Psychology

Transylvania University’s psychology degree allows you to apply your understanding of human behavior to careers in a variety of settings—clinics and hospitals, K-12 schools and universities, corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations. It encourages psychology majors to critically evaluate empirical and theoretical perspectives regarding the nature of the mind and of behavior. Our location in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky, provides many opportunities for careers and internships and collaboration with professionals in laboratory, clinical and non-profit settings.

 We are proud of our psychology students’ growth in their abilities to think and write critically and to understand complex ideas. Psychology alums often report that they feel better prepared for graduate school than their fellow graduate students. 

Melissa Fortner, associate professor of psychology

Psychology is one of the many academic disciplines that pursue questions about what makes us human. Students will develop the tools needed to pursue scientific scholarship in the field of psychology while getting opportunities to deepen their problem-solving, communication and critical thinking skills as their studies in psychology intersect with other academic areas.

Transylvania has a dynamic group of faculty representing the major sub-disciplines in psychology, allowing students broad exploration and knowledge in the field, which is experience that employers and graduate schools value. Our program encourages students to critically evaluate empirical and theoretical perspectives regarding the nature of the mind and of behavior.

Where Our Graduates Have Worked

Attorney
Child advocate
Client services manager
College professor
Director of adult day care center
Human resources assistant
Mental health specialist
Pharmacist
Project manager
Research technician
School psychologist
Statistical analyst

Opportunities in the Major

Research assistantships for course credit
Conduct original research for course credit
Psi Chi (national honor society in psychology)
Kentucky Psychological Association
Psychology Club

Internships Our Students Have Completed

The Ridge Behavioral Health System
The Nest
Anchor Behavioral Counseling
Arbor Youth Services
Kentucky Horse Park
Lexington Fayette-Urban County Government Family Care Center
UK – Kentucky Neuroscience
Baptist Health Lexington
Marshall Pediatric Therapy
Eastern State Hospital
UK Human Resource Dept.

Courses of Special Interest

Behavioral Pharmacology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Lifespan Development
Motivation and Emotion
Psychology of Gender
Theories of Psychotherapy

Where Our Graduates Have Studied

Arizona State University
Boston University
Indiana University
Purdue University
University of Denver
University of Massachusetts
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Possible Career Options

Art therapist
Clinical or counseling psychologist
College professor
Genetic counselor
Industrial/Organizational psychologist
Lawyer
Minister
Nurse practitioner
Psychiatrist
Public health administrator
Social worker

Semester Study Abroad Opportunities

Australia I
Australia II
Austria
England I
England II
Fiji
Greece
Israel
Netherlands
New Zealand
Scotland
Switzerland
Thailand I

These GlobalTransy programs have at least two courses related to the major.

Interested in studying abroad for a summer? Take a look at our summer study abroad opportunities.

Contacts

Bethany Jurs
Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience; Program Director for Psychology
(859) 233-8616

Stephanie Coriale
Social Sciences Administrative Assistant
(859) 233-8104

Carpenter Academic Center
Transylvania University
300 North Broadway Lexington, KY 40508-1797

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