A major in psychology may be applied to a variety of career paths, including advertising, business, drama, education, journalism, law, and technology, as well as advanced graduate work in psychology, health professions, law, education, business, and many other fields.
Why Psychology?
Along with a grounding in core areas, students can take classes in specific applied areas such as health psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and psychology and the law. Undergraduate psychology students acquire a strong liberal arts education and a deep understanding of human behavior.
Department Highlights
- Two baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Pre-health/Pre-medical Studies. There are numerous options for dual majors or minors, including those in other Hofstra colleges, such as the Zarb School of Business and the School of Health Sciences.
- A dedicated faculty of more than 30 full-time psychologists, all of whom have doctoral degrees as well as research interests covering more than 20 specializations
- Interdisciplinary minors in neuroscience and cognitive science
- An annual colloquium series that features lectures, discussions and research presentations from guest speakers and experts in the field
- Cocurricular activities include the Psychology Club and Neuroscience Club, as well as a campus chapter of Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society
- Opportunities to earn academic credit for internship experiences
- Opportunities to become involved in faculty research projects and/or conduct one's own research through an honors thesis
In the Classroom
Learn from the Experts
Serving on the faculty are approximately 30 full-time psychologists, all of whom have doctoral degrees as well as research interests covering more than 20 specializations. With focuses like Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Psychopathology, School Psychology, and more, your professors can help you find a focus that matches your professional and personal ambitions.
Programs and Majors
The Department of Psychology offers you the option of pursuing a BA or a BS. Both degrees’ strengths are in research sequence, where you will learn methods and statistical skills that are transferable to a variety of careers and occupations. The research courses are capped at smaller numbers to allow faculty to work closely with their students and provide an intimate class setting.
Unlike other schools, Hofstra requires an additional research seminar that helps build advanced skills and prepares students for graduate school in psychology or other career paths.
BA in Psychology
The BA in Psychology prepares you for graduate study in psychology or a career in human service professions and behavioral research (such as in a hospital or government setting). The degree is also appropriate if you are considering work or graduate study in a wide range of fields outside of psychology, including business, education, health, law, and technology. Psychology BA students are taught to think critically about truth claims involving behavior and to reason and communicate scientifically.
BS in Psychology
The BS in Psychology is more appropriate if you are planning post-graduate studies in medicine or other health-related professions. It provides a solid background in basic biomedical sciences as well as in behavioral and cognitive sciences.
For Your Consideration ...
Hofstra additionally offers a minor in psychology, a major and minor in neuroscience, a minor in cognitive science, and a wide range of graduate degrees. These include:
Internships
Internships and other experiential learning programs give students a chance to apply what they've learned, help them discover what they love to do, and allow them to make better-informed choices about their future. More than half of Psychology majors complete at least one internship as part of their Hofstra experience.
Internship examples include Autism Behavior Consulting, the Bio-Behavioral Institute, the Center for Achieving Balance for Children and Families, Developmental Disabilities Institute, Inc., the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center at Hofstra University, LICADD (Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, Inc.), Mental Health Association of Nassau County, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Northwell Health.
True Colors
When Dr. Elisabeth Ploran began teaching the psychology class Sensation and Perception – PSY 166 - more than a decade ago, it was a traditional lecture course. But over the years, she has introduced five days of themed labs – color perception exercises where students play with light and taste perception to illustrate the concepts they are reading about in their textbooks.
The Outlook
Alumni outcomes
95% of recent alumni in this major who responded to a survey reported that they were employed, or attending or planning to attend graduate school within a year of graduation.
Where our alumni are employed
89% of those recent alumni reporting employment, responded that they had landed their position within six months of graduation. Examples of employers include:
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BioBehavioral Institute
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Boston University School of Medicine
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Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services, Inc.
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Credit One Bank
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Developmental Disabilities Institute, Inc.
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Huntington Learning Center
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Northwell Health
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Scribe America, Inc.
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Stanford University
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Walt Disney Company
Graduate studies
Some of the distinguished institutions where our alumni are pursuing advanced degrees include:
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Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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Boston University
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Columbia University
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Fordham University
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London School of Economics and Political Science
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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New York University
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Syracuse University
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University of Massachusetts, Amherst
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University of Miami
Contact Us
Department Chair
Elisabeth Ploran
Associate Professor
Room 201 Hauser Hall
516-463-5483 | Email
Director of the Undergraduate Program in Psychology
Amy Masnick
516-463-5757
Room 211 Hauser Hall
E-mail
Office Information
Hauser Hall
516-463-5624
Fax: 516-463-6052
Monday-Friday,
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Carmela Salvatore
Executive Secretary
Room 222 Hauser Hall
516-463-5624