Psychology

Psychology: inside the human experience

Why study psychology?

A degree in psychology helps you understand what makes people tick, why they do what they do, and how to help them do things better.

An undergraduate psychology degree also provides you with a strong background in communication skills, critical thinking, scientific methodology, ethics, and diversity—skills that are in high demand in the workplace.

You can use your degree to help people struggling with mental health issues or addiction. Aid families in need with a career in social work. Or pursue a career in law, business, medicine, or any other field where understanding other humans is beneficial.

What will I learn as a psychology student?

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and change behavior and mental processes.

As an undergraduate psychology student, your education will focus on four major themes:

Psychology as a science
Behavior as a function of person variables, environmental variables, and the interaction of person and environment
Psychology as it has evolved in a socio-historical context, and how its major theoretical perspectives reflect this phenomenon
Socio-cultural context as it influences how psychological concepts are understood and applied

IU Indianapolis psychology specialties include: psychobiology of addictions, health psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, severe mental illness, stereotyping and prejudice.

What can I do with a degree in psychology?

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, your career opportunities will be many and varied.

You could go to graduate school and get the advanced psychology or social work degree you need for a career as a clinical or counseling psychologist, a professor, or a researcher.

However, the vast majority of undergraduates who major in psychology do not go on to earn advanced degrees. Instead, they take a job immediately after graduation. Because our graduates can think critically about behavior and mental processes, they can use their knowledge in almost any setting. Although the job possibilities are too long to list, psychology majors can be found in mental health services, social service, child development, and human resources.

14%job growth expected until 2028—much faster than average

80%of psychology grads find employment related to their degree

$79,000median salary for psychologists

Find the right psychology program for you

Degrees and programs

See all academic programs in psychology

Department website

Visit the Psychology website