Department of Psychology
Psychology is behind everything we do. Explore the human mind. Understand how people interact with each other and what drives behavior. Learn more about the human experience and make lives better.
Whatever career you pursue, a background in psychology—the scientific study of behavior—enhances your employability. Just as importantly, it helps you understand yourself and others.
Psychology teaching and research cover four distinct areas:
- Clinical Health Psychology: how mental, emotional and social factors affect physical well-being.
- Cognitive Psychology: understanding fundamental mechanisms underlying cognitive and neural processing—how we think, perceive, remember, forget, solve problems, focus and learn.
- School Psychology: assessment and intervention to improve learning, behavior and mental health among children and adolescents.
- Social Psychology: study of thought and behavior in social and physical environments.
Check out our research page.
You have many study options—a bachelor of arts major, a bachelor of science major and a minor. Opportunities for undergraduate research helps you apply what you learn in class, find a mentor, improve your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and pursue a topic that fascinates you.
What can I do with a psychology degree?
According to the 2019 Princeton Review, psychology is one of the ten best majors in terms of job prospects, salaries and popularity.
When you study psychology, you gain skills to succeed in graduate school, professional school, and the workplace. Professional psychologists may be researchers investigating behavior and/or practitioners applying their knowledge and skills to individual and social problems.
Psychology degrees can lead to positions in:
- Public and private healthcare
- Education
- Mental health support
- Law
- Social work
- Therapy
- Counseling
- Child development
- Media and advertising
- Human resources
- Business and management
Psychology faculty are distinguished psychologists known for the highest achievement in research, a strong commitment to teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and active engagement in community settings.
There are no events in this category right now, but please check the University calendar for many other options.
Upcoming Events
Ongoing Events

(May 1, 2023)
Expanding Summer Research Opportunities Through SU-STARPsychology Professor Aesoon Park was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to welcome undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds to Syracuse University for summer health research.

(Dec. 20, 2022)
Addressing Trauma Through WritingJillian Scheer, the Cobb-Jones Professor of Clinical Psychology in A&S, is one of five recipients of a 2022 Walter Katkovsky Research Grant from the American Psychological Foundation.

(Dec. 20, 2022)
Psychology Professor Part of Two NIH Grants to Advance Alcohol and Drug Use Disorder ResearchStephen Maisto, professor emeritus of psychology, is an investigator on two projects funded by the National Institutes of Health totaling over $5 million.

(Dec. 12, 2022)
A&S Psychology Professor Offers Tips to Enjoy the Holidays in New York Times ArticleProfessor Afton Kapuscinski provides advice on how to manage the season’s overwhelming schedule.