The Science Behind Human Decisions Psychology is the scientific study of how and why people think, feel, and respond to the world around them. It explores forces that shape the human experience, including how cognitive processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving affect our thoughts and emotions; how social influence, media, and organizational dynamics drive group action; and how cultural identity and human decision-making differ across the globe. From healthcare and education to law enforcement and marketing, the insights psychology provides are valuable and applicable across many professional fields, making it a degree that opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities.

Why Study Psychology at Champlain?

Experience the Champlain Advantage Our Psychology program is focused on applied, cross-disciplinary learning, giving you a strong foundation in psychological science and opportunities to stack skills on top of it. With 30 flexible credits built into the major — that’s an entire year’s worth of courses — you’ll have the freedom to explore psychology through different contexts or other interests. With both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees offered, you also have a clear path to go on to graduate school or clinical psychology if you choose. Plus, you'll have opportunities to expand your worldview and understanding of human nature by studying, interning, or completing a co-op abroad. Our advisors are dedicated to helping you make these opportunities a reality.

What will I learn while studying Psychology?

By the time you graduate, you will… Understand what drives people. Analyze individual and group behavior across diverse contexts, such as business, media, and technology, and explain the psychological forces behind them. Think critically about influence. Evaluate how social dynamics, culture, and technology shape how people make decisions, form identities, and interact with one another. See the world through a different lens. Apply cultural and global perspectives to psychological theories and understand how different societies, traditions, and ways of life influence who we are and how we relate to one another. Communicate with clarity and professionalism. Translate complex psychological concepts into clear, ethical, and culturally-aware communication for any audience. Design and conduct real research. Apply qualitative and quantitative methods, work with data, and use your findings to address real-world challenges.

What’s the difference between the BS and the BA in Psychology?

Both the Psychology BA and BS are built on the same core foundation, but differ in depth and flexibility. The BS (Bachelor of Science) includes curated courses in research, making it the stronger choice for students who want to deepen their skills in psychological research, data analysis, and evidence-based practice. If you're considering graduate school, clinical psychology, or pursuing a career that requires a strong research background, the BS is the path for you. The BA (Bachelor of Arts) offers more freedom to shape your academic experience around your interests. With 24 credits of open electives, you’ll have space to explore another field, pursue a passion, or build expertise in an area that complements your psychology studies. If you’re looking to jump into a professional career right after college or pair psychology with something uniquely your own, the BA is the path for you.

Psychology Degree

Develop an understanding of human behavior through professional field experiences, research, and hands-on application.

psychology student presenting mental health statistics with a poster display

Program Types: Major (BS, BA)

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

Build a Career Around Understanding People

From your very first semester, you’ll explore the factors that shape individual and group action, and address real human needs.

Through internships, co-ops, and hands-on projects, you’ll put psychological principles into practice, applying them directly from the classroom to your professional field. You’ll learn how to combine foundational concepts, research methods, and critical thinking skills in ways that challenge ideas and turn curiosity into action. By the time you graduate, you’ll not only have a degree, but the experience to back it up.

What is Psychology?

The Science Behind Human Decisions

Psychology is the scientific study of how and why people think, feel, and respond to the world around them. It explores forces that shape the human experience, including how cognitive processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving affect our thoughts and emotions; how social influence, media, and organizational dynamics drive group action; and how cultural identity and human decision-making differ across the globe.

From healthcare and education to law enforcement and marketing, the insights psychology provides are valuable and applicable across many professional fields, making it a degree that opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities.
Why Study Psychology at Champlain?

Experience the Champlain Advantage

Our Psychology program is focused on applied, cross-disciplinary learning, giving you a strong foundation in psychological science and opportunities to stack skills on top of it. With 30 flexible credits built into the major — that’s an entire year’s worth of courses — you’ll have the freedom to explore psychology through different contexts or other interests. With both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees offered, you also have a clear path to go on to graduate school or clinical psychology if you choose.

Plus, you’ll have opportunities to expand your worldview and understanding of human nature by studying, interning, or completing a co-op abroad. Our advisors are dedicated to helping you make these opportunities a reality.
What will I learn while studying Psychology?
By the time you graduate, you will…
- Understand what drives people. Analyze individual and group behavior across diverse contexts, such as business, media, and technology, and explain the psychological forces behind them.
- Think critically about influence. Evaluate how social dynamics, culture, and technology shape how people make decisions, form identities, and interact with one another.
- See the world through a different lens. Apply cultural and global perspectives to psychological theories and understand how different societies, traditions, and ways of life influence who we are and how we relate to one another.
- Communicate with clarity and professionalism. Translate complex psychological concepts into clear, ethical, and culturally-aware communication for any audience.
- Design and conduct real research. Apply qualitative and quantitative methods, work with data, and use your findings to address real-world challenges.
What’s the difference between the BS and the BA in Psychology?

Both the Psychology BA and BS are built on the same core foundation, but differ in depth and flexibility.

The BS (Bachelor of Science) includes curated courses in research, making it the stronger choice for students who want to deepen their skills in psychological research, data analysis, and evidence-based practice. If you’re considering graduate school, clinical psychology, or pursuing a career that requires a strong research background, the BS is the path for you.

The BA (Bachelor of Arts) offers more freedom to shape your academic experience around your interests. With 24 credits of open electives, you’ll have space to explore another field, pursue a passion, or build expertise in an area that complements your psychology studies. If you’re looking to jump into a professional career right after college or pair psychology with something uniquely your own, the BA is the path for you.

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Different By Design

Hands-On Experience

You’ll conduct research and complete internships and co-ops, take part in community-based projects, and collaborate in class, building the research, analysis, and communication skills that employers look for.

Close-Knit Community

You’ll learn in smaller classes and have a built-in community of supportive faculty, students, and staff. Each class is led by working professionals, which means you get personalized attention, mentorship, and strong connections that follow you well beyond graduation.

Innovative Curriculum

Customize your degree with our 30 flexible credits — a full year of coursework built around you. Pair psychology with cybersecurity, criminology, forensics, or wherever your curiosity takes you.

Facts & Stats

89%

of Psychology graduates in the Class of 2024 achieved career success within six months after graduation.

$94,310

The annual median salary of psychologists in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sample Courses in the Psychology Degree

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

PSY 220 Developmental Psychology

PSY XXX Psychology of Media and Technology

PSY 3XX Psychology of Creativity & Play

PSY 4XX Culture, Identity & Global Psychology

See the Learning Outcomes for the Psychology major

View Full Curriculum

A study of the physiological, cognitive, social and emotional development of individuals from infancy through old age. Important milestones during the years of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging are explored. (Spring only)

Prerequisites	PSY-100 or COR-110.
Credits	3

Prerequisites
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Prerequisites
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Prerequisites
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Your Career Outlook

With a Champlain Psychology degree, you’ll be ready for graduate school or jobs like:

Psychology BA

Market Research Analyst
Talent Acquisition Specialist
School Counselor

Psychology BS

Clinical Psychologist
Licensed Therapist
Social Worker
Behavioral Analyst

Our programs prepare you for immediate entry into fields like market research and talent acquisition. The Bachelor of Science degree in psychology also provides a strong foundation for graduate studies for roles such as a Clinical Psychologist or Licensed Therapist.

You’ll graduate with job skills employers want, plus the confidence that comes from hands-on learning in a supportive community.

Meet Reid Anctil

Class of 2022

More About Me

Reid Anctil

Class of 2022

Programs	Psychology Degree
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.

More Inside Psychology Degree

Overview

Develop an understanding of human behavior through professional field experiences, research, and hands-on application.
Curriculum

Champlain's Upside-Down Curriculum puts hands-on experience at the center of your psychology education, so you graduate ready, not just qualified.
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 Degree