and inspiring are their top priorities, and they are dedicated to helping you reach your educational, professional, and personal goals.

Related Opportunities

Psychology majors who earn a B.A. degree at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø are prepared for many endeavors. Employers of all stripes will want and need your communication and interpersonal skills; your critical thinking, project-management, and problem-solving skills, and – most importantly – your strong understanding of human behavior.

Just a few of the many career options include:

  • Career Counseling
  • Clinical Work
  • Crisis Counseling
  • Education Administration
  • Human Resources
  • Law Enforcement
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health Case Manager
  • Mental Health Technician
  • Probation Officer
  • Research Assistant
  • Residential Youth Counselor
  • Social Services
  • Substance Abuse Counselor

The intended learning outcomes for Psychology Department are the same as those specified by the American Psychological Association (APA), as described in APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Major:

  1. Knowledge Base in Psychology: Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems. Students completing foundation courses should demonstrate breadth of their knowledge and application of psychological ideas to simple problems; students completing a baccalaureate degree should show depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to problems of greater complexity.

  2. Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods. Students completing foundation-level courses should learn basic skills and concepts in interpreting behavior, studying research, and applying research design principles to drawing conclusions about psychological phenomena; students completing a baccalaureate degree should focus on theory use as well as designing and executing research plans.

  3. Ethical and Social Responsibility is a Diverse World: The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity. Students completing foundation-level courses should become familiar with the formal regulations that govern professional ethics in psychology and begin to embrace the values that will contribute to positive outcomes in work settings and in building a society responsive to multicultural and global concerns. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should have more direct opportunities to demonstrate adherence to professional values that will help them optimize their contributions and work effectively, even with those who do not share their heritage and traditions. This domain also promotes the adoption of personal and professional values that can strengthen community relationships and contributions.

  4. Communication: Students will demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills. Students completing foundation-level courses should write a cogent scientific argument, present information using a scientific approach, engage in discussion of psychological concepts, explain the ideas of others, and express their own ideas with clarity. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should produce a research study or other psychological project, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience. They should also develop flexible interpersonal approaches that optimize information exchange and relationship development.

  5. Professional development: The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation. Foundation-level outcomes concentrate on the development of work habits and ethics to succeed in academic settings. The skills in this goal at the baccalaureate level refer to abilities that sharpen student readiness for postbaccalaureate employment, graduate school, or professional school. These skills can be developed and refined both in traditional academic settings and in extracurricular involvement. In addition, career professionals can be enlisted to support occupational planning and pursuit. This emerging emphasis should not be construed as obligating psychology programs to obtain employment for their graduates but instead as encouraging programs to optimize the competitiveness of their graduates for securing places in the workforce.
Amanda Wood '22

Meet Amanda Wood '22 - Tokyo, Japan

With hopes of one day becoming a school psychologist, Amanda Wood ’22, a Psychology major with a minor in education, chose Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø to help put that plan into action.  “I have always had a passion for learning how the human brain works and why individuals behave in a certain way. I’m the type of person to reach out and help others in need, so pursuing psychology and education as career paths just made sense to me.”

Tiana Delano '20

Tiana Delano '20 Makes History as First Student Speaker at International Conference

As a first-year student at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø, Tiana Delano '20 was 'terrified' to speak in class or in front of others. Yet recently, the former psychology major made history as the first recent graduate to present on her undergraduate research at the 2020 Annual World Congress on Learning Disabilities Conference speaking to academic experts, special education teachers, clinicians, mental health professionals, and individuals with learning disabilities and their families, among other attendees.

Psychology Lab at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø

Psychology Laboratory

The Psychology Department has and maintains a Psychology Laboratory. The Lab is equipped with instrumentation, including an EEG machine and brain-imaging software, and other programs for studying topics related to human neuropsychology and psychophysiology such as brain electrical activity, cardiovascular function, and a variety of other phenomena.

Explore Related Programs:

Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø students receive their Psychology Honor Society certificates

Psychology Honor Society

Psi Chi is an international honor society whose purpose is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, to advance the science of psychology.

Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Psychology Club members at an involvement fair

Psychology Club

The Psychology Club brings together students who are interested in psychology and want to apply and increase their own knowledge and understanding of the psychology field.

A Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Study Abroad student pets an elephant in Thailand

Study Abroad

Go global with Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø faculty members as part of our very popular Short-term, Faculty-led Courses, or create your own customized Study Abroad opportunity!

Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø students laughing in science lab

First-Year Experience

Making the transition to college can be a little confusing and lot of fun. Your First-Year Experience at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø helps smooth out the bumps and puts you on the path to success.

A Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø faculty member interacts with students in the classroom

Gen Ed

At the heart of Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø's undergraduate curriculum is our General Education (Gen Ed) Program. Gen Ed is based on our belief in the power and potential of the liberal arts.

Life-Changing Opportunities Await

Start with a foundation in the liberal arts. Add attentive faculty and countless opportunities to learn by doing. That’s what you’ll get with a bachelor’s degree from Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø. Learn what’s waiting for you today.