Psychology

Psychology: Major

The study of psychology encourages students to think deeply and critically about human behavior, mental life, and the nature of inquiry into the human condition. At Holy Cross, the psychology faculty explore the breadth of the discipline with their students both in and beyond the classroom, and contribute to the field with their own research.

Like the field of psychology itself, which encompasses conducting research in laboratory and field settings, meeting the needs of individuals in clinical settings, and addressing enduring philosophical questions about human behavior and experience, the psychology department at Holy Cross engages students in a wide variety of intellectual pursuits with a curriculum that ranges across natural science, social science, and the humanities. Majors therefore have ample opportunities within the curriculum to fashion programs of study in accordance with their own developing interests and goals. Majors also have ample opportunities to pursue advanced study through directed reading or research projects under the individual direction of their professors. 

Program Highlights

The student experience in the psychology department is one of intense intellectual inquiry and collaborative study, tailored to a student’s interest areas in the field.

  • The psychology department’s Research Methods Colloquium allows all students enrolled in Research Methods (Psychology 201), working under the direction of faculty in small collaborative groups, to present their research in a formal conference-style setting.
  • Students have the opportunity to present the results of their research efforts at the College's Academic Conference, celebrating and marking an important step in their development as scholars. Some of the work presented at the conference finds its way into professional conferences as well as academic journals.
  • The psychology department, in cooperation with the biology department and other departments at the College, offers a rich array of courses in neuroscience, offering students opportunity for concentrated study in this important area of interdisciplinary inquiry.
  • The department maintains a chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in psychology. High-ranking third- and fourth-year students may receive applications for membership into the Society.
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Research Opportunities

Collaborate on research with professors on a range of topics in the field.

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Internships

Engage in hands-on learning through a variety of internships in the Worcester area.

Students
Psi Chi National Honor Society

Students demonstrating high academic standing in psychology are recognized with membership to Psi Chi.

Psychology News

Retiring faculty headshot collage
Holy Cross Says Farewell to Six Retiring Professors
The cohort leaves a long legacy, teaching on Mount St. James for a combined 203 years
Read more Holy Cross Says Farewell to Six Retiring Professors
Retiring faculty headshot collage
Holy Cross Says Farewell to Six Retiring Professors
At the finish of the 2020-2021 academic year, Holy Cross saw six professors conclude their careers on Mount St. James, after decades of educating generations of Crusaders.
Read more Holy Cross Says Farewell to Six Retiring Professors
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Holy Cross Professor Mark Freeman and Alumnus Jack Bauer ’89 on the Study of Personal Narratives
This is a story about the stories we tell — to ourselves and to others — to create meaning in our lives. Taken together, those stories reveal what we value, what we hope to achieve and who we have become.
Read more Holy Cross Professor Mark Freeman and Alumnus Jack Bauer ’89 on the Study of Personal Narratives
Read more in the Newsroom