Psychological Science

The CMC Psychological Science major prepares students to use psychological concepts and methods in their careers and everyday life. Students gain a broad foundation of knowledge and hands-on experiences in applied, professional, and scientific psychology. They are trained in research design, applied data science, and scientific communication. Courses are designed to train students to apply psychological science to future careers such as user experience research at tech companies, organizational consulting, clinical practice, mental and physical health, and data science analyzing human behavior. Students are also encouraged to gain research experience working closely with faculty in their laboratories, analyzing real data and publishing in top-tier academic outlets.

Many students combine Psychological Science with other majors (e.g., Economics, Government, Integrated Science) and add interdisciplinary sequences in Leadership, Data Science, Legal Studies, and Neuroscience to develop expertise that will expand their career options.

Top Resources

• Faculty
• Faculty Publications & Grants
• Research Labs & Institutes
• Research Programs and Opportunities
• Why Psych? New Student Information (quick view pdf)
• Psych Major Summary (quick view pdf)
• Finding Internships & Careers with Psych (pdf)
• Faculty Teaching & Research Interests (Word doc)
• Student Application Forms

Psychological Science Major

Psychological Science courses provide an understanding of human and social processes relevant for a variety of careers, including both graduate school and industry roles in mental health care, education, law, business consulting, data science, user experience research, and public policy. Through laboratory research and community-based projects, students build portfolios demonstrating their ability to design studies, analyze complex datasets, and translate findings for diverse audiences. Research assistantships, paid summer internships, and course credit opportunities are available across faculty labs in the department and throughout The Claremont Colleges consortium. Students pursuing graduate programs in psychology gain research experience required for competitive graduate and medical school applications, while students entering the workforce immediately apply these same research skills to industry problems in tech, consulting, healthcare and beyond.

International Students: Psychological Science is an approved ICE STEM major that allows international students to extend their VISAs (https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2011/05/visa-extensions).

• Major Requirements
• Psychological Science Courses
• Psych Major FAQs
• Advice to Freshman
• Psi Chi & Psych Club
• For addition information, contact Department Chair, Mark Costanzo or Department Coordinator, Linda Chavez

Research Labs and Institutes

A great way to learn about psychological science and gain valuable, hands-on experience is to work in the research laboratories run by CMC Psychological Science faculty.

Central to the Psych major experience is the involvement of students in research projects. Students work directly with faculty either on existing projects or develop their own research studies. Laboratory opportunities provide hands-on experience in current research methods and applied data science methods  in Psychological Science. 

Internships (see Careers, Internships, & Graduate School) provide off campus learning experiences in clinical and other types of work environments.

In addition to the research labs, many Psychological Science students are active in CMC’s research institutes as research assistants. The Centers also provide support for internships and research through a range of fellowships for which students can apply.

• Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development
• Kravis Leadership Institute
• The Claremont Autism Center

Fellowships and National Awards

Psychological Science majors are well-positioned to apply for a range of prestigious fellowships, including the Fulbright, Goldwater, Rhodes, Gates-Cambridge, Pickering, Scoville, Luce, and many more. CMC provides tremendous support to students as they apply for these and encourages students to consider these wonderful opportunities. Visit the Fellowships office to learn more!