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Psychology

Are you interested in understanding the complexities of the human mind? If so, then a Psychology degree may be the perfect choice for you. Through exploring concepts such as behavior, learning, and cognition, you will gain valuable insight into why humans think and do the things they do. McDaniel's Psychology program provides a unique opportunity to uncover the inner workings of humans and can open up new doors to insights that weren't previously available.

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Degree Types
Major,Minor,B.A./M.S. Pathway
Institution
Complementary Programs
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.
Heart
Distinctive Requirements
Capstone
Document
Research Facilities
2 animal labs

Why McDaniel for your Psychology degree?

Earning a Psychology degree from McDaniel College will give you the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to understand and investigate questions of human and animal behavior. Utilizing psychological theories and scientific methods, you'll work on research projects individually or as a part of a team in our modern lab facilities. Through working with clients and organizations in the local community, your acquired skillset can be applied in a real-world environment. You may even have the chance to showcase your research at a regional or national conference.

Pathways to Success: Where will your degree in Psychology take you?

Graduates from McDaniel's psychology program are primed for success. Many decide to continue their studies in Psychology in graduate school and we've been successful in placing our students in leading programs. Other graduates go on to get jobs in the fields of education, business, counseling, and many others.

Recent graduates of our program now have job titles like:

  • Social and Human Service Specialists
  • Higher Education Teachers
  • Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
  • Guidance, Career, and Academic Counselors
  • School Counselors
  • Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Counselors

Check out our pre-medical and pre-professional allied health career advising options for additional guidance.

Master of Science in Counseling (Mental Health and School Counseling) Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Programs

McDaniel offers an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program for students interested in pursuing an advanced degree in Mental Health or School Counseling. McDaniel’s bachelor’s to master’s (BA/MS) pathway programs provide the unique opportunity for academically qualified McDaniel students to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in an accelerated timeframe with less cost.

Learn more about BA/MS Pathway for Psychology Majors

Distinctive Courses in Psychology

PSY 2211 - Abnormal Psychology

The incidence, causes, treatment, and prevention of abnormal behavior of persons; major focus on adult populations.

PSY 2214 - Behavioral Neuroscience

Behavioral Neuroscience investigates the relationship between the brain and behavior.  The first part of the course is designed to provide students with a solid background in the fundamentals of neuroanatomy, nervous conduction and psychopharmacology; this will allow students to actively participate in classroom discussions in the second part, when major issues in behavioral neuroscience such as learning, memory, emotions, sleep, biological rhythms, and stress are investigated.

PSY 2209 - Developmental Psychology

The study of developmental changes from the prenatal period through adolescence, with particular emphasis on how physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development interact in forming the whole person. Special attention will be given to theoretical perspectives, the contexts within which development operates (home/school), and the application of research to current topics.

PSY 3200 - Writing in Psychology

This course is designed as an in-depth foray into writing in the discipline of Psychology. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to write clearly, concisely, and objectively using the format of the American Psychological Association in various formats common in the discipline of Psychology. These objectives will be met with the completion of multiple writing assignments focused on a particular area of Psychology and will require students to read and critically evaluate the primary literature in this area.

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Special Opportunities for Psychology Students

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Pre-Medical Studies and Allied Health Advising

Interested in a career in the medical or allied health fields? McDaniel students have access to advising that is tailored to your desired career path, so you can discover your potential pathways on the Hill.

Psychology Capstone Presentation
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Senior Capstone Research: The culmination of four years of Psychology Training

Psychology major Lexi Andrea talks about her senior capstone, in which she studied the relationship between disability identity and psychological well-being. "After I graduate from McDaniel, I'm going to attend University of Maryland for their master's program in clinical psychological science."

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Psychology Internship Experience

At McDaniel, you'll have many opportunities to get hands-on experiences related to your major. For academic credit, Psychology students can complete internships in psychology through the course Internship Seminar in Psychology (PSY 3390) or through an independent study in the summer or during January Term. 

The McDaniel Commitment in Action

The McDaniel Commitment—a series of opportunities guaranteed to all students—provides enhanced mentoring and coaching, and ensures every undergraduate student completes at least two meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

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Study Abroad

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Internships

Student-faculty researchers senior Phuc Truong, senior Jake Holechek, Chemistry professor Dana Ferraris and senior Bobby Lease.

Research

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On Campus Animal Lab McDaniel College Pigeon Lab Research & Training

Many students worry that by attending a small college, they won't have access to cutting-edge labs or animal research studies that are hallmarks of large research universities. At McDaniel, you'll have the chance to engage in high-level animal research, including on-campus at our pigeon lab, where choice and decision-making are researched through a study of pigeon behavior.

Learn about Research at McDaniel

“If you would have told me when I was graduating from McDaniel that I’d start my own nonprofit, I would have said, ‘No way, that’s a lot...But we just built from where we were and all of a sudden, it just makes sense.” Read Britt's story.
Britt Burr '11, Psychology and Theatre Arts Double Major
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Green Terror Alum Class of 2024: Tyra Pritchett 5-Year Psychology B.A. to Counseling M.S.

After graduating with her bachelor’s in Psychology, Tyra is continuing at McDaniel in the Mental Health Counseling master’s program — a five-year accelerated B.A. to M.S. pathway on the Hill. 

"I helped Dr. Maggie McDevitt with studying the behaviors of pigeons when motivated by food, and I got to research my favorite topics in classes with Dr. Jack Arnal and Dr. Holly Chalk. My favorite experience was my internship with Kennedy Krieger. I interned with their Child and Family Therapy Clinic for two summers in a row."

Read about Tyra's McDaniel experience.
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Class of 2025: Janiah Fields Psychology Major with a Minor in Africana Studies

Janiah Fields defined her time in college by being the change she wants to see. She discovered her passion for researching suicide prevention for Black youth through internships, and she explored her broader interest in Psychology with McDaniel courses led by alumni and faculty who encouraged her to pursue her goals. After graduation, she plans to attend a graduate program in Clinical Psychology.

"Though I have had many experiences throughout my four years in undergrad, my favorite was my research. My research interests include suicide prevention in Black individuals and how racism directly relates to death by suicide in Black youth."

Read about Janiah's McDaniel experience.
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Class of 2025: Ashleigh Lobbins

"My First-Year Seminar (FYS) [...] was a Psychology class called the Power of Play. We learned about the impact that play has on children throughout development. To end the semester, we walked to the Westminster playground and embraced our inner child! It was my first Psychology course here and I’m now working on my capstone with the same professor who taught my FYS — Professor Stephanie Madsen — which makes me sentimental!"

Read Ashleigh's full Q&A.
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Faculty Q&A Kristina Wright, M.A., LCPC

How does your experience as a therapist influence your teaching?
I used to work in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and I’ve worked with people of all different backgrounds. The youngest I’ve worked with was 5 and the oldest was 75. I’ve learned what works with different populations and what doesn’t work, and I’ve found that generalizations about people are usually wrong. I bring this diverse experience to undergraduate students, so they can have this perspective right off the bat as opposed to waiting until they face it themselves.
Read the full Q&A with Kristina.

Recent News for Psychology

  • Flav Lilly and Jack Arnal

    Psychology professor selected as Boehlke Fellow

    Psychology Professor Jack D. Arnal is the 2025 Charles A. Boehlke, Jr. Engaged Faculty Fellow. Established with a gift from Charles A. Boehlke, Jr., a 1978 alum of the college and current member of the McDaniel Board of Trustees, faculty are named Boehlke Fellows in recognition of their exceptional commitment to their students, not only in classrooms and research labs but also with career and internship experiences.
  • Trustee Alumni Awards 2025

    Alums honored with McDaniel's Trustee Alumni Awards

    Two McDaniel alumni received Trustee Alumni Awards, the highest alumni honor given at McDaniel, during the Trustee-Faculty Dinner held May 2. The 2025 recipients are Jennifer Hill Bubczyk '93, president of Hill Development Group LLC and an active supporter of McDaniel’s Carroll County Scholars program, and Norm Sartorius '69, an acclaimed woodworker known for his fine art wooden spoons.
  • KME 2025

    McDaniel students inducted into academic honor societies

    McDaniel students were inducted this spring into academic honor societies, including Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology), Beta Beta Beta (Biology), Kappa Mu Epsilon (Math), Lambda Pi Eta (Communication), Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics), Phi Alpha Theta (History), Psi Chi (Psychology), and Sigma Tau Delta (English), as well as the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Related Programs

Philosophy Sociology School Counseling, M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S. Social Work
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Keep in Touch

Tell us a little about yourself and we'll share updates & information. (We'll also make sure you don't miss any important deadlines.)

Request More Info
mapsearch Created with Sketch.

See Yourself Here

Take your first steps on the Hill! Visiting campus is one of the best ways to determine if McDaniel is right for you.

Visit McDaniel
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