The aim of the Psychology Department is to provide students with an understanding of human behavior that will support their ability to add to scientific knowledge, to help others, and to participate as informed members of our society.

One path to this goal involves mastery of the theoretical concepts psychologists use in describing and understanding behavior; the other involves competence in the use of the scientific methodologies employed in the study of behavior. We emphasize the importance of both concepts and methods across diverse topic areas within psychology, including biological, cognitive, social, personality, and culture.