Answering age-old questions about the underlying cause of behaviors is the goal for bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania. Let’s continue mapping your undergrad options at accredited colleges starting with S-T.
Saint Francis University
School of Arts and Letters
Operated by the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular since 1847, Saint Francis University is a private, co-educational Catholic liberal arts institution sitting atop 600 rural acres in Loretto 25 miles from Johnstown to educate 2,300 scholars. Distinguished as America’s 21st “Safest College Campus” on Niche, SFU is the 27th best regional university in the North according to the U.S. News. The School of Arts and Letters retains 82 percent retention in 23 faith-infused degrees, including fermentation arts.
B.A./B.S. in Psychology
Offering an average class size of 18, the B.A./B.S. in Psychology program lets SFU undergrads find virtually endless applications for in-depth knowledge on behavioral theories. Adhering to the APA’s guidelines, the 13-course major is customized with the General Liberal Arts, Ph.D. Research, or Pre-Professional tracks. Students benefit from taking a two-semester research sequence, volunteering with Autumn’s Angels, studying animals at Pittsburgh Zoo, traveling to Ireland, and more.
Online B.S. in Behavioral Science
For continuing adults, SFU offers an alternative to Pennsylvania psychology degrees with the Online B.S. in Behavioral Science. Reflecting Franciscan values, the accelerated program builds on prior collegiate coursework in psychology and human services. The 128-credit curriculum requires transferring 60+ regionally accredited credits. Thanks to 50 percent tuition discounts, ADCS students can affordably pursue careers like case manager, victim advocate, addiction counselor, or child welfare specialist online.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
117 Evergreen Drive
P.O. Box 600
Loretto, PA 15940
(814) 472-2769
sbaker@francis.edu
Saint Joseph’s University
College of Arts & Sciences
Devoted to “Spirit, Intellect, Purpose,” Saint Joseph’s University is a private, nonprofit Catholic research institution endowed for $216 million to educate over 8,600 faithful students from a 114-acre urban campus in West Philadelphia’s Overbrook neighborhood. Declared America’s 171st best value on Forbes, SJU is named the North’s 11th best regional college with the 187th top online bachelor’s degrees by the U.S. News. The College of Arts & Sciences reports a 72 percent four-year graduation rate in majors from linguistics to theology.
B.S. in Psychology
Housed in Post Hall, the B.S. in Psychology nurtures SJU Hawk’s appreciation for behavior and mental processes to capture the Jesuit spirit for bettering humankind. Students declaring the 13-course major can specialize with the Clinical Psychology Concentration, Animal Studies Minor, or Behavioral Neuroscience Minor. Other valuable opportunities include interning at the Beck Institute, studying abroad in 13 countries, joining Psi Chi, and pursuing the five-year B.S./M.S. in Psychology.
B.S. in Autism Behavioral Studies
Prospective psychology scholars could also be interested in SJU’s B.S. in Autism Behavioral Studies, which teaches the techniques to increase positive and reduce negative behaviors in individuals on the spectrum. The 11-course major satisfies the coursework and field hours for becoming a Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). Students have completed their six-credit internship at placements like the Center for Autistic Children and North Light Community Center.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(610) 660-1803
cconrymu@sju.edu
Saint Vincent College
School of Social Sciences, Communication and Education
Established in 1846 by Bavarian monk Boniface Wimmer, Saint Vincent College is America’s oldest Benedictine private, co-education liberal arts institution serving around 1,900 Bearcats from a 200-acre suburban campus in Latrobe southeast of Pittsburgh. Placed 17th on Money magazine’s “50 Most Affordable Private Colleges,” SVC is crowned the 149th best national liberal arts college by the U.S. News. The School of Social Sciences, Communication and Education has a 12:1 student-faculty ratio for an engaged, thoughtful learning community.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology
Centered on 38 major credits, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology prepares SVC students for advanced and applied work with broad understanding of human interaction and behavior. Students are required to complete at least 120 internship hours at locations like Lifeway Pregnancy Center or Latrobe Police Department. Current majors are also publishing research in the North American Journal of Psychology, adding the Addictions Specialist Certificate, and studying abroad in Kraków.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724) 805-2950 ext. 2950
marybeth.spore@stvincent.edu
Seton Hill University
Division of Social Sciences
Affiliated with the Sisters of Charity, Seton Hill University is a private, nonprofit Catholic liberal arts AACU member serving over 2,500 co-eds with an $80 million endowment and 200-acre suburban campus in Greensburg on the Western Allegheny Plateau. Noted for giving all freshmen a MacBook Air, SHU is named the North’s 44th best university and 11th top value by the U.S. News. The Division of Social Sciences was distinguished as the 157th “Best College for Psychology” nationwide on Niche.
Psychology (B.A.)
Supporting the APA’s undergraduate learning goals, the Psychology (B.A.) at Seton Hill makes students familiar with the foremost concepts of human and animal behavior. The 51-credit major offers unique electives like juvenile delinquency, sexuality, gender studies, sports psychology, and organizational leadership. Students could also work with preschool-aged youth in the Child Development Center, join the Honors Society, conduct research at Walter Reed, and study away in Seville.
Human Services (B.A.)
For applied psychology education, the Human Services (B.A.) caters to non-traditional SHU students interested in enhancing the well-being of vulnerable, underserved populations. The two-year degree completion program requires transferring at least 60 credits from regionally accredited institutions. Adults finish their 120-credit bachelor’s with convenient online, evening, and Saturday courses and an 80-hour field internship. Graduates report an impressive 97 percent job placement rate.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1 Seton Hill Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601
(800) 826-6234
jesky@setonhill.edu
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
College of Arts and Sciences
Enrolling approximately 8,200 “Big Red” Raiders, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a four-year public, co-educational PASSHE institution endowed for $27.9 million upon its 200-acre rural campus just 53 miles northwest of Westminster, Maryland. Recognized for America’s 195th “Best College Dorms” on Niche, Shippensburg is ranked the 95th best regional university and 28th top public school by the U.S. News. With an 89 percent acceptance rate, the College of Arts and Sciences offers 70+ majors and minors from anthropology to French.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Delivered by doctoral-trained faculty with a 19:1 ratio, Shippensburg’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology sharpens students’ problem-solving skills to influence positive individual and societal changes. The 39-credit liberal arts major culminates with a capstone internship or research thesis in the Franklin Science Center. Students with a 3.8 QPA or better are welcomed into the Honors Program and Psi Chi. Graduates have excelled at noteworthy schools like SUNY Binghamton, Ohio University, Penn State, and more.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717) 477-1657
psych@ship.edu
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
College of Health, Environment and Science
Occupying a 611-acre rural campus in Butler County just 80 miles south of Erie, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public, master’s-level PASSHE research institution established in 1889 that’s currently educating over 9,400 students. Honored for America’s 227th “Best College Food” on Niche, SRU is ranked the 75th best university and 23rd top public school in the North by the U.S. News. The College of Health, Environment and Science was picked among the top 5 percent of College Factual’s best values for health professions.
B.A. in Psychology
Grounded in liberal arts, the B.A. in Psychology retains 82 percent of SRU freshmen who are preparing for entry-level human services employment or clinical training with a foundation in behavioral science. The 38-credit major makes students career-ready with courses on cognition, learning, personality, psychological testing, gender diversity, and foreign language. Undergrads are encouraged to join the Reflections Body Image Organization, participate in Brain Awareness Week, volunteer with the HOPE Program, and study abroad.
B.S. in Psychology
Slippery Rock also provides a separate B.S. in Psychology for budding psychologists who seek in-depth, empirical research education in the natural sciences to investigate the brain and behavior. Students declaring this 46-credit major have greater customization with the Neuroscience Concentration, Developmental Psychology Track, or 3+2 Pre-Physician Assistant Option. Majors take active roles in experiments for the SRU Symposium for Creative, Scholarly and Research. Students could add a 12-credit Applied Research Certificate online.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1 Morrow Way
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
(724) 738-2077
psychology@sru.edu
Susquehanna University
School of Arts and Sciences
Opened by German Lutheran pastor Benjamin Kurtz in 1858, Susquehanna University is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution sitting upon a 325-acre rural campus in Selinsgrove in central Pennsylvania to educate 2,200 River Hawks yearly. Placed at #11 for the Princeton Review’s “Most Popular Study Abroad Program,” Susquehanna is crowned the 132nd best national liberal arts college by the USNWR. The School of Arts and Sciences selectively admits 76 percent of applicants into 90+ majors and minors from painting to broadcasting.
Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.)
Ranging from 41 to 47 credits, the Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) builds upon Susquehanna’s liberal arts core to instill the knowledge and skills to evaluate psychological research for real-world application. Valuable opportunities include joining Psi Chi, traveling to New Zealand, volunteering with Best Buddy, and conducting research for the Eastern Psychological Association. Students may also add the Secondary Teaching Certification with a 40-hour externship for licensed classroom positions.
Neuroscience Major (B.S.)
Within the Natural Sciences Center’s cutting-edge labs, the Neuroscience Major (B.S.) lays the foundation for Susquehanna undergrads to discover the mechanisms and functions of the most complex organ. The 61-credit major draws from biology, chemistry, and psychology to spark scientific careers studying the mind, including medicine. Students could also study abroad in Sweden, join the Nu Rho Psi chapter, and declare the Pre-Health Professions Track.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
514 University Avenue
Selinsgrove, PA 17870
(570) 372-4188
tmartin@susqu.edu
Swarthmore College
School of Arts and Sciences
Endowed for $1.84 billion, Swarthmore College is a prestigious private, nonsectarian liberal arts institution selectively admitting around 1,500 undergraduates on its 399-acre suburban campus surrounding Parrish Hall just 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Ranked #5 for the Princeton Review’s “Professors Get High Marks,” Swarthmore is ranked America’s fourth best liberal arts college and sixth top value by the U.S. News. The School of Arts and Sciences boasts an 87 percent four-year graduation rate for majors from religion to astronomy.
Psychology Major
Swarthmore’s Psychology Major is based in Papazian Hall to immerse baccalaureate students in the examination of human behavior to resolve mental and interpersonal dysfunction. The eight-course major includes a research practicum or senior thesis in state-of-the-art facilities, including the Social Neuroscience Lab. The Hands Wallach Summer Research Fellowship is available with a 10-week stipend of $4,350. Students could add optional internships with organizations like Pemón Health and Springfield Hospital.
Cognitive Science Major
Another viable alternative to the bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania is the 12-course Cognitive Science Major at Swarthmore. Undergraduates work alongside NSF-funded faculty researchers to explore how brain structures receive, store, transmit, and perceive information. One professor recently won the HHMI’s Sustained Science Education Excellence Award. Students benefit from joining the Cognitive Science Society, completing practicum in the Cognitive Development Lab, and studying through the Tri-College Consortium.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081
(610) 328-8431
psych@swarthmore.edu
Temple University
College of Liberal Arts / College of Science and Technology
Belonging to the APLU, Temple University is a public, doctoral-granting international research institution with land-grant status that’s endowed for $513 million and educating 39,500 students from its 115-acre urban headquarters in North Philadelphia. Noted for America’s 87th “Best Student Life” on Niche,” Temple is deemed the 118th best national university and 56th top public college by the USNWR. The College of Liberal Arts partners with the College of Science and Technology for the 52nd best psychology degrees too.
B.A. in Psychology
Preserving a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, the B.A. in Psychology at Temple covers a breadth of generalist knowledge on behavior to better understand cognitive and sociocultural influences. The 120-credit curriculum is broadly organized into two sub-fields: Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) and Developmental/Clinical/Social (DCS). Students with a 3.5 GPA could pursue the Honors Program. Other opportunities include finishing a Clinical and Health Psychology Minor, joining the Psychology Majors Association, and interning with agencies like Bucks County Juvenile.
B.S. in Neuroscience
Within the Biology-Life Sciences Building, the B.S. in Neuroscience offers rigorous, research-based preparation for Temple Owls to pursue advanced study into human and animal neural mechanisms. The 123-credit curriculum allows a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience or Behavior and Plasticity. Students can benefit from conducting hands-on research in the Brain Imaging Lab, participating in the NIH-funded MARC Program, joining Nu Rho Psi, and interning at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
B.S. in Human Development and Community Engagement
Temple’s bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania continue with the 120-credit B.S. in Human Development and Community Engagement. This unique degree informs undergraduates on human’s cognitive, psychological, social, and physiological development for social service application. Students select from three concentrations: Childhood Mental Health, Community-Based Education, or Nonprofit Organization and Advocacy. Two semesters of practicum are required at placements like the Penn Children’s Center.
Five-Year B.A./M.S. in Psychological Research
Ambitious undergraduates at Temple could hasten their graduate education through the Five-Year B.A./M.S. in Psychological Research after 72 bachelor’s credits. Under faculty supervision, students begin their master’s study for in-depth experimental experience in the senior year. Scholars can select concentrations in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, or Developmental Psychology. Admission is highly selective with an average psychology GPA of 3.67.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1701 North 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-7321
Pjmarsh@temple.edu
The Lincoln University
College of Sciences & Technology
Formerly called the Ashmun Institute until 1866, The Lincoln University is the United States’ oldest public, historically black research institution enrolling over 1,900 Lions from its main 422-acre rural campus in southern Chester County near Oxford. Crowned America’s 20th best HBCU by the U.S. News, Lincoln was recognized for the 148th “Best Greek Life” and 229th “Hardest College Admission” nationwide on Niche. The College of Sciences & Technology produces STEM leaders for the 21st century in biology, mathematics, and beyond.
Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.)
At the Modulars campus, the Psychology Major grants Lincoln undergraduates a B.A. or B.S. after successfully studying the behavioral sciences. Consisting of 50 major credits, the program dives into Black psychology, social psychology, psychobiology, statistics, cognition, and biomedical ethics before the capstone seminar. Students could declare a unique 19-credit Program Evaluation Minor. Engaging in Active Minds, Alpha Phi Alpha, and the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is also possible.
Bachelor of Human Services (BHS-FLEX)
Another of The Lincoln University’s Pennsylvania psychology degrees is the Bachelor of Human Services (BHS-FLEX), which is available solely at the Philadelphia campus in the Avenue of Technology Corridor. This accelerated, adult program is designed for transfers with 60+ credits who complete at least 24 credits in residency. Coursework will include social policy, sociology, human growth, anthropology, psychology of addictions, and statistics. Evening and Saturday classes are supplemented with one field placement.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1570 Baltimore Pike
Lincoln University, PA 19352
(484) 365-7535
jvanrooyen@lincoln.edu
Thiel College
Psychology Department
Celebrating its 150th anniversary, Thiel College is a private, co-educational liberal arts and sciences institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to enroll around 1,100 students on its 135-acre rural campus in Greenville near the Shenango River. Graded B+ for safety on Niche, Thiel is ranked America’s 236th best liberal arts college for civic engagement by Washington Monthly. With a net price of $22,664 yearly, the Psychology Department offers exploration into the body’s final frontier – the brain.
Psychology B.A.
Structured around the APA’s guidelines, the Psychology B.A. allows Thiel Tomcats to immerse themselves in the empirical research findings on behavioral patterns in humans and non-human organisms. The 45-credit major offers three specialized tracks for Counseling, Cognitive Psychology, and Social Psychology. Diverse electives will range from operant conditioning to gerontology and neuropsychology. Majors in good standing could pursue cooperative education with the Behavioral Health Commission, join Psi Chi, and participate in Health Professions Institute seminars.
Neuroscience B.S.
Featuring a 92 percent placement rate in science-related careers, Thiel’s Neuroscience B.S. is ideal for undergraduates fascinated by the central nervous system’s functioning and relation to human behavior. Declaring the 47-credit major leads to courses like organic chemistry, medical ethics, genetics, cell biology, and psychopharmacology. Students may also participate in the Haer Family Symposium Lecture Series, study abroad at Harlaxton College, join the Janelia Undergraduate Scholars Program, intern with the Greenville Neuromodulation Center, and more.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
75 College Avenue
Greenville, PA 16125
(724) 589-2047
lpickens@thiel.edu
We’ve almost finished outlining the multitude of “Quaker State” colleges offering America’s fourth most popular major. The bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania (U-Z) can be perused here.
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