Sociology Department: B.A. in Social Psychology
The Social Psychology Program
This interdisciplinary program
focuses on the dynamic relationship
between individuals and their social
environments. Drawing on the rich
history of research in both sociology
and psychology, social psychology
students explore important and
wide-ranging issues such as power
and status inequalities, identity,
socialization, mental, emotional,
and physical health, deviance and
conformity, and interpersonal
communication as these issues
occur across the course of human
development, in both small groups
and larger contexts.
Social Psychology Curriculum
The goal of the social psychology
major is to provide student with a
firm foundation of the pivotal issues
concerning psychologists and
sociologists, and to further focus on
the natural overlap between these
two disciplines. Students critically
examine how individual behavior is
motivated by the life contexts in
which it occurs, and how, in turn,
this behavior has the potential to
alter the environment. Courses
allow students to focus on important
social systems, such as family,
religion, politics and organizations,
as these systems impact individuals.
The majors also allows students to
focus on social psychological
processes involved in emotion,
media, interpersonal behavior in
small and large group setting, and
the impacts of violence and trauma.
Degree Requirements
The Social Psychology major
requires students to complete a
minimum of 39 semester hours of
coursework. Students must take
foundation courses in both the
Sociology and Psychology
departments. The seven foundation
courses prepare students to choose
six elective courses, one of which
serves as a senior capstone. Elective
courses across both departments
address important and wide-ranging
social and psychological issues.
Internship Opportunities
The optional internship, which may
be taken in either the Psychology of
the Sociology Department,
encourages integration of academic
learning with hands-on experience.
Through and internship, students
can explore career options, develop
marketable skills, build their
professional network, and prepare
for graduate study. Students secure
positions in a variety of settings,
including schools, shelters, group
homes, and health and human
service agencies. Faculty members
and internship advisors can assist
students in finding internships
related to their career goals and
professional interests.
Faculty Research Projects
The Sociology and Psychology
Departments house a distinguished
group of faculty who are recognized
as both scholars and teachers. These
professors are actively advancing
scholarship in social psychology
through the pursuit of research in:
 Small group decision-making
 Status, power, and conformity
 Political psychology
 Social neuroscience
 Media impact
 Childhood experiences and
adult mental health
 Coping with life transitions
 Social dimensions of language
 Violence and trauma
Possible Career Paths
The BA degree in Social Psychology
prepares students to apply their
learning in a wide variety of fields.
Social psychology majors typically
seek careers and graduate study in
social services, education, business,
health, medicine, and other areas
where the dynamics of individual
functioning and interpersonal
behavior are critical to success.
To Learn More, Please Contact:
Department of Sociology
Wheatley, 4th floor, Room 12
University of Massachusetts, Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Phone: (617) 287-6250