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Psychology

B.A., B.S., Minor

Rorchach Test - Psychology Major

Psychology is bigger than you think. Our students study topics ranging from eyewitness memory and homicide to snake behavior and mental health stigma. Through independent research projects, psychology majors have examined how family processes shape child development in different cultural contexts and how race influences lineup identification. Hands-on internships in the community enable students to participate in early interventions for autism or behavioral training of service animals.

Psychology majors gain a scientific understanding of how humans think, feel, and behave in a complex socio-cultural ecosystem. They question assumptions and practice critical thinking. Our students learn to organize information, solve problems, design experiments, interpret statistics, and communicate effectively.

Tracks

Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.)

Psychology Major (B.S.)

Study child, clinical, cognitive, biological, social/personality, and general psychology.

Psychology Major/Concentration in Clinical and Counseling Skills (B.A.)

Features courses in counseling theory and technique, psychological assessment, and professional development, as well as child, abnormal, and personality assessment.

Supervised field placement is required and guaranteed for psychology majors (concentration in clinical and counseling skills).

Psychology Minor

Along with Introduction to Psychological Science, students take four additional psychology courses at the 200 level or above.

Psi Chi

International Honor Society

Psi Chi is an international psychology honor society created to encourage excellence in scholarship and the advancement of the science of psychology in students. Icons of the field, such as B.F. Skinner, Florence L. Denmark, and Albert Bandura, explored the fascinating workings of the mind, emotions, and mental health while members of this honor society. As the largest student psychological organization, with academic tools and mentorship available, Psi Chi has impacted over 750,000 members, including those at Hollins.

"April Arnold ’19 came to Hollins after completing a two-year degree in early childhood education at a local community college. Now, she’s using her psychology degree from Hollins to launch a career as an adolescent counselor."

April Arnold '19

Yareli Sosa Antunez ’23 collaborated with Assistant Professor of Psychology Caroline Mann on a major project focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among Latino men.

After taking PSY 101, I realized psychology was the career for me. I went on to obtain M.A.s in forensic and clinical psychology at George Washington University, and am now pursuing doctoral studies in clinical psychology there.

Andoyn Medina

“The psychology department helped me realize my potential. Throughout my time at Hollins I was able to work on three different research projects and present two of those at the annual Southeastern Psychology Association conference.”

Hildana Abebe ’25 is passionate about working with children with autism. She is majoring in psychology with a concentration in clinical and counseling skills, which she says has offered her “a deep dive” into autism and other disorders. She plans to go on to graduate school to study Applied Behavior Analysis, a therapy that has proven to be helpful to those on the autism spectrum.

Hildana Abebe

Psychology Research

Graduate faculty are looking for students with research skills, professional presentations, and publication opportunities already in place. At Hollins University, psychology majors have a number of computers and laboratories dedicated to student research. Faculty laboratories are available for training, lab classes, and collaborative research.

Facilities include:

  • Radio-shielded rooms with state-of-the art EEG
  • Neurotherapy, biofeedback, and cognitive science equipment
  • Several animal labs
  • Library of behavioral, cognitive, and neuropsychology assessment instruments

Psychology majors have the opportunity to present their research at Hollins’ annual Science Seminar, Virginia Psychological Association convention, and other national and regional professional conferences. They may also participate in colloquia series presented by other regional colleges and universities.

Hollins students have continued with graduate school studies in medicine; psychiatry; experimental, school, social, and clinical psychology; social work; and physical therapy. Recent graduates have been accepted at:

  • University of Virginia
  • University of North Carolina
  • University of Connecticut
  • George Mason University
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • University of Southern California

Careers in Psychology

Some psychology majors choose graduate school after completing their undergraduate education. Others are eager to immediately start their careers. Psychology majors can enter many fields after graduation and have gone on pursue fulfilling work in:

  • Rehabilitation
  • Family counseling
  • Therapy with children
  • School psychology
  • Community relations
  • Research
  • Human resources
  • Advertising, TV, and other media