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 build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a meaningful impact – both for yourself and for others.

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    Major and minor

    As a psychology major, you’ll gain 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 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees to tailor your studies to your interests. Students in other disciplines can also add a psychology minor to their 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.

Lydia Harders

My advisor has been incredible at answering any questions I have, specifically when it came to figuring out how all of my credits would transfer and what classes I did and didn’t need to take. It is great to know there is someone there to support me throughout my time here.

Lydia Harders, ’26 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 Psychology Club, to gearing up in cardinal and gold to cheer on the Cyclones, to conducting research alongside top-notch faculty, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved.

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    Student Support

    From the PsyClone Connect Learning Community, to our expert advising team, to our fun hangout space for students, here you’ll find support and opportunities to create meaningful connections.

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    Research

    Engage with faculty who are global experts – in and out of the classroom. Iowa State’s psychology department is research-intensive with many hands-on opportunities to work in faculty labs, participate in human studies, and contribute to scientific knowledge through published research.

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    Careers

    A psychology degree opens doors to many career fields, including mental health, physical health, law, research, children and youth services, business, and human resources. We’ll partner with you to explore the versatility of your degree.

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