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Psychology Department

What We Do:

We offer an engaging culture of excellence in teaching, research, and experience to ensure our students are active participants in the learning process.

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Our professors guide students in learning, researching, and applying this science. We prepare them for fulfilling careers and advanced study in psychology & related fields.

How We Stand Out:

Personal attention:  In their first year, psychology majors take introductory classes with our faculty and meet their peers. From sophomore year on, students receive individual advising from psychology faculty. 
Hands-on learning: Students complete internships in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, such as hospitals, schools, and research centers.
Research opportunities: Students conduct and present research with their professors at a rate that far surpasses national averages.
Top learning outcomes: Our students' knowledge of psychology is well above the national average, according to the results of standardized tests.
Career development: The junior seminar in psychology helps students determine their career goals and prepare for graduate school or employment.

"As a (psychology) student at Scranton, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. In this department ... it felt like being part of a family."

Allison Smith, Ph.D., Clinical Faculty, Harvard Medical School

Programs:

  • - We provide a broad foundation in psychology and enable students to tailor their education toward their career goals. Our curriculum provides 30 credits of free electives to pursue minors and concentrations.
  • - Consists of 18 credits, including three core courses and three electives.
  • - An interdisciplinary program offered jointly by the Psychology and Biology departments.

Inside the Classroom:

We're proud of how we mentor our students. We work closely with them in small seminars, lab courses, field experiences, and student clubs. We introduce them to the many career paths in the field, such as clinical, developmental, and cognitive psychology. We prepare them for that next step after graduation, whether it's graduate school or employment. We're proud to be their advocates.

Student Research:

Most renowned psychology programs provide few opportunities for undergraduates to research with faculty. Not so at Scranton!

Our students present and publish with faculty at a much higher rate than national norms. In the 2021-2022 academic year, 18 psychology and neuroscience undergraduates co-presented a paper/poster with psychology faculty members.

Undergraduates can gain research experience through four paths:

  • Volunteering as a research assistant
  • Participating in the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ's Faculty/Student Research Program 
  • Doing undergraduate research for academic credit
  • Completing an honors thesis for academic credit

"Scranton is unique because faculty regularly mentor undergrads as research and teaching assistants; opportunities that may not be available at larger universities."

Jennifer McLaren, Psy.D., Director of Evaluations and Outpatient Services, The Center for Autism, Philadelphia

Career Outcomes:

Psychologists have many options open to them -- including work in academic settings, independent practices, hospitals, and clinics. Others go on to work in government, business, and industry. 

Our B.S. program prepares you for success in master's and doctoral programs in psychology as well as other disciplines, like mental health, medicine, and law. You will also develop marketable skills for entering the workforce after graduation.

At graduation, half of our students continue directly on to graduate school. The other half immediately obtain jobs like:

  • Case manager
  • Counselor
  • Healthcare representative
  • Human Resources specialist
  • Teacher
  • Patient Coordinator
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