Psychology, B.A.

Psychology students learning in the classroom

Navigate the biological and social elements of human behavior through research and hands-on learning

Explore the science of human mind and behavior in our Psychology program, bringing classroom learning to life in our comprehensive research labs and in the field. Guided by faculty who are experts in their disciplines, you’ll develop a broad background in the field — including perceptual, counseling and developmental psychology.

Our program prepares you for graduate studies in a psychology-related field, or for careers ranging from research assistant to mental health worker, social welfare caseworker to teaching. You’ll also foster skills that are attractive and useful in all industries, including critical and logical thinking, data analysis, research, communication and more.

Program Coordinator

Program News

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Because of the growth and breadth of our program, we have four lab spaces designed to meet your unique research and experimentation needs.

Child and Family Lab

How do young children respond emotionally when faced with unusual or surprising experiences? This lab was recently designed to answer these kinds of questions. One room serves as a student work area and greeting room for welcoming families, complete with child-friendly toys. This is adjoined by an observation room complete with a one-way mirror and audio-visual recording equipment, allowing students to evaluate child emotional experiences through observational, subjective and physiological measures.

Neuropsychology Lab

Examine the brain and its relation to the emotional, physical, cognitive and social behaviors in people. You’ll delve into the long-term effects of brain injuries and neurological diseases, perform brain dissections to study the physiology of pathological states and use clinical neuropsychology tools to evaluate IQ, learning and memory.

Paglia Research Lab

Each year students conduct community-based research projects with local partners like the YWCA, New Hampshire Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Boys & Girls Club and more. The Paglia Research Lab is entirely devoted to this research, giving you the privacy you need to conduct phone interviews, securely store focus group, interview and survey data, and prepare your findings.

SENSATION AND PERCEPTION LAB

This multi-purpose, two-room teaching and research laboratory gives upper level students hands-on experience in visual perception. You’ll conduct research individually, in teams and with faculty, using industry tools like a Wheatstone stereoscope to project 3D images, pump-based chair for subject positioning and computer-controlled LED-based colorimeter for experiments in color-naming and color-matching.

Our Psychology program gives you the scientific skills to answer questions about human behavior and physiology, as well as the communication and critical thinking skills that stand out to employers in any industry.

Psychology is a highly interdisciplinary field that opens doors to limitless career and graduate education opportunities, including areas like education, human services, research, business and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects positive growth in many related professions between 2012 and 2024, translating to vast possibilities for your future.

Job Title Job Growth Median Salary
Guidance Counselor 8% $53,660
Marriage and Family Therapist 19% $43,190
Mental Health Counselor 29% $40,080
Psychologist 19% $72,580
Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary 13% $72,470
Public Relations Manager 7% $104,140
Recreational Therapist 12% $45,890
Social Worker 12% $45,900
Sociologist -1% $73,760
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor 22% $39,980

Internships

Our campus is in the heart of the region’s cultural, economic, entertainment and government activity — putting unlimited internship opportunities at your doorstep. We’ve partnered with local businesses to give you the real-world experience that sets you apart. Psychology majors have interned at many high-profile organizations in the area, including:

  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire
  • Easter Seals
  • The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester
  • Sununu Youth Services Center
  • The Webster House
  
Senior Capstone

The Senior Capstone puts your classroom learning into action through an internship or hands-on research project.

  • The internship course is largely designed to serve community partners and local counseling venues, such as YWCA, Manchester Mental Health Center and the Easter Seals of New Hampshire. You’ll get real-world experience helping to tackle a nonprofit organization’s every day and ongoing problems.
  • The research option allows you to work with faculty to explore subjects like perception, comprehensive neuropsychology and childhood anxiety prevention. You’ll develop hypotheses, collaborate with classmates, perform community-based research and collect and analyze data to present at the Undergraduate Research Conference.

Add a unique perspective on society and human behavior to your degree with our Psychology minor, giving you the skills and credential that will set you apart to potential employers.

Course Sequence

Interested in a sample course sequence for this program?

Download a copy of the major sheet

Course Schedule

Visit courses.unh.edu and select "Courses at Manchester" to see our course schedules and descriptions.