Psychology—BS | Cognitive and Learning Sciences | Michigan Technological University

Save a Second . . . a Dollar . . . a Relationship . . . a Life

If you are intrigued by the inner workings of the psyche, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan Tech will allow you to mold that curiosity into a meaningful career.

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and cognitive processes. This broad discipline seeks to understand the human condition and explain behavior using scientific methods, with the fundamental goal of improving the well-being of individuals and our overall society.

Psychologists can apply their training to help preserve or rehabilitate people’s interpersonal relationships and mental health, and to help businesses safeguard assets such as time, finances, and human resources. From health practitioners who manage and treat psychological disorders, to business professionals who foster a healthy and productive workplace, to researchers who solve practical problems—psychology offers diverse applications and career pathways that attract many students to the discipline.

Careers in Psychology

Pondering a psychology career? You can blaze a path in just about any professional arena. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a favorable job outlook for psychologists: through 2024 overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations, especially for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists.

Taking Advanced Degree Avenues

Many of our students pursue graduate studies in psychology or related disciplines. The occupations of clinical and research psychology require a doctoral degree in most cases. A master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree is a prerequisite for psychologist roles in an educational setting, and a master’s degree is necessary for counseling and industrial-organizational psychologist positions.

Expanding Career Routes

The scope of opportunities for psychology graduates dovetails with businesses predicted to flourish in the future. Data crunching is the next big thing — and a psychology grad is equipped to go beyond the numbers to interpret meaning, track trends, and gather insights. Scientific research, another ever-increasing field, also abounds with specialized and cross-disciplinary situations for case study, content analysis, cross-sectional study, lab and field experiments, and surveys, among other methods. In a more traditional vein, the demand for counseling and therapy services is expected to continue rising along with awareness of mental health as a component of overall well-being.

Starting Down the Road Ahead

Your psychology degree paves the way for a myriad of careers in countless settings, including government, industry, law, sports science, engineering, communications, and computers/technology. New psychology graduates entering the job market may qualify for entry-level positions in business administration, mental health, and social/human services, including:

Behavior Analyst
Case Worker
Child Care Worker
Child Protection Worker
College Admissions Counselor or Recruiter
Community Recreation Worker
Corrections Officer
Drug/Substance Abuse Counselor
Employee or Employment Counselor
Residential Youth Counselor
Family Service Worker
Group Home Coordinator
Hospital Patient Services Representative
Marketing Researcher
Occupational Analyst
Program Manager
Public Relations
Store Manager
Staff Trainer
Social Service Director

Explore Your Passions

The subfields embraced by psychology are numerous and include the following:

Cognitive psychology: the understanding of mental processes such as memory, problem solving, and decision making;
Forensic psychology: the intersection of psychology and law;
Human factors psychology: the study of the way humans relate to the world around them, with the goal of improving performance and safety;
Educational psychology: the study of how people learn and how the instructional process influences learning; and
Sports psychology: the study of athletic performance, motivation, and skill.

As an undergraduate student in our program, you will explore the wide world of psychology and develop your own professional identity and goals.

Program Learning Goals

The psychology major consists of approximately 12 required PSY courses, 7 elective PSY courses, and numerous free electives and University required courses

The major has a committee whose role is to ensure that disciplinary and University Student Learning Goals (USLG) are being met across our curriculum. The committee has adopted as curricular goals the American Psychological Association (APA) goals for undergraduate psychology programs.

The committee mapped out how each program goal aligned with the Michigan Tech learning goals. Each psychology course was designed to meet one or more of the program/university goals. The following goals are met through the 12 required PSY courses:

USLG	APA Psychology Learning Goals
1. Disciplinary Knowledge	Knowledge Base of Psychology Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
1. Disciplinary Knowledge	Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
1. Disciplinary Knowledge	Professional Development Students will emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.
4. Critical & Creative Thinking	Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking Students will respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
5. Communication	Communication Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
6. Information Literacy	Communication Students will demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.
8. Values & Civic Engagement	Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World Students will be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.