Why do you do what you do? The study of the mind is about as fundamental as it gets. It's fascinating and useful, too. Understanding human behavior can provide an excellent base for a very wide range of careers. If you would like to be a counselor . . . Typically, to counsel other people professionally, you need to earn a graduate degree. There are many approaches to this end. At Pitt, using psychology as your undergraduate base, you can work towards a graduate degree in: clinical psychology; psychiatry (first, you need a medical degree, then further graduate work in psychiatry); psychology in education; theology; or, social work. All of these graduate programs are available at the University. Are you artistically or musically inclined? Combining psychology with another undergraduate major like studio arts or music at Pitt can lead to graduate work in art therapy or music therapy at another college or university offering these graduate degrees. Give an extra dimension to your career in business, teaching, law, medicine, public health . . . To be successful in most areas of business, you need to understand human nature. Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences offers a Dual A&S/Business Major for students who want the flexibility of a liberal arts degree combined with the practicality of a business specialization. Psychology/Business is one of the most popular combinations. If you become interested in one of our College of Business Administration majors, like marketing, a few psychology classes can't hurt your marketing strategies. You can probably easily imagine how an understanding of psychology could enhance your performance in any of these fields. As long as you fulfill certain prerequisite classes to prepare for these graduate programs, you can major in just about anything, including psychology. The Psychology Major As a psychology major, you'll begin with an introductory class and foundation classes in statistics and research methodologies. Then you'll take four core classes choosing between: social psychology or psychology of personality developmental psychology or comparative animal behavior biopsychology or sensation and perception learning and motivation or cognitive psychology You'll also take co-requisite classes in mathematics, biological sciences, social sciences, and philosophy. Then, you'll move on to some upper-level classes...the choices are varied and exciting. Experiences help . . . Pitt is located in the city of Pittsburgh, one of the nation's top corporate headquarters. Opportunities abound for internships, volunteer work, and research, excellent ways of getting exposed to a field before making a major commitment to it. Your textbook studies come alive when you're able to see and experience examples of what you've been studying. These experiences also help you make professional contacts and enhance your resume. To learn more, check out the Office of Experiential Learning website. Currently, a number of psychology majors are working with Pitt faculty in psychology laboratories; and more are working in clinical settings, including Western Psychiatric Institute, Allegheny County Coroner's Office, and more. Generally, any qualified psychology major will have a chance to work in a research lab, whether with a faculty member, a secondary appointment faculty member, or field supervisor. Some examples of internships and/or volunteer work Pitt students have include: working at the Children's Institute with troubled children; working at the Alzheimer's Association; at the Center for Victims of Violent Crimes; Allegheny's Neuropsychiatric Institute; and Three Rivers Youth Association, just to name a few. There are both credit and non-credit opportunities for students who want these kinds of experiences. For credit, a student may enroll in supervised field placement, directed individual research, honors directed research, and honors thesis. There are also opportunities to work in a lab as a student employee. The Honors College (UHC) If you're looking for the extra challenge and intellectual stimulation offered through an honors program, come to the UHC on the 35th floor of the famous Cathedral of Learning. UHC offers different options for participating, including honors classes, a Bachelors of Philosophy degree, assistance in applying for prestigious international scholarships, and much, much more.