For incoming students who may not be familiar with the field, a broad definition of modern psychology is "the science of behavior." How we learn, how we act, and how to measure both are the principal topics of study in psychology. Psychologists investigate topics such as personality, learning, memory, language, emotion, aggression, intelligence, group behavior, and the assessment and treatment of mental disorders. As a discipline, psychology might be thought of as between biology and philosophy in its methods and goals. Like biologists, psychologists have an interest in the brain and other functions that affect human behavior. On the other hand, like philosophers, psychologists are concerned with man as a social being whose interpersonal, moral, and religious behavior is greatly influenced by what other people say and do, including parents and teachers as well as people who lived thousands of years ago. They ask the age-old questions of what constitutes happiness and how one can remain true to oneself while adjusting to others.
Facilities and Faculty
The size of the psychology department lends itself to an atmosphere of learning and sharing through close contact between students and faculty. The teaching staff consists of many full-time faculty as well as part-time faculty and graduate students. Faculty areas of expertise include clinical psychology, human sexual response, child psychology, cognitive psychology, sensation and perception, social psychology, learning, creativity, aging, and applied behavioral analysis. More advanced students often help in research directed by faculty and some students initiate their own projects. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Honors College.
Undergraduate Curriculum
The Department of Psychology has designed a diversified undergraduate curriculum that provides a broad and balanced treatment of psychology for students seeking a liberal arts degree or for those intending to enter advanced training in psychology, education, medicine, or related fields. Visit the degree database for learning objectives, worksheets and career guides for the Bachelor of Arts and Minor in Psychology.
Outreach Undergraduate Mentoring Program (OUMP)
Our outreach program mentors undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology.
Psi Chi and Psychology Club
Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in psychology. The UNLV chapter of Psi Chi can be found at their website.
FAQs for UNLV Undergraduate Students
UNLV students often have psychology-related questions about research labs, internships, letters of recommendation, student organizations, careers, the undergraduate curriculum and areas of focus, graduate school, the GRE, and scholarships and awards. Further information about entering graduate school for clinical psychology may be found at the Clinical Psych Grad School's website. Further information about degree pathways in psychology can be found at the APA's degree pathway website.
Course of Study Recommendations for UNLV Students
Many UNLV students are curious about what courses to take and what activities to pursue at the undergraduate level if they are interested in pursuing graduate education in: