The undergraduate Psychology Program at the University of St. Thomas is an integration of research, methodology, social justice, a liberal arts curriculum, the study of human nature and mental processes. Psychology students will graduate with the skills and strong scientific foundation essential for graduate studies and successful careers in psychology.

Degree Plan

A Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from UST is a behavioral science program. Small lecture classes and labs provide students with an individualized learning environment.

The Psychology Department offers a major and a minor as well as a joint major option:

• Major - A major in psychology is a B.A. degree with 35 credit hours of coursework. This degree program focuses on labs, in depth research and an internship.
• Minor - A minor in psychology requires 19 credit hours. There is one mandatory introductory class. With the guidance of a faculty advisor, students may select the remaining 16 credit hours based on their interests.
• Joint Major - A joint major allows students to integrate psychology with perspectives from related fields. This 29 credit hour program is available in conjunction with the Spanish, Communication, Political Science, Catholic Studies or Pre-Health.

Curriculum Aspects

Social Justice
A unique aspect of the Psychology Program is the focus on social justice. The curriculum emphasizes the inherent dignity of every person, integrating a component of social justice into every psychology class.

Service Learning
Similar to internships, service learning provides students with a real world experience where they can apply their theoretical learning and classroom experience to daily work life situations.

Science Foundation
Since many of the principles of psychology coincide with science, the Psychology Program provides students with a solid scientific foundation. UST students receive instruction in neuroscience, biology and scientific psychology.

Internships
Students pursuing a Psychology major are required to complete an internship. Many nonprofit and corporate organizations have participated in this program including:

• Baylor College of Medicine
• The Children’s Assessment Center
• DePelchin Children's Center
• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
• Escape Family Resource Center
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Catholic Charities
• The Menninger Clinic
• Texas Medical Center
• Houston Independent School District

Student Involvement

Psi Chi Club
Membership in the Psi Chi Club is an ideal way to complement psychology coursework. The organization offers workshops on application to graduate school, lectures by prominent professional psychologists and presentations by UST alumni presently in graduate programs.

Research

• Psychology students present research findings to the University community at the annual UST Research Symposium.
• Students present research projects at the annual Southwestern Psychological Association meetings in San Antonio, Memphis, and Austin and have been given awards for being co-authors on prize-winning papers.

Learn More
Contact: Dr. Jo Meier-Marquis, meierj@stthom.edu, Department Chair