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Psychology

B.A. in Psychology

The objective of the Psychology major is to provide students with a variety of courses and experiences that reflect the diversity of the discipline. The courses in psychology aim to provide students with an understanding of the causes and patterns of behaviors, thoughts and emotions, with an emphasis on the formation of a scientific attitude and an appreciation for the complexity of the individual's role in society. Students will receive a general introduction to all major areas of psychology, exposure to the research methodology that is used in the collection of data, exposure to courses that address the experimental and laboratory aspects of the field and exposure to courses that focus on the social, developmental and applied aspects of the field.

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Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • describe key psychological concepts, theories, principles, content areas and their historical context within the field.
  • communicate effectively about psychological concepts using APA format, content and style.
  • evaluate psychological research e.g., sources, methods and results.
  • apply psychological concepts to experiences in and out of the classroom.

Career Outlook

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"Dr. Starrs and Dr. Stillwell saw me through so much of my identity development and my academic development. Without them, I would not have gotten teaching assistant experience, research experience, psychopathology experience, and support needed to buoy my intrigue of psychology — which ended up being extremely valuable here in graduate school.”

Serena Rockingster ’19 Alumna from the psychology program
From Hobby to Hollywood

When Brett Bull ’17 arrived at SUNY Potsdam as a psychology major, he never expected that his side music projects would lead to a career in the music industry. After working in the studio with a music producer during his final years at SUNY Potsdam, his music has continued to gain traction. After joining the Crucial Music Corporation—which focuses on placing music from independent artists in blockbuster films and television shows—his song “Hit the Strip” has been chosen for the Hollywood film, “Anora!”.

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Leader of the Pack

As Dr. Karen Davis stands at the front of the classroom discussing her lifelong dedication to the examination of animal behavior, she draws on one anecdote after another as a researcher, zookeeper, and Wolf Curator. With a master’s degree in neuroscience and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, her students benefit from her extensive education, research, and life experience.

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Forging a Leadership Path

Riley Notarthomas ’23 has taken a range of skills from his time at SUNY Potsdam to positively impact struggling youth in a wilderness therapy program in Vermont, while also being a leader back at SUNY Potsdam where he has returned to teach courses in the wilderness education program.

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Branching Out

When Joseph Agori ’23 first arrived at SUNY Potsdam, he planned on keeping his head down, going to class, and getting his degree. Instead, he shed an inherently introverted mentality to become a leader on campus. As a resident assistant, peer counselor, student ambassador, and president of the rugby club—he took advantage of every opportunity that came his way.

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Working Hard for Others

A magna cum laude graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a minor in women’s and gender studies, Serena Rockingster ’19 sees herself as a professor and clinical psychologist far down the road of her future. Rockingster could have gone many places for her advanced degree, but she stuck close to the North Country in hopes of setting up a counseling practice that will help bring healing to Vermont’s underrepresented populations. 

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Making a Difference

After becoming a certified nursing assistant in high school, and helping patients dealing with mental illness at a hospital in Long Island, Cristina Jiménez ’20 realized that she wanted to become a clinical psychologist. She enrolled at SUNY Potsdam to pursue a double major in psychology and Spanish to make a difference in her community.

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Hands-on Learning

After being recruited to play hockey at SUNY Potsdam, Delphine Léonard ’20 discovered a rewarding academic path in the Department of Psychology. She joined Dr. Claire Starrs’ SUNY Stress & Coping Lab, which allows students to take skills from the classroom and apply them in a real-world setting. The hands-on experience allowed her to examine the psychological side effects of women diagnosed with breast cancer—looking at depression and coping strategies in a sample of women through a set of clinical interviews.