Psychology (BA/BS)
Unlock the secrets of the human mind.
When you choose to major or minor in psychology at Mary Baldwin, you’re committing to deepening your understanding of the complexities of the human psyche. From unraveling the mysteries of behavior to exploring the inner workings of the mind, our comprehensive curriculum will empower you with knowledge and skills needed in a wide range of socially impactful fields.
- Time to Completion4 years
- FormatOnline, On Campus
- Degree(s)Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science - MinorPsychology
- NeighborhoodEducation & Society
Next steps
Why study psychology at Mary Baldwin?
Mary Baldwin University’s psychology degree program is designed to help you develop and apply a scientific understanding of mind and behavior. Through hands-on research and opportunities, you’ll develop critical thinking, deep analysis, and oral communication skills that are highly sought after by employers.
You can choose from in-demand areas of emphasis, including:
- Child psychology
- Elder care
- Forensic psychology
- Mental health
- Occupational and physical therapy
Our program teaches you to collect, analyze, and interpret your own data. You’ll leave having conducted your own research project and prepared a manuscript of your findings, which may even be presented publicly. This kind of lab work is almost unheard of for most undergraduates, and will leave you prepared and confident to enter the workforce.
Flexible Degree Options
Tailor your educational journey by pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Additionally, we offer psychology as a minor or post-baccalaureate certificate program, providing flexible options of study for students with diverse academic interests. The psychology program is available in-person at our Staunton campus and online.
A bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours of study.
Next steps
The relationships I was able to build with instructors created such an amazing learning experience. And I can’t just single out one or two — so many of them went out of their way to help me discover my passion and figure out what I want to do for the future.
Cauy Duboise ’22Psychology major
Students love our courses
Here is just a sample of the engaging courses you’ll take as a psychology major:
Gain an understanding of the knowledge and professional skills you need to succeed in the field. Topics include vocational assessments, tools for academic success, occupational choices, writing empirical papers, and prepping for grad school.
Examine cognitive, socio-emotional, language, and gender development from infancy through late childhood from different theoretical perspectives, with an emphasis on methodology. Environmental and biological influences on children’s behavior are also considered. Implications for parents, teachers, and others who work with children are discussed.
Explore issues of social justice through the lens of social psychology, with a strong emphasis on international perspectives, organizations and policies. Readings include recent empirical social-psychological literature on the major themes of this course, like: Human rights, human trafficking and prostitution, refugee experiences and issues, labor laws and rights, origins and responses to mass violence, peace and conflict resolution.
Explore the Neighborhood
This major is part of the Education & Society Neighborhood. Neighbors live together their first year, study and take classes together, and enjoy special curated activities.
Careers That Count
According to the American Psychological Association, a bachelor’s degree in psychology is versatile for across numerous career fields. Possible careers with a background in psychology include:
- Career Information Specialist
- Career/Employment Counselor
- Child Development Specialist
- Child Welfare/Placement Caseworker
- Disability Case Manager
- Employment Counselor
- Health Care Facility Administrator
- Human Resource Advisor
- Labor Relations Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Occupational Analyst
- Preschool Teacher
- Project Evaluator
- Psychological Stress Evaluator
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist (PSR)
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Veterans Counselor
- Victims’ Advocate
You can also go on to graduate degrees in:
- Business
- Law
- Medicine
Specialize in specific areas of practice including:
- Animals
- Children
- Crime
- Rehabilitation
- Social work
- The environment
- The military
Next steps
Our Faculty
Our faculty are deeply invested in the academic and professional success of our students. With a passion for teaching, these educators go above and beyond, providing mentorship, personalized guidance, and exciting hands-on research opportunities.
Cost & Financial Aid
A great education is worth it. Mary Baldwin offers generous financial aid packages and a broad range of scholarships. Our mission is to help you bring your aspirations to life.
MBU helps you fast-track your path to a psychology degree with the opportunity to transfer up to 18 credits (6 courses) through direct course equivalents from the Virginia Community Colleges System.
