Undergraduate degrees: BA or BS
Undergraduate minor
About the major
From cognitive and developmental psychology to practices in clinical psychology and psychopathology, the UO’s Department of Psychology immerses you in the study of the human mind and behavior. All students collaborate on research as part of their academic sequence and many gain additional research experience in department labs. You will learn strong critical thinking skills and how to evaluate and convey evidence. Develop your skills in real-world settings with student-run peer programs, internships at local clinics, shelters, hospitals, and justice centers.
We are a community of scientists including faculty and postdoctoral scholars engaged in cutting-edge research. The psychology major will expose you to basic concepts, theories, findings, and ethical issues in multiple areas: social, personality and psychopathology, developmental, cognitive and experimental, and biological and physiological psychology.
A little more info
- Undergraduates have opportunities to engage in hands-on research and develop career-related skills at over 25 labs including the UO’s Child and Family Center, the Center for Translational Neuroscience, the Oregon Social Learning Center, and local women’s shelters.
- Community-wide practicum opportunities are available for students interested in working with high schools, social justice organizations, and even the Lane County juvenile justice system.
- The Lewis Integrative Science Building houses half of the department’s faculty, labs, and graduate students as well as cutting-edge technologies, such as a new MRI machine.
- The department’s honors club, Psi Chi, promotes and encourages scholastic achievement in psychology.
Career opportunities
An undergraduate degree in psychology provides the background for a broad range of careers including social services, education, law, and graduate programs in psychology.
Some students major in psychology to prepare for graduate training and careers in related fields such as personal relations, vocational and personal counseling, medicine and dentistry, social and case work, marketing, administration, legal work, and counseling in public schools. Others prepare for careers as academic psychologists (teaching and research), clinical psychologists (mental health centers, institutions, and private practice), industrial and organizational psychologists, and government psychologists (testing, research, and administration).