William James characterized psychology as "the study of mental life." Psychology is both a domain of scientific inquiry and a field of applied practice. The science of psychology is concerned with the study of how people perceive, learn, feel, think, develop, and interact with others. The practice of psychology helps people improve mental health, learning, and performance.

Undergraduate degrees in psychology provide students a number of career options. Further study in graduate school leads to professional careers as clinical, counseling, industrial, academic, and other kinds of psychologists. Psychology is also a useful major for students planning careers in law, management, medicine, or social work.