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This program is tailored for individuals seeking to understand human behavior—both typical and atypical—along with research methodologies and practical applications. Students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects or complete hands-on practicums. Graduates pursue diverse careers in human services, corporate environments, or research labs, while some advance to professional programs like medicine or law, or continue psychology studies at graduate levels. Students can choose between Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree tracks.
Psychology systematically examines cognition, actions, and human experiences. While often linked to clinical practice, the field encompasses vital scientific disciplines including cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational, and social psychology. These specialties share a commitment to rigorous scientific inquiry, applying findings to both theoretical frameworks and real-world applications. Modern psychology increasingly incorporates neuroscience approaches to explore mental processes. Professionally, psychology intersects with healthcare, education, business management, personnel development, social services, and beyond. Psychological principles apply to nearly every human activity, offering graduates exceptionally varied career trajectories that mirror this disciplinary breadth.
The majority of Penn State’s applications come from traditional, first-year students. The following types of students are considered first-year applicants (or freshman applicants, as some refer to them): Current high school student in his or her senior year; Student who has earned a high school diploma or a GED and has no post-secondary coursework; Student who has attempted 17 or fewer credits (semester hours) of college coursework at a regionally accredited college/university before attending Penn State; Current high school student who may have enrolled in another institution(s) before graduating from high school (dual enrollment); Student who may have attended Penn State on a nondegree basis.
English Language Proficiency
The following are ways in which you can satisfy the language proficiency requirement: TOEFL: A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 550 on the old paper exam and a minimum of 20 in each section of the new paper exam (code #2660); IELTS: A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test.