Psychology Major (BA)

person with brain showing overlapped by various waves across

Bachelor's degree in psychology

Explore the roots of human behavior with a major in psychology at Hamline University, and learn everything from theory to career applications. As you develop your skills in our immersive courses, our department will help you find an internship where you can apply your talents in fields as varied as clinical psychology, neuroscience, mental health and addiction, business, health care, and child services. 

Students can also work in the research department with a faculty mentor and may have the opportunity to design their own research or work with archival national data sets on foundational topics in psychology. The department is outfitted with labs for each faculty member on our faculty's study subjects, including: 

  • Child development
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical health psychology
  • Mental health
  • Addiction
  • Social and political psychology

You'll meet future colleagues and expand your network through Psi Chi, our honor society in psychology. Faculty also work together to offer events and extracurricular opportunities to deepen students' appreciation and understanding of scientific, applied, and practice-oriented psychology.

We also offer an opportunity to transfer to Hamline and finish your bachelor's degree in psychology online. Check out our online psychology major for degree completers.

Student research opportunities

At Hamline, students participate in research with faculty as early as their first year, something usually reserved for graduate students at other institutions. You'll design and conduct your own research project based on your individual interests and goals.

The list of possible research projects is as varied as our students. For example, picture yourself:

  • Examining how family environment and relationships influence development of school-aged children
  • Exploring the role of sibling relationships in young adulthood
  • Investigating how genetics and environment influence human development across the lifespan

During your research process, you’ll collaborate with scientists at major research institutions, publish your research in scientific journals, and present your work at local, regional, and national conferences.

I'm surprised how much I've grown at Hamline. When I started in Eric's lab, I was all over the place. Then, as I progressed, ideas started to connect, concepts really opened up to me, and my other courses started to interconnect, too. It's been cool to link what I'm learning in an English course to a part of the brain.

Tyler Pham '23, psychology, biology, and neuroscience; clinical research coordinator at MNGI Digestive Health in Minneapolis, MN

Paid internships for psychology students

We make sure you leave Hamline with work experience in the field of psychology on your resume. And the opportunities are boundless. Whether you want to explore a career in research, counseling, social work, psychiatry, or beyond, we have paid internship opportunities for you.

Examples of past psychology student internships include:

  • Bridges MN (Adult Care), direct support professional
  • The ARC Minnesota, self-advocacy ally
  • Jeremiah Program, child development care intern
  • Fraser, mental health technician
  • Bold Pediatric Therapy Center, pediatric occupational therapy intern
  • Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), CLUES economic & employment services intern
  • Asian Women United of Minnesota, domestic abuse intern
  • St. David's Child Development and Family Services, supportive living services support staff
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Hamline alumni Ann Muhvich in graduation cap and gown

I chose Hamline because here, being a psychology major means being involved in hands-on research and coursework. Those experiences prepared me for graduate school and a career in human capital consulting. And five years later, I'm still connected to my professors and classmates!

Ann Muhvich Tormey '16, psychology; senior human capital consultant at Deloitte

Explore career paths

Our innovative courses and one-on-one mentoring by faculty will give you the tools to succeed in a variety of jobs, such as:

  • Licensed psychologist
  • Licensed alcohol and drug counselor
  • Social worker
  • Forensic psychologist
  • Industrial organizational psychologist
  • Child psychologist
  • Community outreach specialist
  • Neuropsychologist
  • Public relations specialist
  • Health and wellness counselor

Take your studies further

Our graduates have gone on to medical and graduate schools across the country in the pursuit of master’s and doctoral degrees. Examples of programs and schools include:

  • Master of Addiction Studies program, University of Minnesota
  • Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, St. Thomas University 
  • Master of Social Work, Augsburg University
  • Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine, Stillman Medical School, Missouri
  • Masters in Addiction Studies, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School
  • Master of Art in Occupational Therapy, Saint Catherine University
  • Master of Arts in Education, Hamline University School of Education and Leadership
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, UC San Diego
  • Masters of Human Resources Management, University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management

Hamline-Hazelden Betty Ford graduate school partnership

You can jump-start your postgraduate degree in addiction and mental health through Hamline's partnership with the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies (LADC and LPCC licenses).

The Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies considers Hamline University students' early applications for its graduate-level programs. Here are some fast facts about the process:

  • To qualify, students must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.30 at the time of application
  • Applications will be considered up to 18 months before the applicant's expected enrollment at the Hazelden-Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies
  • Applicants must meet the admission requirements as specified on the Hazelden-Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies website
  • The application process includes letters of reference, an interview, and a personal essay

Interested students are encouraged to complete four or more of the following Hamline University courses, as well as an internship in psychology or related disciplines like criminal justice or public health sciences, prior to their matriculation to the Hazelden-Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies: 

  • Abnormal psychology 
  • Addictive disorders
  • Psychopathy and antisocial personality disorders
  • Applied health psychology
  • Disorders of childhood
  • Psychology of emotion
  • Clinical psychology
  • Theories of psychotherapy
  • Cross-cultural psychology

To apply or learn more, contact Serena King at sking02@hamline.edu or visit the Hazelden-Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies website.

Psychology news

Asp_Morocco
February 19 2024 / Inside Hamline News

Asp presents at Misinformation Symposium in Morocco

Dr. Erik Asp joined several of the world's leading researchers for a symposium on the science of epistemology, misinformation, and disinformation in...