Psychology
Like the field of psychology itself, which encompasses conducting research in laboratory and field settings, meeting the needs of individuals in clinical settings, and addressing enduring philosophical questions about human behavior and experience, the psychology department at Holy Cross engages students in a wide variety of intellectual pursuits with a curriculum that ranges across natural science, social science and the humanities.
Areas of Study
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The nature of psychological knowledge, methods, and theories
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Methods of inquiry and psychological research
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How to communicate ideas and research findings effectively
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How the work of psychologists is related to broader social and cultural contexts
Requirements
A minimum of ten psychology courses is required for the major.
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Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 100) is the first major course.
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Required courses in statistics (Statistics - PSYC 200) and methodology (Research Methods - PSYC 201) examine the process of psychological inquiry.
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Majors explore fundamental areas of the discipline by completing one course from each of the following three categories: Biological Processes, Cognitive and Behavioral Processes and Individual, Social, and Cultural Processes.
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Additionally, majors must take at least one advanced (300-level) course in psychology and three electives. An elective course is any psychology course beyond those taken to satisfy other major requirements. These courses should be chosen in accordance with a student’s own developing interests and curricular needs.
Meet Your Department Chair
Opportunities
The psychology department provides students with ample opportunity to work independently under the individual direction of their professors through College-sponsored programs.
Research
We offer courses for supervised independent study which may be used to fulfill the elective requirement of the major. Additionally, students may volunteer as research assistants in faculty labs. Our faculty members are actively engaged in research on a variety of topics, including the neurobiology of learning and memory, language and conceptual development, cognitive neuroscience, visual perception, equity in educational outcomes, emotional dysregulation and more.
Internships
Engage in hands-on learning through a variety of internships in the Worcester area.
Psi Chi National Honor Society
Students demonstrating high academic standing in psychology are recognized with membership to Psi Chi.
