Throughout Massachusetts, more and more colleges and universities are offering a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology as an excellent option for a Liberal Arts Education. While an undergraduate degree prepares students for employment or graduate studies in psychology, it also prepares graduates for many other areas of study and practice. A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology provides a basis for a career in:
- social work
- education
- business
- medicine
- law
- government and others
With a continued rise in employment with an undergraduate psychology degree, Massachusetts’s many academic institutions offer students a variety of options to obtain a psychology degree.
Cambridge College
The School of Undergraduate Study
Cambridge College is a private non-profit college located in Cambridge. It has a unique specialization in adult education. Programs throughout the college are offered in both distance learning and blended programs. Cambridge awards undergraduate and graduate degree programs in:
- education
- counseling
- psychology
- management
- healthcare management
- human services
Cambridge also has regional centers of learning in Lawrence and Springfield, Massachusetts as well as Augusta, Ontario, California, Chesapeake, Memphis and San Juan (Puerto Rico).
The mission of Cambridge University is “providing academically excellent, time-efficient, and cost-effective higher education for a diverse population of working adults for whom those opportunities may have been limited or denied”. Enrollment at Cambridge includes 1,552 undergraduate student and 5,375 graduate students with more than 30,000 alumni worldwide
Bachelor of in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program provides students with the liberal arts core required to prepare them for life-long learning, critical thinking and effective action in the field of psychology. The curriculum includes studies in areas including the history and methodologies of psychology. It introduces relevant subjects related to:
- human growth and development
- learning theory
- personality
- motivational and group theories
- the approach to psychopathology and psychotherapy
Coursework for the program examines essential roles of culture, history, and belief and how they shape the approach to the study of human behavior. Students enrolled in the program are required to complete a capstone project, a culminating research in their specific area of interest. Learning outcomes for the BA in Psychology Program include:
- Core knowledge of the historical development and methodologies of psychology
- Understanding of major theory, concepts, and processes in Psychology
- Comprehension of:
- learning theory and cognition
- personality
- motivation
- group theories
- Knowledge of perspectives in regards to mental health, psychopathology, maladaptive behaviors and psychotherapy
- How the roles of cultural, social and historical forces in shaping behavior
The BA in Psychology program requires 120 credits for completion. The curriculum prepares students for professional careers in clinical, educational and human services. It also provides a strong foundation for pursuing a graduate education.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Cambridge College
School of Undergraduate Studies
School of Psychology and Counseling
Megan Lawler
1000 Massachusetts Avenue
(617) 873-0254
E-Mail: megan.lawler@cambridgecollege.edu
Program Website
Clark University
Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology
Located in Worcester, Clark University is a small, liberal arts-based research university founded in 1887. It is the country’s oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. With an enrollment of 3,299 students, Clark University’s mission is “educating undergraduate and graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort”. The 2015 edition of US News and World Reports Best Colleges ranked Clark University as the 76th best National University.
The Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology at Clark is one of the largest at the University, and one of the best known nationally.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology provides students with a liberal arts education in preparation for graduate level work in psychology or related disciplines. The emphasis of the program is on the role of psychology in understanding of human behavior and experience. The program culminates in small and intensive capstone courses where students can participate fully in the theoretical and research life of the department.
Students are required to complete 128 credits to complete the program. including a Capstone course. Additionally, many students choose to participate in research project groups. Courses of study include:
- learning
- sensation
- perception
- development
- personality
- evolutionary psychology
The BA in Psychology is available as a College of Professional and Continuing Education program. It’s designed to meet the time constraints of adults who can only pursue their education part-time. Courses are offered on weekday evenings and Saturdays.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Clark University
Jonas Clark Hall -3rd floor
950 Main Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610
(508) 793-7711
E-Mail Form
Program Website
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Division of Social Sciences
The College of Our Lady of the Elms is also known as Elms College. It’s is a dynamic, Catholic, coed liberal arts institution located in Chicopee. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, Massachusetts, founded the school in 1928. The goal at Elms College is to train students to distinguish themselves both inside and outside of the classroom.
The mission is “providing rigorous academic challenges to prepare for careers and for life, enabling students to leave Elms College rooted in faith, educated in mind, compassionate in heart, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle”.
In 2015, US News and World Report ranked the College of Our Lady of the Elms as the 24th best northern regional college. The school’s enrollment is 1,005 full-time students and 712 part-time and graduate students. The College awards:
- 172 bachelor of arts degrees
- 203 bachelor of science degrees
- 14 associate degrees
- 91 graduate degrees
- 6 certificates of advanced study
The Division of Social Sciences Department provides students with a better understanding of the individual, the community, and the world. Students learn about social problems, their causes, solutions. Students study the human impact in the pursuit of social justice and the enhancement of society’s quality of life.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program prepares students to pursue graduate training or work in a variety of career settings including:
- social service
- market research
- advertising
- human resources
- customer service
- education
- law enforcement
- counseling
Students learn to understand the nature of psychological inquiry and the psychological approach to various issues encountered in:
- the social sciences
- the humanities
- the life sciences
All undergraduates are required to participate in active learning experiences, making presentations in many of their classes. One-third of graduates of the program continue their education in graduate school. One third are employed in mental-health agencies, correctional facilities, schools, and hospitals. The remaining one-third of graduates pursue work in nonprofit organizations, legal settings, and in private industry.
Goals for the BA in Psychology program include:
- the ability to think scientifically about behavior and mental processes
- appreciate and respect others
- and pursue a variety of post-baccalaureate alternatives, including employment and graduate programs.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Division of Social Sciences
Diana Lewis
Associate Professor of Psychology
291 Springfield Street
Chicopee, Massachusetts 01013-2839
(413) 594-2761
E-Mail:clewisd@elms.edu
Program Website
College of the Holy Cross
Department of Psychology
Located in Worcester, The College of the Holy Cross is a private, undergraduate Jesuit Roman Catholic liberal arts college. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Jesuit College in New England. In 2015 US News and World Report ranked College of the Holy Cross as the 34th best National Liberal Arts College in the United States.
The 174-acre campus has won several national and international awards for excellence in architecture and landscaping. Enrollment is about 3,000 students in programs that span 38 majors and minors. Holy Cross sports teams named “the Crusaders” sponsor 27 varsity sports. All but two of them compete at the NCAA Division I level.
The Department of Psychology conducts research in laboratory and field settings. It engages students in intellectual pursuit with a curriculum including:
- natural sciences
- social sciences
- the humanities
Majors have the opportunity to choose a program of study to meet with their own developing interests and goals.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program introduces students to various types of study, including:
- conducting research in a laboratory or field setting
- working in a clinical setting
- studying the principles of psychology
The curriculum allows students to think deeply and critically about human behavior, mental life, and the human condition. Psychology majors can pursue advanced studies via directed reading or research projects, under the direction of their professors. Students are required to complete a minimum of 10 courses in psychology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Specialization in Neuroscience
The Psychology Department, in conjunction with the Biology Department, offers an optional area of concentration in the study of neuroscience and behavior. The concentration requires an understanding of various fields including:
- biology
- psychology
- chemistry
- physics
- mathematics
Students in this specialization pursue research throughout the concentration and complete a thesis project during the fourth year.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
College of the Holy Cross
Department of Psychology
1 College Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610
(508) 793-2011
E-Mail: webmaster@holycross.edu
Program Website
Curry College
The Department of Psychology
Curry College is a private four-year liberal arts college located in Milton, seven miles from Boston. The school was established in 1879. It offers 22 bachelor’s programs with more than 65 areas of concentrations and master’s degrees in four majors. Enrollment at Curry is about 3,000 students on the 131-acre main campus. The school’s mission is “educating and graduating students prepared to engage in successful careers and active citizenship with a global perspective”. The 2015 edition of US News and World Report Best Colleges ranked Curry College as a tier 2 Northern Regional University.
Curry offers over 30 clubs and organizations. It’s a member of the NCAA Division III and participates in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The BA in Psychology degree program trains students to:
- have an awareness of their personal identities
- understand the social and cultural context we live in
- examine personal values
- increase skills in critical thinking
- using psychological concepts in enriching, expanding and exploring one’s life
Students can choose a specific area of interest by choosing a concentration in the following areas:
- Counseling Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Gerontology
- Health Psychology
- Substance abuse Counseling
- Educational Psychology
Learning Outcomes for Graduate of the program include:
Knowledge base in Psychology – students will show a basic understanding of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in Psychology
Research Methods in Psychology – to fully understand and can apply research methods in Psychology, including:
- research design
- data analysis
- interpretation
Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology – Using critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and ability to apply a scientific approach to solve problems related to behavioral and mental processes
Application of Psychology principles to personal, social and organizational issues
Values in Psychology including empirical evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, respond ethically and reflect the values that are the foundation of Psychology as a science
Information and Technological Literacy allowing students to properly demonstrate competence in the use of computers and related technology in acquisition, analyzing and synthesizing of information
Communication Skills showing effective communication in a variety of formats
Socio-cultural and International Awareness to allow recognition, understanding, and respect of the complex socio-cultural and international diversity
Personal Development to develop insight into the behavioral and mental processes of others and self while applying effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement
Career Planning and Development allowing graduates to pursue and implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in future occupational pursuits
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Curry College
Psychology Department:
Tina Gaynor
Kennedy Building, Room 3R
(617) 333-2226
E-Mail: tmaxwell@curry.edu
Program Website
Whether you are looking for a large university or a small college setting, Massachusetts’s many institutions offer education for each individual student. More and more of these schools are now offering students the flexibility of completing some or all of their coursework online. This allows working individuals, parents, individuals with disabilities, military personnel and many other people the opportunity to earn their degree. Throughout the state, more colleges are implementing Distance Learning features in either fully online, hybrid or web-enhanced programs.
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