B.S. in Psychology at USP

B.S. in Psychology at USP
Why USP?
Your Life in Psychology
Your Future in Psychology
Learn from the Best
Hands-on Learning at USP
The USP Psychology Curriculum
For more information...

Does human behavior fascinate you? Interested in exploring how the nervous system and brain work together? Do you like helping people? If so, consider the only undergraduate program in the country that focuses exclusively on human psychology and health? USP's new Bachelor of Science program in psychology.

Why USP?

USP is one of only two psychology programs on the East Coast where you can earn both a B.S. and a M.S. in just five years. Our integrated, dual-degree program offers two tracks: a four-year program leading to a B.S. in psychology or a five-year program leading to both a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in health psychology. Our unique program offers:

• Emphasis on experimental psychology, with all students completing an undergraduate thesis.
• Hands-on learning opportunities ranging from practicums to research and direct clinical experience in treating patients.
• A solid science foundation. Most of our students complete all of the courses that doctoral programs require during their first two years in the program.
• Specialization in cognitive learning, neuropsychology, or adolescent psychology.
• Opportunity to combine the psychology program with pre-med study.

Your Life in Psychology

Psychologyis a core social science; yet, it is rooted to the biological sciences and is the foundation for the cognitive sciences.  As a psychologist, you will study behavior, perception, motivation, learning, emotions, physiological processes, thinking, and, problem solving, and abnormalities in these systems of human functioning. Health psychology is an applied branch of psychology that uses the scientific, educational, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to: 

• Identify the behavioral aspects of physical and mental health and illness
• Promote and maintain physical and mental health
• Prevent and treat physical and mental illness
• Analyze health policy to improve the physical and mental health care systems

As a psychology professional, you may find employment in:

• Medical and hospital clinics
• Mental health clinics
• Behavioral health clinics
• Substance abuse centers
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Health maintenance organizations

In addition, many psychologists hold faculty positions at colleges and universities, and as high school psychology teachers.

Your Future in Psychology

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of psychologists with master's degrees is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment in health care will grow fastest in outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment clinics. Numerous job opportunities will also arise in schools, public and private social service agencies, and management consulting services.

Opportunities for people holding doctorates from leading universities in areas with an applied emphasis, such as counseling, health, and educational psychology, is expected to be good. Psychologists with extensive training in quantitative research methods and computer science may have a competitive edge over applicants without this background.

USP graduates have gone to work within the fields of mental health and physical health. Others research and evaluate drug prevention programs or provide psychological treatment interventions. In addition, they are well prepared for their choice of doctoral programs focusing on mental health, health psychology, or even public health and health policy.

Depending on your degree and level of experience, as well as the setting in which you're employed, you can expect to earn $30,000 to $75,000. Some psychologists in private practice with many years of experience make well over $100,000.

Learn from the Best

Our faculty members are involved in clinical practice and research. USP students have the opportunity to work alongside them to gain valuable clinical and research experience.  Because of the emphasis on research, you will benefit from the research expertise of your professors, who will encourage you to present your research at local and national meetings. You'll learn from experts including:

• Joseph V. Lambert, Ph.D., whose research interests include classical conditioning of the immune system, depression and suicide prevention.
• Ralph (Mac) Turner, Ph.D., whose research interests include the suicidal-activation process in persons suffering from major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder.

Hands-on Learning at USP

Because USP faculty are engaged in clinical practice and research with patients in a wide variety of settings, students work with them to gain both clinical and research experience. You'll also have opportunities to gain hands-on experience through practicums, internships, and clerkships.

The USP Psychology Curriculum

Our program is built on a firm foundation of the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Our program differs, however, from the typical psychology major offered at most colleges. While we will provide you with a thorough grounding in such standard areas of psychology as abnormal psychology, personality, biopsychology, research design, statistical analysis, and human development, the similarity with most other psychology programs ends there.

Our mission is to introduce you to knowledge in psychology and the social sciences, provide you with the skills to use this knowledge, and assist you in making scholarly contributions to this body of knowledge. To achieve this, our students:

• Learn the theories and current knowledge in the fields of psychology, sociology, communications, economics, computer science, and the biological sciences.
• Are exposed to the scientific method.
• Understand research methodologies, data collection techniques, and the means of analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting collected data.
• Study how to effectively apply social science knowledge to the solution of societal problems.
• Develop strong oral and written communication skills. 

You will study the classical and contemporary content of the social sciences, be trained to think critically and analytically, and develop effective communication skills.

USP's combined coursework and supervised practicum experiences will help you acquire a thorough background in:

• Psychological theory of mental and physical health
• Research methods, legal and ethical issues
• Psychological and neuropsychological assessment
• Behavior therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy
• Psychopharmacology
• Psychological and social bases of physical illness
• Professional behavior in the field of clinical health psychology

During the fifth year of your enrollment in the master's program, you will spend two days per week at practicum sites. Your practicum experiences are structured to support and extend your interests so that you gain a solid background in the area in which you plan to work.

First Year

• Introductory Psychology
• Philosophy of Psychology
• General Biology I and II
• Survey of Chemistry
• Mathematical Analysis I and II
• College Composition
• Introduction to Literature
• Introduction to Computer Applications
• Physical Education

Second Year

• Learning Theory and Behavior
• Sensation and Perception
• Cognitive Psychology
• Intellectual Heritage
• Introduction to Sociology
• Survey of Physics
• Introduction to Online Information
• Social Sciences Research Methods and Statistics I and II
• Core Distribution Requirement

Third Year

• Human Development
• Health Psychology
• Personality Theory
• Biological Psychology
• Introduction to Communication
• Core Distribution Requirements
• Psychology Selective
• Elective

Fourth Year

• Treatment Interventions I and II
• Graduate Statistics and Experimental Design I and II
• Directed Research in Psychology (Psychology Selectives)
• Free Electives

For more information.

To learn more about the Psychology program, contact the Admission Office at 1-888-996-USIP (8747), e-mail admit@usip.edu, or fill out our online information request form.

Misher College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Social Sciences
Admission