Psychology

Psychology majors at the Senior Integrated Project Symposium

Why Study Psychology at K?

Small class sizes, hands-on research, and opportunities to apply your learning in real-world settings make K one of the best colleges to study psychology.

Psychology majors talking with Professor Brittany Liu

Our courses explore the wide breadth of psychological research, including human growth and development; the neurological organization and components of the brain; the social-cultural influences on thought, behavior, and identity; as well as the study of abnormal behaviors and its treatment through psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

In courses like cognitive science, theories of personalities, psychology of prejudice, and health psychology—to name a few—you will explore the relationship between individual human behavior, cultural influences, and neural anatomy through case studies and experimentation. Taking your learning outside of the classroom, psychology majors also get applied experience working in community settings near campus, including at a crisis “hot line,” the county juvenile home, a school for autism-spectrum children, a domestic abuse shelter, and public elementary, middle, and high schools.

With practical experiences, research methods, and the completion of your Senior Integrated Thesis built-in to your psychology degree, our graduates are well prepared to enter careers in social services, counseling, health, education, business, public administration, and academia. For those who want to continue their education beyond K, the psychology department ranks among the top 20 in the country for the percentage of majors who subsequently receive Ph.D.s in psychology.

What can you do with a psychology degree?

Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our psychology alumni.

Careers

  • Therapist
  • Human Resources Administration
  • Behavioral Technician
  • Pharmacologist
  • Research Analyst

Employers

  • Michigan Department of Community Health
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
  • Americorps
  • Walter Reed Reed Army Institute of Research
  • Center for Autism and Related Disorders

Graduate Schools

  • University of Michigan
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Yale University
  • University of Chicago
  • Northwestern University

Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor

Isabelle Kastel, a smiling woman with straight brown hair and thin-framed glasses, posed against an outdoor waterfront backdrop with buildings in the background.

Isabelle Kastel
(she/her)

Major: Psychology

Concentration: Neuroscience

Study Abroad: Madrid, Spain

Best Adjective to Describe You: Honest

What is the best thing about being part of this department?

Feeling like you are a part of a family

What drew you to the department?

The professors and faculty drew me to the psychology department.

What is your favorite thing about K?

The people at K is my favorite thing.

How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?

I took some neuroscience and political science classes that I didn’t think I would like, and it turned out that I loved the class material and found it fascinating.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?

I plan to attend graduate school

Psychology Department News