Psychology at UB

Professor Joyce Lacy.

The science of how we think, feel and act

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes—what we do, how we think and feel, and the why behind it all. Psychologists explore everything from the structure of the brain to the ways people relate to one another. If you’ve ever wondered how memory works, why habits form, or how emotions shape decisions, you’re already thinking like a psychologist.

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Why study psychology?

Psychology is one of the most versatile and practical degrees out there. It connects to everything—health, education, business, law, technology and more. At UB, you’ll build strong skills in research, analysis, problem-solving and communication that employers value and graduate schools expect.

You’ll explore topics like:

  • How mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated
  • What drives decision-making and learning
  • How people grow, change and interact across the lifespan
  • The neuroscience behind behavior and cognition
  • How we make sense of ourselves and relate to others

Why choose psychology at UB?

Psychology at UB gives you a strong scientific foundation and direct access to the people, projects and lab experiences that shape the field. You will learn from faculty who are nationally recognized for their research and committed to teaching students how to think like psychologists.

What makes our department stand out

  • Active research culture: Students, including undergraduates, can join labs in behavioral neuroscience, clinical, cognitive, and social-personality psychology. You will learn how studies are designed, run and interpreted.
  • Early exposure to hands-on learning: Many students begin working in labs or applied settings well before their upper-level coursework, building real skills and experience.
  • Flexible academic pathways: With BA and BS options, minors, an honors program and a wide range of electives, you can tailor your studies toward health, research, human services, data-focused roles or advanced graduate study.
  • A department that values student success: Dedicated advising, engaged faculty and student organizations create a learning environment where students feel supported and encouraged to explore their interests.

Why UB?

UB is a place where you can challenge yourself, find your community and build a future that feels true to you. As New York’s flagship public research university, UB gives you the power of an R1 institution and the support of a campus that feels welcoming from day one.

What you’ll experience at UB

  • Affordable excellence: Earn a top-tier education at a cost that keeps your options open.
  • Collaborative community: Learn with classmates and faculty who care about your growth and take time to know you.
  • Built-in opportunity: Get real-world experience right away through research, internships, creative work and student clubs.
  • A vibrant place to live and learn: Buffalo offers friendly neighborhoods, a growing arts and food scene and quick access to Toronto and New York.

The UB difference
 UB students get big-university advantages without losing the personal connections that make college meaningful. You’ll join a campus that encourages curiosity, celebrates different perspectives and gives you room to explore your path.

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The learning experience

Psychology at UB is rooted in research. You won’t just learn about studies—you can help conduct them.

Our department focuses on four key areas of psychology:

  • Behavioral Neuroscience: how the brain and nervous system affect behavior
  • Clinical Psychology: how mental health challenges develop and how to treat them
  • Cognitive Psychology: how we think, learn and remember
  • Social-Personality Psychology: how we navigate our dynamic, social world

Our undergrad programs (BA and BS) offer a broad foundation with options to specialize, while our grad programs focus on research and professional training. Wherever you start, we’ll help you build toward what’s next.

Explore our research areas

Career outcomes

Our graduates go on to do big things. Many pursue advanced degrees in psychology, medicine, law or education. Others head straight into roles in:

  • Mental health services
  • Nonprofits and social services
  • Market research and UX design
  • Business, HR or data analysis
  • Schools and education at all levels

This degree also builds skills employers value—critical thinking, data analysis, empathy and communication—preparing students for graduate study or immediate careers. Psychology opens doors. With the right skills and support, you’ll be ready to walk through them.

See careers in Psychology

Parents often ask: What can my student do with this degree? The answer is—almost anything involving people, behavior, data or decision-making.

Take the next step

Join a department that values innovation, collaboration and your success. Whether you’re just starting out or ready for grad school, we’ll help you thrive.

Degree options:

Undergraduate:

Graduate:

BA in Psychology
BS in Psychology
Psychology Honors Program
Singapore Program
Minor in Psychology
Minor in Addiction Studies
PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience
PhD in Clinical Psychology
PhD in Cognitive Psychology
PhD in Social-Personality Psychology
MA in Psychology
MA in Drugs, Health and Society
MS in Data Analytics in the Social Sciences
Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science

Students like you!

Psychology Majors
“The department exposed me to courses and endless campus opportunities aimed toward diversity and collaboration, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of psychology. ”
9/13/23

Jordan Johnson

BS in Psychology, Minor in Neuroscience, UB;
PhD student, Neuroscience

“UB Psychology was a strong foundation that has helped me achieve goals that I thought were beyond my reach, and I could not be more grateful. ”
9/13/23

Sashel Haygood

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD Student, Cognitive Psychology

“Pursue your interests, share your excitement with others, and you’ll find your niche! ”
9/13/23

Dylan Schaefer

BS in Psychology, BA in German, UB;
Clinical Regulatory Research Coordinator

“A Psychology BA is a very flexible degree, with openings for many electives. I used these openings to take courses in different departments and to participate in the Psychology Honors Program. ”
9/13/23

Hector Sosa

BA in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Psychology

“My advice to students is to have an open mind when sitting in Psychology classes, as the topics covered can be useful in aspects of your life that you don’t expect. ”
9/13/23

Jean Zhao

BS in Psychology, UB;
DPT, Physical Therapy

“When I started exploring psychology, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do within the field, but the diversity of the courses and experiences in the department allowed me to explore different disciplines including law, clinical psychology, research, and medicine, and discover my interests. ”
9/13/23

Alex Schick

BA in Psychology, UB;
Medical Student (MD)

“I did not have a set career path in mind when I started college, but working in a research lab helped me foster relationships with faculty and graduate students who provided me with guidance about career paths within the field of psychology and beyond.”
9/13/23

Anna Gentile

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD Student, Counseling Psychology

“UB provided me with the education and resources to pursue the next steps in my future, as well as a space to voice my opinions, expand my passion for the field, and leave my mark.”
9/13/23

Nikoleta Antoniou Karademitrou 

BA in Psychology and Minor in Counseling, UB;
PhD Student, Counseling Psychology

“The depth and breadth of the UB Psychology major prepared me well for doctoral study in Social Psychology by providing me with foundational knowledge and the skills to seek out answers to questions of my own. ”
9/13/23

Stephanie Stewart-Hill

BA in Psychology, Minors in Statistics and Spanish, UB;
PhD student, Social Psychology

“I was given fantastic opportunities as an undergraduate Psychology major. I engaged in research from my very first semester all the way through to my senior year, during which I participated in the Psychology Honors Program.”
9/13/23

Mia Forney

BA in Psychology and Criminology, Minor in Addiction Studies, UB;
Law (JD) and Social Work (MSW) Student, UB

“An advantage of majoring in Psychology is the versatile nature of the major itself—you can combine Psychology with other supplementary majors (e.g., public health, pre-med, data science) to become more marketable post-graduation in exciting interdisciplinary fields of work. ”
9/13/23

Harini Krishnamurti

BA Psychology and Minor in Nutrition, UB;
PhD Student, Applied Social Psychology

“I was not initially a Psychology major when I started at UB. However, I quickly became convinced it was where I belonged after taking a few Psychology courses. ”
9/13/23

Carl Wiedemann

BA in Psychology, Minors in Philosophy and Counseling, UB;
PhD student, Social and Health Psychology

“During my time as an undergraduate Psychology major at the University at Buffalo, I had access to opportunities that both defined my career path and defined me as an individual. ”
9/13/23

Alexa Jimenez

BS in Psychology, Minors in Sociology and Counseling, UB;
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“Leading independent research and being a student in the Psychology Honors Program have been tremendously transformative experiences in both my personal life and my academic/professional life. ”
9/13/23

Jennifer Mosley

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Cognitive Psychology

“I attribute both my entry to the field of psychology and palpable success as an early-career researcher to the remarkable mentorship I received at UB. ”
9/13/23

Cassondra Lyman

BS in Psychology, BA in Statistics, UB;
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“Above all, learning to think critically about psychological phenomena in a scientific way by being exposed to the full research cycle was a major highlight during my time as a UB Psychology major.”
9/13/23

Quincy Lherisson

BA in Psychology and Minor in Criminology, UB;
PhD Student, Social Psychology

“Psychology is not just about high-level theories or studying to become someone's therapist. Earning a degree in psychology opens you up to a multitude of career paths. ”
9/13/23

Austin Valvo

BA in Psychology, Minor in Management, UB;
PhD student, Organizational Science

“As an undergraduate Psychology minor at UB, I was able to create meaningful connections with my professors, who acted as pillars of support during my time in university. ”
9/13/23

O. Fiona Pratt-MacDonald

Minor in Psychology, BA in Sociology, UB;
Student Success Coach, Americorps

“If you’re interested in studying psychology, UB’s Psychology Department is unmatched. I can’t think of another program that has the ample opportunities offered on UB’s campus at the price point of SUNY tuition. ”
9/13/23

Kyra Katz

BS in Psychology, UB;
Dental (DDS) Student, UB

“When I first started as a UB student, I had no idea that I would graduate as a Psychology major. Sitting in my first psychology course freshman year, all I knew at that point was that I wanted to stay.”
9/13/23

Jasmine Greggs

BS in Psychology, Minor in Global Gender Studies, UB;
Project Manager, Information Technology

“I was extremely impressed with how knowledgeable my UB professors were and their enthusiasm towards teaching. ”
9/13/23

Kyle Zumpano

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Biology

“I believe my UB psychology degree did an excellent job setting me up with the fundamentals that I needed to go onto work in the file of mental health/social services. ”
9/13/23

Carlos Panjon

BA in Psychology, Minor in Counseling, UB;
MSW student, Social Work

“My favorite aspect of Psychology is its timelessness in learning opportunities—there are always questions to be asked and answers to be explored. ”
4/13/24

Amber Wedderburn

BA in Psychology, Minor in Counseling, UB;
Registered Behavioral Technician

“As a transfer student, I was initially worried that I would be ‘behind’ relative to my peers, but the faculty and graduate students at UB were so welcoming and really helped me build my comfort level as I got involved in research. ”
9/13/23

Brandon Koscinski

BA Psychology, UB; MA in Psychology, UB; 
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“It's all going to come down to the individual student and their goals, but my advice is to take advantage of any and all opportunities to specialize and dive into the topics that interest you the most. ”
9/13/23

Anastasiia Melnichuk

BA in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Neuroscience

“I am indebted to the incredible support from the Psychology Department—I gained hands-on research experience, ranging from quantitative data analyses to manuscript preparation. ”
9/13/23

Junye (Alex) Ma

BA in Psychology, BA in Japanese Linguistics, UB;
PhD student, Clinical Psychology

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Psychology Master's and PhD Graduates
“Every day I get to do something fun and find creative solutions to problems on the journey to discovery. But there’s so much more than that! ”
9/13/23

Mauricio Suarez

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Research Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“All of the faculty were so welcoming and really cared about providing me with opportunities that would allow me to pursue my field of interest. ”
9/13/23

Allison Scagel

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Applied Animal Behaviorist

“As a graduate student at UB, I was able to participate in different collaborative research opportunities with multiple faculty members within the department. ”
9/13/23

Emma Greenspon

PhD in Cognitive Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“UB's Psychology MA program thoroughly improved my proficiency as a researcher. ”
9/13/23

Schuyler Lawson

MA in General Psychology, UB;
Doctoral student, Community Health and Health Behavior

“While in graduate school, with the guidance and support of faculty advisors, I taught multiple independent courses, mentored undergraduate thesis students, gained hands-on experience managing and operating laboratory spaces, and collaborated with researchers across various disciplines. ”
9/13/23

Thomas Saltsman

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Lecturer, Higher Education

“I decided to attend UB because of its reputation for rigorous, high-quality research training. I received this and so much more. ”
9/13/23

Rebecca Etkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Postdoctoral Associate

“UB provides amazing research and clinical training by faculty who are always accessible and extremely passionate about what they do. ”
9/13/23

Lauren Rodriguez

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow

“My relationships with my advisors have continued even after I left UB, and one of the great perks of scientific research is building a large collaborative network of likeminded scholars. ”
9/13/23

Veronica Lamarche

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Higher Education

“If you are considering graduate study in Psychology at UB, know that you will be surrounded by some of the smartest, kindest, and most supportive mentors out there who are leaders in their respective fields of research. ”
9/13/23

Samuel Meisel

PhD in Clinical Psychology, Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“The department is a collaborative and congenial environment, which enables students to thrive. ”
6/20/25

Tiffany Jenzer

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Research Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“The excellent research and evidence-based clinical training I received helped me develop into a well-rounded researcher who is able to work with professionals across different disciplines. ”
6/20/25

Sarah Tonkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“While there are many things I could list about what made my doctoral experience so great (such as classes or training opportunities), the most significant part of the program that shaped my experience was the mentorship model and mentor I worked with at UB. ”
6/20/25

Sarah Blakely-McClure

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Associate Professor, Higher Education

“One of the best things about my time at UB was the opportunity to expand my knowledge of psychology by taking courses and interacting with fellow graduate students and faculty who were outside of my domain of expertise. ”
9/15/23

Karen Chow

PhD in Cognitive Psychology, UB;
Senior Learning Scientist, Educational Technology Industry

“In addition to coursework and lab training, I was also able to gain teaching experience, write and publish peer-reviewed papers with my mentor, and present my research at several local and national scientific conferences. ”
9/13/23

Kelcie Schatz

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Postdoctoral Fellow

“My faculty mentors were not only excellent models of scholarship, but consistently provided me with the encouragement and resources I needed to become a successful teacher-scholar. ”
9/13/23

Deborah Ward

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

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