Psychology, Bachelor's , Minor

At DeSales, we not only look at your past academic achievement but also your potential for future growth to determine your admission.

We find that students who have demonstrated significant achievement within a demanding curriculum are best suited for academic life at DeSales. Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. This helps indicate a student's potential for academic growth going forward. DeSales University welcomes applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national, or ethnic origin.

Application Checklist

• Application Fee: None
• Transcripts: Official High School Transcript
• Standardized Tests: This program is SAT optional.
• Recommendations: Completed Guidance Counselor Form and Teacher Recommendation Form

All materials can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 

Additional recommendations

High School Academics - Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended. Here's an example:

• Four years of English
• Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
• A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
• At least two laboratory science courses

Visiting DeSales - A personal, on-campus interview is strongly recommended, but is not required. We encourage you to visit so that you'll have a chance to learn more about DeSales, and we'll have the opportunity to learn more about you, too.

Learn more about Undergraduate Admissions & Aid 

The psychology curriculum is founded upon supportive faculty-student interactions in the classroom, seminars, and independent research courses.

Coursework will foster the development of your interpersonal and analytical skills and refine your written and oral communication skills.

Major specific classes will include:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Introduction to Computer Applications
• Probability and Statistics
• Research Design and Analysis
• Applied Research Design and Analysis
• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Development
• Psychobiology
• Psychological Logic

One from the following:

• Introductory Biology
• Biology: Thinking and Creativity

The psychology program at DeSales provides a broad base of coursework in psychology that lays the groundwork for your future in a variety of fields.

We strongly believe that the skills you develop in a psychology program can be applied to any career. Many of our students also choose to pursue graduate work at the masters or doctorate level so as to grow their expertise.

Internships

Psychology students are strongly encouraged to complete internships while they are at DeSales. Internships are a valuable opportunity to explore career options and to guide future studies.

The following are examples of recent internships completed by DeSales students. There are many more possible options available based on your interests.

• Adolescent Transitions Unit, Lehigh Valley Health Network
• Americorps Vista
• Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem
• Care Net Lehigh Valley
• Children's Integrated Center for Success
• Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley
• Community Service Foundation
• DeSales University Academic Resource Center
• Haven House Psychiatric Rehabilitation
• IMPACT Project Inc.
• The Journey Home – Art Therapy
• KidsPeace
• Lehigh County Adult Probation
• Lehigh Valley Health Network Behavioral Health Sciences Center
• Lifepath
• Manito Life Center - Equine Therapy
• Mind of the Athlete
• Mitzvah Circle Foundation
• Montgomery Elementary Guidance Office
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Northampton County Juvenile Justice Center
• Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican
• Sacred Heart Hospital
• TeenCentral.Net
• Valley Youth House

DeSales can help make your college expenses affordable through a combination of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarship resources.

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Cost of attendance for undergrads for 2023-2024

Resident Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $43,000
Room and Board - $13,800
Mandatory Fees - $1,800
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $58,800 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Total cost for resident students: $65,116

Commuter Students

Direct Costs
Tuition - $43,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $44,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $2,298
Total cost for commuter students: $55,122

Off-Campus*

Direct Costs
Tuition - $43,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $44,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)

Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $9,192
Total cost for off-campus students: $62,016
*First-year students are required to reside on campus or commute from home.

Parking Fee - $100

View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets

Dual Degree Undergraduate-to-Graduate Programs

If you are enrolled in an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program — for example a 5-year, 3+2, 3+3, program — the undergraduate tuition and fees apply only to the undergraduate portion of the program. As you progress into the graduate phase of your program, graduate tuition and fees apply. Please see your respective graduate program for more information. 

General Track

If you want to study psychology but haven’t decided on a specific area of focus, or you just want to keep your options open, then the general psychology track is the place for you.

Students in the General Psychology track will be required to take two courses from the Applied Psychology group, two courses from the Clinical/Counseling group, and two courses from the Social/Cognitive group.

Clinical/Counseling Track

If your passion is for helping people through research-based methods, a major in psychology with a clinical focus may be right for you. The track is designed for students who choose to pursue a career in applied psychology and other mental health-related professions.

Clinical/Counseling Courses:

Four from the following:

• Positive Psychology: The DeSales Experience
• Personality: Theory and Research
• Topics in Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Counseling Psychology
• Hormones and Behavior
• Psychopharmacology
• Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Psychology Internship
• Independent Study in Psychology

Two from the following:

• Leadership Self Development: DeSales Experience
• The Unseen Reality: The Psychology of Spiritual Experience
• Positive Psychology: The DeSales Experience
• Social Psychology
• Personality: Theory and Research
• Topics in Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Dangerous Minds: The Psychology of Antisocial Behavior
• Motor Learning
• Sport Psychology: DeSales Experience
• Psychological Sleuthing
• Psychopharmacology
• Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Psychology Internship
• Independent Study in Psychology 

Applied Psychology Track

This track is recommended for majors who want to pursue careers in the other applied fields of psychology such as forensic, industrial/organizational, or sport psychology. This track is also recommended for majors who want to pursue graduate school education whose emphasis is on experimental psychology, or to pursue a research-oriented career in psychology.

Applied Psychology Courses:

Four from the following:

• Leadership Self Development: DeSales Experience
• Topics in Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Dangerous Minds: The Psychology of Antisocial Behavior
• Sport Psychology: DeSales Experience
• Psychological Sleuthing
• Psychopharmacology
• Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Psychology Internship
• Independent Study in Psychology

Two from the following:

• The Unseen Reality: The Psychology of Spiritual Experience
• Positive Psychology: The DeSales Experience
• Social Psychology
• Personality: Theory and Research
• Topics in Psychology
• Motor Learning
• Counseling Psychology
• Hormones and Behavior
• Psychopharmacology
• Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Independent Study in Psychology 

Social/Cognitive Track

This track is recommended for majors who want to pursue careers in social psychology and cognitive psychology. This concentration is useful for majors who want to pursue applied fields such as personality studies, community psychology, multicultural psychology, and cognitive research.

Social/Cognitive Courses:

Four from the following:

• Positive Psychology: The DeSales Experience
• Personality: Theory and Research
• Topics in Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Counseling Psychology
• Hormones and Behavior
• Psychopharmacology
• Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Psychology Internship
• Independent Study in Psychology

Two from the following:

• Leadership Self Development: DeSales Experience
• The Unseen Reality: The Psychology of Spiritual Experience
• Positive Psychology: The DeSales Experience
• Social Psychology
• Personality: Theory and Research
• Topics in Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Dangerous Minds: The Psychology of Antisocial Behavior
• Motor Learning
• Sport Psychology: DeSales Experience
• Psychological Sleuthing
• Psychopharmacology
• Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Psychology Internship
• Independent Study in Psychology

STEP Teacher Certification Program

If you think you'd like to teach secondary school, our STEP program will prepare you to become certified in Social Science.