Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Indiana State?

Psychologists are concerned with the study of the human mind and behaviors: how we think, feel, and act. Behavior is complex, varied, dynamic, and most importantly, fascinating to study. And, psychology prepares students for employment in a variety of different fields.

Study the Human Mind and Behaviors

Our minds are complex and shaped by a variety of influences, including genetics, life experiences and memories, the social environment, and neurological health, among other factors. In the Psychology BS program at Indiana State, you will study the mind and its influence on behavior through various disciplinary perspectives to develop a broader, more holistic understanding of its function. Coursework includes social, developmental, clinical, biological, and cognitive psychology, among other subdisciplines.

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

Indiana State's instructors have diverse expertise in psychology. All hold advanced degrees and many lead laboratories engaged in scientific research in fields including trauma, adult and child psychopathology, close relationships, cognitive functioning, brain stimulation, forensic psychology, and social class, among other specialties. Faculty actively publish independent research and regularly share their findings at professional conferences.

Our small class sizes enable you to receive individualized instruction and mentorship from your professors. As part of Indiana State’s commitment to experiential learning, you will have the opportunity to work alongside and collaborate with your instructors on research and other projects.

Gain Hands-On Experience in Research Labs

As a psychology major at Indiana State, you will gain firsthand experience in psychology research and clinical practice in the Department of Psychology’s six laboratory spaces. Each lab focuses on a specific area in psychology. They include:

ADHD Lab
Adversity, Dissociation, and Psychological Trauma Lab
Correctional and Forensic Psychology Lab
Lifespan Cognition and Brain Stimulation Lab
Mental Health Development Lab
Social and Environmental Psychology Lab

What You'll Learn in the Psychology Program

Indiana State’s psychology program blends classroom instruction with laboratory experiences and practical hands-on training. You will conduct independent research in our labs while also having the opportunity to complete an internship in the field. And you will learn to develop a science-based understanding of the social and individual bases of human behavior.

Our psychology program prepares you to pursue graduate studies in the field. You can complete our psychology bachelor’s degree in four years of full-time study.

Your education in the Psychology BS program will conclude with a culminating experience involving an independent research project, a fieldwork experience, or an Honors thesis, the focus of which you will propose to your faculty.

Transfer Credit

Indiana State University accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities within the United States, and from selected schools located outside the United States. Credit also may be granted for military training and experience. Previously earned college credit can be applied toward completion of the program per Indiana State's transfer guidelines.

Transfer Guidelines

Career Possibilities for Psychology Majors

The Psychology BS program at Indiana State is flexible and designed to meet the needs of students with different backgrounds and career goals. A background in psychology prepares you to enter positions in social services, government affairs, business or research, and to pursue graduate studies in psychology that can lead to clinical licensure, careers in teaching and research, and other pursuits.

You will take a required Careers in Psychology course in which you begin developing a career plan in consultation with your academic advisor.

A female student with curly blonde hair sits with her back against a tree. She wears a dark blue STATE Honors College long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans. She is smiling and looking at the camera.

Studying the Effects of COVID-19 on Musicians

Indiana State, psychology alumna Adalyn McMurray, ’23, completed an independent research project on the psychological and mental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on musicians. Her research was published in the Association of Concert Bands Journal, and it helped prepare her for graduate school in clinical and counseling psychology.

Read about Adalyn McMurray’s psychology research.