BA in Psychology

Get an Inside View of Human Behavior

Find answers to the “why” of human behavior in the Bachelor in Psychology program at the University at Albany. The curriculum will prepare you for graduate study or a career in human services or counseling.

Through coursework and research, you will learn about aspects of psychology ranging from the affective, biological, and cognitive bases of human behavior, to developmental and social factors.

Program of Study

The program provides a holistic approach to psychology, with courses ranging from Behavior Genetics (discussing the role heredity plays in various personality types) to Psychology and Language (focusing on psychological implications in syntax, semantics, and phonology) to the History of Psychology (exploring the evolution of this field of study).

Dive into both theoretical and applied study with opportunities to engage in your own research. You can be mentored by a faculty member and/or be a lab team member helping to implement larger research projects.

You will have the opportunity to conduct high-impact research alongside faculty who specialize in behavioral neuroscience, clinical, cognitive, industrial-organizational, and social-personality psychology.

Required Courses

• Introduction to Psychology or Advanced Introduction to Psychology
• Statistical Methods in Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• One course designated with a "T" suffix

Electives (12-13 credits with A PSY prefix)

Note: Of the 36 credits required for the major, a student must complete at least 12 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.

Complete 3 credits in each of the following four categories:

Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches (3 credits)

• Learning
• Memory and Cognition

Clinical Developmental Approaches (3 credits)

• Psychology of Child Development
• Abnormal Psychology

Social Basis (3 credits)

• Social Psychology
• Personality

Biological Basis (3 credits)

• Introduction to Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience
• Sensation and Perception
• Behavior Genetics

Academic advising

All advising for declared psychology majors is coordinated by our academic advisor. The academic advisor and her staff are available throughout the year to meet with students who are interested in the field or who are actively studying psychology. Advisors are here to help declared psychology majors with:

• Course selection;
• Exploration of research opportunities;
• Involvement opportunities in the major and on campus;
• Career exploration in the field of psychology, and in related fields;
• Graduate program exploration.

Psychology Undergraduate Mentor Program

The Psychology Undergraduate Mentor program pairs undergraduate students with graduate students to provide guidance in areas like career exploration, how to apply to graduate school, networking, how to apply for a research assistant position, professional conferences and organizations, and specializations in psychology.

Mentors and mentees are paired based on their area of interest, their time in the program (newer graduate students are placed with freshmen/sophomore undergraduate students), and can decide the time commitment and meeting style that works best for them.

Honors Opportunities

The Psychology Department offers a structured, research-based honors program for advanced students. The program is a research-intensive sequence of courses culminating in an empirically-based senior thesis project that is conducted by the student under the supervision of a faculty member.

You can also be recognized for outstanding academic achievement with the Psi Chi Honors Society. Psi Chi members can engage in the campus chapter of the society as well as in the national organization.

Combined BA/MS Program

Accelerate your studies with the combined BA in Psychology and MS in Mental Health Counseling program, which provides an opportunity for students to fulfill integrated requirements of the undergraduate and master’s degree programs from the beginning of their junior year. With careful planning, you can earn both degrees within nine semesters and a summer session.

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

1. Students will demonstrate competence in advanced writing, effective presentation skills, and the use of literature in the discipline of psychology.
2. Students will think critically about research in psychology by using basic research methods and analyzing and interpreting data.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in the Social Basis of Behavior.
4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in Clinical/Developmental Approaches in Psychology.
5. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in Cognitive/Behavioral Approaches in Psychology.
6. Students will demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings in the Biological Basis of Behavior

Psychology professionals often work in human resources, hospitality, business, law enforcement, and governmental organizations. Common job titles include:

• Substance abuse counselor
• Human resources specialist
• Sports psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Criminal profiler
• Jury specialist
• Social worker
• School counselor