Psychological Sciences
Niche ranks the Loyola Psychological Sciences program #2 in the state of Louisiana (and #1 as a smaller liberal arts university)
Psyc Colleges ranks our program in the top 20% in the United States
Academics
The Psychological Sciences program exposes students to the scientific study of behavior and encourages an increased understanding of the behavior of humans and animals. Students who complete the major requirements receive a Bachelor of Science degree.
Why Choose Psychological Sciences
Approximately 300 College of Arts and Sciences students have decided that a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Sciences offers them the career and academic preparation they want. Based on the information about our graduates in the past 10 years, approximately one third of these students will continue on for a graduate degree in some area of psychology (clinical, counseling, industrial, experimental, or some other area). In addition, another third will seek an advanced graduate or professional degree in a related area (law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, social work, business, or other fields).
Our graduates have traditionally done well in their graduate and professional school careers. There are endless careers and jobs for graduates who have a B.S. degree from Loyola, a solid foundation in psychology, a strong natural science background and marketable skills.
The Psychology Department regularly offers courses in Introductory Psychology, Developmental, Social, and Abnormal Psychology. Other courses include Physiological Psychology, Psychology of Learning, Cognition, Clinical Psychology, Psychopharmacology, and many more.
There are two formal Psychology majors: the traditional major and the Psychology Pre-Health major. It is very much like a double major in Psychology and Pre-Health with courses taken in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. We think the degree is attractive to a number of more biologically-oriented psychology graduate programs as well as to medical/dental, and other health professions.
Research
Our faculty conduct research on an expanse of areas including PTSD, virtual reality, autism spectrum disorder, primate behavior, sex differences and the brain, bilingualism, happiness, environmental decision making, and other fascinating areas of psychological sciences. We are one of the only universities in Louisiana with an EEG machine (and faculty who can train undergraduate students to use it) and with a state-of-the-art rodent neuroscience facility. Undergraduates become involved in research by joining a faculty research team, conducting independent studies, and/or by taking our Senior Research/Senior Thesis class.