Psychology

Understand the building blocks of behavior

In the classroom, lab, and field, our professors guide students through a scientific approach to the study of the mind.

The Department of Psychology at Lake Forest College takes a science-centered and research-focused approach to the field. Across the major and discipline, students gain a rigorous understanding of the science behind psychology and gain the skills of scientific inquiry into psychological topics.

We instill a love of learning in our students that carries them into the future and helps them build careers that are underscored by curiosity, inquiry, and exploration. The application of a psychology degree extends in a variety of directions from opening doors to graduate study to paving the way for fulfilling careers with a bachelor’s degree.

Psychology

Employment Opportunities

Assistant Professor of Psychology
(Social Psychology/Social Cognition)

Course Descriptions Requirements Careers Faculty

Multiple Career Paths

Our research-based approach to the discipline of psychology allows students to explore a wide variety of career options. Students are immersed in scientific methodology and approaches even in the early years of their studies. After graduation, students can move on to graduate programs, medical school, law school, counselling programs, or even apply their research and analysis skills to an industry in the business world.

Experiential Learning

Students in the psychology program have ample opportunity to participate in experiential learning that informs the trajectory of their future careers. From internships to our Richter Scholar program and hands on lab research, students apply their studies to real-life situations that give them a leg up in the job search and the assurance and confidence to pursue long-term career goals.

Faculty Mentorship

Small class sizes facilitate close relationships between students and faculty that not only nourish student learning but also enrich their studies. Students directly assist faculty with research, helping to collect and analyze data in studies that can lead to conference presentations and papers published in peer-reviewed journals.

“

I’ve always been fascinated by the power of the human mind and the mechanisms that allow us to be who we are. I believe neuroscience and psychology bring a wide perspective to biology and social sciences that help me understand my surroundings and inquire further about us.

Majo Orozco Fuentes '24

“

I am a Summer 2021 Data Analyst Intern at the GPF Foundation, which is an organization that strives to educate people on harm reduction in the context of recreational drug use. As a part of my internship, I have earned a social/behavioral research certification which will allow me to work as a volunteer in a professor's lab at Rosalind Franklin University.

Nell Burgener '22

Psychology at Lake Forest College

Through empirical investigation, faculty and students in the psychology department seek to understand the building blocks of behavior at all levels, from neural networks and sensory systems to more integrated dimensions, such as personality, life span development, psychopathology, and social interaction.

Research - Ample opportunities for research foster curiosity

From their very first class and throughout the curriculum, psychology students will gain valuable research experience as they replicate classic research and test their own hypotheses in laboratory courses. They’ll also have opportunities to conduct advanced research usually reserved for graduate students. This intensive training in research and analysis provides marketable skills for a variety of careers.

Field Experience - We give students an edge by providing hands-on learning

Our psychology department has an extensive internship program. We have partnered with more than 70 institutions in the Chicago area to provide practical and relevant field experiences for our majors in social service agencies, hospitals, and other applied educational, organizational, or legal settings. These experiences allow counseling, teaching, research, and other skills to be cultivated in preparation for later professional training and/or employment.

Careers - Our program paves the way for a variety of fulfilling careers

Our graduates pursue a variety of careers, including . . .

Counseling/Therapy
College/K-12 Education
Social Work
Health Professions
Law
Business & Marketing
Public Policy
Occupational Therapy
Neuroscience
Human Resources
Consulting

Interdisciplinary Study - Unlimited possibilities through diverse curriculum

Whatever you want to study, whatever career you want to pursue, you can make it happen through an interdisciplinary approach. Combine majors and minors to serve your dreams and customize your degree. A liberal arts background ensures that you gain the necessary skills, attention, and experience to stand out from the crowd and individualize your education. You can apply a degree in psychology to a variety of careers, and those possibilities are only multiplied by the opportunity to pair your studies in psychology with other fields.