The goal of the Department of Psychology is to provide students with an understanding of the methods and content of scientific and applied psychology.

The primary means of attaining our mission is classroom instruction.  We offer courses across a wide range of disciplines within psychology; some of our courses also include laboratories that focus on experimental and statistical work.  Some of these courses are beginning to be offered as fully online and as hybrid courses (partially online and partially in the classroom).  Further learning opportunities are made available through field work, the Honors Program, Experiential Learning, Independent Study, and Internships.  Our Internship Program consists of supervised work placements for which students earn academic credit; potential sites include human service organizations as well as community and industrial settings.

Psychology majors must select one of the six B.A. concentrations:  Standard, Human Development, Human Services, Industrial/Organizational, Community, Comprehensive Evening Program, or select one of the two Bachelor of Science concentrations: General Bachelor of Science or Cognitive Neuroscience.  Three psychology minors are available in Experimental, Industrial/Organizational, and Applied areas.

After completing any of the concentrations, a psychology major should be able to read and understand behavioral science data, design and conduct rudimentary psychological research studies, and apply research findings to everyday situations.   These skills are applicable to a wide variety of occupations and professions.  Psychology as a major provides excellent opportunities for students planning to go to graduate or professional school.  Psychology as a minor provides a flexible complement to other majors.

There are 32 full-time faculty in the department, nearly half of whom are women and twenty percent of whom are minorities. In addition, the Chicago area provides highly qualified part-time faculty who teach specialized courses. The areas of faculty interest range from basic laboratory research in cognition to on-site applied research in the prevention of adolescent pregnancy.

In addition to the undergraduate curriculum, the department houses five Ph.D. programs in the areas of Clinical Child, Clinical Community, Community, Experimental, and Industrial/Organizational psychology.  The department also offers a terminal M.S. program in general psychology as well as a combined B.A./M.S. program in Industrial/Organizational psychology.  The department draws upon the metropolitan Chicago area when placing students in practica, internships, and jobs.  The DePaul Clinical Child Graduate program was recognized by the American Psychological Association as the best training program in the country for 2006.

Extensive facilities are available to support the departmental programs.  The department's offices, classrooms, laboratories, and the DePaul Mental Health Center occupy four floors of Byrne Hall.  University facilities include a networked library and additional computer labs.  Additionally, Chicago hosts the annual convention of the Midwestern Psychological Association and meetings of other professional organizations, providing our advanced students ample access to opportunities for scholarly participation in the field of psychology.