Undergraduate Studies in Psychology

Psychology is the study of mental processes and the relationship between these processes and behavior. The undergraduate program provides a broad‐based natural and social science approach to the science of psychology. The curriculum stresses methodological skills so that students learn the fundamentals of how to ask and answer questions about the mind, neurology, and behavior; these skills are also applicable to many non‐psychology careers.

Download fact and major information as a pdf here.

Prioritizing student-faculty interaction

The student‐to‐faculty ratio in the school fosters close interaction between faculty and students and provides a personal and friendly learning environment. Undergraduates are encouraged to participate in faculty‐directed research. The Psychology Association and the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society also enhance the environment for undergraduate study.

Theoretical and research training, capstone experience

The curriculum includes general psychology, research methods, statistics, upper-division courses of interest (e.g., cognitive psychology, sensation and perception), lower-division courses of interest (e.g., social psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology), and a capstone experience. Courses in our program are directed toward one of the five research areas in the school: engineering psychology, cognition and brain science, cognitive aging, industrial/organizational psychology, and quantitative psychology. Psychology majors go on to various positions in industry or continue with graduate study in psychology or a related discipline.

Undergraduate research

Undergraduate students working in world renowned research groups in the School have contributed to research that has been presented at national and international conferences and published in leading scholarly journals.

  • Undergraduates Jesse Caswell and Aishu Duggirala conducted research with Professor Paul Verhaeghen on rumination, mindfulness, and well-being, and published in the Journal of Behavioral Sciences.
  • Hope Hazelton, Shela Setton, Metztli Munoz, Evissette Rosado-Lizardi, and Claudia Gomez, working with Assistant Professor Kimberly French, have been collecting data on a large NSF funded study to understand the interplay between workplace recovery and resilience
  • Undergraduate student Marianna Madera gave a research talk at the Better Together conference. She has also co-authored a project with graduate student Emily Gleaton on the topic of emotional reactions to technology; research conducted in Professor Richard Catrambone's lab.

International opportunities

Psychology majors have a wide range of opportunities for undergraduate study at institutions throughout the world. FFurther information can be obtained from the Office of International Education (www.oie.gatech.edu).

Careers

The B.S. program in psychology provides exceptional levels of preparation for admission to graduate study and professional graduate programs (e.g., medicine, veterinary science, pharmacy, law, etc.) Psychology graduates take positions in all types of employment sectors, such as:

Industrial Psychology • Market Research • Forensics • Research and Development • Brain Research • Logistics • Clinical Psychology • Justice • Mental Health Services • Medicine • Human Factors • Human-Computer Interaction • Test Development • High School and College Teaching

More information

For more information, please see psychology.gatech.edu, or contact or contact the school’s undergraduate coordinator, Christopher Stanzione (christopher.stanzione@psych.gatech.edu).

Georgia Tech has the largest voluntary co‐op education program in the nation. Participation in co‐op or internship programs provides financial support for your studies, and invaluable experiences.

Georgia Tech ranks first in the state and 13th in the country in terms of the annual percentage return on investment whereby lifetime salary is compared to tuition costs [1].

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the average salary of psychologists is $92,100 [2].

[1] www.payscale.com [2] https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm