With over 175 “Quaker State” colleges, you’ll find plentiful bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania. Positioned between Lake Erie and the Atlantic Ocean, Pennsylvania is the country’s sixth most populous state with 12.8 million people. Pennsylvania’s $644 billion economy has a sizeable health and human services sector for altruistic psychology majors. The Commonwealth’s top 10 employers include Geisinger Health System, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and Einstein Medical Center. According to the BLS, Pennsylvania has the fourth-highest employment level of psychologists in America at 5,250. Clinical, counseling, and school psychology jobs reap an average yearly salary of $69,420, but other career options abound. Begin searching for your behavioral science major match at these Pennsylvania psychology schools (A-C).
Albright College
Department of Psychology
Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Albright College is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution serving over 2,300 students from a 118-acre suburban campus in Reading. Graded A for diversity on Niche, Albright is deemed America’s 379th top private college and the Northeast’s 190th best school on Forbes. The Department of Psychology capitalizes on its 13:1 student-faculty ratio for engaging discussions on aspects of everyday life.
Psychology Major
Albright’s Psychology Major grants a Bachelor of Arts for limitless applications to the theoretical and practical study of the mind. The 15-course major can be tailored with the Child Development Track or Evolutionary Studies Minor. Students are also offered combined majors in Spanish, political science, philosophy, and criminology along with Psi Chi Honor Society induction.
Interdisciplinary Major in Psychobiology
Students with a passion for both behavioral and natural science could pursue the 16-course Interdisciplinary Major in Psychobiology. This Bachelor of Science curriculum offers tracks for Molecular Psychobiology and Behavioral Psychobiology for mastering the concepts of neuroscience. The college’s state-of-the-art labs feature eye-tracking software, EEGs, and virtual reality equipment for interim research projects.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1621 North 13th Street
Reading, PA 19604
(610) 921-2381
gseidman@albright.edu
Allegheny College
Psychology Department
Belonging to the GLCA, Allegheny College is the oldest continuous private, co-educational liberal arts institution west of the Allegheny Mountains with a 542-acre suburban campus in Meadville serving 1,900 Gators. Given a Forbes financial grade of B, Allegheny is crowned America’s 77th best liberal arts college by the U.S. News. The Psychology Department was also ranked #1 by the Council on Undergraduate Research.
Psychology Major
Offering a B.A. or B.S., the 44-credit Psychology Major develops Allegheny students’ generalist understanding of human cognition and behavior. Students benefit from fully wired smart classrooms in Carnegie Hall, internship opportunities with the National Institute of Health, senior research experience, and funding through the Guy Emerson Buckingham Prize. Adding the Education Studies Minor is possible for Pennsylvania teacher preparation.
Neuroscience Major
Featuring an 85 percent retention rate, the Neuroscience Major gives Allegheny undergraduates in-depth knowledge of the brain and central nervous system functioning. Students declaring the 12-course major must complete senior research projects in laboratories funded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Approximately 70 percent of alumni seek admission at graduate schools like Dartmouth, Emory, and SUNY Buffalo.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
520 North Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 332-6270
aknupsky@allegheny.edu
Alvernia University
College of Arts & Sciences
Established by the Bernardine Sisters in 1926, Alvernia University is a private, Franciscan Catholic institution teaching over 2,900 students to learn and love from a 121-acre suburban campus in Reading. Recognized for America’s 222nd “Best College Dorms” on Niche, Alvernia is the North’s 114th top university according to the U.S. News. The College of Arts & Sciences prepares ethical servant-leaders with 34 majors and two interdisciplinary programs.
B.S. in Psychology
Alvernia’s B.S. in Psychology feeds students’ fascination with human behavior while sharpening important life skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. The 123-credit curriculum integrates a two-semester practicum experience and senior research project. Other valuable opportunities include joining the Honors Program, interning with Berks Psychiatry, studying abroad in New Zealand, and participating in Psychology Club.
B.A. in Behavioral Health
Available in Reading, Pottsville, or Philadelphia, the B.A. in Behavioral Health is another Alvernia option for undergraduates considering further study in counseling. Within the 123-credit program, students select from concentrations in Addiction Studies, Mental Health, or Child Welfare. Majors complete two semesters of practicum to satisfy the Pennsylvania Certification Board’s drug and alcohol credentialing requirements.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
400 St. Bernardine Street
Reading, PA 19607
(610) 796-8269
admissions@alvernia.edu
Arcadia University
College of Arts and Sciences
Positioned on a 76-acre suburban campus in Glenside just 14 miles north of Philadelphia, Arcadia University is a private, master’s-level teaching institution educating around 4,000 Knights. Honored as America’s 178th “Most Liberal College” on Niche, Arcadia is named the North’s 42nd best school and 15th top value by the U.S. News. The College of Arts and Sciences holds a 49 percent four-year graduation rate for majors from theatre to biology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
From Boyer Hall, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is delivered to Arcadia undergraduates interested in bringing compelling theories about human cognition, emotion, and behavior alive. Students can customize the 48-credit major with a Pre-Health Professions, Secondary Education, Pre-Art Therapy, Psychology and Business, or Ph.D. Research track. There’s also an accelerated three-year option for ambitious students with AP/IB credit.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
400 St. Bernardine Street
Reading, PA 19607
(610) 796-8269
admissions@alvernia.edu
Arcadia University
College of Arts and Sciences
Positioned on a 76-acre suburban campus in Glenside just 14 miles north of Philadelphia, Arcadia University is a private, master’s-level teaching institution educating around 4,000 Knights. Honored as America’s 178th “Most Liberal College” on Niche, Arcadia is named the North’s 42nd best school and 15th top value by the U.S. News. The College of Arts and Sciences holds a 49 percent four-year graduation rate for majors from theatre to biology.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
From Boyer Hall, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is delivered to Arcadia undergraduates interested in bringing compelling theories about human cognition, emotion, and behavior alive. Students can customize the 48-credit major with a Pre-Health Professions, Secondary Education, Pre-Art Therapy, Psychology and Business, or Ph.D. Research track. There’s also an accelerated three-year option for ambitious students with AP/IB credit.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
450 South Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038
(215) 572-2987
robbinss@arcadia.edu
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
College of Liberal Arts
Enrolling over 10,200 students, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, co-educational PASSHE institution established in 1839 that’s housed on a 366-acre rural campus along the Susquehanna River. Deemed the North’s 104th best college and 31st top public school by the U.S. News, Bloomsburg was named the 114th “Top Party School in America” on Niche. The College of Liberal Arts offers fulfilling majors from anthropology to English and music with 79 percent freshman retention.
Psychology (B.A.)
Centered on MyCore, BU’s Psychology (B.A.) contains a 36-credit major to develop workplace skills through the scientific study of the human condition. Within McCormick Center, students take courses in personality, behavioral neuroscience, social psychology, aging, experimental design, and gender studies before a specialized capstone. Seniors also complete a 15-week practicum with local agencies like Bloomsburg Psychological Center.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
(570) 389-4476
jkontos@bloomu.edu
Bryn Athyn College
Psychology Department
Opened as the Academy of the New Church in 1877, Bryn Athyn College is a private, Christian liberal arts institution enlightening around 300 students from its 130-acre suburban campus 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. Graded B+ for value on Niche, Bryn Athyn is Pennsylvania’s 20th best value with a net price of $14,154. The Psychology Department delves into the flourishing mind with varied experiential education.
Psychology Major
Leading to a Bachelor of Arts, the four-year Psychology Major at Bryn Athyn helps students comprehend human behavior, the brain, and spirituality from a Swedenborgian perspective. Undergraduates engage in stimulating discussions on psychological theory and hands-on research thanks to the 7:1 student-faculty ratio. Students are also actively involved in service-learning with Cozy Tots, YMCA, Ronald McDonald House, and other worthy causes.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
2965 College Drive
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
(267) 502-6081
dr.erica.hyatt@brynathyn.edu
Bryn Mawr College
Division of Social Sciences
Within the Tri-College Consortium, Bryn Mawr College is a private, women’s liberal arts institution endowed for $853 million to serve around 1,700 females from a 135-acre suburban campus in Lower Merion Township. Ranked #20 for “Best Financial Aid” on the Princeton Review, Bryn Mawr is declared America’s 31st top liberal arts school by the U.S. News. The Division of Social Sciences offers value-added majors in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.
B.A. in Psychology
Starting with Psychology 105, the B.A. in Psychology is a traditional, four-year program for Bryn Mawr students to enhance understanding on how the mind and body shape human experience. Students could declare a Neuroscience Minor, participate in the Emily Balch Seminars, receive Hanna Holborn Gray Undergraduate Research Fellowships, and study abroad in China or Peru.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
101 North Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 526-5010
mschulz@brynmawr.edu
Bucknell University
College of Arts & Sciences
Occupying a 445-acre rural campus in Lewisburg along the Susquehanna River’s West Branch, Bucknell University is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution established in 1846 that’s serving over 3,600 Bison. Distinguished for the 20th “Best Greek Life” on Niche, Bucknell is ranked America’s 32nd best liberal arts school by the U.S. News. The College of Arts & Sciences employs over 295 tenure-track faculty to deliver 47 fully immersive majors.
Psychology, Bachelor of Arts
With selective admission at 25 percent, the Psychology Bachelor of Arts program at Bucknell trains high-achieving students on the social, biological, and environmental influences on behavior. The 10-course major could be supplemented with the Neuropsychology Minor or Cognitive and Perceptual Sciences Minor. Undergraduates also benefit from on-site experience in the Sunflower Daycare Center, Danville State Psychiatric Hospital, and Animal Behavior Lab with Hamadryas baboons.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
203 O’Leary Center
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 577-1200
ocker@bucknell.edu
Cabrini College
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Endowed for $38 million, Cabrini College is a private, residential Catholic teaching institution linked with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to educate around 2,800 Cavaliers from a 112-acre suburban campus in Radnor Township. According to the U.S. News, Cabrini is the North’s 131st best college with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers liberal arts majors from Romance languages to religion.
Psychology Major
Housed in the Iadarola Center, the Psychology Department offers a generalist major for bachelor’s students intrigued by empirical research of the human brain and behavior. The 36-credit major develops on the liberal arts foundation for concentrations in Clinical, Counseling, Developmental, Educational, Social-Personality, or Cognitive Psychology. Students with a minimum 3.5 psychology GPA are welcomed into Cabrini’s Psi Chi chapter.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
610 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(610) 902-8365
anthony.t.tomasco@cabrini.edu
Cairn University
School of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Founded by the National Bible Institute in 1913, Cairn University is a private, nondenominational Christian institution educating around 975 students upon a 96-acre suburban campus in Langhorne Manor near Sesame Place. Ranked the North’s 137th best college by the U.S. News, Cairn was deemed the 13th “Safest College Campus in America” on Niche. The School of Liberal Arts & Sciences expands students’ horizons in English, graphic design, history, counseling, and more.
Psychology (B.A.)
Motivated by Christ’s example, the Psychology (B.A.) at Cairn prepares students with requisite behavioral knowledge for application in the human services sector. The 128-credit curriculum spans Old Testament and Christian theology courses to abnormal psychology and lifespan development. Students could benefit from the Criminal Justice Minor or Life Science Minor. There’s also a five-year B.A./M.S. in Counseling available.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
200 Manor Avenue
Langhorne, PA 19047
(800) 366-0049
admissions@cairn.edu
California University of Pennsylvania
College of Liberal Arts
Devoted to “Building Character, Building Careers,” California University of Pennsylvania is a public, co-educational PASSHE member educating over 9,400 students from its 92-acre rural campus on the Monongahela River and in Canonsburg. Included in the Princeton Review’s “Best Northeastern” list, CalU is recognized for America’s 53rd best college dorms on Niche. The College of Liberal Arts carries a 77 percent retention rate for programs from criminal justice to musical theatre.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
From Morgan Hall, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program is available for CalU students with a General Psychology or Industrial/Organizational Psychology track. The 120-credit program strives to explain patterns of individual behavior, thoughts, and emotions with at least two laboratory courses. Graduates have found success with Life’s Work, Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Centerville Clinic, and more.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
(724) 938-4100
adair@calu.edu
Carlow University
College of Leadership & Social Change
Ideally located on a 17-acre urban campus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland “Tech, Ed, and Med” district, Carlow University is a private, nonprofit Roman Catholic institution with over 2,100 students. As the North’s 118th best regional college according to the U.S. News, Carlow is named the 151st “Best College with No Application Fee” on Niche. The College of Leadership & Social Change empowers students for social justice with an average job placement of 93 percent.
Psychology Major
Carrying the Sisters of Mercy’s tradition, the Psychology Major inspires Carlow undergraduates to apply behavioral theories to improve well-being in diverse populations. The 120-credit program offers concentrations for Counseling, Crisis and Trauma, or Human Development. Available at the Oakland campus during daytime or evening hours, the program can prepare aspiring LPCs for the M.S. in Professional Counseling.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
3333 Fifth Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 578-2034
cmcheng@carlow.edu
Carnegie Mellon University
Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Established by industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University is a premier private, non-sectarian technical RU/VH institution carrying a $1.7 billion endowment to educate over 13,400 students from 143 urban acres in Pittsburgh. According to the U.S. News, CMU is the 24th best national university, 45th top value, and sixth most innovative school. The Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences admits students into 60+ majors with an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.
B.S. in Psychology
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the innovative B.S. in Psychology program allows CMU students to investigate the deeper mechanisms and processes underlying behavior. The 17-course major includes two semesters of calculus, statistics, and research methods for grad school preparation. Students could also declare a Unified Major in Biological Sciences, observe human development in the Children’s School, and research in the BrainHub.
B.S. in Cognitive Science
Available with concentrations in Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience, the B.S. in Cognitive Science at CMU illuminates the techniques to study human thinking patterns. Cutting-edge laboratories offer access to a 128-channel BioSemi EEG system, eye-tracking software, MRI scanners, and a MEG system. Graduates of the 36-unit major are found at prestigious universities like Johns Hopkins and Columbia.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 268-3151
psych@andrew.cmu.edu
Cedar Crest College
Division of Health Sciences
Situated on an 84-acre suburban campus on Allentown’s West End, Cedar Crest College is a private, women’s liberal arts institution related to the United Church of Christ to educate over 1,800 students. Graded B+ for safety on Niche, CCC is declared the North’s sixth-best college and second top value by the U.S. News. The Division of Health Sciences prepares students for fast-growing careers in psychology, public health, exercise science, and more.
Psychology Major
Taught by only PhD-level faculty, the Psychology Major at CCC examines the inner workings of the mind with an emphasis on research and career development. The 36-credit major offers unique courses in mind-body medicine, child counseling, cross-cultural psychology, drug addiction, and criminal profiling. Outside the classroom, students can join the Women’s Health Alliance or Psi Chi National Honor Society.
Genetics and Counseling Psychology Major
Another of CCC’s bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania focuses on Genetics and Counseling Psychology for better understanding the complexity of human traits. With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, the 120-credit liberal arts program includes a therapeutic practicum with placements like Lehigh Valley Hospital. Undergraduates may also declare the Health and Wellness Minor.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
100 College Drive
Allentown, PA 18104
(610) 437-4471
micasa@cedarcrest.edu
Chatham University
School of Arts, Science & Business
Honored with the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation, Chatham University is a private, nonprofit coeducational institution serving over 2,300 scholars from a 39-acre urban campus in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. The U.S. News ranked Chatham as the North’s 72nd best college with the 129th best online bachelor’s programs nationally. The School of Arts, Science & Business is Chatham’s largest division with over 140 years of history.
Psychology (B.A.) Major
The 11-course Psychology (B.A.) Major gives Chatham undergraduates a valuable opportunity to gain appreciation for human diversity by scientifically studying behavioral theory. Students can publish research with faculty for the Association of Psychological Science (APS), participate in “Pink Freud” picnics, join Psi Chi, and intern with Allegheny County Mental Health. There’s also an accelerated B.A./M.S. in Counseling Psychology offered.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 365-1100
wister@chatham.edu
Cheyney University
Social & Behavioral Sciences Division
Within the PASSHE, Cheyney University is a public, historically black bachelor’s and master’s institution educating over 1,500 pupils from a 275-acre suburban campus in Chester County. Despite being placed on MSCHE probation, Cheyney is still recognized as America’s 52nd best HBCU by Niche. The Social & Behavioral Sciences Division confers four majors in political science, psychology, social relations, and public administration.
B.A. in Psychology
Cheyney’s B.A. in Psychology program develops on the Common Core to analyze the internal and external patterns of human behavior that affect global relations. The 36-credit major offers a broad education in physiological, social, developmental, clinical, learning, and experimental psychology for diverse careers. Courses meet face-to-face in the Duckrey Social Science Building with field practicum components.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1837 University Circle
Cheyney, PA 19319
(610) 399-2214
bbuchner@cheyney.edu
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
College of Arts, Education and Sciences
Opened in 1867 as Carrier Seminary, Clarion University of Pennsylvania is one of PASSHE’s 14 public, co-educational teaching institutions educating over 6,800 students from a 128-acre rural campus just 77 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Noted as America’s 98th “Most Conservative College” on Niche, Clarion was honored among Money magazine’s best collegiate values. The College of Arts, Education and Sciences inspire courageous, confident leaders through 40+ undergraduate majors and co-curricular learning.
B.A./B.S. Psychology
With optional concentration in Applied Mental Health and Applied Developmental Psychology, the 120-credit B.A./B.S. Psychology program is available face-to-face in Clarion. For full-time, in-state tuition of $3,619, students study various issues relevant to human behavior. Majors benefit from semester-long internships with placements like Clarion Hospital, Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE), and Clarion County Probation Department.
B.S. Rehabilitative Sciences
Consisting of 120 credits, the B.S. Rehabilitative Sciences program at Clarion combines psychology with other human services to prepare for careers supporting growth. Undergraduates pick a concentration in Addictions, Courts & Community Service, Gerontology, Developmental Disabilities, or Pre-Occupational Therapy. Graduates qualify for master’s admission and entry-level jobs designing therapeutic interventions.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
909 E. Wood Street
Clarion PA, 16214
(814) 393-2295
rpotter@clarion.edu
We’re just getting started on our journey across the “Keystone State.” Don’t miss our next installments of bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania here.
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