College of the Pacific
Why choose a Psychology degree at Pacific?
“One of the best things about going to Pacific is the faculty. They always make time to help students no matter how many papers they have to grade. If you are ever struggling or have questions, never hesitate to send them an email or stay after class to talk.”
—Rachel Westerhoff,
Psychology major
Getting a degree in Psychology at Pacific offers several advantages stemming from our strong student-centered approach.
Our students obtain valuable research and applied experience which enriches their education at Pacific and greatly increases their attractiveness as future employees, graduate students or professional school students.
Practicum and Internship Opportunities
Our majors can choose from a wide variety of applied experiences in practicum and internship opportunities.
All students begin their major in PSYC 53, where they immediately experience first-hand the learning and application of behavior change principles both in the classroom and in practicum placements. Students can then apply for a number of internship opportunities available for 2- and 4-unit credits, or simply for the experience.
Populations available for practicum and internship sites include:
- Adults with chronic mental illness (
Community Re-Entry Program) - Adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities
- Typically developing preschool and elementary school children
- Children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities
- Families who are in transition or are homeless
- Women who have experienced domestic violence
- Dually diagnosed elderly adults
All practica and internship sites are located within the Stockton/Central Valley area.
Research Involvement
Our students are actively involved in understanding and conducting research from the outset of their major coursework. Faculty actively conduct and present research and encourage interested undergraduates to join their research teams.
Conferences
Undergraduate majors frequently attend research conferences with faculty members and graduate students, and are often included as co-authors on presentations. The most frequently attended annual conferences are the Western Psychological Association ( WPA) and the California Association of Behavior Analysis ( CalABA).
