About the Program

As a Psychology student at UMFK, you’ll benefit from faculty who work in the field, enjoy small classes, and have hands-on learning that prepares you for the career you want. Many of our graduates enter the field in jobs doing social work, counseling, and other roles, oftentimes receiving job offers from your internship site. There is also an active Psychology Club that makes service-learning trips with opportunities to network with professionals in the field.

You can pair your degree with a minor or with one of our two concentrations that lead to much-needed licenses and credentials in the field.

Psychology Program

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology program is designed for students interested in careers in the Behavioral Health field and for advanced study in fields such as Psychology, Social Work and Counseling.  Hands-on experience, job shadowing, participation in service and experiential learning projects, and internships are core elements that set our program apart.

Concentrations

Customize your Psychology degree to match your career goals with one of these concentrations.

MHRT/C Certificate Concentration

Prepare for a career in mental health rehabilitation with a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Certification, a State of Maine certification.

Substance Misuse Concentration

Help those who struggle by pursuing a concentration in substance misuse.

Psychology, AA*

The Associate of Arts in Psychology will provide you with a sound liberal arts foundation with the fundamentals of anthropology, psychology, and sociology.

*Pending Approval

Human Services, AA

The Associate of Arts in Human Services will prepare you for work in the behavioral health field, meeting the requirements for certification as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician – Community (MHRT/C).

Psychology, Minor*

The Psychology minor will provide you with a foundation in behavioral health science that enables you to increase your understanding of individual and group behavior.

*Pending Approval

Online Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Community (MHRT/C) Certificate

The MHRT/C certification prepares students to provide services to adults with serious mental illness. Many careers within the behavioral health field require the MHRT/C certification. The content and skills covered in the MHRT/C curriculum also transfer to other roles/populations in the behavioral health field.

Employers who have hired our graduates include:

  • Maine Department of Health and Human Services
  • Northern Maine Medical Center
  • Life by Design
  • Aroostook Mental Health Center
  • Melmark
  • Northern Maine General
  • Northern Light Acadia Hospital
  • Aroostook County Action Program
  • Community Care
  • Madawaska School Department
  • Spurwink
UMFK Behavioral Science students at NMMC

Potential employers include:

  • Northern Lighthouse
  • Wings for Children and Families
  • Catholic Charities Maine
  • Maine Family Planning
  • Maine Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Child Development Services
  • Community Health and Counseling
  • Hope and Justice Project
  • Sweetser
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • TRIO Programs
  • University of Maine System

License and certification opportunities include:

  • Conditional Social Work License (LSWX)
  • Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
  • Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Community Certification (MHRT/C)

Graduates have careers as:

  • Adult & Child Case Manager
  • Community Integration Specialist
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Clinical Therapist/Counselor (Advanced Study)
  • Family Support Counselor
  • Crisis Counselor
  • TRIO Counselor
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Social Worker Academic Counselor/Advisor
  • Foster Care
  • Program Administration/Coordinator Advocate

Career Outlook and Earning Potential

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Potential Occupations and Employment Outlook

Program Requirements

  • PSY 100: Introduction to Psychology
  • PSY 232: Trauma and Resiliency
  • PSY 270: Case Management
  • PSY 308: Life Span Human Development
  • PSY 332: Substance Abuse Counseling
  • PSY 360: Social Psychology
  • PSY 362: Abnormal Psychology
  • PSY 497: Community Behavioral Health Internship OR
  • SSC 241: Writing and Critical Analysis in the Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • SSC 340: Research Methods
  • SSC 440: Research Methods and Theory Seminar (Capstone I) AND
    SSC 441: Senior Research in Social Sciences (Capstone II)
  • SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC 110: Introduction to Human Services & Community Mental Health
  • MAT 251: Statistics I

Required Additional Credits

18 Additional credits required through one of the following 3 options:

  1. Complete Behavioral Health MHRT-C Concentration
  2. Complete Misuse Counseling Concentration
  3. Complete a Minor (other than Psychology)

Maine Department of Health and Human Services

An example of where our graduates work today

100%

Students who complete internships before graduating

1:16

Faculty to Student Ratio

Next Steps

Tell us about yourself to learn more about the benefits of earning your degree at UMFK.