Program Overview
The B.S. in Biopsychology prepares students who are interested in any of the following fields: medicine, psychiatry, clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, behavioral genetics, experimental psychology, evolutionary psychology, or comparative psychology.
Most biopsychologists are trained experimental psychologists who have brought their knowledge of biology to the study of psychological phenomena. These phenomena include behavior and underlying psychological processes, such as learning, memory, perception, attention, motivation, emotion, and cognition.
In addition to the Biopsychology major as described above, Messiah also offers an accelerated 3+2 program in Biopsychology and Occupational Therapy in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson University. Students who meet the requirements and are accepted by Thomas Jefferson University either during their senior year of high school or at the end of their first year at Messiah College can complete three years of study at Messiah College and two years at Thomas Jefferson University to earn a B.S. in Biopsychology and an M.S.O.T. in Occupational Therapy.
Biopsychology Majors can choose from a variety of minors such as Bible, business, chemistry, communication, early childhood education, Christian ministries, gerontology, human development and family science, mathematics, sociology, criminal justice, or anthropology. Students in our majors are encouraged to spend a semester studying abroad and/or participate in a practicum or internship off campus. Opportunities are available for professionally supervised participation in medical research labs, community mental health centers, retirement facilities, hospitals, prisons, crisis intervention centers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, and other service agencies in the area.