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Psychology, BA & BS

Explore a Psychology degree at Seattle University, offering BA, BS, and Minor degrees. Enroll today and gain valuable skills for a variety of career paths.

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About this Program

Holistic Psychology for a Strong Foundation

Seattle University’s Psychology Department engages students in the study of the many aspects of psychological life—individual, bodily, interpersonal, ethical, social, and cultural—using reflective and empirical methods.

The specific and unique role of the department is to provide knowledge of psychology as a human science and as a natural science, founded both on solid philosophical reflection and scientific rigor.

Psychology Degree at a Glance

Learn how this degree from the Department of Psychology will contribute to your career goals. Then, explore course requirements and see how impactful a Seattle University degree can be.

The BA program is a more flexible degree with a humanities—rather than research—focus. It teaches you critical thinking skills and scientific perspective to address mental and behavioral conditions. It also gives you more flexibility to make it possible for you to pursue other areas of study, while still preparing you to work in a psychology-adjacent career.

The BS degree program includes more courses related to quantitative research and statistics. It teaches you to use science to address real-world problems and can be the foundation of many careers. The psychology degree gives training in communication and critical thinking with scientific methodology. You’ll also learn laws of behavior, principles and basic theories of human interaction between individuals and social groups.

A minor in psychology will introduce you to how people learn, think and interact, how they perceive and develop, and how they are motivated. You are taught how to use basic quantitative methods and research to synthesize psychological research findings. You’ll also be taught how to apply psychological principles in your career, individual, group and social issues. Because human interaction is such a large part of almost every facet of life, this minor is a great option for someone interested in psychological principles.

Seattle University Undergraduate Psychology students will gain competency in the following areas and be able to say:

  • Methodological Competency. I can read, understand, and make preliminary evaluations of peer-reviewed articles in the professional literature (i.e., be an educated, critical consumer of psychological information). I am able to construct and successfully carry out a psychological study, and present my research in a formal experimental report, following APA guidelines (i.e., be a competent producer of psychological information).
  • Disciplinary Competency. I am able to identify and apply a disciplinary perspective when it comes to asking questions about human experience. This disciplinary perspective includes, but is not limited to, awareness of multiple perspectives, empathy, ethical awareness, and social justice.
  • Theory-Practice Competency. I am able to use theoretical understanding in various practice-based experiences.

What You’ll Learn

Learn about the classes you’ll take as a student here.

Support for Your Success

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Pathways to Professional Formation

The College of Arts & Sciences is committed to helping you through your lifetime journey of professional formation and discernment. We offer opportunities to deepen and broaden your understanding of your professional identity.

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Seattle University Undergraduate Research Journal

Seattle University Undergraduate Research Journal

Our peer-reviewed online publication provides an opportunity for you to publish your research. Publication can help you prepare for advanced studies at top graduate programs or demonstrate knowledge and skills when applying for non-academic positions.

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Arts and Sciences Advising Center

Our advising center is dedicated to your holistic academic and professional through academic advising and promotion of academic excellence. We work to solve problems, provide navigational guidance and build connections.

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Internships and Research Experiences

We assist students in pursuing practicum (internship) opportunities to learn about different professions, agencies, and organizations.

Typically, interns are juniors or seniors. Practicum combines on-site training with coursework. Undergraduates are not qualified to get clinical experience, but interns work in labs studying such things as trauma, autism, borderline personality disorder, and substance abuse (again, among many others).

Gaining research experience is crucial to furthering your career and preparing for advanced degrees, such as a master’s and doctoral (PhD) programs. At Seattle University, we offer students the opportunity to learn and conduct research with our professors to gain hands-on experience in a professional research environment.

Hear From Our Alumni

Stella Roth

“The holistic curriculum taught through the Psychology department at Seattle University provided me with the opportunity to explore a broad range of topics in the psychology field, while also creating space to investigate my specific interests in public health.The research and analytical skills that I built through the practicum courses prepared me to succeed in my MPH at Columbia by being an independent thinker who is dedicated to creating meaning and social change through research.“

BA '21, Psychology and minor in Sociology

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