Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. As a Psychology major, you will explore various subfields of the discipline and critically examine how each contributes to our understanding of the human experience.
What You'll Study
This degree program requires completion of a four-course scientific research sequence, and provides exposure to developmental, social, interpersonal, and cognitive aspects of psychology as well as liberal arts coursework. B.A. students achieve proficiency in a foreign language and acquire transferable skills that employers value. As a B.A. student, you’ll tailor your undergraduate experience by choosing from a wide variety of courses and practical experiences (e.g., Pre-professional Internship) that match your career goals and interests.
Popular courses include the following:
- Industrial & Organizational Psychology
- Drugs & Human Behavior
- Counseling Skills
This degree program includes a four-course scientific research sequence and the completion of a faculty-mentored independent research. B.S. majors also study biopsychological aspects of behavior and cognitive functioning. The B.S. degree is often sought by students who intend to pursue research-focused graduate study in psychology.
Popular courses include the following:
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Human Neuropsychology
The Accelerated BA in Psychology to MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a rigorous
six-year program designed for motivated students who intend to pursue a career in
the counseling profession. In this program, students can begin taking online graduate
courses during their senior year.
At the undergraduate level, students will take a variety of Psychology courses in
all disciplines, but will focus on courses to prepare them for graduate study, including
Abnormal Psychology, Psychotherapies, Counseling Skills, and Pre-Professional Internship.
At the graduate level, students will take general Counseling courses or courses to prepare them for counseling
Military/Veterans and their families or counseling Children and Adolescents. Upon
graduation from the program, students will have completed the educational requirements
for licensure and be ready to fulfill the remainder of the Pennsylvania state requirements
for licensure as a professional counselor.
The Accelerated BA or BS in Psychology to MS in Sport Science – Sport & Exercise Psychology Track is a program designed for motivated students who are interested in a career in sport and exercise psychology. In this program, students can begin taking online graduate courses during their senior year, allowing them to finish both the undergraduate and graduate degrees in 4 ½ years.
At the undergraduate level, students will take a variety of Psychology courses common to other majors, but will also have the opportunity to take Sport & Exercise Psychology classes. Students can take up to four graduate classes as part of the undergraduate degree.
At the graduate level, students will take core classes in sport and exercise psychology, including those focused on research methods, professional ethics and standards, and diversity and culture. The graduate degree will culminate with a 3 credit research capstone project. Having examined how psychological factors influence performance and physical activity participation and how sport and physical activity involvement affect psychological well-being, graduates of the accelerated program will be prepared to help professional and non-professional athletes achieve optimal performance.
The 18-credit Psychology minor challenges you to think more critically and explore issues related to human behavior and mental processes that will complement your major course of study. The psychology minor can be beneficial to any student, but is especially valuable to those whose career goals involve interacting with others. Health Science and Criminal Justice majors often complete a psychology minor.
Program Highlights
- Department Mission: The Lock Haven University Psychology Department shall provide all students with a foundation in the science of development, behavior, and mental processes. Faculty shall engage psychology majors in a rigorous program that encompasses theoretical, experimental, and applied aspects of psychology and enables pursuit of further education and careers.
- Psi Chi: Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology for majors at four-year colleges and universities. Psi Chi’s purpose is “to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members…and to advance the science of psychology” (Psi Chi, 2013). You qualify for membership if, after the completion of three semesters and at least three psychology courses, you have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a psychology GPA of at least 3.0. Nationally, Psi Chi awards more than $320,000 per year to its members and provides support for their psychological research.
- LHU Psychological Association: The LHU Psychological Association (less formally known as “Psych Club”) is a student-run organization open to any LHU student with an interest in psychology. Through bi-weekly meetings, you’ll “Meet Your Professors," learn about how to prepare for graduate study, and participate in campus activities such as Relay for Life. Psych Club annually attends the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) Conference as well as smaller conferences at other PASSHE schools.
- PALS: The Psychology Department’s PALS (Peer Advising Liaison) program provides peer mentoring to all first-year psychology majors by pairing them with successful upper-class psychology student mentors. These mentors will help you adjust to life at LHU, connect to other psychology majors and faculty, gain a clearer understanding of your options as a psychology major, and succeed in your first year at LHU.
- PsyCenter: The PsyCenter is a drop-in tutoring center where you can get help with any psychology course. The PsyCenter is located on the 3rd floor of Robinson Hall and the hours vary by semester. It is staffed by highly qualified, upper-class psychology majors.
- Independent Studies: Students have presented their independent research at national and state conferences, including the American Psychological Association annual conference, the Association of Psychological Science conference, and the State System Undergraduate Psychology conference.
- Graduate School: LHU Psychology graduates have pursued master and doctoral level degrees at top-ranked
institutions, including the following:
- Clinical and Counseling Psychology
- University of Tennessee Knoxville, Immaculata University - PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Adler University – PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- Indiana University of PA, Millersville University, Kutztown University, Shippensburg University, and Lock Haven University - MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- West Chester University, Penn State Harrisburg – MS in Clinical Psychology
- School Counseling
- Indiana University of PA, Shippensburg University – MEd in School Psychology
- Neuroscience
- University of Connecticut - PhD in Biomedical Neuroscience
- The University of Texas at El Paso – PhD in Social Cognitive Neuroscience
- Other Fields
- Drexel University School of Law
- University of the Sciences – MS in Health Psychology
- University of Pittsburgh, Marywood University – MSW in Social Work
- Florida State University – MA in Art Therapy
- Widener University – MEd in Human Sexuality
- West Chester University, Radford University – MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Clinical and Counseling Psychology
- Internships: Experiential learning opportunities provide our students with valuable, practical
experiences. Recent students have interned in a variety of settings including the
following:
- Drug, Alcohol, and Other Addictions Treatment Centers
- Elementary, Middle, and High School Guidance Offices
- Prisons and Parole Settings
- Children and Youth Services
- Psychiatric, Children’s, and Rehabilitation Hospitals
- Women's Centers
- Youth Detention Centers
- Careers: LHU’s Psychology graduates have secured positions such as the following:
- Human Resource Managers
- Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Counselors
- Laboratory Researchers
- Therapeutic Support Staff
- Child Protective Services Case Manager
- Women's Center Advocate
- Residential Treatment Staff
- Facilities: Faculty deliver courses in technology-enhanced classrooms with vast multimedia capabilities. Students can access open computer labs and campus wireless network when using personally-owned devices. Students can request technology resources from Stevenson Library, Media Services.
Others have pursued master and doctoral level degrees at top-ranked institutions including the following:
- University of Tennessee Knoxville-PhD in Clinical Psychology Program
- University of Connecticut-PhD in Biomedical Neuroscience Program
- Drexel University School of Law
