Psychology, B.A.

The psychology major centers on developing and applying a scientific understanding of mind and behavior in four major areas of psychology: clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social. 

Students gain a foundation that prepares them for entry into a variety of professions where understanding the principles of behavior and cognition is important. Most tenure-line psychology professors operate a research lab that gives students opportunities to learn, publish research, and present at scientific conferences.

PROGRAM DISTINCTIONS

• Faculty have received research grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Faculty and students present their research at major national and international conferences and publish in prestigious scientific journals including Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Psychological Bulletin, Psychological Science, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Child Development, and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

• Courses provide students with a structured, sequenced exposure to six core areas in psychology: behavior analysis; biopsychology; clinical psychology; cognitive psychology; development psychology; and, social psychology. Majors take a broad sampling of these areas at the intermediate level but can choose a narrower or broader sampling of upper-level courses.
• The curriculum affords hands-on experience with scientific psychology via laboratory courses and field experiences.
• Students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research, manuscript preparation, and specialized skills like functional neuroimaging, impedance cardiography, and social media and text analyses.
• Students are given opportunities to present their work in high-profile venues including national and international conferences.
• An annual lecture series brings preeminent scholars to campus to discuss topics like Aging and Cognition, Vulnerability to Mental Illness, Early Childhood Mental Health, and Development of Memory.

AFTER GRADUATION

• Graduates can enter the workforce in fields including health care, government, teaching, and research.
• The program prepares students for advanced study in psychology, counseling, law, medicine, education, nursing, and other disciplines focused on human behavior.
• Potential career paths include journalist, criminologist, human resources manager, social worker, substance abuse counselor, behavioral disorder, mental health counselor, marketing manager, and psychologist.
• Graduates have gone on to attend advanced degree programs at the University of N.C. School of Medicine, Florida State University, Princeton University, Duke University, University of Maryland, and Wake Forest School of Medicine.

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