Overview
Matthew Bereza, Chair of the Division of Behavior Sciences
Psychology is the science of behavior and the physiological, affective, and cognitive processes associated with behavior. Psychology is also the profession that applies the science of behavior to practical problems. Psychology is an interdisciplinary scientific field that draws on theories, concepts, and methods of inquiry from neighboring natural science and social science disciplines. All inquiry in psychology is guided by the scientific method, an evidence-based process of answering questions about behavior that involves forming theoretical explanations and testing those theories against real-world observations.
The psychology department at St. John Fisher University offers the following undergraduate degree programs:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology
The B.A. program prepares students for advanced degree programs at the master’s level and higher, and provides ample flexibility for students who want to combine their interests in psychology with their studies in another area (e.g., business, education, pre-law, pre-med). Students in the B.A. program must have a minor area of study, choosing from a wide variety of programs in consultation with their advisors.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology
The B.S. program places greater emphasis on research experience, quantitative skills, and breadth of study in the subfields of psychology, and is best suited for students who plan to pursue graduate degrees in psychology or related fields. A minor is not required of students in the B.S. psychology program.
Fast-Track to Mental Health Counseling
The Department of Psychology also offers a five-year fast-track program with the Masters in Mental Health Counseling which allows students to complete their undergraduate degree early and transition into the graduate program during their fourth year.
Community Engaged Learning
Students in the Department of Psychology do not just learn within the classroom – they also apply what they learn to real-world environments. This can include fieldwork experiences, research opportunities in local organizations, and courses that connect students with members of the community to apply what they are learning within a course. These experiences broaden and diversify the educational experience of our students and strengthen their collaborations with the local community.
Fieldwork
Our fieldwork program enables students to engage in and earn course credit for applied experiences beyond their academic course work in psychology. Students may take a fieldwork course (PSYC 490) for 1–6 credits (see note below). In addition, the course may be repeated. During a fieldwork placement, students are required to work three hours per credit, per week (e.g., 9 hours a week for students enrolled in 3 credits) for 13 weeks at a public or private agency approved by the field experience supervisor. Contacts are available at many existing fieldwork sites. The department also works individually with students to find placements that are relevant to their career goals.
Student Research Opportunities
Students may receive course credit for faculty-guided reading and research (PSYC 496) on a variety of topics. This may occur during the semester or in the summer, when there is the possibility for a summer stipend. We also offer an Honors Program for qualified psychology majors during their junior and senior years, which allows them to work closely with faculty members to undertake more challenging reading and research (PSYC 496H/499H) in their own area of interest.
Students may take a combination of fieldwork and research opportunities (PSYC 490, PSYC 496/497, PSYC 496H/499H) for a total combined number of credit hours not to exceed 12. Location of PSYC 490 may be repeated/maintained for a total of 6 credits per location. PSYC 496/497 may be repeated with a faculty member on a specific project for up to 6 credits per project.