Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Illinois State University - INTO USA

The major in Psychology requires a capstone experience, which provides students with challenging opportunities to apply their knowledge of psychology to research, teaching, or practice endeavors. Students can work with faculty in the classroom or their research labs, or study specific topics of the student's interest. The Department of Psychology has also established an extensive internship program that gives students opportunities to apply their knowledge in a work setting in the local community. The Research Apprenticeship Program, Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Program, and Internship Program are designed to give students practical experiences beyond their academic coursework. The psychology field takes a scientific approach to understanding behavior and working with people (or animals) to facilitate behavioral changes. Students who major in Psychology learn about the research process, how to obtain empirical, scientific knowledge, and how to apply this knowledge to solve problems in real world situations.Psychology provides a broad, liberal arts background that will be helpful in any career field in which one must work with people. Psychology students will develop a wide range of skills that are desired by employers in many industries, including communication, interpersonal, leadership, teamwork, and computer skills. With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, students are prepared for two general types of post-graduate opportunities. First, graduates may enter directly into the workforce in social service, business, government, and a variety of other settings. A second option is to pursue graduate study to prepare for a career that requires an advanced degree. These professional careers may involve counseling and psychotherapy, applications in school or business settings, college-level teaching, or advanced research positions. Students should research career fields to learn what type of degree (master's or doctoral) and subject area are most appropriate when considering whether graduate work will be necessary to meet individual career goals.