The Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Commonwealth University offers a dynamic blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience, preparing you for a wide range of careers.

Psychology

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The Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Commonwealth University offers a dynamic blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience, preparing you for a wide range of careers.

Degrees & Offerings
  • B.S.
Location
  • Bloomsburg
  • Lock Haven
  • Mansfield
Department
College
Program Contact
Associate Professor & Chair, Psychology Department
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Your First Step is Here

Through personal attention and high impact experiences, our psychology faculty, curriculum, and beyond-the-classroom activities will help you discover your strengths and how you can use them to make a positive impact in the world. Together, we'll examine psychological theories, research, and best practices aimed at helping people live more productive and fulfilling lives.

Course Delivery Format

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Courses and Curriculum

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Our 42-credit B.S. in Psychology affords students opportunities to explore the discipline’s major domains, including experimental, developmental, social, cognitive/learning, biological, individual differences, and applied psychology. Psychology majors demonstrate their psychological literacy by completing two senior capstone experiences.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

  • Knowledge Base in Psychology: Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology; Develop a working knowledge of psychological content domains; Describe applications of psychology.
  • Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena; Demonstrate psychological information literacy; Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving; Interpret, design, and conduct psychological research; Incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry.
  • Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World: Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice; Build and enhance interpersonal relationships; Adopt values that build community at local, national, and global levels.
  • Communication: Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes; Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes; Interact effectively with others.
  • Professional Development: Apply psychological content and skills to career goals; Exhibit self-efficacy and self-regulation; Refine project-management skills; Enhance teamwork capacity; Develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.

Common Double Majors and Minors

Related Graduate Degree Programs

Commonwealth University Psychology

Alumni Placements

Psychology is a versatile major with respect to students’ post-baccalaureate pursuits. The majority of students put their knowledge and skills to use in the workforce immediately upon graduation. Others pursue an advanced degree in psychology or a related discipline such as social work, criminal justice, education, medicine, law, or the health sciences.

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Career Placement

  • Elementary School Counselor
  • Adjunct Professor
  • Director of Crisis Services
  • Therapeutic Activities Supervisor
  • Academic Advisor
  • School Counselor
  • Victim-Witness Program Director
  • Licensed Professional Counselor
  • Manager, Community Care Behavioral Health
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
  • School Psychologist
  • Clinical Mental Health Counselor
  • Pediatric Neuropsychologist
  • Child Protective Services
  • Addictions Counselor
  • Behavior Specialist
  • Assistant Program Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters NEPA

Graduate School Placement

  • Villanova University
  • Towson University
  • Bucknell University
  • Commonwealth University- Bloomsburg
  • West Chester University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Penn State University
  • Shippensburg University
  • Millersville University
  • Temple University
  • Marywood University
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Liberty University
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  • University of Scranton
  • Marymount University
  • The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
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Transform Your Education

High Impact Experiences

We are committed to strengthening students’ knowledge and skills in psychology and to teaching students how to apply this psychological literacy to their personal, academic, and professional development. Below are examples of several high impact experiences designed to help students pursue meaningful work that is outstanding in quality and ethical in nature.

1:1 Academic Advisement
Through personalized interactions with psychology faculty, students are introduced to the culture and expectations of higher education, explore academic and professional goals related to psychology, identify activities that align with their aspirations, and learn more about available resources to support their pursuits.

Common Intellectual Experiences
Core experimental courses (PSYC 150 Applied Psychological Statistics, PSYC 250 Research Methods in Psychology, and PSYC 350 Research Lab in Psychology) introduce students to the science of psychology including how knowledge is acquired, analyzed, and communicated to others.

Service Learning
Curricular and extracurricular service learning experiences afford students opportunities to apply their knowledge of psychological theories and research for the betterment of others.

Independent Study (PSYC 493)
This undergraduate research experience involves conducting a scholarly literature review; selecting or developing appropriate measurement tools; designing a study; securing IRB approval; collecting and analyzing data; and writing a manuscript in APA-style. Students often present their findings at a peer-reviewed conference.

Psychology Internship (PSYC 498)
Supervised fieldwork experiences advance students’ professional development by showing them firsthand the synergy between the science and practice of psychology. Internship also affords students opportunities to practice applying psychology’s ethical principles in different settings with diverse individuals.

Theory and Practice of Academic Psychology (PSYC 441)
The Teaching Assistant (TA) course focuses on career development, preparation for graduate school, and professional responsibilities in academia (e.g., presenting class content, planning review sessions, and holding a weekly office hour for students enrolled in the mass lecture PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology course).

Senior Seminar in Psychology (PSYC 406)
This small, discussion-based learning environment promotes a deep understanding of a specific topic as students analyze influential theories, read and discuss seminal research, and hone their communication skills.

Clubs and Organizations

Psychology Association
All psychology majors and minors are invited to join the Psychology Association, a faculty-supervised and student-run organization that hosts informational meetings about careers in psychology and preparing for graduate school, social events such as faculty-student meet-and-greets, and service projects on campus and in the community.

Psi Chi
Psi Chi is an international disciplinary honor society whose mission includes "recognizing and promoting excellence in the science and application of Psychology." Each year, chapters of Psi Chi on each campus invite high-achieving and socially responsible Psychology majors to membership.

The Uncommon Difference

100%
Expert Faculty
Tenured or tenure-track who have earned Ph.D.s in their area of expertise
College of Distinction
College of Distinction
National recognition as a College of Distinction, honored for its quality and high-impact practices leading to a personalized education catered to students’ interests.
2
Capstone Courses
Each student completes at least two capstone courses
1:1
Advisement
One-to-one student-to-faculty advisement

Careers

Psychology is one of the 10 most common majors in Pennsylvania’s workforce. In addition, workforce and economic development trends related to the discipline of psychology are favorable due to the discipline-specific knowledge and skills psychology majors bring with them as well as the versatility of the major. The majority of psychology majors put their knowledge and skills to use in the workforce immediately following graduation; whereas, a minority of psychology majors pursue an advanced degree in psychology (13%) or a related discipline (30%), according to the National Science Foundation.

Potential Job Opportunities

  • Admissions Evaluator
  • Advertising Sales Agent
  • Alumni Director
  • Assistant Bank Manager
  • Benefits Manager
  • Child Development Specialist
  • Child Welfare Protection, Placement Caseworker, Social Worker
  • Claims Supervisor
  • Conservation Officer
  • Correctional Treatment Specialist
  • Coroner
  • Criminal Investigator
  • Crisis Intervention Counselor
  • Database Administrator
  • Database Design Analyst
  • Disability Case Manager
  • Event Planner
  • Financial Advisor
  • Financial Aid Counselor
  • Geriatric Social Worker
  • Health Coach
  • Health Information Specialist
  • Life Coach
  • Management Analyst
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Media Buyer
  • Military Intelligence Officer
  • Occupational Analyst
  • Paralegal
  • Patient Advocate
  • Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Polygraph Examiner
  • Preschool Teacher
  • Public Relations Representative
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Research Assistant
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Systems Analyst
  • Veterans Counselor

Top Skills Employers are Looking For

  • Communication: oral, written, and listening skills
  • Cognitive: analytical thinking, critical thinking, creativity, information management, decision making
  • Personal: adaptability, integrity, self-regulation
  • Social: collaboration, inclusivity, leadership, management, service orientation
  • Technological: flexibility/adaptability to new systems; familiarity with hardware and software

Program Contacts

CommonwealthU University Employee

Jamie Foor

  • Associate Professor & Chair, Psychology Department
  • Lock Haven
Julie

Julie Kontos

  • Chair of Department of Psychology/Professor
  • Bloomsburg

Applying to This Program

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