The study of psychology at Colby revolves around research at all levels of the curriculum, beginning with the introductory course. Students and professors collaborate in courses and the lab to explore interesting phenomena in cognition, development, emotion, health, language, motivation, neuroscience, perception, personality, psychopathology, and social psychology. With different options for focused study in upper-level courses, access to state-of-the-art research equipment, and faculty mentors who have a broad range of expertise, students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel professionally or in graduate study.

We believe the best way to learn the science of psychology is by engaging our faculty and students in a collaborative search for new knowledge about human cognition, emotion, and behavior. This process begins with an understanding of the discipline?s conceptual foundations, and it requires a firm grounding in methods of research design and statistical analysis. Psychology majors learn how to explain behavior from multiple perspectives; how to ask substantive questions and to use appropriate empirical methodologies to address those questions; how to communicate their findings clearly in written, oral, and visual forms; and how to interact with humans and animals following the ethical standards of the field.