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Psychology Major and Minor

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Students pursuing a Psychology degree from Curry College collaborate on a project in class

Not a traditional undergraduate student? Visit our continuing education Psychology degree program...

In a world faced with unprecedented challenges and uncertainties, it is more important than ever to develop the tools necessary to promote positive mental health, resiliency, and well-being. A degree in Psychology from Curry College will not only provide you with the resources to help enhance immediate and long-term emotional, social, and psychological functioning, but will also equip you with the skills to make your mark in nearly every field and every profession – from human services to health care, from counseling to crisis intervention, from business to education, from public relations to law, from advertising to child care, from human resources to marketing, and so many more.

When you major in Psychology at Curry College, you will develop critical thinking skills and discover new passions, and you will grow as an individual and future professional. Learn how the brain influences behavior and mental processes. Explore and understand the biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that affect how and why people think, feel, and act as they do. Our program teaches Psychology as a science, but we emphasize Psychology’s practical applications for promoting human welfare and helping address the psychosocial needs of others.  Our small classes are taught by faculty who are experts in the field of Psychology. Teaching and inspiring are their top priorities, and they are dedicated to helping you reach your educational, professional, and personal goals.

Related Opportunities

Psychology majors who earn a B.A. degree at Curry College are prepared for many endeavors. Employers of all stripes will want and need your communication and interpersonal skills; your critical thinking, project-management, and problem-solving skills, and – most importantly – your strong understanding of human behavior.

Just a few of the many career options include:

  • Career Counseling
  • Clinical Work
  • Crisis Counseling
  • Education Administration
  • Human Resources
  • Law Enforcement
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health Case Manager
  • Mental Health Technician
  • Probation Officer
  • Research Assistant
  • Residential Youth Counselor
  • Social Services
  • Substance Abuse Counselor

As a psychology major, you will become more aware of your personal identities, appreciate the social and cultural context in which you live, examine your values, increase your skills in critical thinking and use psychological concepts and skills to enrich, expand and explore your life.

Requirements for Psychology Major:

Prerequisite:

PSY 1030 Introduction to Psychology 3

A. Students must complete the following Required Courses:

PSY 2010 Orientation to the Psychology Major 1
MATH 1150 Statistics I 3
PSY 2050 Research Methods in Psychology
(formerly Experimental Psychology)		 4
PSY 3500 Senior Seminar in Psychology 3


B. Students must complete a total of 12 credits at the 2000-level and a total of 12 credits at the 3000-level, not counting the required courses above. Of these credits, 12 must come from the foundational courses listed below (i.e., three credits, or one course, from each foundation):


Foundational Courses:

(One course in each of the following areas)


Biological Psychology/Neuroscience:

PSY 2070 Motivation 3
PSY 3130 Brain and Behavior 3
PSY 3350 Health Psychology 3


Social/Personality Psychology:

PSY 2090 Personality 3
PSY 2800 Social Psychology 3
PSY 3225 Multicultural Psychology 3


Clinical/Counseling Psychology:

PSY 2200 Behavior Disorders in Children 3
PSY 2300 Abnormal Psychology 3
PSY 3120 Counseling Theories 3


Developmental Psychology:

PSY 1400 Child Development 3
PSY 2100 Adolescent Psychology 3
PSY 2400 Human Development 3

Students qualify for a minor in Psychology when they have completed at least 15 credits of Psychology courses at the 2000 and 3000 level, with a minimum of 6 credits at the 3000 level. A maximum of 6 credits may be satisfied on a transfer basis (excluding internship credits).

*Nursing majors who minor in Psychology need PSY 2400 plus 9 additional credits in Psychology.  Only three credits must be at the 3000-level.

Our Graduation with Distinction Program in Psychology challenges you to go beyond your normal coursework and collaborate with a faculty member on an intensive research project through Advanced Research Seminar. Students who maintain a minimum GPA and complete the seminar will qualify for Graduation with Distinction – an honor that will truly set you apart.

To qualify for Graduation with Distinction, the following criteria must be met:

  1. Maintain a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.5 Psychology GPA
  2. Obtain recommendations from two Psychology Department faculty (non-adjunct)
  3. Complete PSY 2050 (Research Methods in Psychology) with a grade of B+ or higher
  4. Complete, with a B+ or better, either (a) a 3-credit Psychology Internship (PSY 3450), (b) three credits of Independent Research (PSY 4000), three credits of Independent Readings in Psychology (PSY 4100), or (d) three credits of Peer Teaching in Psychology (PSY 3400)
  5. Complete PSY 4500 (Advanced Research Seminar) during Junior or Senior year with a minimum grade of B+.

With more than 70 internship sites, on-campus practicum experiences, opportunities to work with dedicated and expert faculty on research projects and present findings at local conferences (such as the New England Psychology Association Conference), and many supervised learning experiences and valuable service learning opportunities, our graduates have the hands-on learning experiences needed to be valuable employees from day one.

Popular internships include:

  • Boston Medical SPARK
  • High Point Treatment Center
  • The May Institute
  • New England Center for Children
  • Pembroke Hospital
  • The Trauma Center
  • The Walker School

The Psychology Department strongly encourages students to consider applied experiences in the major, especially the Psychology Internship (PSY 3450). An internship may be completed during the Junior and/or Senior year; although students may complete multiple internships if they choose to do so, only three credits will be counted toward the requirements for the degree.

To qualify for Psychology Internship, the following criteria must be met:

  1. Complete EXP 2340 (Introduction to Experiential Learning)
  2. Possess a GPA of at least 2.75
  3. Be a Junior or Senior in standing
  4. Contact the Psychology Internship Coordinator

Students approved for Psychology Internship must co-register for both (a) PSY 3450 (Psychology Internship) and (b) PSY 3450-SM (Psychology Internship Seminar).

The intended learning outcomes for Psychology Department are the same as those specified by the American Psychological Association (APA), as described in APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Major:

  1. Knowledge Base in Psychology: Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems. Students completing foundation courses should demonstrate breadth of their knowledge and application of psychological ideas to simple problems; students completing a baccalaureate degree should show depth in their knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to problems of greater complexity.

  2. Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods. Students completing foundation-level courses should learn basic skills and concepts in interpreting behavior, studying research, and applying research design principles to drawing conclusions about psychological phenomena; students completing a baccalaureate degree should focus on theory use as well as designing and executing research plans.

  3. Ethical and Social Responsibility is a Diverse World: The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity. Students completing foundation-level courses should become familiar with the formal regulations that govern professional ethics in psychology and begin to embrace the values that will contribute to positive outcomes in work settings and in building a society responsive to multicultural and global concerns. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should have more direct opportunities to demonstrate adherence to professional values that will help them optimize their contributions and work effectively, even with those who do not share their heritage and traditions. This domain also promotes the adoption of personal and professional values that can strengthen community relationships and contributions.

  4. Communication: Students will demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills. Students completing foundation-level courses should write a cogent scientific argument, present information using a scientific approach, engage in discussion of psychological concepts, explain the ideas of others, and express their own ideas with clarity. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should produce a research study or other psychological project, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience. They should also develop flexible interpersonal approaches that optimize information exchange and relationship development.

  5. Professional development: The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation. Foundation-level outcomes concentrate on the development of work habits and ethics to succeed in academic settings. The skills in this goal at the baccalaureate level refer to abilities that sharpen student readiness for postbaccalaureate employment, graduate school, or professional school. These skills can be developed and refined both in traditional academic settings and in extracurricular involvement. In addition, career professionals can be enlisted to support occupational planning and pursuit. This emerging emphasis should not be construed as obligating psychology programs to obtain employment for their graduates but instead as encouraging programs to optimize the competitiveness of their graduates for securing places in the workforce.
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As a first-year student at Curry College, Tiana Delano '20 was 'terrified' to speak in class or in front of others. Yet recently, the former psychology major made history as the first recent graduate to present on her undergraduate research at the 2020 Annual World Congress on Learning Disabilities Conference speaking to academic experts, special education teachers, clinicians, mental health professionals, and individuals with learning disabilities and their families, among other attendees.

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