Psychology Major - BA or BS Psychology Programs
What can behavior and emotions tell us about the human mind, and how can we help people overcome challenges to lead more fulfilling lives?
If you find these questions intriguing, earning a degree in psychology can be the start to a rewarding career – one that puts your empathy and expertise to work, leaving a lasting impact on the world around you.In this field, career opportunities abound. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for psychologists is expected to increase by 14% through 2028 – faster than the national average – and the demand for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is expected to soar by 22% through 2028.
Program Details
At GMercyU, you can pursue either a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA) or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS). Both the BA and BS psychology degree programs provide a solid foundation in core areas of study in psychology:
- Human Development
- Abnormal Psychology
- Research Methods and Experimental Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Biopsychology
To earn your BA in psychology, you will need two semesters (six credits) of coursework in a foreign language. To earn your BS in psychology, you will complete six credits within the natural and computational sciences.
As a psychology major, you'll have many opportunities to conduct student research; see section below for more on this. In the program, you can also:
- Use electives to explore your passions and interests. Take courses in specific areas of study, such as forensic and adolescent psychology, or courses in other disciplines. For example, if your goal is working with people in the corrections system, you might take criminal justice or criminology courses in addition to your psychology coursework. Or, if you plan on attending medical school, you can take the pre-med courses needed to help prepare you. Passionate about the sports industry? At GMercyU, you can take courses within our Sports Management major.
- Connect and bond with other psychology majors at events like GMercyU’s “Painting Away Stress Nights.” This particular event is hosted by the Social Work and Psychology (SWAP) Club.
- Build skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and communication – key skills employers want. These are skills GMercyU emphasizes for all majors.
We believe that psychology is best understood through an integrated approach combining classroom lecture, internships, and an emphasis on research and professional development – this includes the ability to develop and execute your own research projects, present your work at professional conferences, and participate in faculty-led research. For example, Professor Rebecca Gullan and several of her students co-authored this “Mentors That Matter” publication.
Through these exciting opportunities, you will:
Learn how to organize, design, and conduct original research protocols so you’re fully prepared for a future career or for graduate-level study.
Receive professional development mentorship from faculty.
Present your findings at professional conferences, such as The Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) Conference, the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, and other professional settings.
Present your research at GMercyU’s annual University Research Conference (see photo). Topics from our Spring 2021 conference included:
- Rare killers: A psychological examination of female serial killers (Jennifer Nguyen)
- All eyes on me: Perspectives on social anxiety (Tara Pellegrino)
- Disney’s magical approach to leadership and employee engagement (Kali Wilmer)
- Anxiety and COVID-19 (Anna Krivosheev, Taylor Fischer, and Frances Obassy)
- When yes is too difficult: Commitment in everyday life (Gabe Leff)
- Attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to personal protective equipment during COVID-19 (Amber Leonard, Victoria Hite, and Barri Johnson)
- Developing perception: Exploring artistic representations and meaning (Natasha Itchon)
- The negative stereotypes of Black women in popular reality television (Barri Johnson)
- The psychology of thrill-seeking behavior (Alexis Cobbs)
- Running away from your worries: The effects of exercise on stress (Taylor Fischer)
In addition to general education requirements, psychology majors will need to complete 48 credits from required program courses.
| PSY 111 | Statistics |
| PSY 150 | Social Psychology |
| PSY 200 | Developmental Psychology |
| PSY 210 | Abnormal Psychology |
| PSY 211 | Fundamentals of Biopsychology |
| PSY 312 | Research Methods |
| PSY 314 | Ethical Issues in Behavioral / Social Science |
| PSY 320 | Experimental Psychology |
| PSY 322 | Psychology of Personality |
| PSY 370 | History of Psychology |
| PSY 435 | Psychology Practicum |
| PSY 4000 | Capstone |
| PSY | Choose 4 Electives |
Credit Requirement
A minimum of 125 credits is needed to satisfy GMercyU's graduation requirements for a bachelor's degree in psychology. For your BA in psychology, you will need two semesters (six credits) in a foreign language. For your BS in psychology, you will complete six credits within the natural and computational sciences.
Undergraduate Minors
Increase the value of your psychology degree by adding an undergraduate minor. GMercyU offers a wide variety of minors so you can choose the one that best meets your personal and professional goals.
Whether you're pursuing the BA or BS academic track for your degree in psychology, GMercyU offers a robust core curriculum. Here’s a peek of just a few of the classes offered for psychology majors.
PSY 212 Counseling and Communication Skills
The course is an integrated theory and practice approach to the study of communication styles, communication skills, basic counseling skills and elements of helping relationships. Students will explore the nature and dynamics of the helping encounter, develop interpersonal communication skills, and engage in opportunities for skill development through peer helping practice sessions.
PSY 221 Child Psychology
This course focuses on the successive stages of growth and development from conception through adolescence, including social, emotional, intellectual, moral, perceptual, behavioral, and physical development.
PSY 300 Addiction Dynamics and Interventions
This course provides an introduction to the psychological, sociological and physiological dynamics of abuse, dependency, and addictions and an overview of counseling intervention models designed to help the student identify and become familiar with current counseling approaches in the treatment of addictions.
PSY 313 Mindfulness and Positive Psychology
This course provides students with an introduction to the art and science of mindfulness and the emerging field of Positive Psychology. Mindfulness helps foster improvement in quality of life, awareness, satisfying relationships, well-being and increased positivity which are intimately connected to the foundations of Positive Psychology. Students learn about these fields focused on building upon one's strengths, virtues as well as cultivating resilience.
For all Psychology course descriptions, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.
Rebecca Gullan, PhD
Position: Professor, Psychology and Psychology Program Coordinator
Did You Know? In August 2020, Dr. Gullan was interviewed by WHYY about the potential consequences of remote learning for school children.
Learn More
Mary Reilly, MS
Position: Assistant Professor, Psychology
Did You Know? Professor Reilly is a recipient of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Sister Isabelle Keiss Award for Community Service.
Learn More
John Gunn, PhD
Position: Assistant Professor, Psychology
Did You Know? An expert on suicide, Gunn serves on the editorial board of Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention and serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for a number of professional journals.
Learn More
Real-World Opportunities
The Griffin Edge is comprised of five touchpoints -- Excellence, Engagement, Experience, Empathy, and Encouragement -- that become the cornerstones of your Distinctive Mercy Experience as a full-time undergraduate student.
The Griffin Edge includes an e-portfolio for documenting your GMercyU educational and extra-curricular experiences (no matter your major), reflecting on those experiences, and receiving feedback from faculty. It's designed to help you take ownership of your educational journey and chart the right career path for you. It will also help you learn how to talk about your college experiences in meaningful ways — and that can make all the difference in a job interview.
For example, a student might say in a job interview: "I conducted research at the undergraduate level."
A Griffin Edge student might say: "The opportunity to conduct my own research alongside expert faculty taught me the importance of being exact in my data collection and analysis. I was even able to present my findings at our annual research conference! I know this is the career for me."
Learn more about the Griffin Edge here.
Student internships help you put the skills you learn at GMercyU into real-world practice. They also enhance your resume with work experience and professional references.
Interning is also an excellent opportunity to explore a psychology specialty. You could intern with organizations that assist people dealing with crisis situations, domestic violence, workplace wellness, or substance abuse recovery.
GMercyU psychology students have recently served and learned at a number of local organizations:
- A Woman’s Place
- Caring Hospice
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Roberts Research Center
- Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
- Horsham Clinic
- Lansdale Catholic High School
- Mind of the Athlete
- Mitzvah Circle
- Penn Foundation
- Philadelphia Police Department
- Project Home: Jon Bon Jovi Souls Homes
- The Philadelphia Zoo
- The Training Room
- The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
- Valley Forge Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
- Valley Youth House
- Women’s Center of Montgomery County
As a top psychology college in PA, GMercyU can help you achieve your career goals in this rewarding and expansive field. Your possible career paths include:
- Advocacy
- Clinical psychology
- Corrections
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- School and counseling psychology
- Family counseling
- Politics
- Public relations
- Sales
- Social work
Here’s a closer look at just a few of the many career paths for psychology majors.
Psychologist
Description: A psychologist uses observational and conversational skills to identify the root cause of behavioral, cognitive or emotional struggles an individual may be facing. Work in a private practice or in the health care or school setting.
Degree Requirements: PhD or PsyD in psychology. Additional licensure may also be required.
Average Salary: The average salary for a psychologist in the United States is $80,370.
Source
Licensed Professional Counselor
Description: Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) assess and treat mental and emotional disorders and work with individuals, couples, families, groups, and organizations in a variety of settings.
Degree Requirements: Master's degree
Average Salary: The average salary is $48,293.
Source
Substance Abuse Counselor
Description: A substance abuse counselor works with individuals struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction. They often work in an independent practice, addiction treatment facilities, prisons, and mental or community health programs.
Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The average salary for a substance abuse counselor in the United States is $46,240.
Source
At GMercyU, we've developed our BA and BS programs with the dual goals of giving psychology majors the best student experience possible, as well as opportunities for professional development and future career success.
Bailey McLaughlin '20
Current Position: Graduate Student and Registered Behavior Technician
At GMercyU (the only college she applied to), Bailey joined the Psychology and Social Services Association, formed close bonds with her classmates, and was inspired by more than one GMercyU professor. Today, she is pursuing her Master’s in Psychology while working as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), where she provides behavioral support to those with behavioral, emotional, and social issues, primarily those with children diagnosed with autism.
After her master’s program, she plans to become a licensed behavioral specialist while continuing her education to become a board-certified behavioral analyst (BCBA). Her ultimate goal is to teach others about the efficacy of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) within various settings.
Learn more about Bailey's GMercyU experience.
Sam Memon '20
Current Position: Graduate Student
At GMercyU, Sam served as the VP of the Psi Chi Honor Society and VP of Psychology and Social Service Association. He also participated in an internship with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on an anti-bullying research project with local students, which helped confirm that he wanted to eventually work with children and families.
Today, he is earning his Master's Degree of Mental Health Counseling and plans to earn his license to become a marriage and family therapist.
“I really liked that everyone at GMercyU is so kind and empathetic and compassionate. Those traits help you flourish as a student.”
Learn more about Sam's GMercyU experience.
Brittany Albert ’19
Current Position: Crisis Worker, Doylestown Hospital
Brittany originally intended to pursue GMercyU's nursing program but soon realized that her talents lay elsewhere and switched her major to psychology. She took full advantage of the research opportunities at GMercyU, and the Penn State Working Dogs Center awarded her an internship. Brittany is currently a crisis worker at Doylestown Hospital's Crisis Center while pursuing an online graduate degree from Arizona State University.
"Putting myself out there by doing all of the research, going through internships that I never thought I would get, doing all of these things on campus, I have opened my eyes and really learned a lot about myself.”
Next Steps
Learn more about what it's like to be a Psychology major by exploring our viewbook!
In addition to accepting transfer credits for other accredited psychology colleges and universities, GMercyU has an articulation agreement with Manor College, making it easier for you to turn an associate degree in liberal arts from Manor into a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from GMercyU.
Manor College AA Liberal Arts to BA/BS Psychology
GMercyU also offers Dual Admissions Agreements with Montgomery County Community College and Bucks County Community College.
To learn more, please contact the Admissions Office at 215-641-5510 or admissions@gmercyu.edu.
Have questions about GMercyU's admissions requirements? Contact us! Our Admissions staff is ready to walk you through the process of applying to GMercyU’s Psychology Program.
Email: admissions@gmercyu.edu
Phone: 215-641-5510
At GMercyU, we strive to make a quality education accessible to all through financial aid, scholarships, and grants. As a military-friendly university, we welcome service members and participate in all VA educational benefits programs.
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Get the education you need for career that improves lives. Earn your Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Psychology at GMercyU!
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