School of Liberal Arts Faculty
Gain valuable insights from our School of Liberal Arts faculty, who are here to help you every step of the way.
Explore human development, psychological disorders, personality issues and counseling, and prepare for a rewarding career with a degree in Psychology.
Program Overview
Why do people behave the way they do? What leads to personality disorders? How can human behaviors be changed?
These are just a few of the questions you’ll explore as a Psychology major at Dean College. Ideal for students who are interested in developmental, clinical, educational or social psychology, Dean College offers both an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
Built on a solid liberal arts foundation, the Psychology curriculum combines theory and practice. You’ll study human development, psychological disorders, personality and counseling. You’ll develop a strong understanding of everything from human development and the learning process to abnormal behavior and counseling theories and techniques.
You’ll also put theory into practice with applied psychology and case studies embedded throughout your courses. You’ll learn how to understand and analyze problems, family relationships, workplace and institutional dynamics, and social trends that influence individual behavior.
Psychology Courses
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 113 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 202 | Human Development: A Lifespan Perspective | 3 |
| PSY 245 | Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 332 | Personality | 3 |
| PSY 334 | Biopsychology | 3 |
| PSY 340 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 430 | History and Systems of Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 495 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| LAS 415 | Critical Theory | 3 |
| DCA 100 | Campus Connections: Making the Transition | 1 |
| DCA 110 | Career Connections: Developing Your Brand | 1 |
| DCA 200 | Internship Connections: Creating Your Plan | 1 |
| DCA 300 | The Internship Experience | 3 |
| DCA 350 | Future Connections: Launching Your Career | 3 |
| DCA EXPERIENCE ELE | Dean Career Advantage Experience Courses | 6 |
Total Credits
51
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 111 | Composition l | 3 |
| ENG 112 | Composition ll | 3 |
| SPC 101 | Communication Fundamentals | 3 |
| PSY 132 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| LAB SCIENCE ELECTIVE | Core Lab Science Elective | 4 |
| ARTS ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Arts Elective | 3 |
| HUMANITIES ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Humanities Elective | 3 |
| NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATH ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Natural Sciences and Mathematics Elective | 3 |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Social Sciences Elective | 3 |
| COM 327 | Applied Professional Communication | 3 |
| UDLA ELE | Upper-Division Liberal Arts Electives | 9 |
Total Credits
40
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELE | Electives | 30 |
Total Credits
30
Beyond the Classroom
As a Psychology major at Dean, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to apply what you’re learning.
As a Psychology major at Dean, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to apply what you’re learning.
- Learn from frequent guest speakers who provide insights into the field and its practical applications.
- Participate in hands-on projects to immerse yourself in the real world of psychology.
- Complete a required for-credit internship, senior seminar and capstone research project to gain the experience you need to take the next step.
A strong understanding of human behavior opens the door to a successful future in psychology and many other professions. With a major in Psychology from Dean College, you’ll have the knowledge, skills and practical experience to pursue graduate school or a successful career in human services, management, counseling, education, health, sports, the corporate world or many other fields.
Live and Study Together
Experience your first year of college while living with your classmates through CONNECT, a living learning community for social science majors.
Inside the classroom, you will learn together and collaborate on projects. You’ll make connections to the materials you’re studying as well as to each other, building relationships with your peers, faculty and staff and forming your identity as a social sciences major. The community you share will extend beyond the classroom, as you live together in Wallace Hall. Here, you’ll receive the traditional first-year residential experience, while also participating in unique social, academic and career development programs to help you make the most of your education.
Get Involved
Learn more about how to get involved with our student-run organizations and experiential learning opportunities.-
Psychology Club Dean College’s student-run club for Psychology majors. -
Community Service Give back to the community on campus and in Franklin.
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Leadership Opportunities Build your leadership skills through on-campus programs.
Uniquely Dean
Discover the unique programming that the Dean College Psychology program has to offer.
- Learn in classes that are engaging and hands-on, and that connect your interests with your career plans.
- Delve deep into an area of particular interest by completing a capstone research project.
- Prepare to take the next step with programs and events like social sciences alumni career panels, writing workshops and graduate school exploration.
- Pursue an advanced degree through one of our master’s degree affiliation programs.
- Learn from practitioners in the field who are committed to your success. Dean College was ranked #2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Colleges, North category.
I want to go into forensic psychology, so Dean helped me get my internship at Worcester County Jail and created a bigger stepping stone for me. I now have an opportunity to work at the prison as a social worker or translator. Psychology is all about observing and evaluating, and I’m able to do that every single day and enjoy it.
By working with elementary school kids and their parents, I knew that Psychology was going to play a key role in my future. My favorite thing about being a Psychology major is being able to apply what I’ve learned in class to the real world, helping me better understand other people and their different points of view.
I am currently enrolled in a master’s degree program in clinical mental health counseling, where I hope to focus on multi-cultural counseling. Dean gave me the confidence to pursue my dream of being a therapist, and many of my professors have been incredible mentors even throughout my grad school experience.
RECENT STORIES
Check out the news and stories below to learn more about being a Psychology major at Dean.
Related News
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Social Sciences Majors Live and Learn Together Through CONNECT
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Bringing Their Studies to Life: Dean College Students Land Summer Internships
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Dean College Receives KyleCares Grant to Deliver Impactful Mental Health Awareness to Students