About

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Students interested in pursuing a career in human service related fields of psychology are attracted to Appalachian State University’s Psychology (BS) - Human Services degree.

This degree’s curriculum provides a background for clinical psychology master’s in social work or graduate school in counseling. A majority of students in this concentration are pursuing a career in a helping profession and chose Appalachian because of the number of faculty in Department of Psychology with clinical interests and backgrounds.

You will have the opportunity to learn from faculty who are expert researchers and teachers. Students often participate with faculty in research projects and are encouraged to pursue an internship, two opportunities that offer practical experience. The department also houses a psychology clinic, operated by faculty and students, that provides assessment and psychotherapy services to individuals in the community.

After Graduation

Employment: Psychology majors are competitive for many bachelor’s entry-level jobs because of their ability to think critically, their strong oral and written communication skills, and their tendency to be concerned by real-world problems and ability to pull from scientific literature to solve them.

Graduate school: Many students from this major pursue master’s or doctoral level graduate education in clinical psychology, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other allied health professions.  Because these professional programs are highly competitive, students are advised to apply to many different programs in order to maintain their competitiveness.

Career Exploration website

Careers in Psychology, American Psychological Association

People

• 

  Faculty Profile: Dr. Kurt Michael

  Dr. Kurt Michael developed a school-based intervention program in North Carolina that lowers rural teens’ suicide attempts and boosts their well-being. The program is now becoming a national model.

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  Faculty Profile: Dr. Will Canu

  Psychology is “a great field for someone interested in human service.”

  – Dr. Will Canu, professor and researcher

  Meet more faculty

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  Alumna Profile: Caroline Davis ’16 ’19

  After graduating with a B.S. in psychology with a concentration in human services, Davis stayed at Appalachian to earn a Master of Public Administration with a certificate in nonprofit administration. She is now working at Western Youth Network (WYN) as events and operations coordinator.

• 

  Alumnus Profile: Dane Hilton ’11 ’14

  “Without the close mentorship of the faculty in the psychology department and the incredible experiences the department offers, I would not have been able to pursue my goal of becoming a licensed psychologist.”

  – Dane Hilton, doctoral student at University of Alabama studying clinical child psychology

Related Programs

• Psychology (BA)
• Psychology (BS) - Business
• Psychology (BS) - Health Studies
• Psychology (BS) - Natural Science
• Psychology (BS) - Social Science
• Psychology (BS) - Education Studies

Minors

A minor is not required, but it is possible to complete with a Human Services concentration.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

• Appalachian State University Chapter of Psi Chi - A chapter the national honor society in psychology sponsored by the American Psychological Association. It is open to students who complete nine hours of psychology course and meet a cumulative GPA requirements.  
• Students in the department are involved with research presentation days and competitions through the Council on Undergraduate Research, including the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
• Southeastern Psychological Association - a regional psychological association affiliated with the American Psychological Association (APA).

Admission Requirements

Must complete at least 30 credit hours of Appalachian course work and complete freshman and sophomore English in order to be admitted into the major.