Experimental Psychology Program

Conduct research at the undergraduate level so you stand out when you apply to graduate school with the experimental psychology bachelor’s degree program at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. This experimental psychology concentration also prepares you for a psychology career through hands-on clinical experience that puts into practice the theory you learn in the classroom.

Focus on the whole person: body, mind, and spirit

By earning your undergraduate degree in psychology from Franciscan, a Catholic university, you’ll be immersed in a psychology degree program that has a respect for the human person at its core. Through courses taught by Catholic professors who are experts in the psychology field, you’ll grow in your appreciation of the God-given dignity and uniqueness of every person. You’ll learn to care for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

Here are just a few other ways Franciscan’s experimental psychology bachelor’s degree program stands out from the rest:

• Financial aid and scholarships: Receive information about scholarships and financial aid as well as how to apply through the Franciscan Office of Financial Aid.
• Research focus: Be well positioned to pursue your master’s degree and PhD through an undergraduate program in psychology that features research methods and ethics courses. You’ll also stand out from applicants from larger private and public universities by conducting your own research and working with Franciscan University professors on their research projects — as an undergraduate. Your research can lead to publication and to presenting at national conferences.
• Hands-on internships: In your fourth year of study, in addition to your senior thesis or senior seminar, you’ll gain the practical experience you need for your advanced studies through a 150-hour internship in a research setting — anywhere in Ohio or across the United States.
• Psychology honor society: Enhance your degree in psychology by joining the Franciscan chapter of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. Open to undergraduate psychology majors who are in the top 35 percent of their class, Psi Chi membership is an honor you can note on your graduate school application and future applications for psychology jobs. Psi Chi members continue their education more than the average student population.
• Neuroscience minor: Strengthen your Franciscan University psychology degree by earning a neuroscience minor. Choose from electives, such as Animal Behavior and Abnormal Psychology.
• Psychology minor: Round out your Franciscan University education with a minor in psychology. In the light of the Catholic faith, discover the beauty of the human mind, body, and spirit—and develop insights that can assist you in any field of study.
• Experienced faculty: Your psychology professors are devoted to the Catholic Church and to developing you into a joyful disciple of Christ in your future psychology career. They are highly experienced in the field and actively engaged in research. They’ll mentor you — in the classroom and lab — and they’ll often write recommendations for you as you pursue your graduate studies.

By developing strong research skills and ethical research principles grounded in the Catholic faith, you’ll have the experience many private and public universities look for when admitting students to their graduate programs. You’ll also be well prepared to earn a salary in psychology.

Graduate Programs for Experimental Psychology Majors

• Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Master of Arts or Master of Science in Experimental Psychology
• Master of Arts or Master of Science in Psychology
• PhD in Experimental Psychology

Potential Job Titles for Experimental Psychology Majors

• College Professor
• Grant Writer
• Lab Technician
• Product Development Specialist
• Research Assistant
• Research Scientist
• Science Journalist

As part of the capstone experience at Franciscan University, students complete either a senior thesis or senior seminar. Typically, a student begins to identify areas in the field that spark particular interest and excitement. Commonly these areas contribute to the identification of a narrow topic to be explored for the thesis/seminar. In cases of a double major, an integrated topic is often a student’s choice. Both projects allow students to immerse themselves more deeply into a topic of choice related to the field of psychology. Senior thesis is the written form of this project, and seminar is an oral presentation.

View the Psychology Program on the Undergraduate Catalog