Psychology

Type of Offering

Major Minor Concentration

College

Arts & Sciences School of Health, Life Sciences, and Education

Some people wonder, “What can you do with a psychology degree?” We wonder, “What can’t you do?” Employers in every field – from education to business, social services to health care – seek out people who have special insights into human behavior. At ONU, we’ll expose you to many possible career paths and help you find one you’re passionate about.

As a psychology major, you may choose to focus your studies on general psychology, clinical/counseling or brain and behavior. Each course of study combines rigorous coursework with extensive research experience. You’ll work side-by-side with professors in the lab designing and conducting experiments. You’ll develop essential skills in leadership, teamwork, communication and critical thinking.

Large institutions just can’t provide the individualized attention and opportunity you’ll find here. Our psychology majors assist professors with grant-funded research and co-author papers for professional journals. They study abroad,��do practicums with school psychologists, and at both child and adult care facilities. They work with national datasets, lead student organizations, and present their research at regional and national conferences.

Here, you won’t get lost in the crowd. You’ll be part of a close-knit family. You’ll enjoy small class sizes and amazing friendships. Our dedicated professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, research, internships, and post-graduate or career preparations. They will become personally invested in your success and open doors for you.

Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for whatever the future holds – whether it’s attending graduate school or embarking on that first job. The field is truly wide open!

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Psychology Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

Our flexible curriculum enables you to double major or add a minor in an area of interest. Your foundation courses will be complemented with a wide variety of courses like Introduction to Neuroscience; Child Psychopathology; Child Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Health Psychology; Multicultural Psychology; The Stressed Brain; Psychology of Personality; and Abnormal Psychology.

- History of psychology
- Biological sciences
- Psychological theories
- Psychological principles
- Forensic psychology
- Social psychology
- Developmental psychology

Dive in and Do Research

The research opportunities we offer rival what you’d find in graduate school. As early as your freshman year, you may find yourself working alongside your professors in their research labs. Our professors have impressive publication and presentation records. Their research explores relevant and interesting topics including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep deprivation, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, and opioid addiction.��Some labs are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which means you’ll get to work on high-level, federally funded research as an undergraduate.

psychology professor giving a lecture to students

psychology student raising her hand to participate in a classroom lecture.

In this lab, Dr. Zoladz examines the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on rats with hopes of understanding how such stress results in physiological and behavioral symptoms that are comparable to symptoms of PTSD that are observed in humans. Students working in this lab gain experience in animal husbandry, experimental design, stress manipulations, data scoring and poster/manuscript preparation. Research in the lab has been funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Students who have worked in this lab have pursued doctoral work in translational science, neuroscience and biological science.
In this lab, Dr. Zoladz examines the impact of acute stress on memory formation with hopes of understanding basic physiological and behavioral factors that impact the development of traumatic memories. Students working in the lab gain experience in experimental design, data collection in human participants, data scoring, data analysis and poster/manuscript preparation. Research in the lab has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Students who have worked in the lab have pursued doctoral work in neuroscience, cognitive psychology and clinical psychology.
In this lab, Dr. Johnson explores topics related to cognitive functioning (procrastination, ADHD) and how cognitive interventions may alleviate cognitive impairments in early childhood, particularly as it applies to childhood lead exposure. Students working in the lab gain experience in developing studies, running participants, managing and analyzing data, and presenting research at regional and national conferences. Students develop useful skills and knowledge that will benefit them in graduate school.
In this lab, Dr. Kraynok conducts extensive research on the connection between sleep and quality of life. Her work has garnered international attention. Students working in the lab gain experience in data collection and analyzing, and have consistently had opportunities to present and publish research findings.

I think that being able to combine my two favorite things – traveling and psychological research – for my third summer in college is just the best thing ever.

Kayla Boaz - Fulbright Student

Read more about Kayla's Fulbright Internship

Get Out in the Field of Psychology

Practicums get you out of the classroom and into a real world setting. There, you can observe firsthand, explore career options, and practice your skills in real life situations. What better way to gain experience and figure out your passions?

Get hands-on experience interacting with preschool-aged children at ONU’s Child Development Center located on campus. You’ll conduct observations of developmental milestones and develop and enact age-appropriate tasks for the children. The center, which received the five star Step Up to Quality rating by the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, is opening a new 4,000 square foot building in fall 2022.��

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With an aging population in the U.S., it’s advantageous to gain a level of comfort interacting with the elderly, especially if you’re considering a career in the medical or mental health fields. Vancrest is an assisted living facility in Ada, Ohio, that is only a five minute drive from campus. You’ll conduct observations of the developmental stages of aging and develop and enact activities for the residents.��

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Gain insights on the day-to-day life of a school psychologist in a public school setting. This practicum takes place at Bellefontaine Public Schools, an approximately 40-minute drive from ONU’s campus. You’ll observe the administration of cognitive and academic assessments used within the public school system to determine student strengths and areas of needs. You’ll observe evaluation team (ETR) and individual education program (IEP) meetings for students from preschool through 12th grade. And, you’ll observe least restrictive environments based on a child’s individual needs either within an inclusion setting, resource room or separate location. Throughout the practicum, the school psychologist will share insights on top issues related to the community/family/child strengths and needs and the role of the school psychologist in different settings. When possible, other professional development opportunities may be offered through local, regional or state agencies.��

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I absolutely love the psychology program at ONU. I have learned not only so much about people and behaviors, but also so much about who I am. A therapist or psychologist has to know their own identity and culture in order to help others, and this program has helped me to do just that.

Lydia Burnett, psychology major

Career pathways in psychology

When you major in psychology, many rewarding career paths open to you. Human behavior applies to every field, making psychology a versatile program of study. Where you end up is completely up to you. ONU psychology graduates, guided by their interests and aspirations, embark on diverse career pathways, yet they share one thing in common: success.

Alexandra (McGinness) Berni, BA ’13

Health coach, Noom

Matt Holliday, BA ’08

Institutional Research Analyst Senior, University of Michigan

Andrea (Kalchik) O’Rear, BS ’14

Assistant Professor of Psychology, St. Mary’s College

End game: a fulfilling psychology career

The study of psychology will prepare you for a wide-range of careers or graduate school. Check out where you could end up.

Careers in Psychology:
• Academic Counselor
• Art therapist
• Child psychology
• Child welfare worker
• College/university professor
• Counseling psychologist
• Developmental psychologist
• Experimental psychologist
• Family and marriage counselor
• Forensic psychologist
• Human resource advisor
• Law school
• Physical therapist
• Physician
• Psychiatric social worker
• School psychologist
• Rehabilitation specialist
• Behavioral technician
• Clinical Psychologist
• Pediatric Psychologist
• Social Worker

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

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Your health, safety and future are in good hands at Northern. We offer a host of services to keep you informed and meet your needs while you are on campus.

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Psychology

Psychology Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

Dive in and Do Research

Get Out in the Field of Psychology