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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN PSYCHOLOGY

A student participates in a research experiment in a Psychology lab.

We offer four undergraduate programs: a Psychology major in either a BA or BS track, a major in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in psychology.

Both psychology degree programs provide broad training in the scientific foundations of modern psychology and include a wide range of elective courses and opportunities for involvement in research and internships. The undergraduate major in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience provides an intensive course of study focused on brain-behavior relationships—ranging from genetic to whole brain contributions to mental processes.

WHY PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES?

Psychological and Brain Sciences are concerned with understanding behavior, thought, and experience. What could be more interesting and important than understanding ourselves?

PBS courses and programs provide rigorous, excellent preparation for a wide range of professional and life goals post-Villanova, including careers that directly or indirectly involve the behavioral sciences and graduate programs in psychological science, psychological practice, health professions, law and many other paths.

PBS programs include a range of opportunities for students beyond the classroom, including involvement in world-class research projects, internship opportunities, a regular colloquium/seminar program and close interaction among undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members.

Tolentine Hall 334
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Ave
Villanova, PA 19085

Chair: Michael Brown PhD
Staff: Eileen O'Donnell; Louise Carbone

WHO WE ARE

JULIE MICHAEL GETTINGS, PhD, ’05 CLAS

Julie Michael Gettings, PhD, ’05 CLAS is currently a pediatric psychologist within the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She works collaboratively with youth with diabetes and their families on improving adherence to diabetes management tasks, coping with chronic illness, improving family functioning surrounding illness management and treating symptoms of mental health disorders. She is also involved in clinical research with a particular focus on improving mental health screenings for youth with chronic illness. While at Villanova, Dr. Gettings pursued a dual major in Psychology and Comprehensive Science and worked as a research assistant at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

NICK MESROPYAN '21 CLAS

Nick Mesropyan '21 CLAS graduated with a degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, and during his senior year, he worked as a part-time medical scribe for a nephrology practice of six physicians, taking notes for doctors as they met with patients. An aspiring orthopedic surgeon, Mesropyan said he loved the CBN major. “With CBN, you get both the biology side and the brain side,” he explains. “Psychology is present in everyday life, and you’re always going to use your psychology skills in everything that you’re doing.”

ASHLEY BERNARD ’22 CLAS

Entering Villanova as an undeclared Sciences major, Ashley Bernard ’22 CLAS took a general psychology course in her first year—and was quickly hooked on the topic. In her sophomore year, “I took Dr. Deena Weisberg’s Human Development course, and after every class, I was always fascinated by the material we learned. I really appreciated how important every stage of human development is to life.” When Dr. Weisberg introduced the class to her Scientific Thinking and Representation Lab, which examines children’s imaginative and scientific reasoning abilities, Ashley applied to be a student research assistant.