Develop an Understanding of Developmental, Social, Biological, Cognitive, Clinical, Evolutionary and Health Psychology
How does mindful meditation prevent stress from impacting your ability to concentrate? Can going for a walk improve your ability to learn? Your psychology degree from Nova Southeastern University gives you the chance to explore these questions and more by teaching you the valuable skills you need to get an edge in the career marketplace.
Beginning in your first semester, NSU’s B.S. in Psychology gives you opportunities to work collaboratively with professors to conduct research and present at local and national conferences. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in clinical psychology or counseling, you’ll have opportunities to complete practicums and internships (for credit), to gain work experience in clinical settings. Whether you choose to pursue a career as a behavioral science researcher, licensed psychologist or use the flexibility and skills earned with a psychology degree to work in the industry of your choice, NSU prepares you for the next step.
Why Should You Major in Psychology at NSU?
Advance in Psychology, Pharmacology and Medicine
According to the American Psychological Association, an undergraduate degree in psychology makes you qualified to enter and excel in a variety of careers. A 2017 report published by the APA shows that 14% of psychology bachelor’s degree holders go on to earn a graduate degree in psychology, while 30% obtain advanced degrees in other fields and 56% enter the workforce. Some career opportunities for our majors include business, research, teaching, human resource management, social services, and mental health.
Average Starting Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a psychologist in May 2019 was $80,370 per year.
Shark Destinations
According to the APA, about 40% of Psychology majors go on to complete some form of graduate training. As an NSU Psychology student, you’ll gain a strong foundation that will help springboard you into graduate programs in psychology, law, medicine, business and education. Psychology graduates have found employment in organizations such as the Department of Veteran Affairs, the State of Florida judicial system, municipal government, public school districts, colleges and universities, health care organizations, financial and banking institutions, among other places.
NSU’s Psychology Organizations
Psi Chi
Psychology Club
Phi Kappa Phi
Society for NeuroSports
Students can complete a 16-week work experience within our internship in psychology (PSYC4950). This can include placement to work in a community clinical setting, research laboratory, or another opportunity to gain first-hand experience outside the classroom in Psychology or a closely related field.
Students interested in pursuing a career in clinical psychology can complete a practicum in community psychology (PSYC4810). In this course, students complete 70 hours working at a local human service agency. Past placements have included school-based programs, substance abuse and eating disorder treatment centers, youth shelter facilities and other mental health agencies.
Students minoring in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) complete our practicum in ABA (PSYC4700). This course involves completing 90 hours applying their skills in an ABA setting. This practicum satisfies the requirements for students desiring to take the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) exam. There are many employment opportunities for RBTs whose primary responsibility consists of implementing behavior-analytic services.
The Clinic Exploration Program
The Clinic Exploration Program (CEP) offers students the opportunity to shadow medical professionals on the job in many of NSU’s medical and health clinics. Program participants gain a broad perspective that shows how various medical fields work together and a practical, up-close review of several medical career options.
All undergraduate students may take part in CEP, no matter what major they pursue. Each rotation lasts two hours per week, for three weeks. Because this is a volunteer program, member commitments are flexible and voluntary.
Who Can Participate:
Any NSU undergraduate student in good standing who wants to participate in CEP must:
- have a 2.5 GPA or higher
- be registered for classes
- complete OSHA and HIPAA trainings
- be curious about various health professions
- conform to scheduled assignments, dress codes, and other professional responsibilities
How to Enroll:
- complete the Clinic Exploration Program Application
- schedule and complete OSHA blood-borne pathogen safety training
- take HIPAA Privacy and Security training
- turn in completed application to program coordinator in Parker building, suite 367
- Students are offered the opportunity to participate in CEP each semester. Registration for the program is open during the previous semester.
Participating Clinics:
- Athletic Training
- Audiology
- Dentistry
- Internal Medicine
- Optometry
- Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
- Pediatrics
Students interested in gaining research experience can complete an independent study (PSYC4990) or practicum in research (PSYC4990). You will have opportunities to work with a faculty mentor completing supervised research including reviewing research, designing a study, collecting and analyzing the data and eventually presenting/publishing the research at a local or national conference or in an academic journal.
For instance, one NSU student was interested in whether one’s ability to recognize faces and the speed of choosing a perpetrator from an eyewitness lineup was predictive of accuracy on the lineup. The student completed an independent study working with Dr. W. Matthew Collins which involved: reviewing past research on the topic, designing an experiment to test the question, recruiting participants to participate in the study, analyzing the data collected, and presenting the research at the Annual Meeting of the Psychonomics Society.Reserve your seat in one of NSU’s graduate or professional schools while you earn your bachelor’s degree. With NSU’s Dual Admission program, you don’t have to worry about competing with thousands of other students for a spot in a highly selective graduate program. This Premier Program gives you an opportunity to get a head start on your career, so you can start earning sooner.
Your NSU professors are dedicated to ensuring that you have a great academic experience. They regularly review the curriculum to make updates that give you an edge in today’s ever-changing world. As an NSU Psychology major, some courses that you could take include Behavior Modification, Sensation and Perception, Life-span Human Development, Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology.