Gain Hands-On Experience

Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena. Learn to design, conduct and interpret psychological research, and more.

Psychological Science

As a psychological science major, you’ll learn how to apply theories and concepts of psychology professionally and personally and gain important skills in critical thinking and scientific inquiry. Apply your degree to the fields of social psychology, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, counseling, law enforcement, education, business, medicine, speech language pathology, physical or occupational therapy, and more.

What will I do?

Take your degree outside the classroom with research studies and fieldwork. Present your findings at regional and national conferences. Collaborate with professors on research projects and coauthor papers to present at national conferences, or present independent research regionally, such as at the Great Plains Student Psychology conference. Use your Jewell-funded Journey Grant to gain an understand of human behavior or deeply explore an interest anywhere in the world. Recent psychological science majors have: completed a nine-day hiking expedition through the Appalachian Mountains, shadowed a cognitive neuroscience professor, studied French culture on a European excursion, researched the Presbyterian Reformation in Scotland and volunteered at a center for hearing impaired children in Sri Lanka.

More about your degree

Jewell offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science. While this is a desired primary major by many employers, it also complements other fields as a double major. Potential second majors include: the sciences, Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry, nonprofit leadership, business, music, international relations, communication and education.

More Than A Major

Shakiyla Hughes is an active leader on campus, including her role as president of Black Student Association. She is a 2017 recipient of the Kansas City Northland’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award, and Jewell's 2017 Homecoming Queen.

Pursue Your Passion

Recent grad Rachel Kaegi used her Jewell-funded Journey Grant to volunteer with the African Elephant Research Unit in South Africa and teach at a local school. Now she is pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy.

Seize Opportunities

While at Jewell, Stanley Singer conducted research in psychological science and biology with his professors. Now he is a research assistant in a neurobiology lab, working to improve the quality of life for children with epilepsy.

Meet our Students and Alumni

  • Graduate School News
    • Thea (Yutong) Liu, '18, will begin an M.A./Ph.D. program in economics at University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Her Jewell majors were psychology and economics, and she presented her research project entitled, "Individuals' behavior regarding economic decisions under risk/uncertainty: An examination of EUT" at Duke Colloquium on campus. 
    • Vera (Meghan) Xiao, '18, has been accepted into Brown School's Master of Social Work program at Washington University in St. Louis.
    • Julia Smith, '15, psychology and biology, has been working in the Clinical Neuropsychology Research lab at University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has been accepted to the clinical psychology Ph.D. program at UMKC, and begins in August 2018.
    • Corinne Frei, '14, decided to pursue a career in occupational therapy after working a few years. She started the Ph.D. program in occupational therapy at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in May 2018.
    • Morgan (Olson) Newman, '16, is working on a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She stays connected to her mentor from Jewell's Career Mentor Program and knows that relationship will be of value in her early years as a clinician.
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  • Career Updates
    • Hannah Payne, '17, completed a degree in clinical mental health counseling at Loyola University in Chicago and will start an internship at a substance abuse center in July 2018.
    • Alexa (Broyles) Summit, '08, is a court appointed guardian and conservator for the Clay County (Mo.) Public Administrator's Office.
    • Alex Saxon, '09, uses his study of psychology at Jewell in his approach to acting. He just completed a five-year recurring role on Freeform's "The Fosters" while also guest starring on CBS' "The Mentalist" and USA's "Shooter." He's had a recurring role as Chloe on Showtime's "Ray Donovan" and has been a series regular on MTV's "Finding Carter."
    • Rachel Vig, '08, completed a master's degree in OT from the University of Minnesota and a fellowship in neurodevelopmental disabilities at Golisano Children's Hosptial in Rochester, N.Y. She works as an OT in Washington, D.C., public schools.
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  • Student Accolades
    • Tiffany Eldredge conducted research with a professor about wonder and presented her own research on gender stereotypes at the Great Plans Student Psychology Convention. She has served as an intern with the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, taking her in elementary schools to make presentations to students.
    • Kayla Harrell, a Cardinal scholar-athlete on the women's basketball team, used a Jewell Journey Grant in spring 2018 to visit China. In addition to cultural immersion experiences, she worked at Hess International English Institute in WuXi, interacting with students and observing learning and teaching strategies. She plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.
    • Darcy Sweet has her sights set on earning a doctorate in OT. At Jewell, she's working to start a pre-PT/OT club, conducts research on courage, is a resident assistant, a member of Greek life, College Union Activities, academic honor societies and the Career Mentor Program.
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