Psychological Science
Why study Psychological Science?
Are you fascinated by how people think and behave? Are you excited about taking a scientific approach to understanding social & cultural influences on human behavior, brain function, and more? If so, then psychological science might be the major for you.
At Mount Mary, you'll engage with your fellow students, your faculty, and the community as you study the science of human behavior. A degree in psychological science equips you with with a highly marketable set of skills including critical thinking, problem solving, information literacy, adaptability, and teamwork, and it opens doors in numerous career fields.
Scholarships for Psychological Science Majors
As a psychological science major, you may be eligible for these scholarships at Mount Mary:
- Olive Trumm Estates Scholarship, Beatrice Haggerty Scholarship or Catherine Brophy Swinnell Scholarship – Criteria for these scholarships include a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and upper division status (60 credits or more), service to behavioral science programs, service to Mount Mary or other community groups.
- Dorothy Daganhardt Scholarship – This scholarship is for single mothers with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and upper division status (60 credits or more), service to behavioral science programs, service to Mount Mary or other community groups.
The scholarship amounts vary from year to year. Contact the psychological science chair for more information on applying for these scholarships. Learn more about scholarships at Mount Mary.
Learn more about Mount Mary's Psychological Science
Curriculum
The psychological science curriculum develops your skills in areas employers look for, including critical thinking, problem solving, information literacy, adaptability, and teamwork. You'll study the biological, cognitive, and social influences on human behavior and thinking, and graduate with a strong foundation for employment or graduate school in a variety of fields.
Mount Mary's psychological science courses cover topics such as human development, behavioral neuroscience, social psychology, mental health & disorders, emotion, personality, and research methods & statistics.
A Bachelor of Science degree in psychological science requires 41 credits of coursework in psychology. You must also complete the university's core curriculum requirements. Internship or directed research credit opportunities are strongly encouraged.
A minor in psychological science will provide you insight into biological and social foundations of thought and behavior, a well as teach you how to apply psychological principles to human interaction and other aspects of everyday life. This minor is an excellent complement to a variety of majors, including art therapy, justice, social work, and nursing.
Complete degree requirements and a listing of courses are available in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Faculty
The School of Arts and Sciences at Mount Mary is rich with talented faculty who care about their students.
Careers in Psychology... and Beyond
Understanding psychological science and how to apply it is an asset in any career. A degree in psychological science equips students with a highly marketable set of skills including critical thinking, problem solving, information literacy, adaptability, and teamwork. A background in psychology promotes success in a wide variety of fields such as behavioral therapy, public health, business, human resources, nonprofit agencies, sales & marketing, and user experience design.
Students seeking careers as licensed clinicians will require at least a master's degree. The psychological science program prepares students for success in graduate programs leading to careers in clinical mental health counseling, marriage & family therapy, school counseling, art therapy, experimental psychology, and more.
Mount Mary offers a Master of Science in Counseling program to prepare you to become a licensed clinical mental health or school counselor.
Internship Opportunities
Internships are strongly recommended for psychological science majors. Students choose the location of their internship and work with a faculty supervisor to develop a learning plan. In recent years, psychological science majors have completed internships and service learning with the following organizations:
Service to Children
- Community Advocates/Milwaukee Women's Center
- Milwaukee College Prep
- Milwaukee Rescue Mission-Cross Trainers Academy
- Notre Dame Middle School
- Sojourner Family Peace Center
Addressing Homelessness/Poverty
- Hope House
- Milwaukee Rescue Mission's Joy House
- Repairers of the Breach
Service to Adults
- 9 to 5 Milwaukee
- Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
- House of Peace
- Lutheran Social Services
- Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Service
- Notre Dame Middle School – Adult English as a Second Language Tutoring Center
- Voces de la Frontera
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod – Model English Language Outreach Program
Service to Older Adults
- Interfaith Older Adult Programs
- Lutheran Home & Hardwood Place – Early Bird Club
Addressing Neighborhoods/Environmental Issues
- Agape Community Center
- Growing Power
- New Moon Productions – Guns, Grief and Grace in America
- Urban Ecology Center
- Walnut Way Conservation Corp
Psychological science majors are encouraged to participate in research, service learning activities, and student clubs and organizations.
Psi Chi International Honor Society
Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology. Its purpose is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship, and to advance the science of psychology. Undergraduate and graduate students interested in psychological science who meet membership requirements are eligible to apply.
Contact Ethan Harrod, Psi Chi adviser, for more information about this honor society.
Research
All psychological science students get hands-on research experience through coursework. Students wishing to gain additional research experience can conduct independent research projects with faculty supervision, or work with a faculty member on their research. In recent years, students have presented research at regional and national psychology conferences.
Service Learning in Psychological Science
You can enhance your education through internships and service learning opportunities in the Milwaukee area. In addition to formal internship and learning service opportunities, you also can gain valuable experience and work for social justice by engaging with local agencies and organizations on your own or with other classmates.
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