The state of Massachusetts offers undergraduate students a wide variety of options to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. With both traditional on campus as well as online options, students can earn their degree with the flexibility and convenience that was once impossible. Throughout the state, colleges and universities provide both general psychology education and degrees with a specialization in one of the many subfields of psychology. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists in Massachusetts earn, on average, $84,860. A bachelor’s degree in psychology is a step towards a rewarding and fruitful career.
American International College
The College of Business, Arts and Sciences
American International College (AIC) is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Springfield. The college supports both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as certificates of advanced graduate study (CAGS). Three schools make up the college, including:
- The School of Business, Arts, and Sciences
- The School of Health Sciences
- The School of Graduate and Adult Education
The School of Business, Arts and Sciences houses a broad and multidisciplinary group of majors. The strong liberal arts coursework is the core of knowledge that underlies their academic and professional careers.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program trains students in the strengths of the liberal arts tradition. They learn to exhibit enthusiasm for learning and how to be responsive to community needs. Psychology majors acquire an awareness of how to view, interpret, measure, and affect human behavior. Students in this program learn to:
- Design, analyze, and interpret research
- Sharpen oral and written communication skills
- Think critically
- Solve problems
- Enhance interpersonal skills
These essential skills prepare psychology majors for careers in:
- human services
- teaching
- business
- personnel
The psychology major also prepares students to enter graduate studies leading to careers in professional psychology. The learning outcomes, as stated by the department, include:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
- Understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Respect and use critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
- Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
- Value empirical evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science.
- Demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
- Recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
- Develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.
- Pursue realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings that meet personal goals and societal needs.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
American International College
The College of Business, Arts and Sciences
1000 State Street
Springfield MA 01109
Sandra Sego, Ph.D. – Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Psychology
(413) 205-3207
E-Mail: sandra.sego@aic.edu
Program Website
Amherst College
The Department of Psychology
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst. The college is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution with enrollment of just under 2,000 students. Students choose courses from 38 major programs in an innovative “open curriculum” plan. Amherst has historically close relationships (as well as rivalry) with Williams College and Wesleyan University, forming the Little Three colleges. It is also a member of the Five College Consortium. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Amherst as the 2nd best National Liberal Arts College and the Top Best Value School. The Department of Psychology at Amherst uses a wide range of methodologies in the general pursuit of a better comprehension of human behavior and experience.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program teaches students about the complex web of interacting influences over human thought and behavior. The curriculum includes the physiological, developmental, social, personality, cognitive, abnormal, and cross-cultural contributions to the discipline of psychology. Upon completion of the psychology major, students will have gained knowledge, skills, and values consistent with the science and application of psychology. Specifically, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
- Understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including:
- research design
- data analysis
- interpretation
- Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Amherst College
Department of Psychology
Isabel Margolin – Academic Coordinator
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 542-2217
E-Mail: idmargolin@amherst.edu
Program Website
Anna Maria College
School of Justice and Social Sciences
Anna Maria College (AMC) is a coeducational Catholic liberal arts college located in Paxton. The college was founded in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Anne. The School of Justice and Social Sciences encourages all students to begin their freshman year with a strong, broad-based liberal arts core curriculum grounded in the principles of the Catholic tradition. After the sophomore year, students may choose a major and embark upon detailed training in their area of interest, in conjunction with the core curriculum. During the junior and senior years, advanced coursework runs concurrently with community field placements. This allows students to observe and work alongside professionals in the community.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The overall goals for the BA in Psychology degree program are aligned with the American Psychological Association (APA) Guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major. The APA stipulates 10 suggested goals and related learning outcomes for the psychology major, grouped in two major categories:
Category 1: Knowledge, Skills, and Values Consistent With the Science and Application of Psychology
- Knowledge Base – Acquire a strong intellectual foundation in psychological science
- Research Methods – Understand and apply basic research methods and experimental design principles.
- Research Methods/ Quantitative Literacy – Use descriptive and inferential statistical methods to describe and evaluate empirical data. Interpret and produce graphical representations of data.
- Critical Thinking – Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to evaluate problems related to behavior and mental processes.
- Values in Psychology – Act ethically, value empirical evidence, and reflect other values that are underpinnings of psychology as a science.
Category 2: Knowledge, Skills, and Values Consistent With Liberal Arts Education That Are Further Developed in Psychology
- Application of Psychology – Understand and apply psychological principles to individual, social, and organizational issues to include socio-cultural and international awareness.
- Communication Skills—Written – Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
- Communication Skills—Oral – Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
- Information and Technological Literacy – Demonstrate information competency.
- Personal Development – Develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Anna Maria College
School of Justice and Social Sciences
50 Sunset Lane
Paxton, MA 01612
(508) 849-3300
E-Mail: abrown@annamaria.edu
Program Website
Assumption College
The Department of Psychology
Assumption College is a private, Roman Catholic, liberal arts college located in Worcester. The college has an enrollment of more than 2,000 undergraduates and confers:
- Bachelor of Arts degrees in the undergraduate program
- Master of Arts and Master’s of Business Administration degrees in its graduate program
- Associate’s degree through its Continuing Education program
Although the school does offer majors in the sciences, only Bachelor of Arts degrees are awarded. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Assumption as the 31st best academic institution in the northern region of the United States. The Department of Psychology at Assumption confers the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as well as a master’s level degree in counseling psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA Degree program in Psychology invites psychology majors to critically investigate complex issues facing today’s society by exploring the science of human cognition and behavior. The curriculum begins with foundational courses that evaluate general concepts and theoretical perspectives. As students progress through the program elective courses allow them to dig deeper into specific areas of interest. Psychology majors complete 11 courses in:
- developmental psychology
- social psychology
- cognitive psychology
- abnormal psychology
- research methods
- statistics
This style of curriculum helps students become better:
- critical thinkers
- communicators
- problem solvers
The faculty members serve as teachers and mentors, working with students to better define their professional goals through:
- classroom learning
- research projects
- internships
- independent study
Upon completion of the undergraduate program, many students apply to Assumption’s graduate program in counseling psychology. It’s affiliated with the prestigious Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies, which is located on-campus in Worcester, MA.
Accreditations
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Assumption College
The Department of Psychology
Paula Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
500 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA, 01609
(508) 767-7550
E-Mail: pfitzpat@assumption.edu
Program Website
Bard College at Simon’s Rock
The Department of Political and Social Studies
Bard College at Simon’s Rock, commonly referred to as simply Simon’s Rock, is a residential four-year liberal arts college located in Great Barrington. It is what is called an “early college”, created with the idea that students will enroll immediately after completing the 10th or 11th grade, rather than after graduating from high school. Simon’s Rock is the only accredited four-year “early college” in the United States. A majority of students transfer to larger institutions after receiving the associate of arts degree after two years. However, many choose to stay for four years to complete a Bachelor of Arts. Bard College at Simon’s Rock is a division of Bard College, which is located nearby, in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.
In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Simon’s rock as the 12th best collegiate institution in the northern region of the country as well as the 9th Best Value School. The Department of Political and Social Studies works to broaden students’ “understanding of people and society and the connections between social groups”.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The psychology concentration at Simon’s Rock provides courses in a variety of areas to provide a strong framework for students who plan to pursue graduate training in psychology and related disciplines. The program also offers an excellent complement for students with an interest in the various disciplines that align with psychology, such as:
- biology
- medicine
- literature
- theater
- the arts
- philosophy
The psychology concentration requires a minimum of 21 credits beyond Introduction to Psychology distributed as follows:
- No fewer than nine credits at the 200-level
- Two advanced (300-level or higher) psychology courses
- A research methods course
Students planning on graduate training in psychology are strongly encouraged to complete additional courses in psychology and Introduction to Statistics.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Bard College at Simon’s Rock
The Department of Political and Social Studies
84 Alford Road
Simon’s Rock
Great Barrington, MA 01230
E-Mail: admin@simons-rock.edu
Program Website
Bay Path University
The Department of Psychology
Bay Path University is a private institution in Longmeadow. Since its establishment in 1897 as the Bay Path Institute, the college has undergone several name changes and upgrades to its accreditation status. Bay Path University is a member of the Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield, an eight-college consortium. The university provides all-female bachelor’s degree programs (on-campus and online), as well as a co-educational Master’s degree programs (both on-campus and online).
There is also a “One Day A Week College” for returning adult female students and the American Women’s College, the first all-women online college. In 2015, US News and World Report ranked Bay Path as the 184th best Online Bachelor’s Degree granting school in the country. The Department of Psychology offers training in several areas of psychology, including:
- general psychology
- child psychology
- forensic psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program trains students for positions in an array of areas, such as:
- health and social services
- mental health
- organizational leadership and management
- community and public relations
- education
- program development and facilitation
- social science research
The program curriculum emphasizes the development of skills, knowledge and abilities that will be critical in the students chosen career path. The objective is to provide students with a comprehensive education that promotes critical thinking about behavior and mental processes. It does this by understanding the interplay between theories, observations, and conclusions. Students in this program will be exposed to topics such as:
- Stages of development throughout the lifespan
- Major theories for interpreting and understanding personality
- Art of interviewing and conducting assessments
- Workings of the brain in terms of behavior, mental illness, and learning
- Cultural influences shaping identity
- Origins of mental illnesses, such as depression and PTSD
- Healthy and unhealthy relationship factors
Bachelor of Arts in Child Psychology
The Child Psychology Program is for students with an interest in working directly with children of all ages, including:
- infants
- toddlers
- preschoolers
- school-age
- adolescents
Wide ranges of elements that make up development are studied, including:
- physical
- intellectual
- emotional
- social
- moral
Students will investigate many areas of parenting and family dynamics to better understand the role that family plays in a child’s development. Child Psychology majors will learn from a range of topics, including:
- Stages of development and important milestones in a child’s life
- Causes of childhood mental illnesses, including autism and ADHD
- Fundamentals of early intervention programs for infants and toddlers
- Completion of diagnostic reports
- Behavioral observations
- Essentials of family communication
- Cultural influences shaping identity
Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology
The Forensic Psychology degree program teaches students to learn how to apply the principles and theories of psychology to the criminal justice system. Students have the opportunity to become involved in work with:
- gang members
- adolescent and adult offenders
- victims and perpetrators of crime
Because Bay Path is one of the few women’s colleges that offers forensic psychology as a major, it leads to expertise in this field with many excellent career opportunities.
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
The neuroscience program at Bay Path outlines the field as the “study of the nervous system and all its related functions, which includes basic functions such as sleeping and eating to more complex functions such as decision-making, planning, and abstract thinking”. To better understand how the brain functions, the field is interdisciplinary, combining research from:
- psychology
- biology
- chemistry
- physics
- computer science
Students in this program will:
- Take courses in biology, chemistry, math, and neuroscience to learn the core knowledge and laboratory skills in the field of neuroscience.
- Be prepared in scientific reading and writing, skills that employers and graduate and professional schools value.
- Gain hands-on research experience in an area of neuroscience that will culminate in a senior thesis
5 Year – Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Neuroscience
The university has also created a five-year BS/MS track in cooperation with the Neuroscience and Behavior Program (NSB) at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. There, Bay Path University Neuroscience undergraduates have the opportunity to complete the terminal Master’s degree in the NSB program.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Bay Path University
The Department of Psychology
Kathryn Wiezbicki-Stevens, EdD – Chair, Psychology Department
588 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
(413) 565-1226
E-Mail: kwiezbic@baypath.edu
Program Website
Students in Massachusetts have myriad options to earn their undergraduate degree. Whether you hope to pursue a career in psychology or are considering a career in medicine, social science, legal practice or the business world, a psychology degree keeps students options open. This is largely why more students pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology than almost any other major of study. Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology can be the start of an exciting career in psychology or many other fields.
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