Psychology Major

Why Study Psychology?

Psychology is often considered a “hub” discipline because its theories and findings are central to the work of many other fields of study. It has implications for the work of biologists, educators, economists, engineers, computer scientists, ethicists and lawyers. It has implications for the organization of business, for marketers, political scientists, and architects.  It raises questions that go to the heart of philosophical and theological inquiry. 
Psychology is crucial to any conversation about the human condition.  Consequently, Psychology majors study human behavior in all of its complexity, from biological functioning and the work of the brain to the emergence and development of selfhood and personality.

What We Do

In addition to the thinking, reading, research and writing skills central to a liberal arts education, psychology also cultivates the scientific skills and ability to investigate topics such as how humans:

• form and manage relationships
• respond to and transform social settings
• attend, perceive, think, learn, feel and reason
• understand the causes of psychopathology and its treatment
• develop within families and schools, develop resilience and age successfully
• ask and answer big questions about the nature of individual differences
• understand what it means to flourish and live well the life that is good for one to live using the canons and tools of science
• understand the mind-brain connection.

What Our Graduates Do

Many of our majors go on to professional and graduate school, yet a significant number find employment in the private sector or do service work.  Our Psychology graduates compete extraordinarily well for these positions because they develop competencies and skills highly valued by employers including: 

• excellent research and data analytic and interpretive skills
• excellent written and verbal communication skills
• critical, creative and flexible cognitive skills
• an understanding of human behavior
• organizational understanding
• the ability to work well in individual and team settings 

Pairing Psychology with Science, Engineering, or Business

The skills developed through psychology are crucial for students in and beyond the liberal arts, and pair well with degrees in Science, Engineering, and Business. For future scientists, engineers, and business professionals, a psychology major cultivates critical thinking and problem solving across disciplines and differences, and prepares students to innovate in and transform their primary fields of work and study.