The programs in the psychology cluster teach people how to study human behavior. Students learn how to do experiments and interpret the data. They study theories of personality, learning, and mental illness.

You may think of psychology as the science of the mind. But mental states are difficult to see or to measure scientifically. Instead psychology looks mostly at behavior. That's why it is often called behavioral science.

Most of the programs in this cluster emphasize research. It may be research into how the mind develops, how people function in groups, or how people learn and remember. This is probably because psychology is a relatively young science. Human behavior is still poorly understood, so new contributions to its knowledge base are needed and valued. For example, marketers want to know what makes consumers buy. Educators want to know what helps young people learn.

Research is even more important in the branches of psychology that emphasize helping people with mental illness or stress. This is because helping people with personal problems is a job with great responsibility. To be licensed to practice mental therapy, you need an advanced degree. This demonstrates that you reach conclusions based on careful study. For licensure you also need supervised clinical work experience. This demonstrates that you have learned the skills that are needed to help others. You are able to be empathetic, yet maintain a professional relationship.

Because of this emphasis on research, you can expect to study most of these programs primarily at the graduate level. But undergraduate study of psychology can still be rewarding. The insights into personality you get and the training in research you receive even at that level can be useful in many careers.

For detailed information about the programs in this cluster, click on a program title in the Related Programs area.