UB Programs At-A-Glance

Psychology B.A.

Department of Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences
283 Park Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4110

Phone: 716.645.3650, ext. 283
Fax: 716.645.3801
Web: wings.buffalo.edu/psychology
Email: cmgreen@acsu.buffalo.edu

Paul A. Luce
Chair

James R. Sawusch
Director of Undergraduate Studies

Christa M. Greenberg
Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies

About the Department

The Department of Psychology at UB, established in the 1920s, is situated in Park Hall. This modern building has state-of-the-art facilities for psychological research including specialized equipment for monitoring eye movements and autonomic responses, and for measuring the concentrations of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain.

The Psychological Services Center provides facilities for individual and group therapy, including marriage counseling and therapy with children. Many opportunities are available for undergraduate students to become involved in research with faculty and graduate students, primarily through independent study.

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate: B.A., B.S.
Graduate: M.A., Ph.D.

About Our Degrees

Objectives

Psychology is the science of behavior and the mind. In both the B.A. and the B.S. programs, the study of psychology provides an understanding of basic processes of sensation, perception, learning, cognition, development, and personality along with principles of social psychology, clinical psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. Knowledge of psychological principles and of scientific methods for evaluating theories and research in the social sciences is essential in our rapidly changing society.

Acceptance Criteria

Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite courses before full acceptance.

Provisional Acceptance

Students who have completed 60 credits but have not completed the prerequisite courses or have not achieved the minimum GPA of 2.5 may be provisionally accepted.

Acceptance Information

Deadline: Rolling

Degree Requirements

See the Undergraduate Catalog.

Transfer Policy

Transfer students who bring psychology coursework to UB must meet the same criteria for acceptance into the department as students who start at this university. Students may transfer coursework required for admission into the department, as well as aulitional psychology coursework; however, courses taken in statistics and research methods, as well as upper-level psychology courses, must be evaluated and approved by the department. A minimum of three upper-level psychology courses must be taken at UB.

About Our Courses

The typical class size for:

Freshman/introductory courses: 400
Sophomore/intermediate courses: 200
400-level/advanced courses: 30-40

Suggested Introductory Courses for B.A.


For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.

About Our Faculty

Please see the Psychology department web site's information on faculty and staff.

Special Academic Opportunities

Honors Program

The Psychology department honors program is open to a limited number of seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 both overall and in psychology. The yearlong program involves the development and execution of an original research project under faculty supervision. This program is particularly helpful for students who plan to pursue graduate study in psychology or related disciplines.

Research Experience

Many opportunities are available for undergraduates to become involved in research in psychology with department faculty and graduate students, primarily through PSY 499 Independent Study.

Independent Study

PSY 499 Independent Study is available to students who have completed PSY 207 Psychological Statistics and PSY 250 Scientific Inquiry. The purpose of independent study is to allow students to pursue a program of study and general experience, for a semester or longer, that would not be available through regularly scheduled courses. Enrolling in independent study requires permission of a faculty sponsor.

Extracurricular Activities

Undergraduate Psychology Association

The Undergraduate Psychology Association (UPA) is open to all students. This organization sponsors guest speakers on topics of interest to psychology students, workshops on topics such as applying to graduate schools, social activities for students and faculty, travel to regional and national psychology conferences, and an undergraduate graduation ceremony.

Psi Chi [National honor society in psychology]

Psi Chi was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to psychology majors who have a minimum GPA of 3.1 overall and 3.4 in psychology courses. The UB chapter of Psi Chi sponsors workshops on careers in psychology and social activities for students and faculty.

See the UB Student Association

Career Information

Skills gained in this program include:

Using insight to deal effectively with people; promoting good relationships with a group; applying knowledge of human needs/problems to counseling/crisis intervention; using interviewing techniques in investigative, reporting, social service, or marketing research; conducting surveys and interpreting results; analyzing statistical data, using computers and assisting in lab research; conducting library research; and writing reports.

Transferable Skills:

Managing, interpreting, editing, advising, organizing, problem solving, detail orientation, writing, teaching, speaking to groups, reading critically, reasoning, analyzing, statistical analysis, ability to think conceptually, evaluating evidence, advising, selling, and observing human behavior.

Career Choices

The undergraduate degree in psychology does not make you a psychologist or professional counselor - it does provide you with an excellent liberal arts background and is valuable for almost any type of work focused on people.

Students who earn a B.A. or B.S. in psychology will be well-prepared for graduate study in psychology and related mental health fields, graduate study in medicine, education, law, or business, and other careers that require a good understanding of individual behavior and interpersonal relations.

There are many fine career possibilities, including: Advertising manager, behavior modification management, caseworker, child-care worker, clinical psychologist, college or university professor, community planner, computer programmer, counselor, (vocational, rehabilitation, probation, alcohol and drug), criminal justice (law enforcement, criminologist), educator, employment counselor, government programs and agencies, graduate school (all types, including law school, medical school, dentistry), guidance counselor, hospitals and mental health facilities, industrial management/business, medical technician, mental health worker, occupational therapist, personnel manager, probation officer, psychology aide/technician, public relations specialist, research/advertising, research assistant, research psychologist, sales, school psychologist social and community agencies, social worker, special education worker, teacher (elementary and secondary), therapist, vocational rehabilitation counselor and youth worker.

Work settings include:

Students with a bachelor's degree who pursue work after graduation typically work in aspects of business, government, health, education, and other areas requiring an understanding and sensitivity to behavioral dynamics. Approximately 40% of all psychologists in the USA and Canada work for business and industry, government agencies, hospitals and clinics or in private practice as well as clinical or consulting agencies. The other 60% are employed in colleges/universities, elementary and secondary schools.

Salary Information

Salaries range greatly from one occupation, position, and work setting to another. According to the April 1998 NACE national salary survey for bachelor's degree graduates in psychology, the average salary was $26,766, with salaries ranging from $15,000 to $39,000.

Aulitional Resources


Two excellent resources for current, detailed career information are:

Links to Further Information About this Program