Psychology BS

Maria’s psychology degree program is unique to what you might find elsewhere. It provides students a great deal of flexibility–one third of the credits are electives! You may select seven (7) psychology elective courses and an additional 24 free elective credits, enabling you to transfer credits from another major or develop an area of specialization.

A Customized Approach

Maria students start the program with, “Exploratory Psychology.” This course helps students investigate a wide range of job descriptions within the field. This experience, along with faculty advisement, will help guide you to develop a pathway and academic plan that is right for you. You will be able to choose elective courses that best fit with your career or graduate school aspirations. We are also very transfer friendly. Click here to see the articulation agreements we have with SUNY community colleges (Columbia-Greene, FM, and SCCC). Many of Maria’s psychology students and credits started at other institutions and were able to transfer college credits seamlessly into Maria’s psychology programs.

Career or Graduate School

Some students enroll in our program as preparation for graduate school or immediate entry into the workforce after earning their bachelor’s degree in psychology. Depending upon your goal, your Maria adviser will help you design a track that fits your objectives:

Career Track

This track will help you develop a career pathway for when you graduate. An internship, designed by you and your adviser, will be the cornerstone for transforming relevant knowledge and skills into a career plan for entering the workforce.

Graduate School Track

Depending upon your career goals and specialized area in the psychology field, applying to a master’s degree program might be your recommended pathway. Your Maria adviser will help you structure a study plan that will fully engage you in the research experience, often required for graduate study, with also an assigned independent research project or internship with a research focus.

An Internship Experience to Prepare You for the Field

Maria’s psychology program focuses on work-readiness. As a psychology major, you will be required to complete an internship. Your academic adviser will help you find an opportunity that reflects your interests.

You will also take two courses on research methods and have the option of participating in undergraduate research. The combination of work- and research-related experience helps ensure that you graduate with the necessary preparation, whether you choose to continue your education or begin your career. For more information about degree programs in psychology, contact our admissions office. Register for a visit today!

Program Learning Goals & Outcomes

Goal 1: Knowledge Base in Psychology

1.1 Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology.
1.2 Develop a working knowledge of psychology’s content domains.
1.3 Describe applications of psychology.

Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking

2.1 Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena.
2.2 Demonstrate psychology information literacy.
2.3 Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving.
2.4 Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research.
2.5 Incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry.

Goal 3: Ethical & Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

3.1 Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice.
3.2 Build and enhance interpersonal relationships.
3.3 Adopt values that build community at local, national, and global levels.

Goal 4: Communication

4.1 Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes.
4.2 Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes.
4.3 Interact effectively with others.

Goal 5: Professional Development

5.1 Apply psychological content and skills to career goals.
5.2 Exhibit self-efficacy and self-regulation.
5.3 Refine project-management skills.
5.4 Enhance teamwork capacity.
5.5 Development meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.

Course Overview

Group I: Psychology Core (27 credits)
Course		Credits
PSY 100	General Psychology	3
PSY 102	Exploratory Psychology	3
PSY 205	Interpersonal Psychology	3
PSY 350	Research Methods I	3
PSY 360	Research Methods II	3
PSY 400	Internship in Psychology	6
PSY 430	History and Systems of Psychology	3
PSY 450	Capstone in Psychology	3
Group II: Psychology Electives
(Select 7 courses with three at 300/400 level)
PSY 200	Developmental Psychology	3
PSY 201	Psychology of Learning	3
PSY 202	Adolescence Psychology	3
PSY 203	Child Psychology	3
PSY 204	Psychology of Abnormal Behavior	3
PSY 209	Psychology of Aging	3
PSY 232	Positive Psychology	3
PSY 270	Social Psychology	3
PSY 300	Organizational Psychology	3
PSY 315	Psychology of Criminal Behavior	3
PSY 320	Psychology and the Media	3
PSY 330	Psychology of Terrorism	3
PSY 340	Cognitive Psychology	3

Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses
(48 credits)
Cultural Studies (6 credits): CUL 310, CUL 410

English (12 credits): ENG 111, ENG 211,
ENG 300 or 400 level electives (6 credits)

History (6 credits): HIS electives
Religious Studies/Philosophy (12 credits):
RES 201, 9 credits of RES/PHI electives

Science/Mathematics (9 credits): MAT 106,
MAT 200; any BIO/CHM/PHY/SCI elective

Sociology (3 credits): SOC 101

Free Electives (24 credits)
18 credits at any level
6 credits at the 300/400 level

Course Sequence

First Year: First Semester
Course		Credits
ENG 111	Composition I	3
PSY 100	Intro to Psychology	3
SOC 101	Intro to Sociology	3
RES/PHI	Religious Studies/Phil. Elective	3
	Free Elective	3
		15
First Year: Second Semester
MAT 106	College Algebra	3
PSY 102	Exploratory Psychology	3
PSY 205	Psychology of Interpersonal Relations	3
RES/PHI	Religious Studies/Philosophy Elective	3
	Free Elective	3
		15
Second Year: First Semester
ENG 211	Critical Inquiry and Writing	3
MAT 200	Statistics	3
HIS	History Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 200 Level Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 200 Level Elective	3
	Free Elective	3
		18
Second Year: Second Semester
RES 201	Foundations in Social Justice	3
BIO/CHM/PHY/SCI	Science Elective	3
HIS	History Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 200 Level Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 200 Level Elective	3
		15
Third Year: First Semester
CUL 310	Cultural Studies I	3
PSY 350	Research Methods I	3
ENG	English 300/400 Level Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 300/400 Level Elective	3
	Free Elective	3
		15
Third Year: Second Semester
CUL 410	Cultural Studies II	3
PSY 360	Research Methods II	3
RES/PHI	Religious Studies/Philosophy Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 300 Level Elective	3
	Free Elective	3
		15
Fourth Year: First Semester
PSY 430	History and Systems of Psychology	3
ENG	English 300/400 Level Elective	3
PSY	Psychology 300/400 Level Elective	3
	Free Elective, 300/400 Level	3
	Free Elective, 300/400 Level	3
		15
Fourth Year: Second Semester
PSY 400	Internship in Psychology	6
PSY 450	Capstone in Psychology	3
	Free Elective	3
		12

Articulation Agreements
Transfer Agreements
- Columbia-Greene Community College graduates with AS in Social Science to BS in Psychology at Maria College
- Fulton-Montgomery Community College graduates with AA in Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies to BS in Psychology at Maria College
- Schenectady County Community College graduates with AA in Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Services with concentration in Psychology to BS in Psychology at Maria College
Graduate Agreements
- Maria College graduates with BS in Psychology to MS in Forensic Mental Health at the Sage Colleges
- Maria College graduates with BS in Psychology to MS in Counseling and Community Psychology at the Sage Colleges

Psychology BS

By studying human behavior, you will learn how people think and how they act, so you can improve lives and effect change in the world.

Psychology BS

By studying human behavior, you will learn how people think and how they act, so you can improve lives and effect change in the world.

Psychology BS

What can I do with this major?

What can I do with this major?