Psychology Major

Study human motivations in a career-focused Psychology major that prepares you for this dynamic field.

psychology student presenting mental health statistics with a poster display

Program Type: Major (BS)

School/Division: School of Social Innovation

Required Experiences: On-Campus Employment Opportunities; Study Abroad; Internships

Let us help you find...: Admissions & Aid; Current Students College Catalog; Related Majors

Transform Your Understanding of Human Behavior Into Career Success

Today’s employers actively seek professionals who understand human motivation, behavior, and decision-making across diverse settings.

At Champlain, you’ll start applying psychological principles your first semester and graduate with two completed internships—giving you the real-world experience employers value in this growing field.

What is Psychology?

The Science Behind Human Decisions

Psychology explores why people think, feel, and behave the way they do—insights that are invaluable in nearly every industry. You’ll develop skills to analyze behavior patterns, understand motivation, and implement evidence-based strategies that drive results in professional settings.

Through hands-on projects and research, you’ll learn to apply psychological principles to real-world challenges in business, healthcare, education, and community development—preparing you for immediate career success.
Why Study Psychology at Champlain?
Experience the Champlain Advantage

Our Upside-Down Curriculum puts you in psychology courses immediately—not after two years of general education. You’ll benefit from:
- Immediate application of psychological concepts in real-world settings
- Small classes led by faculty who are practicing professionals
- Integrated career development starting in your first year
- Hands-on research opportunities typically reserved for graduate students
- A supportive campus community that fosters professional connections
In our student-centered program, faculty mentors help you discover your specific interests and guide you toward the psychology career path that matches your goals and strengths.
What will I learn while studying Psychology?
By the time you graduate, you will…
- Apply ethical principles to professional situations using American Psychological Association standards
- Implement psychological concepts and theories to solve workplace and community challenges
- Analyze situations using culturally-informed perspectives essential in today’s diverse environments
- Design and conduct research that delivers actionable insights for organizations and clients
- Develop evidence-based intervention strategies that address real human needs

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Why Study at Champlain?

Two Required Internships

Graduate with professional psychology experience already on your resume. Our program includes two required internships—one in your second year and another in your fourth year—giving you hands-on experience employers value.

Proven Success Metrics

Our psychology graduates achieve a 100% career success rate within six months of graduation, with 95% either employed or continuing their education over the past six years.

Built-In Career Support

Early in your studies, faculty integrate Career Collaborative services into the classroom to build both your professional experience and confidence.

Facts & Stats

100%

of Psychology graduates in the Class of 2023 achieved career success within six months after graduation. That’s success you can see.

$92,740

The annual median salary of psychologists in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sample Courses in the Psychology Major

Our curriculum builds both theoretical understanding and practical application skills that employers value. You’ll take courses in:

PSY 205 Abnormal Psychology

PSY 202 Research Methods & Analysis II

SCI 115 Human Biology, Introduction to

PSY 340 Behavioral Neuroscience

See the Learning Outcomes for the Psychology major

View Full Curriculum

The course examines the prevalence of mental and emotional problems and provides an overview of the many forms that psychological disorders can take. There will also be some discussion of assessment and therapy. The course will cover assessment and treatment of psychological problems from psychodynamic, behavioral and humanistic perspectives.

Prerequisites	PSY-100
Credits	3

Students will expand their knowledge and skills by conducting individual quantitative research projects using the scientific method and appropriate statistical procedures and software. Students will report their findings in a formal written report and presentation to an audience of faculty members and peers.

Prerequisites	PSY-201 and MTH-180.
Credits	3

Explanation of the basic principles of medically oriented human biology. The course investigates basic biology, cell biology and biochemistry as they pertain to human body systems and diseases such as AIDS, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, as well as other selected topics. Current research topics are also discussed. Laboratory sessions are designed to reinforce, by a hands-on approach, the principles discussed in lecture. Course includes two laboratory hours per week.

Prerequisites
Credits	4

Students will learn to understand the structural and functional organization of the nervous system in health and disease, and will gain awareness of the research and technological advances in the field of neuroscience. Students will gain knowledge they can apply to other areas of psychology.

Prerequisites	Complete SCI-115 and 60 credits. Complete 3 credits from subject PSY Complete 3 credits from subject PSY, level 200
Credits	4

Your Career Outlook

You’ll Find a Career In…

Clinical psychology
Addiction & intervention strategies
Marketing & advertising
Product design & development
Child psychology & family counseling
Neuroscience research
Law enforcement & criminal justice

Meet Reid Anctil

Class of 2022

More About Me

Reid Anctil

Class of 2022

Programs	Psychology Major
Class	2022
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Massachusetts

Can you talk about some of the challenges that undergraduate students face and how well-being strategies might help them?

Towards the end of the semester, you usually have finals or midterms, and there’s usually a lot of stuff coming at you. In the well-being courses, they discuss different tools such as deep breathing that you can use in the moment to calm yourself down and keep going. We discussed something called Zorro circles, and it’s basically like taking something big and breaking it down into small components so it seems more manageable. Instead of like, “Oh, I’m going to go out and write this 100 page paper about a movie,” you break it down to introduction, the different things you’re going to talk about, and you break it down into those small pieces so it’s like, “Oh, I just have to do the introduction today. Oh, I only have to write five sentences here.” So I think that’s how well-being helps. And then it also helps with everyday stress because life doesn’t really follow a set plan. You might have a plan, and then it takes a left turn and you’ve got to figure out how to adapt to that. Positive psychology and well-being are all about looking at how you can adapt and still stay positive despite changes.

Can you describe some of the ways that well-being is infused into the student experience at Champlain?

To start with the courses, they have the positive psychology course, which is called the Mindcraft Course with Dr. Quinn, which is really fun. I really enjoyed it, I took it freshman year. And then I’m currently taking a music and well-being course, Music for Health and Well-being with Dr. Colombo, which is about all these tools that you can use to improve your well-being and change your perspective and outlook. In EHS, Psychology is a smaller major, so the professors all know you. If you need a break, you can talk with the professors. Sometimes I’ve had times where the whole class was feeling stressed about something and we mentioned it to the professor, and the professor’s like, “Here’s how it will change that up,” or “Here’s how we’ll move the schedule around so that it’ll work best for you guys.” And they can still get the stuff that they want in, but they’re just kind of more mindful of where people are at. I think they really try to build breaks and stuff into the classes.

Can you describe the resiliency workshops to me and tell us a little bit about what you’re getting out of them?

So, the resiliency workshops have been a collaboration with Champlain, Harvard University, and Mass General Hospital in Boston, and they’ve had Dr. Aude Henin comes in. She talks us through resiliency training once a week for an hour. It’s always really fun. I look forward to it every Wednesday. It’s like a little break in my day that I get to do resiliency and mindfulness stuff. Basically, she’ll review what we’ve talked about the previous week, talk about how we’ve applied it in our lives, talk about it with the group, then she’ll teach us a new concept, a new tool that we’ll practice with her in the space. And then she gives us a little assignment to do in between this day and the next week. It’s all about looking at it through your personal life, like how you’ve experienced these different things that she talks about and how the resiliency workshop can help you get through those obstacles that you’re facing.

Psychology

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More Inside Psychology Major

Overview

Study human motivations in a career-focused Psychology major that prepares you for this dynamic field.
Curriculum

Your career in psychology begins now with Champlain’s Upside-Down Curriculum. Discover the difference that doing on day one has on your success.
Faculty

Learn more about the experienced professionals leading Champlain College's psychology program who are dedicated to teaching and mentoring you.
Learning Outcomes

Uncover the secrets of how the human mind functions with Champlain College's Psychology program.

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Psychology Major