Why study psychology?
Psychology as a science studies questions that are fundamental to understanding ourselves and our day-to-day lives. We explore why and how people think, feel and act the way they do in an ever-changing world.
We are a community of students and faculty passionate about psychology as a scientific discipline, and we use and practically apply our discoveries to improve the lives of individuals and communities. We welcome students to contribute to our research labs and community-based partnerships as part of their learning experiences and work toward their degree.
Learn more about what psychologists do and why employers value these skills.
News
April 30, 2026
Class of 2026: Tony and Wanda Reynolds pursued their degrees side by side
The couple, who have been married for more than 30 years, entered school together. Now aged 65 and 58, they will graduate with their psychology degrees.
April 29, 2026
World@VCU: Samantha Castro Teixeira from Brazil
‘I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how warm and welcoming people are, not only in Richmond but especially within the pain research community.’
April 27, 2026
Common claim that most transgender youth renounce that identity is not supported by statistics, VCU research finds
The argument that studies show transgender youth desist from that identity on average has been used to support anti-gender-affirming care legislation nationwide.
Psychology Spotlight
Meet Araba
Araba Amissa developed a passion for understanding human behavior and emotions in high school and decided to lean into that interest with a psychology degree. Visit our 'Meet a Student' page to read more about Araba's favorite classes, professors and her work in the Cultural Psychology in Africa lab.
Fast track to a master's degree in counselor education
Earn your B.S. in psychology and M.Ed. in counselor education in six years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of your undergraduate program.
Study in our new STEM building
Our brand new, 169,000-square-foot building is dedicated to all things STEM, including psychology. Psychology students will have the opportunity to learn in state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and shared study spaces.