Department of Psychology

About Psychology programs

Psychology Faculty

Location: Building 51, Room 3404
Phone: (904) 620-2807
Web Address: www.unf.edu/coas/psychology/
Dr. Lori Lange, Associate Professor & Chair

Mission

The UNF Department of Psychology is dedicated to being an inclusive and collaborative hub of innovative scientific discovery and education that is focused on improving our communities and preparing our students to succeed in a diverse and rapidly-changing world.

The Program

Psychology is the scientific study of human and animal behavior. The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate (BA & BS) and graduate (MS) degree programs in psychology, and a BS program in behavioral neuroscience. Our full-time faculty are active researchers and offer opportunities for students to collaborate on research projects. UNF psychology faculty are highly qualified, caring and accessible individuals who are excellent teachers and researchers, committed to continued scholarship and service to the profession and to the local community.

Psychology at UNF offers many unique and engaging opportunities beyond the typical classroom setting, such as practicum, study abroad, research, student groups, and community-based learning. These distinctive experiences provide avenues for students to apply what they have learned and to broaden their knowledge, practical skills, and connections. Students in our program gain knowledge and skills that make them highly desirable candidates for employment in a wide variety of careers. Many opportunities exist for students to develop highly transferable skills in scientific research and statistics, critical thinking, problem solving, technical writing, teamwork, oral communication, and interpersonal skills and understanding.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Psychology at UNF offers a substantive and dynamic curriculum where students have the option to earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. All programs share a common core of courses in research methodology, scientific inquiry, and professional development. Students can focus their studies on children and adolescents in the Child Psychology Concentration.

For admission to the degree program, students must earn at least a C in introductory psychology, in elementary statistics, and in general biology. Psychology majors must earn at least a C in courses applied to the degree.

Psychology minors complete 18 credit hours in psychology. No more than 50% of courses required for the minor may be transferred from another institution. A grade of at least C is required for all minor courses, including prerequisites.

Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience

Behavioral Neuroscience is offered as a major (BS) for students interested in studying the biological basis of human behavior. The interdisciplinary curriculum requires 39 credit hours and focuses on the brain circuitry and other biological factors underlying normal and abnormal human development, cognition, perception, social interaction, mental health, and drug use.

Students gain a broad understanding of biological and psychological principles and techniques, and acquire laboratory, research, technological and other practical skills required for further study and career opportunities in related fields. Specifically, students are trained in a variety of behavioral, cellular and molecular, neuroanatomical, and neurobiological techniques necessary to approach questions of interest using animal and human model systems.

Pursuing studies in Behavioral Neuroscience prepares students for a variety of careers and areas of continued education, including medicine, pharmacology, bioengineering, health bioinformatics, government service (e.g., NIH, CDC), marketing, physical therapy, artificial intelligence, science journalism, and research & development.

Graduate Program

The Masters of Science in the Psychological Sciences is a research-based program designed to equip students with critical skills and knowledge necessary for continued occupational and educational advancement in the psychological sciences. There is an accelerated track for the program where UNF students (who are accepted to the program) can complete their BS and MS in Psychology by having the first 10 hours of the MS program count towards their BS degree.

Students demonstrate knowledge, critical thinking, and scientific competency skills by completing a research-based thesis that contributes to the discipline of psychology. Students are paired with a faculty advisor based on faculty research interests and expertise. This mentor oversees the thesis process across four courses (Supervised Research, Thesis A, B, and C).

Our program is tailored to help students build their skill-set and resume for applied careers and to make students more competitive for PhD programs and careers in the psychological sciences.

Professional development is encouraged and fostered through such activities as scholarship, research conference presentations, teaching, departmental colloquia participation, and community engagement.