Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Psychology is the science of human behavior and mental processes.

psychology 2Our psychology major curriculum is grounded in the American Psychological Association’s (APA) guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major.

Our graduates are not only prepared for the mental health fields but also find careers in diverse areas including communications, business, advertising, human resources, and social services.

At a Glance

  • Dynamic curriculum blends academics and real-world applications.
  • Enthusiastic, dedicated faculty with broad expertise.
  • Faculty-student collaboration in classroom and research.
  • Two optional concentrations available for interested students:
    • Clinical/Counseling
    • Forensic Psychology
  • Diverse internship opportunities.
  • Individual senior research projects with one-on-one mentoring.
  • Strong preparation for career and graduate studies.
  • Flexibility in helping students double major in related fields, including Criminal Justice and Social Work.

Curriculum

Saint Joseph’s psychology degree is grounded in the APA’s guidelines, with a particular focus on:

  • Providing students with a broad understanding of psychology’s core areas, including: learning, cognition, personality, social processes, and human development.
  • Teaching students to understand and apply scientific thinking and research methods to psychological questions, and to extend these critical thinking skills to other areas of endeavor.
  • Introducing students to applied areas of psychology, e.g., clinical, counseling, health, and educational psychology.
  • Instilling in students the values of scientific psychology, e.g., intellectual curiosity, respect for empirical evidence, ethical action, appreciation of human diversity, and social responsibility.

Clinical/Counseling Concentration

This optional concentration is designed for students with a particular interest in careers in clinical/counseling psychology and other areas of mental health and human services. The concentration provides a solid foundation for graduate work or employment in these fields.

Forensic Psychology Concentration

This optional concentration is designed for students with a particular interest in the interaction of psychology and the law. Forensic Psychology is a broad field – practitioners work in areas such as crime trends, criminal profiling, mental health treatment for offenders and substance abusers, jury selection, impact of divorce, custody, and more. This concentration does not lead to a professional license; rather it provides a foundation for graduate work or entry-level employment.

Psychology Minor

minor in psychology is available and requires students to take a minimum of 18 credits.

Some of our faculty

Josh Schoenfeld
Josh SchoenfeldChair, Associate Professor of Psychology
PhD, University of Arizona
MA, University of Arizona
BA, Columbia University

Clinical psychology research and practice
Relationships and health
Clinical science in the public domain

Nina B. Eduljee
Nina B. EduljeeProfessor of Psychology
PhD, Temple University
MA, University of Georgia
MA, University of Bombay, India
BA, University of Bombay, India

Motivational beliefs and classroom strategies used by college students
Predictors of academic success for college students
Cross-cultural comparisons of attitudes towards computers

Susan Mangan
Susan ManganAssistant Professor
PhD, Claremont Graduate University
MA, Claremont Graduate University
BS, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Focus on positive psychology interventions, well-being, psychological need satisfaction
Evaluation, community program development, and measurement development

Student stories

Adam Martin

’23 Double major: Psychology/Criminal Justice

Adam Martin 23
Adam Nina meeting

“Psychology has allowed me to reach beyond the education of criminal justice and understand the deeper meaning behind cognition and reasoning for people to behave the way that they do. I feel that this will separate me from other officers as I carry this deeper understanding.”

Aidyn Peace 23

Aidyn Peace

’23 Psychology

“When I was in the army, I worked as a medic in a large level 1 trauma center, and my favorite patients were always addicts, but they were often neglected and discriminated against by the medical community at large. So, I decided I wanted to help them, and I wanted to help them get better in a lasting way and solve the issues which are causing their addiction in the first place.”

Aidyn Nina meeting

Adam Martin

’23 Double major: Psychology/Criminal Justice

Adam Martin 23

“Psychology has allowed me to reach beyond the education of criminal justice and understand the deeper meaning behind cognition and reasoning for people to behave the way that they do. I feel that this will separate me from other officers as I carry this deeper understanding.”

Adam Nina meeting

Aidyn Peace

’23 Psychology

Aidyn Peace 23

“When I was in the army, I worked as a medic in a large level 1 trauma center, and my favorite patients were always addicts, but they were often neglected and discriminated against by the medical community at large. So, I decided I wanted to help them, and I wanted to help them get better in a lasting way and solve the issues which are causing their addiction in the first place.”

Aidyn Nina meeting

Career moves

Students interested in applied work can choose from a variety of off-campus internship sites. Recently, students have completed internships at the Center for Grieving Children, Youth Alternatives Ingraham, Windham Primary School, Sweetser, and Spring Harbor Hospital.

The psychology major emphasizes broadly applicable skills such as critical thinking, quantitative ability and writing, so our graduates are also well prepared for employment in diverse areas including communications, business, advertising, human resources, and social services.

Graduate Study

Psychology students emerge from Saint Joseph’s program well-prepared for graduate study in psychology and related fields; recent graduates have gone on to master’s and doctoral degree programs at University of Connecticut, University of Southern Maine, University of New England, Tufts University, University of Vermont, Springfield College, Duquesne University, Harvard University, and more.

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