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  1. Home
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Psychology

Program description

The Psychology major will combine the knowledge, skills, and values of psychology with a liberal arts foundation. Students should:

  • develop a knowledge base consisting of concepts, theory, empirical findings, and trends within psychology;
  • understand and apply basic research methods in psychology;
  • use critical thinking and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes;
  • apply psychological principles to personal and social issues;
  • and be able to understand the gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, and class issues in psychological theory, research, and practice.

Students should also develop information and computer competence, communication skills, and develop realistic ideas about how to implement their psychology education in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.

The major may lead to either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. The B.A. degree incorporates a broad exposure to the many facets of the field of psychology, in addition to the B.A. requirements. The B.S. degree provides the same exposure to the field of psychology and adds options in Science and Business to prepare students for more specific career directions.

Students in both degree programs may also prepare for graduate school. Research experience with faculty members is encouraged for such students.

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of thought, behavior, and experience. Many people associate psychology with psychological therapy and the practice of clinical psychology. There are also many other important areas of scientific psychology, such as cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational, and social psychology. What these subfields of psychology have in common is the use of the scientific method to understand human behavior and apply that understanding to the development of theory and practice. Psychologists are increasingly making use of neuroscience methods and theories to understand psychological phenomena. As a profession, psychology is related to fields such as health, education, marketing, human resources, social work, and more. The principles of psychology are relevant to almost all areas of human endeavor, and the career paths of psychology students reflect this wealth of possibilities.

You might like this program if ... 

You are interested in people and in learning to use science to better understand them. As a major, you’ll have opportunities to do research with faculty and to work in career-relevant settings.

Sports Administration Certificate

Students enrolled in the psychology program can add the Sports Administration Certificate to their degree. This certificate will enhance students' portfolios and career opportunities to include working in the fields of sports management, business/retail, media, sporting teams, and recreational programs. See the certificate page for more information.

Majors

  • Biology
    • Biology Faculty
    • Biology Admission Requirements
    • Biology Careers
  • Business: Accounting
    • Accounting Faculty
    • Accounting Admission Requirements
    • Accounting Internships
    • Accounting Careers
  • Business: Management and Marketing
    • Management and Marketing Faculty
    • Management and Marketing Admission Requirements
    • Management and Marketing Internships
    • Management and Marketing Career Opportunities
  • Business: Business Analytics
    • Business Analytics Faculty
    • Business Analytics Requirements
  • Communications
    • Communications Faculty
  • Computer Science
    • Computer Science Faculty
    • Computer Science Admission Requirements
    • Computer Science Learning Outcomes
    • Computer Science Careers
  • Criminal Justice
    • Criminal Justice Faculty
    • Criminal Justice Admission Requirements
    • Criminal Justice Careers
  • Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations
    • Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations Faculty
    • Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations Admission Requirements
    • Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations Careers
  • Health Policy and Administration
    • Health Policy and Administration Faculty
    • Health Policy and Administration Admission Requirements
    • Health Policy and Administration Careers
  • Information Technology
    • Information Technology Faculty
    • Information Technology Admission Requirements
    • Information Technology Careers
  • Project and Supply Chain Management
    • Project and Supply Chain Management Faculty
    • Project and Supply Chain Management Admission Requirements
    • Project and Supply Chain Management Career Opportunities
    • Project and Supply Chain Management Certifications
  • Psychology
    • Psychology Faculty
    • Psychology Admission Requirements
    • Psychology Career Opportunities
    • Neuropsychology Lab
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Psychology Resources

Suggested Academic Plan: Bachelor of Arts
Suggested Academic Plan: Bachelor of Science, Business Option
Suggested Academic Plan: Bachelor of Science, Science Option
Course descriptions

Quick Links

American Psychological Association
American Psychological Society
Eastern Psychological Association

See Also

  • Psychology Minor
  • Sports Administration Certificate
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Situated on 105 wooded acres just 40 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, Penn State Beaver features small class sizes, a close-knit community, award-winning faculty, and access to all of the opportunities of a Big Ten university.
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