Psychology
The study of psychology is an important part of an undergraduate liberal arts education, providing a unique perspective on human behavior that enhances understanding of other disciplines. Our Bachelor of Arts degree program is excellent preparation for those who plan to pursue an advanced degree in psychology or are interested in careers ranging from management and social work to medicine and law. Students also are invited to join Psi Chi, our psychology club/honor society.
Program of Study
Psychology is the science devoted to understanding human behavior and the human mind: the processes that shape normal and abnormal behavior and development; the ways in which people relate to one another and their environment; and the biological, environmental and interpersonal influences on adaptation. Students may declare a psychology major after completing a two-course general psychology sequence and the first research methods course. Majors must complete a second research methods course, and a set of laboratory and non-laboratory courses from such core areas as personality, development, social psychology, learning and memory, and biopsychology. A wide range of electives, including Psychology of Language, Psychopathology, Psychology and Law, Psychology of Women, and Psychology of Close Relationships, allow students to explore their individual interests. Students also may earn credit for field work and research projects.
Psychology students may elect to integrate their major programs with other areas of study. Although minors are not required, Psychology majors may choose to complete minor programs in areas that complement their development and career goals (e.g., Sociology, Women’s Studies, Management, Political Science). Majors also may contract to complete teacher licensure at either the K–6 level or as K–12 Reading Specialists.
Post-Graduate Opportunities
After graduation, some psychology majors go directly into positions at public and private mental health facilities, halfway houses, social service agencies, health care and promotion facilities, and private counseling centers. Others pursue graduate study in fields such as psychology, social work, medicine and law. Since admission to doctoral psychology programs is often as competitive as medical school, students should maintain a high grade-point average and actively seek opportunities for undergraduate research or volunteer experiences.
Undergraduate Research
- Faculty members often mentor student projects or include students in ongoing projects. Examples of past research experiences include:
- The effects of conspicuous facial jewelry on perceived attractiveness, presented at the Carolinas Psychology Conference (student project).
- Development of a scale for measuring neophilia, the desire to seek out novel experiences (student project).
- Field study on infant attachment among Alaska Natives (with student funding from UNC Asheville’s Undergraduate Research Program).
- Studies on reading and attention using eye-tracking equipment.
- Other topics including environmental psychology, health psychology, cross-cultural psychology, psychology and law, visual perception and navigation, and more.
- Student-mentored or assisted research has been presented or published in many venues, including the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Southeastern Psychological Association, The Journal of Experimental Psychology, The Psychology of Women Quarterly, The American Journal of Community Psychology, and many others. Past Psychology Department graduates have attended a wide variety of prestigious graduate programs, including Brown University, University of Michigan, University of Tennessee and Duke University.
Faculty
All of our 12 full-time faculty members hold doctoral degrees and have expertise in diverse specialties, including personality, clinical/counseling, social, health, biopsychology, cognition, learning and development. They are dedicated to undergraduate education. In addition to their normal course loads, many work one-on-one with psychology majors on independent or collaborative research projects. Each psychology major receives a faculty advisor whose interests parallel his or her own.
Did You Know . . .
- More than two dozen UNC Asheville psychology graduates provide services in Western North Carolina.
- About two-thirds of our graduates attend graduate school within five years.
- The Psychology Department ranks first in number of majors at UNC Asheville.
- Our active chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, serves as our student psychology club.
More Information
Psychology Department
Carmichael Hall, CPO #1960
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804-8508
828.251.6422