Psychology Major
Salve Regina University's bachelor’s degree in psychology considers why people think, feel and act the way they do, providing valuable skills for careers focused on understanding human behavior.
Experience in the field and mentorship from professors and supervisors made my investment in a Salve education worthwhile and personally fulfilling. With the relationships I made and the education I received, doors keep opening up to new and exciting opportunities.
Anamaria Arteaga '16, '17 (M), assistant director of education, Futures School
Explore Multifaceted Issues
We tailor each student's education to their own unique interests, talents and passions. Coursework is based on the American Psychological Association's guidelines for undergraduate education and faculty areas of expertise.
Outside the classroom, you can gain hands-on experience through fieldwork with local organizations that serve adolescents in group homes, children in psychiatric care, people in behavioral health programs and elderly in nursing homes. We are affiliated with internship placements in applied behavior analysis and have partnerships with Day One, Child & Family, the Women's Resource Center, the Newport County YMCA, CODAC Behavioral Healthcare and the Potter League for Animals, among others.
Additionally, you can increase your competitiveness for graduate school and employment through faculty-guided research projects that offer opportunities to present at local, regional and national conferences.
With just 13 courses required for the major, you'll have the flexibility to double major or minor in areas like applied behavior analysis, neuroscience, psychology of crime, social work or special education. You can also study other passions, such as languages or the visual and performing arts.
What Sets Salve Apart
100% of students who meet the criteria are accepted into our combined bachelor’s/master’s programs in behavior analysis or clinical counseling.
The Salve Compass program runs through all four years, connecting college to career. With a focus on hands-on, real-world experiences, it ensures every student has the skills and knowledge to succeed in the job market.
Join Our Research Collaborative
Our Behavior Analysis Research Collaborative allows undergraduates to conduct research with master's and doctoral students from Salve's behavior analysis programs. "Being able to take part in research already underway in your field is crucial," said Sofia Abuin '24, a behavior technician who is enrolled in our combined bachelor's/master's program in behavior analysis. "It helped me take those next steps in my graduate career."
Study Psychology in Italy
Our summer study abroad program in Italy is centered in Reggio Emilia, a city famous for its approach to early childhood learning. Coursework focuses on child and adolescent development along with intercultural communication and international educational approaches. In a highly interactive format, you'll learn from professionals in the family services and educational fields who work directly with children.
Accelerate Your Career
At Salve, qualified undergraduates can begin a graduate program in behavior analysis or clinical counseling in their senior year, saving time and money. Earning your master's degree through our combined program allows you to enter the workforce sooner and pursue jobs with higher starting salaries. Along the way, you'll receive career-focused mentoring from our graduate faculty, helping you to build your professional network.
Career Paths in Psychology
While many graduates pursue licensure as a behavior analyst, clinical social worker, mental health counselor or family and marriage therapist, others have successful careers in human services, research, education, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Our graduates are well-prepared for careers where a strong foundation in psychology is valuable, including:
- Admissions counselor
- Art therapist
- Behavior analyst
- Child life specialist
- Drug counselor
- Human resource specialist
- Marriage and family therapist
- Music therapist
- Professor
- Psychologist (clinical, counseling, educational, forensic, industrial-organizational, school, sports)
- Rehabilitation counselor
- Social worker
Change the Way You Look at Life
Megan Ellsworth '23, '24 (M), a board-certified behavior analyst at Pell Elementary school, is completing her Ph.D. in behavior analysis at Salve, with a long-term goal of becoming a clinical director and continuing to conduct research in applied settings. "Salve's psychology program will genuinely change the way you look at life, both in the context of your own experiences and your outlook on others," she said. "This is everything I wanted out of college and Salve's commitment to high-quality academic opportunities helped me achieve it."
Degree Options
Bachelor of Arts in psychology
Psychology majors complete a minimum of 120 credits to earn a bachelor's degree, including 41-44 credits of core courses and 41 credits (13 courses) in the major.
Minor in psychology
A Perfect Pair
Our students often combine their study of psychology with social work in some manner, either as a double major or adding a social work minor.
Together, these two disciplines offer a deep understanding of the person and environmental systems that impact lives. You'll learn the skills, values and knowledge necessary for working with children, young people, adults and families in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, hospitals, home-based services, courts and prisons and with people in residential care facilities. We encourage you to explore these possibilities.
Meet Our Psychology Faculty
Our personalized approach with students, both inside and outside the classroom, supports the University's mission by promoting the enduring values of honesty, hard work, altruism, compassion, dignity, respect and service - qualities essential for living harmoniously in today's global community.
Dr. Paula Martasian
- Professor
- Chair, Psychology
Dr. Natalie Buddiga
- Assistant professor
Dr. Emma Grauerholz-Fisher
- Assistant professor
Dr. Ilana Haliwa
- Assistant professor
Dr. Stephanie Jones
- Assistant professor
Dr. Cody Morris
- Assistant professor
- Graduate program director
Dr. Michael Yencha
- Lecturer
