Psychology

Have you ever wondered about…well…wondering? Turn your curiosity inward, explore behavior, and discover what makes us tick.

Think about reading this paragraph. What thoughts go through your mind? How might these thoughts influence your behavior? And how does your brain enable all of these things to happen?

That’s psychology.

Strive to understand the brain, to figure out how it works, what influences it, and how we can predict future behaviors, actions, and reactions. At Purchase, we’ll prepare you for a career in the psychological sciences while also giving you a better understanding of people, yourself included—which is something that will help you no matter what road you travel.

The Psychology Faculty

Psychology faculty are accomplished researchers and scholars who share a special dedication to working with undergraduate students. Our areas of specialization include cognition, social processes, neuropsychology, child development, personality, gender, perception, language, music, and applied research.

Excellent Preparation

The Purchase College psychology program provides a strong foundation for students who plan to continue their studies at graduate and professional schools. Our graduates are equipped to enter advanced degree programs in all areas of psychology as well as programs in education, medicine, social work, and law. Some students move directly into careers in research, teaching, and early childhood education.

Facilities

Our facilities for instruction and student/faculty research include computerized cognitive/experimental laboratories, a child study center, and facilities for observational and social psychological research. Where appropriate, our courses are taught in the Natural Science Building’s modern computer classroom.

Liberal Arts

The study of psychology is carried out in the context of the strong liberal arts emphasis of Purchase College. We prepare students for life, as well as for a career. Our extensive yet flexible core curriculum provides a solid grounding in the liberal and fine arts.

Hands-on Experience

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of internships that provide experience in childcare, clinical services, and research. These include an on-campus placement at the Purchase College Children’s Center and off-campus placement at various institutions.

Research Training

Unique features of the psychology program include intensive training in research methods and the senior project. After spending a year learning how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and write research reports, students apply their knowledge by conducting a year-long independent research project in an on-campus laboratory. Throughout this process, students receive close mentorship from a faculty sponsor. This apprenticeship relationship is a cornerstone of the educational program at Purchase. Many of our seniors present their research at regional and national professional meetings, and some are co-authors of published papers with their faculty sponsors.