Psychology

Do you enjoy thinking about the causes of human behavior? Have you ever wanted to help people solve problems? If you can answer yes to these questions, then you should consider studying psychology! A diverse and exciting field, psychology offers a wide range of career and educational opportunities.

The Psychology Department offers four distinct programs:

• General Psychology  - intended for those students who want a broad-based education, giving them multiple career opportunities and/or preparation for graduate study
• Child Psychology  - created for those students primarily interested in working with children, ranging from infants to adolescents, and families in a variety of contexts
• Forensic Psychology - designed for those students who want to apply the principles and insights of psychology in the context of the criminal justice system

Dr. Kathryn Wiezbicki-Stevens, Chair, Psychology Department

Cooperative Education Program

Our Co-Op Program is one of the many options for traditional students to benefit from experiential learning. Students gain credit for working 100 hours at a local human service organization. In addition, they take a seminar class to provide support and facilitate connections for theory and practice. This highly selective program is available to qualified students at the sophomore level, and is conducted during the spring semester. The Co-Op faculty advisor works closely with students to place them at sites that match their interests. The kinds of work responsibilities vary from site to site, but typically include: research projects, creating resource materials for staff and families, and direct care with clients in residential or after-school programs. Co-Op students are sponsored by our Community Partners.

Community Partnerships

The Psychology Program at Bay Path is proud to announce its Community Partners for 2013. These organizations are providing opportunities for experiential learning to our students from all programs - Traditional, One-Day, and Graduate. Through Co-Op, service-learning projects, research projects, fieldwork & internships, you will gain valuable experience and contacts with these notable and respected agencies. Click here, for more information on each of our Community Partners!

Community Partners

River Valley Counseling Center
Springfield Parent Academy
Springfield Jewish Community Center
ServiceNet
Center for Human Development
Gandara Center
Girls Inc of Holyoke
New Leadership Charter School for Excellence

For more information on Co-ops,  service-learning projects, research projects, fieldwork & internships contact:

Kathy Wiezbicki-Stevens, Ed.D.,
Chair of the Psychology Department 
E-mail: Kathy Wiezbicki-Stevens
Phone: 413.565.1226

Our Curriculum

The curriculum for each program is targeted to develop the skills, knowledge and abilities for your chosen career path. Equally important, the programs encourage you to think critically about behavior and mental processes, by understanding the relationships among theories, observations, and conclusions. Courses feature relevant and up-to-date information in each field. Special projects and class assignments feature active learning and practical application of concepts, such as: debating current controversial issues, role-playing, attending professional conferences, interviewing families, performing service-learning projects, and much more. An internship is required during senior year, which is an opportunity for crucial hands-on learning—applying the theories and communication skills learned in class to an actual setting.

The Psychology Department provides a supportive environment for all students. As a Bay Path student, you will have access to:

• the Psychology Club, where you can meet others and discuss your interests in psychology
• the unique Alum-Mentor Program in Psychology 
•  the opportunity to join Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology
• career panel discussions and guest speakers
• academic advising
• graduate study information sessions

To learn more about employment opportunities in the field of Psychology, please visit the American Psychological Association.

Master of Science in Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology is the study of the psychological changes that occur in human beings throughout their lifespan. Bay Path’s Master of Science in Developmental Psychology blends academic theory and current best practices in the field with community-based research programs, providing ample opportunity to enhance or expand professional credentials. Bay Path offers the program in a one-year accelerated model and as a two-year option on its Longmeadow Campus.

Learn more about Bay Path’s MS in Developmental Psychology!