College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
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Welcome, current and future Cyclones!

If you’re fascinated by why people think, feel, and behave the way they do, or if you enjoy observing social interactions, analyzing behavior, or exploring the mind in real-world contexts, you are a psychology major or minor in the making.

Here at Iowa State, our expert faculty will guide you as you dive into human behavior through engaging courses, research experiences, and hands-on projects. You’ll gain skills in research, critical thinking, data analysis, and communication that prepare you for careers in mental health, business, education, law, health services, and more.

Our program offers flexibility to combine psychology with other disciplines like biology, business, sociology and criminal justice, or education, and provides excellent preparation for graduate or professional school if you choose to continue your studies.

With an Iowa State psychology degree, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact—both for yourself and for others.

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    Major and minor

    Becoming a psychology major offers invaluable insights into human behavior, cognition, and emotion, preparing you for a wide range of careers in health, education, business, and social services. We offer both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science option to tailor your degree to your interests. You can also add a psychology minor to your current degree program.

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    Graduate studies

    Take the next step in your academic and professional journey by pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology through one of three program areas in cognitive psychology, counseling psychology, or social psychology. You may also pursue a research concentration in psychology and law, a graduate certificate in quantitative psychology, or a co-major in programs such as human computer interaction, neuroscience, or gerontology.

Sydney

I can’t thank my psychology academic advisor enough for being so supportive of my goals. She’s been a reference for me many times and she’s helped me secure jobs at the Academic Success Center and the Psychology Advising Office.

Sydney Rippin, ’23 psychology

Student stories

What I love about Psychology

Experiences

At Iowa State, we offer a wide variety of opportunities to explore your passions, connect with others, and create lifelong memories. From joining one of our many student organizations, to attending exciting sporting events, to conducting research alongside top-notch faculty, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved.

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    Student Support

    All the benefits of a top accredited university, with a supportive, friendly community where you’ll create meaningful connections with faculty, advisors and other students.

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    Research

    Engage with faculty who are global experts – in and out of the classroom. The department offers weekly colloquia and routinely attend and facilitate seminars on a variety of topics ranging from discrete mathematics, logic, mathematical biology and more.

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    Careers

    We’ll partner with you to explore the versatility of your degree. The possibilities are endless.

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