Best Psychology Programs in Vermont for 2027

The flexible choice at UVM is the BA, which asks for 30 psychology credits and a minor. The BS asks for at least 42 credits plus calculus, biology and a natural science elective, and doesn't need a minor. If graduate study in psychology is the goal, the department points to the BS. Both build on Intro to Psychological Science, a research methods course and a statistics course, then intermediate courses in learning and cognition, biopsychology, social, developmental and psychopathology. The BS electives are grouped as biobehavioral, social and developmental, and clinical. Undergraduate research, a mentored clinical internship and honors count toward the major, and you can't hold the BA and BS together.

BA Requirements

At least 30 psychology credits, four intermediate courses, 6 to 9 advanced credits and a minor.

BS Requirements

At least 42 psychology credits plus calculus, biology and a natural science elective; no minor needed.

Methods

A research methods course and a statistics course, each with or without lab.

Experience Options

Undergraduate research, a mentored clinical internship, teaching assistantship and honors.

Program Sources: Psychological Science B.S. | University of Vermont CatalogueB.S. in Psychological Science | The University of Vermont

The psychology major at Saint Michael's ends in one of three capstones, and the middle one is a two-semester practicum: 8 to 10 hours a week at a community agency such as Howard Center, STEPS or Spectrum, paired with classroom time. The other capstones are a senior seminar or a two-course senior research project. Before that you take General Psychology, Psychological Statistics and Research Methods, then seven courses spread across brain and behavior, development and human potential, and self in relation to others, with two of them upper-level. Faculty-led labs study topics such as stress and health and virtual reality for isolated and extreme environments. Grant-funded research is available during the year and summer.

Capstone Choices

Senior seminar, two-course senior research, or a two-semester practicum.

Practicum

Eight to ten hours a week at a local agency, across fall and spring.

Methods

Psychological Statistics and Research Methods.

Category Courses

Seven courses across brain and behavior, development and human potential, and self in relation to others.

Program Sources: Psychology | Saint Michael's CollegeBA.PS Program | Saint Michael's College Catalog

Breadth is the design idea of this 40-credit psychological science BA: it suits double majors, transfer students and anyone returning after a break. Its core covers statistics, introduction to psychology, psychological research, history of psychology, a proseminar and a senior seminar with internship. You then choose twelve credits of breadth from social, lifespan, personality, cognitive, abnormal and biopsychology and twelve credits of depth, nine at the upper level. Because the BA leaves out the extra six credits of in-person research that the BS requires, it can be completed fully online or in a hybrid format at Johnson and Castleton. Qualified students can bridge into the master's in counseling or clinical mental health, and an accelerated track finishes in three or three and a half years.

Program Core

Statistics I, Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Research I, History of Psychology, Proseminar and Senior Seminar and Internship.

Breadth and Depth

Twelve breadth credits across six areas and twelve depth credits, at least nine at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Delivery

Fully online, or F2F+ at Johnson and Castleton.

Bridge to Graduate Study

Up to nine credits toward master's programs in counseling or clinical mental health.

Program Sources: Program: Psychological Science (BA.PSS) - Vermont State UniversityPsychological Science, B.A. - Vermont State University

A research-based senior thesis, presented at a regional undergraduate research conference, is required of every psychology major here, so research design is part of the plan from junior year. The BA and BS share core courses in developmental psychology, experimental psychology, history and systems, and a senior seminar. The BA adds biology, statistics, biopsychology, social psychology, personality theory, perception and cognition, while the BS drops the biology and statistics requirements and adds a psychology of leadership course. Students can explore experimental, personality and social, developmental or clinical perspectives, with concentrations in neuroscience or criminology. Active labs use EEG, eye-tracking, psychophysiology and flight simulation, and the BS is offered both residentially and online.

Senior Thesis

Senior Thesis I, a senior seminar and, for the BA, Senior Thesis II, ending in a presentation at a regional undergraduate research conference.

Concentrations

Neuroscience or Criminology.

Research Labs

EEG, eye-tracking, psychophysiology and flight simulation studies.

Accelerated Master's

Upper-level courses can apply toward an online master's finished within 12 to 18 months of graduating.

Program Sources: 9PY-BS Program | Norwich University CatalogPsychology | Norwich University - On Campus

There's no fixed psychology major at Bennington. You build a Plan with your faculty advisor and a Plan committee, and psychology is an area of study you weave into it. Some courses teach you to evaluate the generalizations other researchers have made, while others have you do the research and draw your own, so you practice reading published work critically, writing a convincing, non-prejudicial argument and applying ethical standards. Students often pair clinical psychology with painting or poetry, or social psychology with documentary film or biology. Every student also spends six weeks each year working in the world in a job, internship or entrepreneurial project connected to their studies.

Academic Plan

A self-designed course of study developed with an advisor and a Plan committee instead of a traditional major.

Course Styles

Courses that critique existing theory and courses where students run their own research.

Yearly Work Term

Six weeks each year in a job, internship or entrepreneurial endeavor.

Cross-Disciplinary Use

Psychology often combined with arts, film, writing or biology.

Program Sources: Psychology | Bennington CollegeThe Plan | Bennington College

Matching a faculty mentor is the key to getting into UVM's experimental psychology PhD, so name the sub-program and up to three faculty you'd like to work with when you apply. You'd specialize in biobehavioral psychology using animal models of learning, memory, emotion and stress; developmental psychology; social psychology; or human behavioral pharmacology, which links unhealthy behavior patterns to chronic disease risk. Training adds coursework in methods, statistics and the foundational areas, plus at least one mentored teaching experience. All PhD students in the department receive twelve-month funding as teaching or research assistants for five years, with tuition remission. Applications are reviewed in January, and offers go out by the end of February.

Sub-Programs

Biobehavioral, Developmental, Social and Human Behavioral Pharmacology.

Funding

Twelve-month stipend and tuition remission as a teaching or research assistant for five years.

Teaching

At least one mentored teaching experience.

Application Timing

Reviewed in January with offers by the end of February.

Program Sources: Experimental Psychology Ph.D. Program | The University…Ph.D. in Psychology | The University of Vermont

A short core of Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Research I and History of Psychology in a Diverse World makes up nine of the 27 major credits in this Associate of Arts. The other eighteen credits are any psychology courses you want, so you can lean toward the areas that interest you, from addiction and attention to learning, grief and curiosity, which are among the topics faculty study. Internships and research in faculty-led labs are part of the offering, and the degree is available in person, remotely or fully online. It's set up as foundational study for continuing into a bachelor's in psychological science or a related field.

Program Core

Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Research I and History of Psychology in a Diverse World.

Electives

Eighteen credits of any psychology courses not already taken.

Format

Available in person, remotely and fully online.

Major Credits

Twenty-seven credits in the major.

Program Sources: Program: Psychological Science (AA.PSS) - Vermont State UniversityPsychological Science A.A. - Vermont State University