Psychology Schools in Connecticut with Diploma Program Summaries

Research psychology degree programs in Connecticut, which currently has more than 15 colleges and universities offering programs. Read an overview of degree programs, tuition info and program options for ten of the largest schools and decide which program is right for you.

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Psychology Degree Programs in Connecticut

Connecticut has several universities offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in psychology. Bachelor's degree programs in psychology provide an introduction to many areas within this broad field of study but don't lead directly to licensure as a mental health counselor or psychologist in Connecticut. Graduates with bachelor's degrees in psychology typically pursue careers in business or education as well as entry-level positions in human services.

Those wishing to pursue counseling or psychologist careers must meet the licensure requirements established by Connecticut's Department of Public Health, which licenses mental health counselors and psychologists, among other professionals. In Connecticut, mental health counselors are required to complete 60 hours of graduate-level studies at a regionally accredited school, obtain 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience after graduating and pass a national exam. To practice as a psychologist in Connecticut, applicants need to complete a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Candidates are also required to complete a minimum of one year's supervised clinical experience after earning the doctoral degree and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Central Connecticut State University

Located in New Britain, Central Connecticut State University offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in psychology. Requirements for graduation include passing the psychology assessment test and completing a minor. Core courses include developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and research methods. Students can participate in the Psychology Club, pursue internships, and receive mentoring with research projects from tutors.

The master's degree program in psychology has concentrations in general psychology (36 credit hours), community psychology (36 credit hours), and health psychology (42 credit hours). Each of these programs contains less than the minimum 60 semester hours required for licensure as a counselor in Connecticut. They're designed primarily for students who wish to work in other capacities in human services or continue with their graduate studies. The university offers several graduate programs in counseling, as well.

Eastern Connecticut State University

Located in Willimantic, this state university campus offers a bachelor's degree program in psychology with concentrations in general psychology, child psychology, and industrial/organizational psychology. Students must pass a comprehensive psychology exam before graduation. Eastern Connecticut State University houses three psychology research labs and hosts an annual undergraduate research conference. Additionally, students can join the psychology honor society and psychology club as well as participate in research apprenticeships and internships.

Quinnipiac University

Hamden-based Quinnipiac University offers bachelor's degree programs in psychology. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology program can pursue concentrations in human services psychology or industrial/organizational psychology. A minor in psychology is also available. In addition, the Department of Psychology offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Behavioral Neuroscience. Students may choose the track in natural science or psychological science in this interdisciplinary major, which examines the intersection of biology and behavior. The North East Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience (NEURON) hosts an annual psychology conference at the university.

Sacred Heart University

The Psychology Department is the largest undergraduate department at this Roman Catholic university located in Fairfield. The department offers an associate's degree program, bachelor's degree program, and minor in psychology as well as an online master's degree program in applied psychology. Students complete 15 credit hours of psychology courses in the associate's degree program as well as general education courses. Before enrolling in the bachelor's degree program, students must complete two psychology prerequisites and two semesters of college-level math, including statistics. The core curriculum includes experimental research, nonexperimental research, and a course in neuroscience.

The online Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Psychology program offers concentrations in community psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and a general track. The program accepts students who don't have a bachelor's degree in psychology. This program doesn't meet Department of Public Health licensure requirements for counselors in Connecticut. Students graduating from the industrial/organizational psychology program can work in human resource management but would need to pursue a doctoral degree to be licensed as psychologists and treat clients. Students who wish to continue into doctoral studies should pursue the thesis option.

Southern Connecticut State University

Students attending New Haven's Southern Connecticut State University may pursue psychology programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as graduate programs in school psychology and counseling. The B.A. in Psychology program offers a mental health concentration and a general curriculum. The B.S. in Psychology program allows students to specialize in research. Students can participate in activities organized by the psychology club and may be eligible for membership in Psi Chi, a national honor society in psychology. The undergraduate programs are designed to prepare students to meet admissions requirements for master's degree or doctoral programs.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology program may be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Students who intend to pursue doctoral studies should choose the thesis option, which requires completion of 30 credit hours. This program doesn't lead directly to professional licensure as a counselor or psychologist. Students interested in become licensed counselors can pursue accredited graduate programs in the counseling and school psychology department of the School of Education.

University of Connecticut

The main campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs offers bachelor's degree and doctoral programs through its Department of Psychology. At the undergraduate level, students can pursue standard B.A. and B.S. options as well as a research concentration and an honors track. The B.S. options include more laboratory courses, but research is emphasized in all programs. Students can pursue these undergraduate degree programs in psychology not only on the main campus at Storrs but also at five other University of Connecticut campuses.

Additionally, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology is offered at the main campus, which contains eight concentration areas. Among these concentration options are industrial/organizational psychology, social psychology, ecological psychology, and clinical psychology. The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits the clinical psychology doctoral program, and graduates are eligible for licensure in Connecticut as psychologists. The university's main campus houses an on-site psychological services clinic in addition to child development laboratories. Furthermore, the university is affiliated with various regional research centers.

University of Hartford

Suburban Hartford's University of Hartford offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in psychology. Undergraduates in the B.A. program take three research and statistical analysis courses in addition to studying various perspectives in the field. Students can do an internship, pursue independent study, and complete an honors thesis. An 18-credit minor is also available through the psychology department.

The department offers four master's degree programs in clinical psychology, general psychology, organizational psychology, and school psychology. The school psychology program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists and meets educational requirements for Connecticut licensure through the state's Department of Education. This is the only master's degree program in the department that leads directly to professional licensure. Through the biology department, students can pursue a Master of Science in Neuroscience, as well.

The APA accredits the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology, and graduates are eligible for licensure as clinical psychologists in Connecticut. The optional child and adolescent track builds on related topics in the core curriculum and allows students to get practicum experience working with children and adolescents.

University of New Haven

Located in West Haven, this university offers psychology degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The bachelor's degree program has three concentrations: general psychology, community-clinical psychology, and forensic psychology. Core courses explore developmental, cognitive, social, and physiological perspectives in psychology.

Two master's degree programs are also available. Students can pursue three concentrations in the Master of Arts in Community Psychology program: community-clinical services, forensic psychology, and program development. The 45-credit program falls short of the 60 credits required for counselor licensure in Connecticut, but the school says the program courses are applicable toward licensure. The M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program also offers three areas of concentration: organizational development and consultation, industrial-human resources psychology, and psychology of conflict management. The 48-credit program may be completed in 18 months.

Western Connecticut State University

Danbury's Western Connecticut State University offers a bachelor's degree program in psychology as well as a minor. Students may pursue the B.A. in Psychology in the day or evening. A 3-course sequence in research methods and statistics is required. Additional core courses cover all major areas of psychology, including biological, cognitive, clinical-counseling, developmental, and social-personality.

The psychology department also offers courses in substance abuse counseling, which meet some educational requirements for state licensure of alcohol and drug counselors. Psychology students at the university are automatically members of the psychology club and may be eligible for the psychology honor society. Master's degree programs in school or community counseling are also available.

Yale University

U.S. News and World Report ranked Yale University, in New Haven, third among national universities in its 2013 edition. Additionally, its graduate programs in clinical, cognitive, and social psychology were ranked in the top five. The Department of Psychology at Yale offers undergraduate students several options. The B.A. in Psychology program is directed toward students more interested in literature review than conducting empirical research, for which the B.S. is designed. Students can pursue tracks in neuroscience and philosophy. Furthermore, students can complete an interdepartmental major in computer science and psychology.

The university offers a Ph.D. in Psychology, with programs of study in clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, and social/personality psychology. The clinical psychology program is accredited by the APA and prepares graduates for licensure as psychologists. The other programs of study lead to careers in scholarly research.

School Comparison Table

School Name	School Type & Setting	Psychology Degree Programs Offered	Tuition & Fees (2012-2013)
Central Connecticut State University	4-year; public; large suburb	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Psychology (3 concentration areas)	Undergraduate: $8,321 residents; $19,353 non-residents, Graduate: $9,307 residents; $18,839 non-residents*
Eastern Connecticut State University	4-year; public; town	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (3 concentration areas)	Undergraduate: $8,911 residents; $19,943 non-residents*
Quinnipiac University	4-year; private, not-for-profit; large suburb	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2 concentration areas) Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience	Undergraduate: $38,000*
Sacred Heart University	4-year; private, not-for-profit; large suburb	Associate of Arts in General Studies - Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Science in Applied Psychology (3 concentration areas)	Undergraduate: $34,030, Graduate: $23,747*
Southern Connecticut State University	4-year; public; midsize city	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2 concentration areas, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Arts in Psychology	Undergraduate: $8,570 residents; $19,573 non-residents, Graduate: $9,477 residents; $19,009 non-residents*
University of Connecticut	4-year; public; town	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (8 concentration areas)	Undergraduate: $11,242 residents; $29,074 non-residents, Graduate: $12,786 residents; $29,994 non-residents*
University of Hartford	4-year; private, not-for-profit; small city	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in General Psychology, Master of Arts in Clinical Practices in Psychology, Master of Science in School Psychology, Master of Science in Organizational Psychology, Master of Science in Neuroscience, Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology	Undergraduate: $32,172 Graduate: $13,030*
University of New Haven	4-year; private, not-for-profit; large suburb	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (3 concentration areas), Master of Arts in Community Psychology (3 concentrations), Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 concentrations)	Undergraduate: $32,750, Graduate: $21,300*
Western Connecticut State University	4-year; public; small city	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology	Undergraduate: $8,440 residents; $19,472 non-residents*
Yale University	4-year; private, not-for-profit; midsize city	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (3 concentration areas), Bachelor of Science in Psychology (3 concentration areas) Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (5 concentration areas)**	Undergraduate: $42,300, Graduate: $35,500*