LMU's Psychology major helps students examine in depth the foundations and biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of human and animal behavior.
The Psychology major provides students the ability to apply these perspectives to a variety of individual, family, and community contexts. As students progress through the curriculum, they have opportunities to assist faculty with research, as well as engage in their own research under faculty supervision.
A background in psychology can be a crucial component of a successful career in the healing arts, business, and politics. The program prepares students for graduate study in psychology and related fields, as well as careers in various professions.
Is This Major Right for You?
You might be a Psychology major if you:
- Are interested in understanding behavior
- Enjoy critical thinking
- Like science and research
- Like in-depth learning and analysis
- Have an interest in healing
Explore More About This Major Below
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Majors learn how the human mind functions. They learn about psychology as a discipline that uses an empirical approach to knowledge. Majors learn to use, respect, and value skeptical inquiry, critical thinking, and the scientific approach to understanding behavior.
Psychology majors also examine theory and methodology, demonstrate mastery of content, understand the application of knowledge and the scientific method, and comprehend biopsychosocial development across a lifespan.
Our students have access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Students participate in The Psychology Society, an on-campus and largely student-run organization, as well as in organizations such as Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society, and Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society.
Our students may join the Human Subject Pool, which allows them to participate in research conducted through the Psychology Department and acquire direct experience in social science research. Students may also participate in LMU’s P.R.O.S.E. (Psychological Research on Synthetic Environments) Project and its online component, LMU Psychology Island.
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Our faculty members are experts in fields such as adulthood and aging; African American, Asian American, and Latino mental health; behavioral neuroscience; chemical dependency; clinical psychology; cognitive psychology; evolutionary psychology; stress management and burnout; and urban youth violence.
Faculty members conduct research and regularly present papers at conferences in this country and abroad. Faculty direct nonprofits, are members of professional associations, serve on editorial boards of journals, and publish books and articles in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Neuropsychology Review, Brain and Language, Substance Use and Misuse, and The Urban League Review.
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Our graduates' expertise in human behavior is applicable to careers requiring interaction with other people. This means that administration, education, sales, counseling, writing, and computer programming – varied though they might seem – are among the myriad professional possibilities open to our graduates. Students also go on to attend graduate school.
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- Introduction to Psychology
- Statistical Methods for Psychology
- Brain and Behavior
- Research Methods
- Adulthood and Aging
- African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic mental health
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Chemical Dependency
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Community Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Family processes and Counseling
- Religion and Psychology
- Sex Differences
- Social Psychology
- Substance Abuse
- Stress Management and Burnout
- Urban Youth Violence