Psychology was first included into the curriculum at Curry College in 1932, when the school was located on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston and known as the School of Expression.  Two courses were offered: The Psychology of Speech (described as "a detailed study of imagination and dramatic instinct") and the Psychology of Action (described as a course "examining the mental causes of action").  In 1937, Psychology was listed as a unique discipline, although at the time it was housed with Philosophy.  A course in Personality Psychology was included and taught by Professor Gunnison, who had a Bachelor's Degree from Harvard. 

In 1939, Psychology of the Individual and Psychology of Learning were added, and Psychology was housed with Education, History, and Social Studies.  By 1941, a more formal program in Psychology emerged.  The department at the time offered courses in General Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Experimental Psychology (with a lab).  The first official professor with an advanced degree was also teaching at this time: Professor Britton, who had a Master's Degree and a clinical background.  The first mention of Psychology as a major appeared in the Biennial Catalogue of 1950-1951/1951-1952.

In September 1974, the Psychology Department at Curry College became part of the Behavioral Sciences Division, which was an administratively organized academic unit consisting also of Sociology and Education. The full-time members of the Department were Carl Cooper, Gerald Hilyard, John Gawne (who also ran the counseling service), Barbara Fournier (who was originally hired part-time in 1974 and became full time in 1975), and Bruce Steinberg. Carl taught primarily Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Learning, and Statistics. Gerry taught Personality Psychology and Psychology of Testing. Bruce taught Introductory Psychology, Motivation, Experimental Psychology, and Perception. Barbara taught Child Development and Human Development.  Other courses offered at the time included Dynamics of Leadership, Psychoanalytic Psychology, Physiological Psychology, and Counseling Theories.  Bruce developed the Experimental Psychology Program.  At that time, we had a laboratory that was housed in a temporary structure (the Quonset Hut), behind the Miller Gymnasium. The Experimental Psychology Laboratory had been developed by Bruce's predecessors (Ellen Sussman and Martha Gaustella).  The lab was equipped with some very basic equipment, mostly of the demonstration variety (e.g., devices for producing visual illusions and some memory drums for studying verbal learning).

In 1979, Bruce obtained a grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a more modern Experimental Psychology Lab.  The grant allowed us to develop an operant conditioning laboratory with a colony of laboratory rats.  In addition, we acquired a polygraph and related electronic equipment for conducting research in human psychophysiology.  About that time, the Psychology Laboratory was moved to the Kennedy Building. The lab equipment was upgraded again in 1992 and is due for another upgrade to maintain currency with current computer hardware and software.

The academic program remained substantially the same throughout the 1980's.  Courses were added to meet the needs of students, and we developed multiple concentrations within our program to guide students in their selection of courses.  In 1996-1997, the College reorganized its academic programs, and the Behavioral Sciences and Education Division split into three independent academic areas: Psychology, Sociology, and Education.

In 1999, with the retirements of Gerry Hilyard and Carl Cooper, Jack Kahn joined our department and has since organized and created our internship program and expanded our teaching model.  Eric Weiser joined us in 2001 and is currently organizing the Concentration in Applied Social Psychology.  In 2002 we welcomed Ann-Leonard Zabel, who brought a strong background in Neuropsychology and testing. 

Our current concentrations include Counseling Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, Gerontology, Substance Abuse Counseling, and Health Psychology.  We are constantly in the process of adding new courses, new concentrations (forensic psychology and applied social psychology), and expanded internships that will enhance our students' education in the Psychology Department.