Best Psychology Programs in Massachusetts for 2027

Plan your sequence early at BU, because the requirements are specific. You take Physiological Psychology plus eight principal courses, and at least four of those must be upper-level courses, including one experimental course chosen from a set that includes cognition, sensation and perception, and related labs. You also need a design and statistics requirement, met by Experimental Design in Psychology, MATLAB programming for research, or a two-course statistics sequence. The principal courses must include at least two from each of the department's broad content groups. A C or higher is required throughout. Majors can pursue research in clinical psychology, child development and cognitive neuroscience, including work at the Cognitive Neuroimaging Center.

Principal Courses

Physiological Psychology and eight principal psychology courses, four at the 300 level or higher.

Experimental Course

One experimental psychology course is required among the 300-level courses.

Design and Statistics

Experimental Design, MATLAB for Research, or Statistics I and II.

Transfer Limit

No more than three courses toward the nine principal courses may be transferred.

Program Sources: Major Requirements | Psychological & Brain SciencesUndergraduate Program | Psychological & Brain Sciences

The psychology major at UMass Amherst was rebuilt for students who declare in Fall 2025 or later, so check which checklist applies to you. The new version starts with Introductory Psychology and Navigating Psychology, then Statistics in Psychology and Methods of Inquiry, which should be done by the end of junior year to graduate in four years. You pick four core courses from cognitive, neuroscience, developmental, social and psychopathology, add two electives, and finish with a professional development course and an integrative seminar. A TA, RA or internship can count as an elective. Major requirements are the same for the BA and BS, but the BA brings a foreign language requirement while the BS needs 60 credits in natural sciences.

Stats and Methods

Statistics in Psychology, then Methods of Inquiry in Psychology, each needing a C- or better to continue.

Core Choices

Any four of cognitive, neuroscience, developmental, social and adult psychopathology.

Integrative Experience

Professional Development in Psychology plus a seminar or advanced integrative elective.

BA vs BS

Same major courses; the BA adds foreign language, the BS 60 credits in natural science.

Program Sources: Psychology Major Checklist: Fall 2025 and Later : Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences : UMass AmherstPsychology Major Requirements : Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences : UMass Amherst

Two psychology degrees with different aims are offered at Boston College. The BS, at least 54 credits, is the research-focused track for students heading to a Ph.D. or M.D., with corequisites in departments like biology, chemistry, computer science or physics. The BA, a minimum of 33 credits, suits graduate paths such as social work, law, Psy.D. or Ed.D. and leaves room in your schedule. Both begin with Brain, Mind, and Behavior, Self, Mind, and Society, behavioral statistics and a research practicum. Requirements change for the class of 2028, so check the cohort that applies to you. Students with a 3.7 GPA can write a senior honors thesis, and a clinical psychology concentration is available.

BA vs BS

BA is 33 credits with more flexibility; BS is 54 credits with science corequisites for research-focused graduate study.

Required Start

Brain, Mind, and Behavior; Self, Mind, and Society; Behavioral Statistics and Research I; and a research practicum.

Honors Thesis

Senior Honors Thesis I and II for students with a 3.7 GPA who find a faculty supervisor.

Concentration

A concentration in clinical psychology is offered through the department.

Program Sources: Psychology and Neuroscience, Undergraduate Programs - University Catalog - Boston CollegePsychology and Neuroscience, Undergraduate Programs - University Catalog - Boston College

Holy Cross asks psychology majors to take at least ten courses, with a two-semester sequence in Statistics and Research Methods as the backbone. Introduction to Psychology comes first, then one course in each of three fundamental areas: biological processes, cognitive and behavioral processes, and individual, social and cultural processes. Four developing-interest courses follow, one of them advanced. Directed readings and research projects let you work one-on-one with a professor, and you can volunteer in faculty labs on topics such as learning and memory, language development and visual perception. Internships in the Worcester area are available, and AP credit with a 4 or 5 earns placement in the curriculum.

Methods Sequence

Statistics (PSYC 200) and Research Methods (PSYC 201) taken as a two-semester sequence.

Fundamental Areas

One course each in biological, cognitive and behavioral, and individual, social and cultural processes.

Independent Work

Directed Readings (PSYC 470) and Research Projects (PSYC 480) for advanced study.

Local Internships

Internships are available across the Worcester area.

Program Sources: Psychology Major < Holy CrossPsychology | College of the Holy Cross

Boston University offers three doctoral tracks: brain, behavior, and cognition; developmental science; and clinical psychology. You begin research in the first year and complete a two-course statistics sequence. The first two tracks require at least 64 units, while clinical psychology requires at least 80. A specialization-specific qualifying requirement leads to an original dissertation and oral defense. Students select coursework with their major adviser, and research milestones also support earning a master’s degree during doctoral study.

Doctoral Tracks

Brain, Behavior, and Cognition; Developmental Science; Clinical Psychology.

Shared Preparation

First-year research and a two-course statistics sequence.

Program Sources: Psychological and Brain Sciences PhD

Graduate study here runs through five relatively autonomous programs: behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognition and cognitive neuroscience, developmental science, and social psychology. Apart from the fast-track master's in behavioral neuroscience, everyone admitted earns a master's degree through a thesis research project on the way to the PhD. After the master's you pass your program's qualifying exam and meet departmental requirements before submitting a dissertation proposal. Teaching assistantships are the usual support, research assistantships pay at least as much, and students on an assistantship at ten hours or more can expect tuition and most fees waived.

Programs

Behavioral neuroscience, clinical, cognition and cognitive neuroscience, developmental science, and social psychology.

Master's Thesis

A master's thesis comes first on the route to the PhD, except in the fast-track neuroscience master's.

Milestones

Qualifying exam, departmental requirements, then a dissertation proposal.

Support

Teaching and research assistantships, traineeships and fellowships, with tuition and most fees waived on an assistantship.

Program Sources: Graduate Programs : Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences : UMass AmherstAssistantships and Fees : Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences : UMass Amherst

Clark's psychology PhD requires sixteen one-semester courses, with four courses each semester for the first two years, including Problem, Theory, and Method and two consecutive semesters of Statistical Methods. Instead of a qualifying exam, you build a portfolio of six points in your first three years, earned through conference posters, papers, journal submissions or grant proposals. First-year students present a poster and second-years give a talk at the annual Graduate Research Conference. A three-person committee supervises the dissertation, which is defended publicly. The department includes clinical, developmental and social psychology, treated as one unified discipline within a socio-cultural context.

Coursework

Sixteen one-semester courses, including Problem, Theory, and Method and two semesters of Statistical Methods.

Portfolio

Six points of scholarly elements in the first three years, such as posters, papers and grant proposals.

Areas

Clinical, developmental and social psychology.

Prior Master's Credit

A prior empirical master's thesis can waive first- and second-year projects and up to six content courses.

Program Sources: General requirements | Department of Psychology | Clark UniversityGraduate Programs | Department of Psychology | Clark University

Principles of Psychology and Statistics I come in the first term of this concentration, with Introduction to Behavioral Research in the second. Later you take child psychology or adolescent and adult development, a psychology elective such as counseling, personality, abnormal psychology or learning and memory, and a social psychology course whose ePortfolio is presented at the end. Students are asked to complete a Learn and Earn internship or community engagement activity, and to take part in a department conference. Note that Human Growth and Development doesn't count here. The concentration is meant for transfer to a four-year school, and you can earn a World Studies Emphasis along the way.

Research Courses

Statistics I and Introduction to Behavioral Research.

ePortfolio

Psychology course artifacts are uploaded from the research course onward and presented in Social Psychology.

Applied Experience

A Learn and Earn internship or a community engagement activity in a psychology course.

Psychology Electives

Learning and Memory, Personal Adjustment, Counseling, Personality, Abnormal Psychology or Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Program Sources: Behavioral Sciences - Bunker Hill Community CollegeProgram: Psychology Concentration, A.A. - Bunker Hill Community College

Quantitative work comes up front in this psychology option: Research Methods in Psychology and Statistics for Psychology are both part of the degree, along with Introduction to Psychology and an information literacy course. You choose one development course (child, human development or adolescent), one to three from social psychology, behavioral neuroscience, abnormal and cognitive psychology, and up to two more such as health, gender, forensic or human sexuality. A biology course and a laboratory science complete the science side. The degree is designed for transfer to four-year colleges, and its goals follow the American Psychological Association's undergraduate guidelines. Behavioral neuroscience also has its own page in the department.

Quantitative Core

Research Methods in Psychology (4 credits) and Statistics for Psychology (4 credits).

Choice Courses

One development course, plus social, neuroscience, abnormal or cognitive psychology and optional topics like forensic or health psychology.

Science Requirement

A biology course and a laboratory science elective.

Purpose

Prepares students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology Option, Arts and Science, A.A. - Holyoke Community College

Four semesters are mapped out toward transfer in this psychology option. Semester one pairs Introduction to Psychology with a Discovering Psychology Seminar, and statistics comes before Research Methods in Psychology and Psychological Statistics, so you meet the data side early. Four program electives come from a short list of psychology courses, which you choose with an advisor. Transfer services advisors and four-year school representatives are built into the plan, along with confirming that the MassTransfer 34-credit general education block can be completed. Courses are offered at the West Boylston Street campus in Worcester, and the degree totals 62 credits.

Psychology Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Discovering Psychology Seminar, Research Methods in Psychology and Psychological Statistics.

Program Electives

Four choices from PSY 123, 124, 252, 253, 261 or 262.

Transfer Planning

Advisor meetings and a check that the MassTransfer 34-credit general education block can be completed.

Credits

Sixty-two credits across four semesters.

Program Sources: Liberal Arts - Psychology Option | Quinsigamond