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Bachelor of Arts

Psychology

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Get an Inside View of Human Behavior

Find answers to the “why” of human behavior in the bachelor's in psychology program at the University at Albany. The curriculum will prepare you for graduate study or a career in human services or counseling.

Through coursework and research, you will learn about aspects of psychology ranging from the affective, biological, and cognitive bases of human behavior, to developmental and social factors.


Note: This program is also offered fully online.

Additional Program Information

Undergraduate Bulletin  |  Course Catalog  |  Four-Year Plan  |  Department Contact

Program of Study

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The program provides a holistic approach to psychology, with courses ranging from Behavior Genetics (discussing the role heredity plays in various personality types) to Psychology and Language (focusing on psychological implications in syntax, semantics and phonology) to the History of Psychology (exploring the evolution of this field of study).

Dive into both theoretical and applied study with opportunities to engage in your own research. You can be mentored by a faculty member and/or be a lab team member helping to implement larger research projects.

You will have the opportunity to conduct high-impact research alongside faculty who specialize in behavioral neuroscience, clinical, cognitive, industrial-organizational, and social-personality psychology.


Required Courses

  • Introduction to Psychology or Advanced Introduction to Psychology
  • Statistical Methods in Psychology
  • Experimental Psychology
  • One course designated with a "T" suffix


Electives (15 credits with A PSY prefix)


NOTE: Of the 36 credits required for the major, a student must complete at least 24 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.

Complete 3 credits in each of the following four categories:


Cognitive Behavioral Approaches (3 credits)

  • Learning
  • Memory and Cognition


Clinical Developmental Approaches (3 credits)

  • Psychology of Child Development
  • Abnormal Psychology


Social Basis (3 credits)

  • Social Psychology
  • Personality


Biological Basis (3 credits)

  • Introduction to Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Sensation and Perception
  • Behavior Genetics


Course of study for the Neuroscience minor

Content

Academic Advising

All advising for declared psychology majors is coordinated by our academic advisor. The academic advisor and her staff are available throughout the year to meet with students who are interested in the field or who are actively studying psychology. Advisors are here to help declared psychology majors with:

  • course selection
  • exploration of research opportunities
  • involvement opportunities in the major and on campus
  • career exploration in the field of psychology, and in related fields
  • graduate program exploration
Psychology Undergraduate Mentor program

The Psychology Undergraduate Mentor program pairs undergraduate students with graduate students to provide guidance in areas like career exploration, how to apply to graduate school, networking, how to apply for a research assistant position, professional conferences and organizations, and specializations in psychology.

Mentors and mentees are paired based on their area of interest, their time in the program (newer graduate students are placed with freshmen/sophomore undergraduate students), and can decide the time commitment and meeting style that works best for them.

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Honors Opportunities

The Psychology Department offers a structured, research-based honors program for advanced students. The program is research intensive sequence of courses culminating in a empirically-based senior thesis project that is conducted by the student under the supervision of a faculty member.

You can also be recognized for outstanding academic achievement with the Psi Chi Honors Society. Psi Chi members can engage in the campus chapter of the society as well as in the national organization.

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Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options


You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. Choose to combine your Psychology undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

combined

MS in Mental Health Counseling
This accredited master’s program, approved by the New York State Office of Professions as preparation for licensure, teaches you to facilitate personal growth by using therapeutic methods that prevent and remediate individual and interpersonal conflict.


MS in Information Science 
This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management and data analysis.

UAlbany graduate at Commencement
Career Outcomes

Psychology professionals often work in human resources, hospitality, business, law enforcement and governmental organizations.

Potential job titles for a BA in Psychology include:

  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Human Resources Specialist
  • Sports Psychologist
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Criminal Profiler
  • Jury Specialist
  • Social Worker
  • School Counselor
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careers
Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Arts
  1. Students will demonstrate competence in advanced writing, effective presentation skills, and use of literature in the discipline of psychology
  2. Student’s will think critically about research in psychology by using basic research methods and analyzing and interpreting data.
  3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in Social Basis of Behavior.
  4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in Clinical/Developmental Approaches in Psychology.
  5. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in Cognitive/Behavioral Approaches in Psychology.
  6. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in the Biological Basis of Behavior
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

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Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

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Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

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Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies