Psychology
The Department of Psychology introduces students to the content and methods of the science of psychology. Students survey the foundations of the field, learn about statistics and experimental design, and have an opportunity to pursue specific interests through upper-level seminars, applied internships, and supervised and independent research.
If you are interested in the content and methods of the science of psychology and a career in a psychology-related field, the major at Fairfield University offers you a strong foundation in either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science program. Beyond the requirements of the major, you will also be given opportunities to develop your interests through specific concentrations that prepare you for graduate work in specific areas of psychology, or for work in related fields such as medicine, law, education, social work, and public policy
Students with a degree in psychology are also particularly well suited for any entry-level position that demands a solid liberal arts education. Students often present the results of their internship or independent research projects at regional or national conferences, as well as at the annual poster session sponsored by the Fairfield University Chapter of Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Society).
Students who wish to develop their interests within a specific concentration have the opportunity to follow one of four distinct tracks:
- Mental Health Research and Practice
- Behavioral/Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social/Developmental Research and Policy
- General Psychology
Many of our dedicated faculty sponsor student research over the summer as well, either funded by their grants or on a voluntary basis. Furthermore, each summer, a number of our students receive grants sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Hughes Foundation, and other national funding organizations, to conduct research at other universities around the country. All of this training makes our students excellent candidates for graduate work in psychology, and we have been enormously successful in placing students in many of the top graduate programs in psychology and neuroscience.
The analytic and communicative skills essential to the psychology major also prepare students for professional study in:
- Law
- Social work
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Education
- Business
These possibilities are enhanced by internship opportunities, which include:
- Working with autistic children
- Assisting probation officers
- Teaching reading skills to underprivileged children and their parents
- Working in human resources
- Assisting high school guidance counselors
In addition, students with a degree in psychology are particularly well suited for any entry-level position that demands a solid liberal arts education.
