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Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (BS/BA)

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Choose Saint Rose for Your Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

The College of Saint Rose Bachelor of Psychology program is perfect for the student who wants options. Those who are particularly interested in certain areas of psychology can choose from nine concentrations to explore the area of psychology they love with professors who are true experts.

Headed for graduate school? The undergraduate research opportunities that are part of the BS in Psychology program look good on graduate school applications. Additionally, professional conferences provide opportunities to present research findings and engage in networking.

Looking for flexibility? Saint Rose has an online option for transfer students and degree seekers in the BA in Psychology program.

Those who want to make the most of their time at Saint Rose can get a head-start in the job market and save time by choosing dual and accelerated degree options. Saint Rose students are ushered into the program with the First-Year Seminar.

The Department of Psychology at Saint Rose offers popular undergraduate BS and BA programs in psychology as well as the BS in Forensic Psychology program. This close-knit program gives students the benefit of getting to know the faculty, who are specialists in their fields.

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Our programs are built for futures leaders in the psychology field — are you ready to dive in?

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Start on the Path to Your Career in Psychology

Graduates of either the BA in Psychology or BS in Psychology program are qualified to follow a variety of career paths. Students who choose the bachelor of science program, with its basis in research, are well-prepared to continue their studies at the graduate level and can become researchers or practicing clinicians.

Earning a BA in Psychology can also lead students to graduate school, but many graduates go on to study law or even business with this undergraduate foundation, rather than advanced psychology.

Graduates who don’t choose to pursue further studies leave with a solid understanding of human decision-making, which gives them a competitive advantage in many fields, including advertising, marketing, and sales.

BS Psychology Program

Our 52-credit BS 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.

BS Degree Details

BA 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.

BA Degree Details Online BA Details

BS 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

Most colleges don’t offer concentrations within their psychology program. At Saint Rose, the depth and breadth of our psychology faculty allows us to offer nine. It also allows you to do a deep dive into the areas you’re most passionate about and choose the path that will lead you toward your end goal – whether it’s the workforce or graduate school.

  • 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.
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders:
    Take advantage of studying at a college with world-renowned communication sciences and disorders faculty.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

Students in Saint Rose Classroom

BA in Psychology

The BA 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 BA 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 

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 BA in Psychology.

Explore Online BA in Psychology

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.

Dual and Accelerated Degree Programs

Psychology BS/MSEd 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 BS/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./MBA

Psychology BS/MSEd in School Psychology (3+3 Accelerated Degree)

Receive your BS in Psychology in three years (instead of the traditional four) and your MSEd 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.

Psychology BS/MSEd School Psychology

Internship Opportunities

Internships are a key part of the Theory in Action model at Saint Rose, giving students
anywhere from 1 to 6 credit hours of hands-on experience in the field. And our faculty are connected to the community, which allows them to assist students in finding internship
placements.

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

Saint Rose Alumni Spotlight:

 

“My educational experience at Saint Rose greatly prepared me for my future in graduate school! By fostering independent and group critical thinking skills and dissemination of thoughts and ideas in a meaningful way, I was more than well-prepared to enter and excel in my doctoral program. The curriculum and the faculty at Saint Rose empower students to achieve their own success and apply it both in the classroom and the real world, and for this I am incredibly grateful!”

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Dr. Leslie A. Sandusky-Beltran

'08

“The College of Saint Roses psychology undergrad program prepared me for graduate school in ways I did not expect. Their many opportunities to be involved in research helped me in getting accepted into a graduate program and the wide range of classes not only allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the many fields of psychology but also helped me find one of my passions. The professors played a crucial role in my ability to learn and assisted in all the ways they could to help students achieve their goals. I took part in several research projects, including an honors thesis which helped me be further prepared for a graduate program. The topics covered in classes I find I still utilize in my career as a licensed therapist. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a wide array of opportunities to not only learn but earn hands on experience.”

Licensed Therapist who earned Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Akron

Jess Steinbach

’17

“Entering into graduate school, especially into a rigorous research program, can be overwhelming and often frightening – thoughts like 'Can I do this?’ and 'Do I really have what it takes?' are not uncommon. Fortunately, I felt prepared after completing my undergraduate education (BS in Psychology with a concentration in neuroscience) at Saint Rose. I enrolled in a neuroscience Ph.D. program already with the experience of running my own experiments in the lab, working to analyze data, and submitting manuscripts to communicate our findings to the community. I was prepared, often more so than my peers who joined from larger programs without the individual attention that I was given while I started my scientific training in Dr. Flint's lab. I finished my Ph.D. program with honors and was even awarded the best dissertation award the year I graduated. I was clearly ready.”

Medical Science Liaison for BioCryst, a company in Dallas that focuses on rare diseases

Dr. Lindsey Noble

'13

"At Saint Rose, I developed the skills, confidence, and character to achieve my goal in becoming an industrial/organizational psychology practitioner."

MA, Industrial/Organizational Psychology (from Iona College) Human resources business partner, Amazon Logistics (Kissimmee, Florida)

Bachelor of Science in Psychology Alum - Michael Cruz

Michael Cruz

'10

"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."

Assistant Training Manager, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Brewerton, New York

Jennifer (Diaco) Curry

'09

Meet our Psychology Faculty

Our faculty are great scholars, but your success is their top priority. Unlike large research institutions, Saint Rose is a place where professors invest in their students and put their energy into teaching, making for compelling classes and great learning outcomes.

Kathleen Crowley Professor of Psychology

I teach courses in introductory psychology, developmental psychology, the psychology of gender, and psychological perspectives on parenting. I’ve had many experiences abroad, including a fellowship where I served as a foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State, monitoring and formulating federal government policy to promote human rights throughout the South and Central Asia Region. I love studying cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting and child development and bringing this global perspective into my classroom.

Nancy Dorr Professor of Psychology

I teach health psychology, research methods and statistics, the psychology of death and dying, human sexuality, motivation, the psychology of good and evil, and industrial/organizational psychology. My research focuses on social and personality aspects of health and well-being,
management of chronic illness, and aging in place among older adults, and I’ve worked with alumni on some of these research projects.

Katlyn Farnum Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology

I am the College’s dedicated faculty member in forensic science. My background is in social psychology and law, and I focus my research on the psychological and legal intersection of the occurrence and experience of discrimination. I’ve presented and published research on sexual harassment and objectification, age discrimination, housing discrimination, mental illness in the workplace, workplace retaliation, and juvenile sex offenders. I’ve loved working with students on their research projects and then taking them to the Eastern Psychological Association to present their work.

Rob Flint Professor of Psychology

I am a behavioral neuroscientist and teach a variety of courses including Biopsychology, Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychology, Learning & Memory, and Sensation & Perception. One of my favorite courses to teach is our First-Year Seminar because I get the opportunity to work
closely with a small group of eager new majors who are just starting their college careers. My students and I conduct research on the neurobiological processes associated with learning and memory. In particular, we are interested in the neuroanatomical substrates of learning and memory and the factors that modulate memory formation, particularly stress and arousal.

Kathleen CrowleyProfessor of Psychology

I teach courses in introductory psychology, developmental psychology, the psychology of gender, and psychological perspectives on parenting. I’ve had many experiences abroad, including a fellowship where I served as a foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State, monitoring and formulating federal government policy to promote human rights throughout the South and Central Asia Region. I love studying cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting and child development and bringing this global perspective into my classroom.

Nancy DorrProfessor of Psychology

I teach health psychology, research methods and statistics, the psychology of death and dying, human sexuality, motivation, the psychology of good and evil, and industrial/organizational psychology. My research focuses on social and personality aspects of health and well-being,
management of chronic illness, and aging in place among older adults, and I’ve worked with alumni on some of these research projects.

Katlyn FarnumAssociate Professor of Forensic Psychology

I am the College’s dedicated faculty member in forensic science. My background is in social psychology and law, and I focus my research on the psychological and legal intersection of the occurrence and experience of discrimination. I’ve presented and published research on sexual harassment and objectification, age discrimination, housing discrimination, mental illness in the workplace, workplace retaliation, and juvenile sex offenders. I’ve loved working with students on their research projects and then taking them to the Eastern Psychological Association to present their work.

Rob FlintProfessor of Psychology

I am a behavioral neuroscientist and teach a variety of courses including Biopsychology, Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychology, Learning & Memory, and Sensation & Perception. One of my favorite courses to teach is our First-Year Seminar because I get the opportunity to work
closely with a small group of eager new majors who are just starting their college careers. My students and I conduct research on the neurobiological processes associated with learning and memory. In particular, we are interested in the neuroanatomical substrates of learning and memory and the factors that modulate memory formation, particularly stress and arousal.

Anne Gilman Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

I do research on how what we already know – like songs we’ve learned or languages we speak – influences how we think and act. Teaching topics like sensation and perception, as well as cognition, lets me connect my research work with what students already understand as they progress through their psychology or communication formation. My favorite part of teaching research methods courses is helping students acquire more analytical tools they use to pursue their specific professional interests. Students tell me they appreciate the hands-on activities we do together and my openness to different perspectives.

Ross Krawczyk Associate Professor of Psychology

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of eating, body image, and weight-related disorders. I also study and work clinically with a variety of health psychology issues including weight management, cardiac rehabilitation, and bariatric surgery. When not at Saint Rose, I maintain a private practice in Albany, New York.

Sonja Miller Senior Adjunct Faculty

I am a clinical psychologist and researcher with more than 20 years of teaching experience. Currently, I teach General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Health Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, African American Psychology, and Developmental Psychology (Life Span), and I love what I teach. I left my last clinical position as a clinician at the Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center to devote my time to instructing college students. Like you, I also have a life outside of school. When I’m not teaching or grading papers, I like to cook, spend time with my middle-schooler, and I love tennis and jazz.

Lillian Rodriguez Steen Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychology

I am an expert in developmental forensic psychology and teach courses in research methods and statistics, introductory and advanced forensic psychology, and general psychology.

Anne GilmanVisiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

I do research on how what we already know – like songs we’ve learned or languages we speak – influences how we think and act. Teaching topics like sensation and perception, as well as cognition, lets me connect my research work with what students already understand as they progress through their psychology or communication formation. My favorite part of teaching research methods courses is helping students acquire more analytical tools they use to pursue their specific professional interests. Students tell me they appreciate the hands-on activities we do together and my openness to different perspectives.

Ross Krawczyk Associate Professor of Psychology

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of eating, body image, and weight-related disorders. I also study and work clinically with a variety of health psychology issues including weight management, cardiac rehabilitation, and bariatric surgery. When not at Saint Rose, I maintain a private practice in Albany, New York.

Sonja MillerSenior Adjunct Faculty

I am a clinical psychologist and researcher with more than 20 years of teaching experience. Currently, I teach General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Health Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, African American Psychology, and Developmental Psychology (Life Span), and I love what I teach. I left my last clinical position as a clinician at the Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center to devote my time to instructing college students. Like you, I also have a life outside of school. When I’m not teaching or grading papers, I like to cook, spend time with my middle-schooler, and I love tennis and jazz.

Lillian Rodriguez SteenAssistant Professor of Forensic Psychology

I am an expert in developmental forensic psychology and teach courses in research methods and statistics, introductory and advanced forensic psychology, and general psychology.

Daniel Schoenfeld Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

Tom Straw Senior Adjunct Faculty

I have been a teacher for over 40 years and have primarily taught the fundamentals of psychology and general psychology at Saint Rose. My main focus has always been on helping students develop the skills necessary to be both effective and efficient independent learners. I do this by encouraging students to be as self-reliant as possible and providing them with as many opportunities as possible to better “learn how to learn.” I want to serve as a valuable resource for each student in their quest to prepare for a successful and fulfilling life in a rapidly changing world.

Ann Zak Professor of Psychology

I conduct research with students on intimate relationships. We’ve studied hook-up culture, online dating apps, social support and romantic relationships and are currently investigating the effects of the pandemic on relationship quality. My favorite courses to teach are Psychology of Love and The Science of Happiness, since students find these courses highly applicable to their lives and well-being.

Daniel SchoenfeldVisiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

Tom StrawSenior Adjunct Faculty

I have been a teacher for over 40 years and have primarily taught the fundamentals of psychology and general psychology at Saint Rose. My main focus has always been on helping students develop the skills necessary to be both effective and efficient independent learners. I do this by encouraging students to be as self-reliant as possible and providing them with as many opportunities as possible to better “learn how to learn.” I want to serve as a valuable resource for each student in their quest to prepare for a successful and fulfilling life in a rapidly changing world.

Ann ZakProfessor of Psychology

I conduct research with students on intimate relationships. We’ve studied hook-up culture, online dating apps, social support and romantic relationships and are currently investigating the effects of the pandemic on relationship quality. My favorite courses to teach are Psychology of Love and The Science of Happiness, since students find these courses highly applicable to their lives and well-being.

Outcomes and Industry Stats

Psychology fields with the strongest projected job growth

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections through 2026

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

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