Psychology (BA)

Why USF for Psychology?

The University of Saint Francis psychology program combines foundational knowledge with personalized, hands-on learning experiences. Our rigorous psychology curriculum stays up to date with emerging speciality areas and subfields, ensuring our students are equipped for today’s marketplace.

Specialty Courses Designed Around High-Growth Areas

With a broad range of courses and electives, you can tailor your psychology studies to fit your career goals. You might consider classes such as:

• Sports Psychology
• Industrial Organizational Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Health Psychology

There’s been rising interest in sports psychology degrees and careers helping others perform at their physical and mental best. Our sports psychology course was designed to give you an introduction to this growing field.

Field Experience: Research, Internships & Service-Learning

Field experiences are an integral part of your USF education. As a psychology major, you’ll participate in at least one of the following:

Psychology Internships

Learn from psychology professionals in a range of real-world settings. Our partner sites include:

• Bowen Center
• Caring About People
• Children’s Autism Center
• Easter Seals/ARC of Northeast Indiana
• Salvation Army
• Turnstone

Faculty-Mentored Research

Dig deeper into an area you’re passionate about through an independent research project.

Cross-Cultural Experience +  Service-Learning

This Special Studies course culminates in a mission trip to Haiti, where you and your classmates will serve the mental health needs of the local community.

Our Faculty

You will learn in small classes from knowledgeable, caring faculty members such as:

• Dr. Monica Heller is a research scientist and expert in human growth and development.

• Adam DeVille has taught at USF since 2007, first in philosophy and theology and now in psychology, where he is an associate professor who also maintains a part-time private practice in psychotherapy.

• Dr. Mario Baldassari is an innovative teacher and memory researcher who applies his work in the classroom and to various intersections of psychology and the law.

These and other faculty and staff members will mentor and guide you throughout your psychology studies at USF.

Campus & Community Involvement

USF psychology majors are active on campus, in the local community and in the psychology field. Opportunities for involvement and professional development include:

• Class trips to Chicago-based community health and social service organizations
• Traveling to the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference
• Joining Get Psyched!, the student-led psychology club

Another campus club that might interest you is Criminologists in Action. And, if you’re drawn to the idea of sports psychology degrees or positions, you’ll love cheering on (or being part of) Cougar Athletics.

I transferred to USF during my freshman year, and I’m so glad I did. My goal is to be a speech-language pathologist, so I wanted a psych program that would prepare me for graduate school. USF’s has given me the courses and internships I need to be a strong candidate.

Kendra (Siefring) Wenning ’20
Graduate student at University of Akron

Career Opportunities: What You Can Do With a Psychology Degree

From schools and social services agencies to organizational and sports psychology, degrees in this versatile field lead to settings and specialities of all kinds. Possible roles include:

• Admissions counselor
• Behavioral health technician
• Case manager
• Crisis counselor
• Employment specialist
• Family therapist
• Human resources specialist
• Law enforcement officer
• Marketing specialist
• Mobile outreach counselor
• Psychology technician
• Research assistant
• Skills coach

According to the American Psychological Association, about 25% of psychology majors pursue a graduate degree. If you’re interested in a career as a licensed counselor or clinician, your bachelor’s degree can serve as a foundation for advanced psychology studies.

Where You’ll Find Our Graduates

USF psychology majors start and grow their careers with organizations such as:

• Applied Behavioral Center for Autism
• Bowen Center
• Child’s Play Autism Centers
• Cornerstone Autism Center
• Crossroad Child & Family Services
• DeKalb County Central United School District
• Lifeline Youth & Family Services
• Lutheran Health Network
• Meridian Health Services
• Metropolitan School District of Wabash
• Parkview Health
• San Jose Clinic
• Sky Point Social Services

Graduate & Professional School Opportunities

If you’re interested in a career as a counselor, clinician or school psychology, your bachelor’s degree can serve as a foundation for advanced study in the field.

Our students have also been accepted into graduate and Ph.D. programs at institutions such as:

• Ball State University
• Marian University
• Ohio Northern University
• Purdue University of Fort Wayne

I had a job waiting for me after graduation. I’ll be an educational diagnostician with the Wabash-Miami Area Program for Exceptional Children, while I pursue my master’s and specialist degrees in school psychology, at USF, of course.

Jack Givens ’20, psychology major