PSYCHOLOGY
BACHELOR OF ARTS

Think about it.

Whether you’re interested in why people behave and think the way they do, how social cues influence interactions, or how to effectively treat depression, autism, and a range of other disorders — it’s all psychology. Mercyhurst's Department of Psychology will prepare you to delve into the neurobiological, sociocultural, and emotional processes underlying human behavior. As a psychology major, you’ll build a strong foundation in the traditional areas of psychological theory and experimentation, as well as the specialized areas within the field that address human development, behavior, thinking, motivation, learning, emotion, and social interaction. Coursework allows you to explore the mind, behavior and the links between them as you learn to understand and solve human problems — excellent preparation for careers both within and beyond the field of psychology.

Fast Facts

The Psychology Department is housed in Briggs Hall, which features 6,000 square feet devoted to psychological science, including a computer lab, lab areas for research, and the Laboratory for Addictive and Impulsive Behavior.
Psych majors regularly present at professional conferences, such as the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (San Diego), the Eastern Psychological Association (New York City), and the Association for Psychological Science (Boston).
Our "Majoring in Psychology" course provides students with the opportunity to learn about the variety of ways you can use a psychology degree in the workplace.

Minors

Psychology

Psychology affects everything we think, feel, say and do. So whether it's business, education, or political science, a psychology minor is a valuable addition to almost any degree program. Through the coursework, students gain a better understanding of human behavior and relationships, giving them better communication skills and a broader range of knowledge.

Seven courses are required for a minor in psychology including three CORE courses:

PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 291: Research Design and Statistical Analysis I (and lab)
Four electives in psychology

Psychology of Crime and Justice

The departments of Psychology and Criminal Justice have developed a sequence of study to provide students with an interdisciplinary focus in the psychology of crime and justice. The minor is designed to complement undergraduate degrees in psychology, criminal justice, and other social and behavioral sciences. This unique course of study gives students a competitive advantage and broadens their knowledge and skills in the intersection of psychology and criminal justice. In addition to the course requirements for a Criminal Justice degree, Criminal Justice majors who seek to qualify for the Interdisciplinary Minor in the Psychology of Crime and Justice must complete these additional courses and maintain a 2.5 GPA:

Four required classes (12 credits)*

Intro to Psychology (PSYC 100)
Justice in America (CRJS 101)
Psychology and the Law (PSYC 240)
Criminology (CRJS 230)

Three electives from the following list (9 credits)*

Antecedents of Aggression (PSYC 350)
Personality Psychology (PSYC 201)
Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 211)
Drugs and Human Behavior (PSYC 253)
Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice (CRJS 220)
Social Psychology (PSYC 231)
Introduction to Corrections (CRJS 104)
Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure (CRJS 310)
Victimology (CRJS 240)
Race, Crime, and Justice (CRJS 290)
Criminal Justice Ethics (CRJS 343)

*If you are a Criminal Justice or Psychology major and your required major courses are listed above, you will need to select courses from this listing from the other discipline to reach your 21 credits and at least four unique courses. Please work closely with your advisor to monitor your progress toward the minor.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Our students regularly work alongside faculty on running studies, analyzing data, and presenting the results. Check out past student research below!

CAREER OUTCOMES

Our grads have pursued graduate study in psychology, law, medicine, business, and many other fields, as well as careers in politics, counseling, autism support, education, and public health.

INTERNSHIPS

Psychology majors have completed internships with the Buffalo Bills, VA medical centers, local school districts, and residential facilities for people with disabilities.