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The Department of Psychology provides the opportunity for degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department prepares students for employment in areas such as social services, education, health, and research fields, as well as graduate education in diverse fields of study.
"My favorite part of being a Psychology major here at William Paterson is meeting new people and using the resources we have on campus... the human brain is just very interesting to me."– Victoria Zanca '25, President of WP Psychology Club and Vice President, PSI CHI
Alumni in arts, humanities, and social sciences are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average starting salaries in Psychology (NACE)
Noteworthy Psychology Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries with 8+ Years of Experience (PayScale)
The BA in psychology provides a broad understanding and appreciation of the field of psychology as a multifaceted discipline with both scientific and humanistic aspects. In addition to the mastery of specific course content, the program seeks to develop the student's ability to think critically about issues in the field. Moreover, the program is designed to help students: (1) integrate their knowledge of psychology with concepts and research from related disciplines, and (2) discover opportunities for application of knowledge in psychology to the solution of human problems. The program serves as preparation for graduate study in psychology or in such areas as law, social work, and public administration. In addition, the program prepares students for entry into bachelor's level careers.
View academic program requirements and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog:
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Psychology is the study of mental activities and behaviors that can be applied to the betterment of a wide range of other disciplines. The minor program in psychology is designed to allow students to explore critical topics and ideas in psychology in an easily adaptable format. With hundreds of course offerings each year in more than 60 subject areas and sub-disciplines of the field, students have the capacity to select areas of interest and explore them deeply. In addition, the program seeks to develop the student's ability to think critically about concepts and research in psychology and its application to the solution of human problems.
The master's program in clinical and counseling psychology prepares students for the professional practice of counseling, assessment, and/or mental health research. The curriculum provides a solid grounding in both theories and interventions that can be applied to a wide variety of mental health, academic, and research settings. We emphasize professional competency, ethical responsibility, cultural competency, self-awareness, and current body of knowledge in the scientific, methodological and theoretical foundations of practice. Our program expects students to become compassionate and caring scientist-practitioners with motivation to continue learning and furthering their development throughout their professional careers. The program requires the student to submit either a comprehensive master's project (in which he or she presents a clinical project in writing and integrates relevant empirical, theoretical, social, ethical, cultural, diagnostic, and therapeutic issues in the discussion) or a research project that makes an original contribution to the literature. Learn more »
The MFA degree encourages the enhancement of imagination through the creation and interpretation of meaningful work in art, design, sculpture, graphic media and the visual arts. More info »
The Certificate in Behavioral and Social Science Research Skills is a 12-credit program that prepares students for careers in social science research in various industries like social advocacy organizations, local government agencies, scientific consulting services, grantmaking services, and professional organizations. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to perform various tasks and responsibilities in behavioral and social science research, such as data collection, data management, data analysis, and report writing. The certificate is designed for degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students who are pursuing research careers in behavioral and social science.
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The UI/UX Design certificate emphasizes design and human behavior. This certificate prepares students for User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) careers. The UI/UX approach has become the standard for developing apps and is commonly employed as a part of the process to implement and update product experiences, ranging from on-line dating apps, to television/media apps, to navigating driving directions with maps. This is a rapidly growing area of employment that combines social science research skills with aesthetic design. Students develop a skillset in analysis, evaluation, and the implementation of designs that enable product users to have fulfilling interactions with software and virtual environments.
The UI/UX Research certificate emphasizes quantitative and qualitative research methods with an introduction to design. This certificate prepares students for User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) careers. The UI/UX approach has become the standard for developing apps and is commonly employed as a part of the process to implement and update product experiences, ranging from on-line dating apps to television/media apps, to navigating driving directions with maps. This is a rapidly growing area of employment that combines social science research skills with aesthetic design. Students develop a skillset in analysis, evaluation, and the implementation of designs that enable product users to have fulfilling interactions with software and virtual environments.
Real-world experiences in the psychology program include a wide array of internships in social services, clinical, geriatric, and research settings. Students have the opportunity to work closely with professors in their research labs and conduct their own research projects. Students can earn membership in Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, and join the Psychology Club. Students in the University Honors College can choose from three psychology honors tracks in clinical and neuropsychology, cognitive science, and social science.
In our psychology programs, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including:
Career opportunities at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels in psychology include: social services, health care, human resources, marketing, market research at the Bachelor's level; social worker (MSW), counselor (e.g., alcohol/drug abuse, school, mental hospital, agency), organizational consultant, community college instructor, research technician at the Master's level; clinical psychologist (private practice, hospital, mental health clinic), counseling psychologist (college or other school counseling center), organizational psychologist (consulting firm or large corporation), research psychologist (university or corporation) at the Doctoral level
And we're ready to help you grow. At William Paterson, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to forge forward as a powerhouse—both in the classroom and in their careers. Apply today to discover your potential.
William Paterson University student-athletes are gaining new tools to strengthen not only their physical performance but also their mental game, thanks to an expanding collaboration between psychology professor Michele Cascardi and Athletics staff, notably Athletic Director Kristen Foley and Head Athletic Trainer Alison Moquin.
Cascardi, who teaches Psychology of Sport and the new Applied Sport and Performance Psychology course, has been working closely with student-athletes and coaches to integrate mental skills training into athletic life at WP.
“Sport psychology is all about helping athletes build focus, confidence, and resilience,” says Cascardi, a licensed clinical psychologist and telepsychologist. She knows firsthand; Cascardi has more than 40 years of experience as an endurance athlete and currently competes as a USTA tennis player. “These are skills that not only enhance performance but also support mental wellness and teamwork.”
Last year, Cascardi coordinated with Athletics to lead a handful of team-specific workshops on goal setting and positive self-talk. Other teams stepped forward to request workshops as well. With support from Moquin and her team, Cascardi spent time in the athletic training facility on campus. After casually chatting with athletes, some requested to meet with Cascardi individually to discuss sports-related wellness concerns.
Seeing both student-athlete interest and need, the professor’s work with Athletics has grown into a broader initiative this semester. She is leading regular workshops based on the Pioneer athletes’ interest surveys and an Instagram campaign to build awareness of sports psychology.
“Dr. Cascardi has become an invaluable asset to our student-athletes, providing guidance that extends well beyond the playing field,” Moquin says. “Through this partnership, athletes have strengthened key skills including goal setting, positive self-talk, relaxation techniques, and effective communication with both teammates and coaches. These improvements have not only supported their personal growth but have also had a measurable, positive impact on their athletic performance.”
In direct collaboration with Athletics, Cascardi has assembled an interdisciplinary group of graduate- and undergraduate-level students to facilitate the expansion of her work in this area.
In October, more than 70 Pioneer athletes attended the “Transform Your Thinking Habits” workshop. An interactive session titled “Building Relationships with Teammates and Coaches,” is planned for November.
In January, two graduate students from the Integrated Marketing Communication program will join Cascardi’s team as interns, Victoria Palladino and Delsy Toxtli-Coyotl, expanding the project’s reach and visibility.
“This interdisciplinary collaboration gives students hands-on experience applying sport and performance psychology principles while making a real difference for our athletes,” Cascardi says. “It’s exciting to see the campus community rally around the importance of mental wellbeing.”
