Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (B.S./B.A.)
Choose Saint Rose for Your Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
With a variety of concentrations, undergraduate research opportunities that could give you the chance to present research at professional conferences (think networking!), dual and accelerated degree options that help you fast-track your goals, and an online option for transfer students and degree-completers, our psychology offerings have gotten in the heads of today’s students with programs that set them up for success.
The Department of Psychology at Saint Rose houses the popular undergraduate B.S. and B.A. programs in Psychology and the B.S. in Forensic Psychology program.
B.S. Psychology Program
Our 52-credit B.S. degree is more intense with a research focus, setting you up for success in graduate school and beyond. Check out our concentration options to find the best fit for your career path.
B.A. Psychology Program
Those without an intense focus on graduate school but a passion for studying psychology should consider the 34-credit BA program, which also comes with an online option for those who have fulfilled their general education requirements.
B.S. in Psychology
With 52 required credits, the education students acquire has a much greater breadth and depth within the field of psychology in comparison to most other institutions.
Program Highlights
Find your focus by choosing a concentration:
- School Psychology:
Introduces undergraduate students to foundational concepts in psychology as applied in educational and clinical settings that serve children, adolescents, and their families. The concentration focuses on human development, cognition, core psychotherapeutic diagnostic and intervention concepts, and issues in educational psychology. - Behavioral Neuroscience:
A multidisciplinary focus on the relationships between brain and behavior. Students will be required to successfully complete psychology, biology, and chemistry courses.These courses will help students to develop a firm understanding of the neurobiology of the nervous system and its relationship to a wide variety of normal and abnormal behaviors. - Clinical/Counseling Psychology:
Focuses on courses that relate to mental health. Therapeutic approaches and perspectives are emphasized. - Health Psychology:
Designed to provide students with an understanding of psychological factors involved in health. - Social/Personality Psychology:
Provides students with an understanding of psychological factors in social and personality psychology. - Human Development:
Focuses on courses that relate to the life cycle. Multiple approaches to life-span development are emphasized. - Industrial and Organizational Psychology:
An interdisciplinary concentration that combines courses from psychology and business. Students will be required to successfully complete a set of courses that focuses on understanding human behavior as it is applicable to individual and group environments. - William J. Hagan Research Honors Concentration:
This unique honors concentration may be completed by qualified students with strong interests in graduate school and/or post-graduate work involving research.
Undergraduate Research
Participate in undergraduate research and build your portfolio.
You are required, but not limited to do, one independent research project on a topic of your choice. This research creates the foundation for your graduate studies and leads to exciting opportunities, such as presenting your findings at the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) conference or getting published in a variety of research journals.
Join Psi Chi, an international honors society in psychology and gain leadership skills and networking opportunities.
| PSY 110 | Foundations of Psychology 1 | 3 |
| PSY 111 | Foundations of Psychology 2 | 3 |
| PSY 295 | Research Methods/Statistics I | 4 |
| PSY 299 | Research Methods/Statistics II | 4 |
| PSY 320 | Biopsychology | 3 |
| PSY 320L | Biopsychology Lab | 1 |
| PSY 497 | Sr Seminar: History & Systems | 3 |
| or | ||
| PSY 498 | Sr Seminar:Research in Psych | 3 |
| PSY 497L | Senior Seminar Lab | 1 |
| or | ||
| PSY 498L | Senior Seminar Lab | 1 |
Psychology as an empirical science (7 credits; one must be a 4-credit lab course)
Choose from:
| PSY 330 | Neuropsychology | 4 |
| PSY 375 | Sensation and Perception | 4 |
| PSY 391 | Learning | 4 |
| PSY 410 | Psychometrics | 3 |
| PSY 420 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
Psychology as a social-developmental science (6 credits)
Choose from:
| PSY 200 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Devel Psy: Childhood | 3 |
| PSY 252 | Devel Psy:Adoles & Emerg Adult | 3 |
| PSY 254 | Devel Psy: Adulthood & Aging | 3 |
| PSY 260 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 385 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 400 | Personality | 3 |
Psychology as an applied-clinical science (6 credits)
Choose from:
| PSY 255 | Parenting:Psych Theory/Rsrch | 3 |
| PSY 290 | Psy Perspct on Death& Dying | 3 |
| PSY 352 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 363 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 365 | Introduction to Psychotherapy | 3 |
| PSY 415 | Clinical Psychology | 3 |
Psychology electives (11 credits)
Students in the bachelor of science Psychology major may wish to explore and emphasize particular areas of interest. Elective courses in psychology may include FPY 262 and any PSY prefix courses at the 200 level or above.
B.A. in Psychology
The B.A. in Psychology program provides students with excellent preparation for post-graduation employment in a wide variety of fields including human resources, sales, pre-school education, office management, case management, financial consulting, state police, respite provider, and many others. It also prepares students for graduate degrees in specific fields.
Program Highlights
The B.A. degree is right for:
- Students who wish to directly enter the workforce following graduation
- Graduate degrees in school guidance counseling
- Graduate degrees in education, such as primary or secondary education, leadership and administration
- MBA or other master’s or doctoral degree in business (excluding industrial and organizational psychology)
- Graduate degrees in disciplines associated with traditional programs in the arts and humanities
| PSY 110 | Foundations of Psychology 1 | 3 |
| PSY 111 | Foundations of Psychology 2 | 3 |
| PSY 295 | Research Methods & Statistics 1 | 4 |
| PSY 491 | Senior Seminar: Career Prep | 3 |
Psychology as an empirical science (3 credits)
Choose from:
| PSY 320 | Biopsychology | 3 |
| PSY 330 | Neuropsychology | 4 |
| PSY 375 | Sensation and Perception | 4 |
| PSY 391 | Learning | 4 |
| PSY 410 | Psychometrics | 3 |
| PSY 420 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
PSY 320L (1 credit) recommended to accompany PSY 320.
Psychology as a social-developmental science (3 credits)
Choose from:
| PSY 200 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Developmental Psychology: Childhood | 3 |
| PSY 252 | Developmental Psychology:Adolescent & Emerging Adult | 3 |
| PSY 254 | Developmental Psychology: Adulthood & Aging | 3 |
| PSY 260 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 385 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 400 | Personality | 3 |
Psychology as an applied-clinical science (3 credits)
Choose from:
| PSY 255 | Parenting:Psych Theory/Research | 3 |
| PSY 290 | Psychology perspective on Death and Dying | 3 |
| PSY 352 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 363 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 365 | Introduction to Psychotherapy | 3 |
| PSY 415 | Clinical Psychology | 3 |
Psychology electives (12 credits)
Students completing the B.A. in Psychology may wish to explore and emphasize particular areas. Elective courses in psychology may include FPY 262 and any PSY prefix courses at the 200 level or above.
Convenience Online
Are you a transfer student or are you trying to pick up where you left off in your studies and you have your liberal education requirements completed? Check out the convenience of our new Online B.A. in Psychology.
Dual and Accelerated Degree Programs
Psychology B.S./M.S.Ed. in Counseling (3+2 Accelerated Dual Degree)
Complete two degrees in five years, instead of the traditional six (your undergrad in three, and grad in two). Graduates are immediately qualified to take the NY State licensing exam to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. What’s more is that there is a growing shortage of mental health practitioners around the globe, so you’ll enter the workforce prepared and ready to be hired.
Psychology B.S./M.S.Ed. Counseling
Psychology B.S./MBA (3+1 Accelerated Dual Degree)
Complete two degrees in just four years: your psychology bachelor’s degree in three years and your MBA in one. In addition to extensive research opportunities, you are also required to complete an internship, applying the skills you learn in class to the real world. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics lists 56% job growth in the industrial/organizational psychology field, one of the highest of any industry in the country.
Psychology B.S./M.S.Ed. in School Psychology (3+3 Accelerated Degree)
Receive your B.S. in Psychology in three years (instead of the traditional four) and your M.S.Ed. and Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology in three years. All students are required to complete an internship and are eligible for New York State Certification upon graduation. According to the U.S. News & World Report, school psychologists made a median salary of $78,200 in 2019.
Internship Opportunities
Internship experience is particularly important in order to gain experience relevant to potential careers of interest.
Students may arrange internships for 1 to 6 credit hours.
Some of the internship sites where our students have been recently placed are:
- Albany Medical College, Department of Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience
- Albany Medical College, Department of Psychiatry
- Albany Medical College, Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit
- Community Hospice of Albany County at St. Peter’s Hospital
- East Greenbush Schools
- Ford Eddy Rehabilitation Facility
- Green County Long Term Care Facility
- Human Resource Associates
- New York State Police
- Orange Regional Medical Center
- Parsons Family Child Center
- Samaritans Suicide Prevention Hotline
- St. Anne’s Institute
- St. Peter’s Hospital Pediatrics Ward
- St. Peter’s Hospital Alcohol Rehabilitation Center
Outcomes and Industry Stats
Psychology fields with the strongest projected job growth
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections through 2026
Learning outcomes
Learning Objectives are based on the American Psychological Association’s Comprehensive Learning Goals for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (from the American Psychological Association Guidelines for Undergraduate Psychology Major, version 2.0, 2013).
- Knowledge base relevant to Forensic Psychology;
- Scientific inquiry and critical thinking;
- Ethical and social responsibility in a diverse world;
- Communication;
- Professional development.
Michael Cruz ’10
- MA, Industrial/Organizational Psychology (from Iona College)
- Human resources business partner, Amazon Logistics (Kissimmee, Florida)
“At Saint Rose, I developed the skills, confidence, and character to achieve my goal in becoming an industrial/organizational psychology practitioner.”
Jennifer (Diaco) Curry ’09
Assistant training manager, Upstate Medical University,
State University of New York, Brewerton, New York
“Because of Saint Rose, I am leveraging my expertise in industrial/organizational psychology to lead a dynamic team of individuals committed to excellence in training at a large regional academic medical center.”
Contact Us Now
Of course, if you have any questions, please reach out. We’re here to help.
Robert W. Flint, Jr., Ph.D.
Department Chair of Psychology
Albertus Hall 300-08