Psychology
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Psychology

Does human behavior intrigue you? Are you interested in gaining a deeper understanding of mental processes? Do you desire to assess and treat behavioral disorders? If so, you could have a bright future in psychology.

About

Psychology is both a science and a profession dedicated to understanding and changing human behavior. There is a broad diversity of specializations, such as clinical, cognitive, developmental, health, social and physiological. Psychologists work in academic settings, independent practices and hospitals, as well as government, business and industry. 

Why Psychology is in Demand:

The discipline continues to evolve as we learn more about human behavior and face new challenges. Years from now, psychologists will have professional positions we cannot even imagine today.

  • The demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, addiction centers and social agencies is expected to fuel the demand for trained professionals.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of psychologists is expected to grow at a rate of 14 percent through the year 2026.
  • Three job areas expected to be in high demand are clinical psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.

Is it for me?

Are you:

  • Curious about human nature?
  • Comfortable engaging in research?
  • Motivated to improve health and happiness?
  • Interested in helping people?

Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Psychology

1.
Knowledge mastery.    Our students’ knowledge of psychology, as measured by standardized tests, is well above the national average. Scranton psychology students outperform 76% of students in comparable institutions on the ETS Major Field Test in Psychology.
2.
Dedicated faculty.   Psychology faculty mentor students in small seminars, laboratory courses, field experiences, individual advising and student organizations. Students interact with professors working as teaching assistants and research collaborators.
3.
Internship opportunities.   More than half of psychology majors complete for-credit internships in clinical and applied settings.
4.
Career development.   Students take a career development seminar and customize their courses to their career goals. Students pursue double majors, minors and concentrations to reflect their interests. The curriculum includes 30 credits of each student’s choice.
5.
High student satisfaction.   Annual surveys of our seniors show widespread satisfaction with the Scranton psychology program and faculty. In fact, more than 90 percent of our seniors give the program a grade of A.

As a 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

  • Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus

  • What You'll Learnplus or minus

  • Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus

Careers

Where will psychology take me?

The curriculum prepares students for entry into both graduate school and baccalaureate-level employment.

Many students major in psychology with a particular interest in mind. Here are some specializations:

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • School Psychology

Read more about career paths with a Psychology degree.

Top Graduate Schools

Just some of the prestigious graduate schools which have admitted our psychology graduates:

  • University of Minnesota
  • Rutgers
  • Columbia
  • College of William and Mary
  • Drexel University
  • Fordham University
  • Lehigh University
  • Penn State
  • University of Memphis
  • University of Washington
  • Villanova University

See more graduate schools attended by our graduates.

Occupations:

An understanding of human behavior is critically important whether you are working in healthcare, education, journalism, law, or business.  

Here are a sampling of the professional positions held by recent graduates:

  • Case Workers
  • Research Assistants
  • Paralegals
  • Program Directors
  • Teachers
  • Store Managers

Read more about employment outcomes of our graduates.

How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge

Our program provides students with many mentoring opportunities with 12 full-time faculty, including three licensed clinical psychologists. This unparalleled level of one-on-one interactions during your Scranton experience means that faculty can write detailed and personalized letters of recommendation about your talent and potential. At Scranton, faculty members are much more than researchers and teachers. They are your advocates. 

In addition, our students' research experiences and teaching assistantships as undergraduates set them apart. That gives you the competitive edge for employment and graduate school!

Take the Next Step

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Get the Facts

View PDF with Program Overview
& Curriculum

For More Information

Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu

Department of Psychology
John C. Norcross, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Psychology
(570) 941-7630
john.norcross@scranton.edu

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