Psychology

Jumpstart your career in psychology

The Department of Psychology provides the opportunity for degrees at the BA, MA, and PsyD levels. The department prepares students for employment in areas such as social services, education, health, and research fields, as well as graduate education in diverse fields of study. Here are some key national career statistics for psychology majors from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and PayScale.

$38,597-$52,180

Average Starting Salaries for Psychology Majors (NACE)

Noteworthy Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries in Psychology (PayScale)

Community Social Services Director $99,600 Social Worker $66,878 Fundraiser $71,450 Community Development Manager $117,946 Behavioral Health Case Manager $96,073 Detective & Criminal Investigator $86,940 Emergency Management Director $76,250

74%

Alumni in humanities and social sciences employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation

See Current Psychology Job Listings in the WP Job Portal

Get Prepared to Succeed

Real-world experiences in the psychology program include a wide array of internships in social services, clinical, geriatric, and research settings. Students have the opportunity to work closely with professors in their research labs and conduct their own research projects. Students can earn membership in Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, and join the Psychology Club. Students in the University Honors College can choose from three psychology honors tracks in clinical and neuropsychology, cognitive science, and social science.

What You'll Learn

In psychology, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including:

Research methodology in the behavioral sciences
Current approaches to the understanding of human behavior and mental processes
Understanding of the five main subdisciplines of psychology, i.e.,development, cognition, social, personality/clinical, and physiological areas
Verbal and written communication skills, among others

View a full listing of student learning outcomes for psychology students

Information on affordability and value from the U.S. Department of Education:

View our College Scorecard

Key Career Skills for Psychology Majors

as indicated by Employers and Alumni on LinkedIn

Analytical Skills

Community Outreach

Digital Fluency

Proposal Writing

Public Speaking

Research

Verbal & Written Communication

*LinkedIn Workplace
Learning Report 2021

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate

BA in Psychology

The BA in psychology provides a broad understanding and appreciation of the field of psychology as a multifaceted discipline with both scientific and humanistic aspects. In addition to the mastery of specific course content, the program seeks to develop the student's ability to think critically about issues in the field. Moreover, the program is designed to help students: (1) integrate their knowledge of psychology with concepts and research from related disciplines, and (2) discover opportunities for application of knowledge in psychology to the solution of human problems. The program serves as preparation for graduate study in psychology or in such areas as law, social work, and public administration. In addition, the program prepares students for entry into bachelor's level careers.