Program Overview
Psychology (BS)
Undergraduate Degree in Psychology Overview
The undergraduate psychology degree program at Georgia Tech offers several key advantages, including:
- A technically oriented curriculum that emphasizes quantitative and experimental approaches to the study of behavior, providing excellent preparation for graduate school.
- Undergraduate research opportunities, allowing students to conduct research with world-renowned professors at the forefront of the science of psychology.
- A small program size, offering students and researchers a more personalized and focused learning experience.
As a Psychology major, students will develop competence and knowledge of quantitative and experimental approaches to studying the mind and human behavior.
BS Psychology Degree Concentrations and Options
Concentrations
Students can customize their curriculum plan to match their specific interests and career plans, including:
- Building a business perspective into their degree without adding the hours required for a minor, through the Business Option.
Options
Students can increase their competitiveness for jobs and graduate school by adding a designation to their degree, including:
- Pursuing an in-depth, long-term research experience through the Research Option.
- Preparing for a global career through the International Plan.
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology Requirements
The requirements for the Bachelor's Degree in Psychology include:
- Core classes in cognitive, social, and industrial/organizational psychology.
- Fundamental courses in biology, chemistry, and calculus.
- Electives to explore areas in greater depth, including cognitive neuroscience and behavioral pharmacology.
- Undergraduate research.
Course Highlights
- Biopsychology: Neurophysiological, endocrinological, and biochemical bases of sensory and motor functioning, motivation, learning, memory, and behavior dysfunction.
- Social Psychology: Consideration of the behavior of individuals in social contexts, including interpersonal and group settings.
- Human Sensation and Perception: An examination of human sensory systems and perceptual processes.
Rankings and Awards
Georgia Tech's School of Psychology faculty members are frequently recognized for their outstanding contributions to their fields, including:
- The National Science Foundation appointing Lizanne DeStefano as one of 18 inaugural members of its STEM Education Advisory Panel.
- Professor Phillip Ackerman serving as the President of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID) until 2019.
- Assistant Professor Thackery Brown receiving the 2016 NARSAD Young Investigator Award from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.
- Professor Randall Engle being awarded the 2017 Association for Psychological Science Mentor Award.
- Professor Bruce Walker being appointed General Advisory Committee Member and Technical Format Review Advisory Committee Member for DIAGRAM Center.
What Can You Do with a Degree in Psychology?
Many students with the B.S. degree in Psychology choose to enter a variety of fields, including:
- Academic research
- Education
- Law
- Medicine
- Marketing
- Human factors
- System design
- Personnel selection and training
- Management
Possible career paths include:
- Psychology Professor
- Clinical Psychologist
- Lawyer
- Market Research Analyst
- Training and Development Specialist
What Are Georgia Tech Graduates Doing Now?
Georgia Tech graduates are:
- Professor of psychology
- Principal investigator at Soar Technologies
- Talent consulting analyst at Mercer Inc.
- Faculty member at a private K-12 school
- Practicing medicine and nursing
Common Job Titles and Average Salaries
- Business Consultant: $71,669
- Psychologist: $74,587
- Neurologist: $206,036
Psychology Research for Undergraduates
Undergraduates can get involved with research in three different ways:
- Working as a research assistant
- Conducting a senior thesis
- Participating in summer workshops and internships
Beyond the Classroom
Students can go beyond the lecture hall and see psychology in the real world by:
- Joining the Psychology Club or the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
- Applying to reside in the Science and Mathematics Research Training Living Learning Community
- Gaining employment experience and benefiting from real-world experience in their field through the Co-op Program and internships
- Learning more about study abroad opportunities led by College of Sciences faculty
Related Degrees
Related degrees include:
- BS in Neuroscience
- Certificates in Psychology
- Minor in General Psychology