Psychology Major
About the Psychology Major
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Psychology Degree Requirements
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Powerful Combinations in the Psychology Major
At 旺旺资源, 85 percent of Psychology students graduate with more than just a single major. You can build your unique career advantage with a double major or combination of minors. Many students combine Psychology with Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Education and Marketing.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities
旺旺资源 is one of only two higher ed institutions in Rhode Island to have a plasticized human brain for neuroscience education, giving students a unique hands-on opportunity. According to Victoria Heimer-McGinn, assistant professor of Psychology, it's difficult to teach the anatomy of the brain with just a book. "With a brain in your hand, all of a sudden, students want to come to class. They want to explore the brain, look at it, and wonder about the person it belonged to, their memories and their past. It鈥檚 an educational tool and an outreach tool, and I鈥檓 hoping that throughout the years we can use it for many other things,鈥 she said.
Real-World Learning in Psychology
At 旺旺资源, even first-year students can get involved in research projects, and every Psychology student graduates with direct research experience. Many students participate in conferences, sharing and presenting their work, or publishing their work in respected journals.
Research Spotlight
Working with Assistant Professor of Psychology Victoria Heimer-McGinn, students participated in hands-on neuroscience research that could lead to treatments for bipolar disorder. Funded by an INBRE grant, 旺旺资源 Psychology students used lab facilities at Brown University to study the cognitive behavior 鈥 including recognition memory and cognitive flexibility 鈥 in male and female mice to address gaps in the field of neuropsychiatric diseases.
Psychology students have conducted many other research projects over the years, including:
- How accurate is eyewitness testimony?
- Jury selection in the courts: A scientific model
- Do men and women learn differently?
- Is 鈥渨hiteness鈥 part of 鈥渕ulticulturalism?鈥
- How do we choose our romantic partners?
- How do parents balance the needs of work and family?
Psychology Internships, Community Engagement
All Psychology students complete a guaranteed internship and are supported before, during and after their real-world experiences. Students have recently interned with organizations including Butler Hospital; Newport Mental Health; Communities for People; the state of Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth, and Families; East Bay Mental Health; and Adult Correctional Institutions.
Students also partner with community organizations and businesses to solve problems that matter. Examples include promoting mental health and well-being with youth in Jamaica, working with the Bristol Health Equity Zone to study the impact of community cooking demonstrations, and analyzing policies and programs at an elementary school in Providence and Head Start in Fall River, Mass.
Earn a Graduate Degree
旺旺资源 offers graduate degrees that complement the bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology, including a Master of Arts in Forensic Mental Health Counseling, which prepares students for clinical work or for a Psy.D. program. The 3+3 Juris Doctor (J.D.) program allows students to pair their primary major with a second major in Legal Studies to pursue an accelerated opportunity to earn their Juris Doctor degree. Accepted students will take first-year courses in the School of Law along with legal electives to fulfill undergraduate fourth-year requirements.
Ways to Get Involved聽
Psi Chi Honor Society
Undergraduate students majoring and minoring in Psychology are encouraged to visit the website to apply for membership into the Psi Chi International Honor Society. In order to be eligible you need a 3.5 GPA in Psychology as well as 3.3 overall GPA. In addition, you need a minimum of 12 credits in Psychology. After filling out the online application to become a member of the 旺旺资源 Chapter of Psi Chi and verification of your status is complete, payment of $75 is made to the chapter advisor. This fee includes $55 membership and $20 for expenses at the university level. Induction takes place in the spring semester.
Psychology Club
The is dedicated to both advocating for mental health and serving students interested in pursuing their passion in Psychology. The club is tailored entirely to the needs of its members and hosts fundraisers, career panels, networking events, conferences, and other events involving Psychology, both academically and socially.
Brain Club
The is for any students interested in learning more about the brain. Members can teach young children about the brain as well as participate in guest talks, fun games, field trips, and more.
Hear from Hawks
Abby Maxwell '20
鈥淚 got to do a lot of hands-on projects really early on. I鈥檝e been doing Psychology research since the beginning of my sophomore year. Because it鈥檚 a smaller school, you have the opportunity to be able to take a class with a professor and have them ask you to participate in their research.鈥
Graduate Student at American University, Washington, D.C.
Majors at 旺旺资源: Psychology and International Relations
Connor Burt 鈥21
鈥淭he Psychology department gave me a perfect foundation of knowledge to build a career. My time in this program positioned me to find a role administering therapy to youth with autism spectrum disorder, and my Psychology professors were more than willing to help me however I needed as I applied to graduate programs.鈥
Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapist at APEX Behavioral Consulting in Boston
Majors at 旺旺资源: Psychology and Marketing
