Psychology, B.S. / B.A.
Undergraduate Psychology
The Department of Psychology at Clemson is a research-oriented department that offers both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree to more than 900 psychology majors. The B.A. program places emphasis on foreign language and humanities courses, whereas the BS program focuses more on science and mathematics courses.
Each student is free to choose the program best suited for him/her based on personal preferences and strengths. There is no documented advantage in terms of career success or graduate school admission and performance for either the B.A. or the B.S. degree. Both programs are taught on the main Clemson campus only.
The bachelor’s degree in psychology at Clemson is designed to prepare students for a variety of professional careers related to human resources, personnel, counseling, and other people-oriented positions in human services, business, and industry. Additionally, the bachelor’s degree provides excellent preparation for graduate training in such areas as biological, clinical, cognitive, counseling, developmental, experimental, health, industrial, school, and social psychology. The program also provides excellent preparation for students who intend to pursue professional training in medicine, physical or occupational therapy, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary science, or law.
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What You Will Study
Coursework provides students with an overview of the scientific study of the individual, including biological bases of behavior, cognition, perception, human development, personality and social behavior. You will gain experience in measurement and research design, data collection and statistical analysis of empirical data, and you will learn how to use experimentation and data analysis to conduct research and broaden your understanding of the various causes of human behavior. You will apply these principles to disciplines such as human performance, psychological health, interpersonal relations and organizational functioning.
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Bachelor of Arts v. Bachelor of Science Degree
We offer both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. While both prepare you for post graduate studies and careers, the Bachelor of Arts includes more foreign language classes, whereas the Bachelor of Science degree requires additional math and science courses. If your goal is to develop a set of knowledge, skills and abilities that allow you to understand and solve human problems, then this is the major for you.
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Experience Beyond The Classroom
Psychology students are an active bunch. Not only do they get to study fascinating material in class, they also get to work in the lab, conduct innovative research alongside faculty members and participate in psychology studies (and sometimes even get paid for it)!
Community
Participate in a living-learning experience where you live and learn with your peers in a dedicated residence hall. Take part in educational and extracurricular activities while forming lifelong friendships.Research
Psychology students work in a variety of high-tech laboratories. These include the driving simulator lab, where students conduct numerous experiments designed to assess driving patterns and the effects of technology on driving behavior.Clubs
The Psychology Club is a great way to interact with fellow majors and engage in the professional world of psychology. Each year, club members present research papers at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association.Human Factors
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society focuses on human behavior and performance in a variety of contexts. Join fellow majors and faculty in studying, for instance, how does the use of portable electronics impact driving behavior?I-O Psychology
How do high-stress situations impact human behavior? If you want to know the answer, then the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, where students and faculty research human behavior in a variety of contexts, may be for you. -
After Graduation
Your college decision isn't really about the next four years. We get it. It's about what doors are opened by your degree and whether those opportunities are what you had envisioned for yourself. Here's a snapshot of what life after graduation looks like for some of our most recent students.
Common Career Areas
Mental Health Services
Physical Health and Wellness
Advocacy
Community Relations
Research
Social Research
Market Research
Data Analysis
Education
Teaching
Student Affairs
Administration
TrainingHuman Resources
Employment and Recruitment
Compensation and Benefits
Organizational Development
Training
Business and Industry
Sales
Customer Service
Management
Insurance
Real Estate
Public RelationsRecent Employers/Positions
The Compass Group, Human Resource Coordinator
Teach for America, Corps Member
ScanSource, Sales Representative
State Farm Insurance Company, Insurance Agent
Green Mountain Behavioral Consulting, Behavioral Interventionist
Recent Postgraduate Studies
M.S. Speech-Language Pathology, Vanderbilt University
MSW, New York University
Ph.D. Human-Centered Computing, Clemson University
J.D., University of Tennessee
MBA, Wake Forest University
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Undergraduate Frequently Asked Question
Please see the Student Resources page for undergraduate frequently asked questions.
