The Best Training In Undergraduate Psychology

Program Overview

LSSU’s Psychology department strives to offer the best training in undergraduate psychology in the state of Michigan. Our heavily research focused program offers students the preparation that graduate programs desire most of all no matter what direction the student intends to pursue in psychology as a whole. Students receive the individualized attention you would find at a small, private college at the price of a public University. Our graduates are successful in their many diverse graduate plans and careers

Lake State’s Psychology Program provides a rigorous education in scientific psychology including Neuroscience, Learning and Motivation, Research Methodology, Cognition, and Personality. Psychology electives include Psychopathology, Social Psychology, and Child and Adolescent Development. The Psychology program also provides applied courses required for many minors that can also be taken as Psychology electives including Health Psychology, Behavior Management, Communication Skills in Counseling, Family Therapy, Group Therapy and the Psychology of the Exceptional Child/Adolescent.

See Program Catalog

Why Study Psychology at LSSU?

  • Students obtain a strong, rigorous background in Psychological Science.
  • Faculty know the psychology majors (and many of the minors) on an individual basis.
  • Specialties represented in the full-time faculty:
    • Clinical Psychology
    • Behavioral Neuroscience
    • School & Community Psychology
  • Able to provide personalized career guidance to our majors.
  • Faculty who helps and supports students if they encounter academic difficulties.
  • Senior Research Projects: Individualized student generated projects that the student completes in their final year under faculty supervision. These projects are presented at the Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference in a poster session or talk format (similar to a professional conference) and the Annual LSSU Senior Research Symposium.
  • Psychology Practicum Experiences: Direct experiences in either psychological science research (students work with faculty on research projects) or applied psychology (e.g., school psychology; substance abuse counseling/treatment; behavioral health).
  • In the past several years, our graduates who applied to graduate schools in psychology, social work, and related fields were admitted.
    • Students have been admitted for graduate work to Master’s and PhD programs in clinical, school, and experimental psychology as well as speech and language pathology, public health, toxicology and pharmacology, and law.
    • Approximately 70% of our graduates have either gone directly into graduate school or after working for 1 – 3 years.
  • Several students have co-authored articles or book chapters with faculty.
  • Counseling minor is very popular among psychology majors.  
    • Courses include Counseling communications skills, Family therapy, Group therapy, Behavior Management, Health Psychology
    • In addition, there is a practicum at a community agency to obtain direct experience. 
  • Minor in Public Health is also now available.
  • LSSU Psi Chi Chapter: International Honor Society in Psychology.
  • Active student involvement in the LSSU Psychology Club.

Senior Projects/Research

Lake Superior State University’s psychology department recently showcased the research results of its graduating students. Topics ranged from how dance affects mood and concentration, to whether differences in color impacted memory for words.

iconCareer Paths

In the past several years, all of our graduates who applied to graduate schools in public health, psychology and social work were admitted. Students have been admitted for graduate work in Masters and PhD programs in both clinical and experimental psychology.

  • Substance Use Counselor
  • Psychiatric Technician
  • Psychology Assistant
  • Applied Behavior Analyst
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Human Resources
  • Research Assistant
  • Paraprofessional/Behavior Support
  • Mental Health Care Coordinator