Birdsong School of Social Science

Psychology

B.A. B.S. Minor: Psychology Certificate: Childhood Studies

Department Chair: Dr. Leslie Caughell

Psychology is the study of how people think, feel, and behave — and why. As a field with roots in both philosophy and biology, it gives students a genuinely interdisciplinary foundation for understanding themselves and others.

The Psychology Department offers both a B.A. and a B.S., each built around core content areas spanning development, biological foundations, social psychology, and applied practice. Both degrees emphasize scientific inquiry, ethical and social responsibility, and professional communication. The B.S. adds a stronger science and statistics foundation, including coursework in research methods and natural science electives, making it well suited to students considering graduate study or healthcare fields.

Psychology also pairs naturally with pre-health tracks — students planning to apply to medical, dental, or other healthcare programs can major in psychology while still completing the required science prerequisites. A psychological perspective on patient behavior and communication can be a real asset in clinical practice.

Resources

Requirements

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology I
4 hrs
PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology II
4 hrs
PSY 202 Scientific Literacy in Psychology
4 hrs
Developmental Psychology One of: PSY 205 Lifespan Development · PSY 372 Infant Development · PSY 373 Child Development · PSY 374 Adolescent Development · PSY 375 Adult Development & Aging
4 hrs
Applied Psychology One of: PSY 256 Adult Psychopathology · PSY 321 Industrial/Organizational Psychology · PSY 333 Assessment of Individual Differences · PSY 350 Psychology & the Law · PSY 354 Clinical Psychology
4 hrs
Biological Foundations of Psychology One of: PSY 313 Clinical Neuropsychology · PSY 370 Sensation and Perception · PSY 388 Cognition · PSY 450 Evolutionary Psychology · PSY 455 Biological Psychology
4 hrs
Social and Theoretical Foundations of Psychology One of: PSY 227 Social Psychology · PSY 355 Theories of Personality · PSY 362 Theories of Motivation · PSY 477 History & Systems of Modern Psychology
4 hrs
Diversity One of: PSY 351 Psychology of Gender · PSY 395 Cross-Cultural Psychology · POLS 348 International Human Rights · REC 325 Race, Gender, & Leisure · SW 251 Diversity & Problems in Social Work · SOC 235 Diversity & Society · GWSS 219 Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
4 hrs
300/400-level PSY Electives Two other courses at the 300/400 level
8 hrs
PSY 495 Ethics and Professional Issues
4 hrs
Total Hours Required 44

Childhood Studies

This interdisciplinary certificate program centers on the ideas, issues, concepts, and debates that define the study of children and childhood in the twenty-first century. Incorporating courses in the humanities and social sciences, it provides a flexible curriculum for those who want to study the child audience, creative representations of children, and children themselves.

CourseHrs.
Select four of the following
MC 312 The Art of Animation
4
MC 327 Children, Teens, and the Media
4
EDUC 225 Characteristics of the Learner
4
EDUC 320 Teaching Reading and the Language Arts I
4
ENG 317 Children's Literature
4
ENG 318 Adolescent Literature
4
PSY 372 Infant Development
4
PSY 373 Child Development
4
PSY 374 Adolescent Development
4
Special topics courses designated each semester centering on childhood studies may also count toward the certificate.
—
Total Credit Hours 16

Graduate & Dual Degree Pathways

Psychology students have access to early assurance, early admission, and guaranteed admission pathways to graduate and professional programs through Batten University's partnership agreements. Contact your advisor for current eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Eastern Virginia Medical School

EVMS Health Sciences Programs

Early Assurance & Early Admission

Pathways to the MD, MPA, MSA, MAS, MHS, MPH, MS Biomedical Sciences, MS Laboratory Animal Science, MS Art Therapy & Counseling, and Master of Physician Assistant programs.

Washington University in St. Louis

School of Medicine — Occupational Therapy

Dual Degree 3+2 / 3+3

Earn a B.S. from Batten and an MS or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from one of the nation's top-ranked OT programs in five or six years.

Sentara College of Health Sciences

Master of Science in Nursing

Guaranteed Admission

Students from any major who complete prerequisite courses may apply for guaranteed admission to Sentara's Entry to Nursing Practice Master's program. Up to two students per year.

View All Dual Degree Programs

Career Outcomes

Clinical & Counseling Fields

Prepare for graduate study in clinical psychology, counseling, or social work, and for entry-level roles in mental health and human services settings.

Clinical Psychology Counseling Mental Health

Healthcare & Pre-Health

Psychology pairs well with pre-health tracks for students pursuing medicine, dentistry, nursing, or other clinical professions where understanding patient behavior matters.

Pre-Med Healthcare Patient Care

Research & Graduate Study

The B.S. track and original research requirement prepare students for graduate study in psychology, neuroscience, and related research fields.

Graduate School Research Neuroscience

Business, Law & Human Services

Skills in human behavior, assessment, and communication translate into human resources, industrial/organizational psychology, law, and social services.

Human Resources I/O Psychology Law Social Services

Faculty

Craig Jackson
Craig Jackson

Associate Professor of Psychology
Dean, Birdsong School of Social Science

757-233-8767
205 Clarke Hall

Gabi Martorell
Gabi Martorell

Professor of Psychology

757-455-8844
Social Sciences Lab 105

Taryn Myers
Taryn Myers

Professor of Psychology
Chair of Psychology

757-233-8754
3 Roop Hall, Allen Village

Robert Ariel
Robert Ariel

Associate Professor of Psychology

757-455-3288
Social Sciences Lab 104

Katie Harrington
Katie Harrington

Assistant Professor Psychology

757-455-2116
Social Sciences Lab 114

Nick Anthony
Kelsey Ellis
James Macchia
Ralitsa Maduro
Shantanu Tilak
Shantanu Tilak

Affiliate Adjunct via Chesapeake Bay Academy Partnership

stilak@batten.edu

Meredith Turner
Meredith Turner

Adjunct Faculty-Psychology

mturner@batten.edu

Benjamin Wood

Psychology is the study of how people think, feel, and behave — and why. As a field with roots in both philosophy and biology, it gives students a genuinely interdisciplinary foundation for understanding themselves and others.

The Psychology Department offers both a B.A. and a B.S., each built around core content areas spanning development, biological foundations, social psychology, and applied practice. Both degrees emphasize scientific inquiry, ethical and social responsibility, and professional communication. The B.S. adds a stronger science and statistics foundation, including coursework in research methods and natural science electives, making it well suited to students considering graduate study or healthcare fields.

Psychology also pairs naturally with pre-health tracks — students planning to apply to medical, dental, or other healthcare programs can major in psychology while still completing the required science prerequisites. A psychological perspective on patient behavior and communication can be a real asset in clinical practice.

Resources

Requirements

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology I
4 hrs
PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology II
4 hrs
PSY 202 Scientific Literacy in Psychology
4 hrs
Developmental Psychology One of: PSY 205 Lifespan Development · PSY 372 Infant Development · PSY 373 Child Development · PSY 374 Adolescent Development · PSY 375 Adult Development & Aging
4 hrs
Applied Psychology One of: PSY 256 Adult Psychopathology · PSY 321 Industrial/Organizational Psychology · PSY 333 Assessment of Individual Differences · PSY 350 Psychology & the Law · PSY 354 Clinical Psychology
4 hrs
Biological Foundations of Psychology One of: PSY 313 Clinical Neuropsychology · PSY 370 Sensation and Perception · PSY 388 Cognition · PSY 450 Evolutionary Psychology · PSY 455 Biological Psychology
4 hrs
Social and Theoretical Foundations of Psychology One of: PSY 227 Social Psychology · PSY 355 Theories of Personality · PSY 362 Theories of Motivation · PSY 477 History & Systems of Modern Psychology
4 hrs
Diversity One of: PSY 351 Psychology of Gender · PSY 395 Cross-Cultural Psychology · POLS 348 International Human Rights · REC 325 Race, Gender, & Leisure · SW 251 Diversity & Problems in Social Work · SOC 235 Diversity & Society · GWSS 219 Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
4 hrs
300/400-level PSY Electives Two other courses at the 300/400 level
8 hrs
PSY 495 Ethics and Professional Issues
4 hrs
Total Hours Required 44

Childhood Studies

This interdisciplinary certificate program centers on the ideas, issues, concepts, and debates that define the study of children and childhood in the twenty-first century. Incorporating courses in the humanities and social sciences, it provides a flexible curriculum for those who want to study the child audience, creative representations of children, and children themselves.

CourseHrs.
Select four of the following
MC 312 The Art of Animation
4
MC 327 Children, Teens, and the Media
4
EDUC 225 Characteristics of the Learner
4
EDUC 320 Teaching Reading and the Language Arts I
4
ENG 317 Children's Literature
4
ENG 318 Adolescent Literature
4
PSY 372 Infant Development
4
PSY 373 Child Development
4
PSY 374 Adolescent Development
4
Special topics courses designated each semester centering on childhood studies may also count toward the certificate.
—
Total Credit Hours 16

Graduate & Dual Degree Pathways

Psychology students have access to early assurance, early admission, and guaranteed admission pathways to graduate and professional programs through Batten University's partnership agreements. Contact your advisor for current eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Eastern Virginia Medical School

EVMS Health Sciences Programs

Early Assurance & Early Admission

Pathways to the MD, MPA, MSA, MAS, MHS, MPH, MS Biomedical Sciences, MS Laboratory Animal Science, MS Art Therapy & Counseling, and Master of Physician Assistant programs.

Washington University in St. Louis

School of Medicine — Occupational Therapy

Dual Degree 3+2 / 3+3

Earn a B.S. from Batten and an MS or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from one of the nation's top-ranked OT programs in five or six years.

Sentara College of Health Sciences

Master of Science in Nursing

Guaranteed Admission

Students from any major who complete prerequisite courses may apply for guaranteed admission to Sentara's Entry to Nursing Practice Master's program. Up to two students per year.

View All Dual Degree Programs

Career Outcomes

Clinical & Counseling Fields

Prepare for graduate study in clinical psychology, counseling, or social work, and for entry-level roles in mental health and human services settings.

Clinical Psychology Counseling Mental Health

Healthcare & Pre-Health

Psychology pairs well with pre-health tracks for students pursuing medicine, dentistry, nursing, or other clinical professions where understanding patient behavior matters.

Pre-Med Healthcare Patient Care

Research & Graduate Study

The B.S. track and original research requirement prepare students for graduate study in psychology, neuroscience, and related research fields.

Graduate School Research Neuroscience

Business, Law & Human Services

Skills in human behavior, assessment, and communication translate into human resources, industrial/organizational psychology, law, and social services.

Human Resources I/O Psychology Law Social Services

Faculty

Craig Jackson
Craig Jackson

Associate Professor of Psychology
Dean, Birdsong School of Social Science

757-233-8767
205 Clarke Hall

Gabi Martorell
Gabi Martorell

Professor of Psychology

757-455-8844
Social Sciences Lab 105

Taryn Myers
Taryn Myers

Professor of Psychology
Chair of Psychology

757-233-8754
3 Roop Hall, Allen Village

Robert Ariel
Robert Ariel

Associate Professor of Psychology

757-455-3288
Social Sciences Lab 104

Katie Harrington
Katie Harrington

Assistant Professor Psychology

757-455-2116
Social Sciences Lab 114

Nick Anthony
Kelsey Ellis
James Macchia
Ralitsa Maduro
Shantanu Tilak
Shantanu Tilak

Affiliate Adjunct via Chesapeake Bay Academy Partnership

stilak@batten.edu

Meredith Turner
Meredith Turner

Adjunct Faculty-Psychology

mturner@batten.edu

Benjamin Wood