Therefore, the search for the best colleges for psychology undergraduate programs is one to forego. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the employment of psychologists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Psychology job prospects should be best for those who have a doctoral degree in an applied specialty. Therefore, in this article, we’ll furnish you with the best colleges for psychology undergraduate program. In addition, we’ll also give you an insight as to what psychology is all about and why you should study psychology.
What Is Psychology?
According to the American Psychological Association, Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. However, it incorporates biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors that affect how people–think, act, and feel. Furthermore, it is a multifaceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study such areas as human development, animal behavior sports, health, clinical, social behavior, and cognitive processes. In addition, psychology encompasses the biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors that affect how people- think, act, and feel.
Why Should I Study Psychology?
Psychology as an applied and academic field benefits both individuals and society as a whole. A large part of psychology is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues.
The study of psychology gives reason to some of the important questions, such as why do people act the way they do? What shapes our personality? How do we learn and change throughout our life?
In other words, psychology students learn to comprehend why people act in a certain way, how they respond to the world around them, and which key factors might affect this. These might be social, biological, cognitive or emotional.
That is to say, if you are interested in a deeper understanding of the human and animal behavior patterns and conditions, you should consider studying psychology in one of our listed best colleges for psychology undergraduate programs.
What Can You Do With An Undergraduate Degree In Psychology?
For a graduate of psychology, there are lots of opportunities to take on. However, it depends on your specialization and area of interest. You can decide to work as an educational psychologist which involves working alongside adolescents or forensic psychologists, which entails working with criminals and seeking to understand why certain crimes have been perpetrated and how offenders can avoid re-offending. Also, some graduates start their careers in childcare, health, and education jobs, while others go into the legal, social, and welfare professions. On the other hand, a little percentage of psychology graduates work as a commercial, industrial, or public sector managers. You can also decide to go into business, human resources and finance, marketing, sales, and public relations. On the flip side, you can decide to take up a graduate program in psychology. This is one of the criteria for becoming a chartered psychologist.
Is Psychology A BA or BS?
Both are undergraduate degrees, and both are offered in the field of psychology. That is to say, they are virtually the same. A Bachelor of Arts entails psychology-focused courses; students earning a B.A. will take more courses in the social sciences while a B.S. degree has a course load emphasizing technical studies in science, math, and statistics.
What Are They Entry Requirements To Study Psychology At Undergraduate Level?
Entry requirements for psychology degrees differ from institution to institution. Although many good universities don’t demand students with specific qualifications, you will need a strong academic record and an aptitude in both scientific and non-scientific subjects. Students with a broad knowledge of both sciences and humanities are particularly sought after.
Best Colleges For Psychology Undergraduate Programs
Just as psychology looks to unravel the reasons and underlying factors surrounding why living beings act and behave the way they do, it is also ideal to find out the best colleges for psychology undergraduate programs so as to help guide your selection. These top psychology schools in the world were selected based on the following factors; Number of Program Based on findings, it is widely believed that the number of programs offered by a school shows its level of qualitative and academic depth. Therefore, after concise research, our list is based on the number of programs offered by each college. Reputation They selected colleges are selected on the basis of online portfolio and performance in other ranking sites. Accreditation The schools on our list of best psychology schools were chosen based on their accreditation status. Ideally, the accreditation status of a school shows that the school is authorized and officially recognized to operate in that capacity.
1. Stanford University
Net Price: $16,562 Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University was established in 1885 by Jane and Leland Stanford, “to improve the public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity and civilization.” The Department of Psychology is among the first departments established at Stanford University. It has a long-standing tradition of ground-breaking theoretical research that makes a difference. Also, the department is regarded as one of the top psychology programs in the nation and has been the best psychology department among American universities for decades Stanford has more than 16,300 students, 2,180 faculty and 1,800 postdoctoral scholars. It is an international institution, enrolling students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 other countries. Stanford psychology undergraduates can complete independent research and/or spend the summer colluding with a faculty member on a research project. In addition, they can join the Stanford University Psychology Association.
2. Princeton University
Net Price: $16,302 Founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, it was officially renamed Princeton University in 1896 in honor of the area where it is based. The renowned Ivy League institution offers residential accommodation to all of its undergraduates throughout their four years of study, with 98 percent of undergraduates living on campus. Princeton’s university psychology department provides foundational and advanced undergraduate courses on sensation, perception, movement, language, reasoning, decision making, and social interaction. Also, students get to learn basic statistical methods. Psychology majors have an opportunity to be involved in cutting-edge research for their independent work. Lastly, Princeton consistently ranks among the world’s top 10 universities, is notable for its campus’ park-like beauty as well as some of its landmark buildings, designed by some of America’s most well-known architects.
3. University of Pennsylvania
Net Price: $24,539 The Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania is on our list as one of the best colleges for psychology undergraduate students. Students can obtain their Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. In this program, students achieve 33 credit hours toward their major, including psychology, statistics, and research courses. If they are ready, they can complete an additional statistics class in addition to two honors seminars as seniors. Furthermore, students can also engage in research, and some of the research areas of faculty members include animal learning and behavior, behavior and cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, psychopathology and psychotherapy, and social and cultural psychology.
4. Harvard University
Net Price: $17,030 Harvard University is the oldest university in the US and is seen as one of the most prestigious in the world. It came into existence in 1636. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard’s 5,000-acre campus houses 12 degree-granting schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, two theatres, and five museums. Psychology is one of the most famous courses of study among undergraduates at Harvard. There are also three concentrations students can choose between in this degree. The first is a general track, which covers a wide variation of psychology-based subjects. The second is the cognitive science track, and the third is the cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychology track. In addition, students can take advantage of research opportunities at several labs on and off-campus.
5. Yale University
Net Price: $18,053 Yale University is a private Ivy League research university that is the third-oldest higher education center in the US. The university has 14 schools, and students follow a liberal arts curriculum, covering humanities and arts, sciences, and social sciences before choosing a departmental major. In addition to that, students also receive instruction in writing skills, quantitative reasoning, and foreign languages. Yale’s psychology major requires 12 courses in the field. Students can also get more engaged with research opportunities in areas of psychology. Yale also uses its connections to fix students with internships and fellowships with a variety of institutions and organizations. Finally, courses in the department can be taken in several parallel sequences.
6. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Net Price: $16,408 The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is also on our list as one of the top colleges for psychology undergraduate study. The Psychology Department aims to provide students with a broad background in the various levels of analysis. Furthermore, they also teach methodological approaches used in the study of behavior, particularly human behavior. Students can obtain research training, experience in a variety of community settings, so as to meet their long-term post-graduate goals. The University of Michigan also connects students with internship opportunities through the institutions’ Department of Psychology and universities. Lastly, students can take advantage of a research lab immersion experience, Research Methods in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science.
7. University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers opportunities for inquiry, discovery, and education. The campus is home to world-renowned faculty who teach in 230 undergraduate and graduate majors, with more than 24 academic programs ranked among the top 20 in their disciplines. Moreso, the faculty provide more than 5,000 courses yearly, with two-thirds of undergraduate classes having fewer than 30 students. The structure of the undergraduate curriculum reflects the extensive breadth of psychology in terms of both the range of behavioral phenomena studied and the variety of methods and theoretical approaches used. Beyond basic core courses, students can take many specific courses in areas such as psychobiology, animal behavior, learning and memory, motivation, perception, cognition, measurement, personality, and clinical, social, developmental, community, and health psychology. The department also has numerous research opportunities, including a research assistantship program, and the UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference. Furthermore, students can also publish their work in the UCLA Undergraduate Psychology Journal and the Undergraduate Science Journal.
8. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global center for teaching, learning, and research. UBC consistently ranks among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university. With over 60 faculty members and over 130 full-time graduate students and post-doctoral fellows conduct research beyond the spectrum of psychology, the department presents eight sub-disciplinary specializations: Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive Science, Developmental, Health, Learning Enhancement, Quantitative Methods, and Social/Personality. UBC’s psychology programs offer enhanced learning experiences that position you for success in graduate studies, like scientists, or in careers in the public and private sectors.
9. University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. The University of Chicago houses a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program that requires 120 units of study. In this program, students complete foundational breadth electives in areas like biological, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology, as well as in sensation and perception. Additionally, students may also take courses involving research methods and statistics. Other classes include Neuroscience of Communication, Biological Clocks and Behavior, Child Development in the Classroom, and Beyond Good and Evil. Lastly, this program also offers a variety of professional development events throughout the year.
10. New York University
New York University (NYU) is one of the biggest private higher education institutes in the United States. NYU offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology that brings together theory, research, and practice in the world today. It demands 128 points of study, which includes a seminar in Applied Psychology. Fundamentally, this course sequence gives students the ability to apply their knowledge to research and community-based opportunities. Furthermore, students complete a two-semester fieldwork experience so that students graduate with hands-on experience in the field. Over 50 internationally renowned scholars and scientists with vibrant and well-funded research laboratories teach at New York University’s Department of Psychology. Although courses cover a broad range of topics on the science of behavior, mind, and brain, the department also concentrates on areas of expertise such as social psychology, cognition, perception, psychopathology, and neuroscience.
11. Duke University
Net Price: $22,011 Duke University, located in the US state of North Carolina, is one of the wealthiest private universities in America and a top producer of international scholars. Duke University has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. The BA demands 11 psychology courses while the BS needs 14, including and two additional natural sciences courses. Some of these classes include the Psychology of Gender, Self and Society, Relationships across the Lifespan; Behavior and Neurochemistry; and Looking Inside the Disordered Brain. Duke is also home to Child Studies lab, focusing on learning about how children develop and learn, and where students gain valuable experience volunteering within these spaces.
12. University of Amsterdam
The UvA is a modern, research-intensive university situated in the heart of a vibrant European capital city. The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ largest university, offering a broad range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in various fields, connected by a culture of curiosity. In the psychology department, talented and internationally renowned scholars work in their own manner to gain a better perception of the human mind and human behavior. The critical UvA-student is tutored by them during this quest, in which independent thinking is expected and nothing and no one is beyond critique.
13. Cornell University
Net Price: $31,449 Established in 1865, Cornell University is a private Ivy League university with a mission to “discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge”. Undergraduate students will gain mastery with current knowledge about the important determinants of human behavior and with the techniques used to expand that knowledge while developing critical thinking skills. Undergraduate areas of study include behavioral and evolutionary neuroscience; perception, cognition and development; or social and personality psychology.
14. Northwestern University
Net Price: $26,099 Northwestern University’s Psychology Department is one of the most prestigious in the United States, and psychology is one of the most successful undergraduate majors at Northwestern. The program combines a focus on people with stress on the analysis and interpretation of data; it provides an exceptional foundation for many career paths, as well as for graduate study in the field. Students take a common core of courses that provide a general introduction to the field, an understanding of the research techniques used by psychologists, and some hands-on research experience. Furthermore, advanced courses provide both breadth and some degree of depth within the field. Also, the department also offers many opportunities for students to interact with faculty members outside of formal classes. Many of our students participate in independent study under the supervision of a faculty member.
15. University of Washington
The University of Washington is one of the largest and most prestigious higher education institutions on the west coast of the US. The undergraduate Psychology major at the University of Washington made our list of best colleges for psychology undergraduates. The department grants students a broadly based introduction to human and animal behavior based on a curriculum that emphasizes current research and theory. The UW Psychology program for undergraduate majors stresses scientific and statistical reasoning skills that help students evaluate data, claims, and theories in both the academic and popular literature. Furthermore, the department provides undergraduates research participation applied fieldwork and supervised teaching opportunities. Additionally, students make use of what they learn in various career paths including areas such as counseling, education, and basic research. Similarly, the University of Washington at Seattle provides students with the ability to choose between its Bachelor of Arts and its Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Conclusion
Psychology as a practical course is one to be studied in a nice academic destination. Therefore, the aforementioned schools were carefully selected to meet your scholarship demands. Good luck! Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. It encompasses the biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors that affect how people think, act, and feel. For a graduate of psychology, there are lots of opportunities to take on. However, it depends on your specialization and area of interest. You can work as a psychologist, counselor, forensic psychologist, and a whole lots more. Entry requirements for psychology degrees differ from institution to institution. Although many good universities don’t demand students with specific qualifications, you will need a strong academic record and an aptitude in both scientific and non-scientific subjects.
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