Psychology

• Knowledge Base in Psychology: Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems.
• Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: Students will develop skills in scientific reasoning, problem solving, interpreting behavior, studying research, and applying research design principles to drawing conclusions about psychological phenomena.
• Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Massive World: Students will learn to apply ethical standards, build and enhance interpersonal relationships, and adopt values that build a community at local, national, and global levels.
• Communication: Students should demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• Professional Development: Students will learn to apply psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and prepare for their careers.

Full Course Catalogue  Course Descriptions

Major Requirements

• All of the following core requirements
  • PSY 100 General Psychology (fulfills GS Foundations Social Science course)
  • PSY 200 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (fulfills GS Foundations Quantitative course)  
  • PSY 201 Research Methods in Psychology
  • PSY 405 or 406 Senior Seminar
• Three from Group I (Social, Developmental, and Clinical Approaches)
  • PSY 206 Social Psychology
  • PSY 210 Health Psychology
  • PSY 250 Personality
  • PSY 230 Human Development -OR- PSY240: Child Development
  • PSY 390 Adult Psychopathology -OR- PSY391: Child Psychopathology
• Three from Group II (Biological, Cognitive, and Evolutionary Approaches)
  • PSY 205 Biological Psychology
  • PSY 305 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSY 319 Evolutionary Psychology
  • PSY 340 Cognition
  • PSY 350 Animal Behavior and Cognition
  • PSY 355 Motivation
  • PSY 360 Sensation and Perception 
• Group III (Elective courses) (2 must be 300-level or higher)    
  • Any PSY course not already taken
• One related course (200-level or higher) in the social or natural sciences or an additional psychology course (200-level or higher)  

Total: 15 courses (2 captured for General Studies) 

Combined Major Requirements

• PSY 100 General Psychology (fulfills GS Foundations Social Science course)
• PSY 200 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Research Design and Analysis I (fulfills GS Foundations Quantitative course)
• PSY 201 Research Methods in Psychology Design and Analysis II
• PSY 405 or 406 Senior Seminar 123

Note: Sociology co-majors may take SOC210 Research Methods and SOC211

Statistics instead of PSY200 and PSY201, and if so, they must take any 2 additional psychology courses in place of PSY200 and Psy201.

• Two from Group I (Social, Developmental, and Clinical Approaches)
  • PSY 206 Social Psychology
  • PSY 210 Health Psychology
  • PSY 250 Personality
  • PSY 230 Human Development -OR- PSY240 Child Development
  • PSY 390 Adult Psychopathology -OR- PSY391 Child Psychopathology
• Two from Group II (Biological, Cognitive, and Evolutionary Approaches)
  • PSY 205 Biological Psychology
  • PSY 305 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSY 319 Evolutionary Psychology
  • PSY 340 Cognition
  • PSY 350: Animal Behavior and Cognition
  • PSY 355 Motivation
  • PSY 360 Sensation and Perception
• One from Group III (Elective courses)
  • Any PSY course not already taken

Total: 9 courses (2 captured for General Studies)

Child Development Track

The Psychology Department offers a track in Child Development. This track is primarily for full Psychology majors but may be completed by Combined Psychology majors and students in other majors (such as Child & Family Studies and Psychobiology) who have the prerequisites.

• PSY 240 Child Development
• PSY 391 Child Psychopathology
• 400-level Child-Focused Psychology course
• Three from the following, one MUST be a PSY course:
  • PSY 345 Language Development
  • PSY 346 Social Development
  • PSY347 Adolescent Development
  • PSY 306 Psychology Special Topics, Child Focused  
  • PSY 395/396/397 Advanced Lab or Assessment, Child Focused Project  124
  • PSY 401 Child-Focused Field Experience/Internship (if not used for requirement #3)
  • PSY 406 Child-Focused Seminar (if not used for requirement #3)
  • SOC 203 Human Services
  • SOC 261 The Family  
  • SOC 302 Juvenile Delinquency
  • SOC 271 Work and Family Conflict 

Honor Society & Scholarly Community: Eligible students can join Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, which recognizes academic excellence and encourages involvement in psychological science.

Internships and Career Support

Students can connect with the Career Development Center to find internships or practicum experiences in hospitals, schools, social service agencies, business settings, or human resources placements, gaining practical experience in psychology‑related environments.

ACRE Undergraduate Research

Students in any major can engage in interdisciplinary undergraduate research through the Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE), partnering with faculty mentors to pursue independent research or creative projects and present their work beyond the classroom.

Accelerated Pathway to a Master’s in Counseling Psychology

Albright psychology majors can take advantage of a formal partnership with Elizabethtown College that offers a streamlined application process, waived application fee, and a 15% tuition discount toward a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.