Careers and Outcomes | Department of Psychological Science | The University of Vermont(title)

Psychology majors are well-equipped to move into a wide range of careers after graduation. Students in our program have acquired in-depth knowledge about why people think, feel, and behave as they do. The skills and knowledge they acquire are applicable to any vocation and are highly valued by employers.

Psychologists traditionally study both normal and abnormal functioning, and also treat patients with mental and emotional problems. They also concentrate on behaviors that affect the mental and emotional health and mental functioning of healthy human beings. For example, they work with business executives, performers, and athletes to reduce stress and improve performance. They advise lawyers on jury selection and collaborate with educators on school reform. Psychologists are Involved in all aspects of our fast-paced world.

Central goals of the Liberal Arts are to foster in students active citizenship and community engagement, the pursuit of life-long learning, and future readiness for post-graduation careers.  Our Psychological Science major builds core competencies in:

  1. Analytical and Critical Thinking.  The ability to explore issues, ideas, knowledge, evidence, and values before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.  This includes building awareness of one's personal biases.
  2. Quantitative Reasoning/Applied Data Interpretation. The ability to apply basic mathematical skills to the interpretation of data to solve a disciplinary problem.
  3. Written, Visual, and Oral Communication. The ability to listen and observe with objectivity and communicate effectively in writing, visually and orally.

Read more about the core competencies you will develop as a student in the UVM College of Arts and Sciences

How We Can Help

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The Department of Psychological Science is committed to helping you reach your career goals, offering several areas that can enhance your career potential, including:

  • Getting research experience in a faculty member's laboratory
  • Writing letters of recommendation
  • Providing basic coursework required by most employers
  • Helping you develop independent study experiences in the community
  • Suggesting library and web sources for further information about your career choices

Applying to Graduate School

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Student Career Stories

Psychologist and Patient Advocate

Jenn Staples ’09, a fifth-generation Vermonter from Morrisville, began her college career at Hofstra University. But Long Island wasn’t the right cultural fit, so she transferred to UVM her sophomore year. Staples gravitated to psychology, largely through her experience growing up with an older...

Black and white headshot of Dr. Staples

Training for the Real World

When Catherine Dominick ’16 started working as a personal trainer at the Equinox Sports Club in Boston, she paid close attention to how veteran trainers communicated with their clients. “I could see how they used motivational interview tactics, read body language, and practiced behavior...

Black and white headshot of Katherine with a big grin

Music Career Leads to Master's Program in Organizational Psychology

Sunday Helmerich ’19 excelled academically after entering Pepperdine University in 2008, but finally faced up to the central reality of her college experience. “I had to admit to myself that I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said. A talented musician and composer,...

portrait of Sunday, smiling for the camera

Beyond the Books

Have an inquisitive mind? Then chances are you would (or already do) feel right at home in UVM’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Here, everyone has the potential to be a student scholar, to contribute their own unique thread to the rich tapestry of research that is an essential element of...

2 people standing in front of their poster at a science conference

Professors Pioneer Research into Anxiety-Related Brain Molecule

Professors Sayamwong Hammack and Victor May began as busmates. And soon their conversations on the commute sprouted into a research partnership. Hammack and May have been studying an increasingly popular molecule in the realm of neuroscience and psychology called pituitary adenylate...