Department of Psychology

"The test of learning psychology is whether your understanding of situations you encounter has changed, not whether you have learned a new fact." - Daniel Kahneman

  • Photo of business charts and graphs

    IO Psych program nationally ranked Learn more

  • photo of meeting in session

    Dr. Joseph Allen and meeting lateness research. Learn more

  • Yesenia Rodriguez-Contreras

    UNO School PSYC student Yesenia Rodriguez-Contreras presented with scholarship. Learn more

  • First responder's meeting

    John Crowe, Mackenzie Harms, Michael Yoerger, and Joseph Allen research highlighted on FEMA's web site. Read more

  • Sarah Carp

    Doctoral student Sarah Carp earns prestigious award. Learn more

  • Photo of brain model

    The brain has an incredible capacity to change. Read the Sensory Lab study.

Have you ever wondered why everyone stares at the numbers flashing by on a crowded elevator? Or why so many people are interested in celebrities and the tabloids? These everyday behaviors are what make the study of psychology so interesting. Psychology examines nearly every aspect of how people think and behave.

As most people already realize, a large part of psychology is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. It may surprise you to learn that psychology can be - and often is - applied to a variety of issues that impact health and daily life:

  • Emotions
  • Motivation
  • Development
  • Learning
  • Memory
  • Productivity
  • Happiness
  • Creativity

Because psychology is so diverse in its focus and research, it also prepares students for a wide variety of careers. It helps students develop universally useful skills like communication, critical-thinking, and a proficiency with statistics and data.

By knowing the "what" of people's motivation, you can gain a greater understanding of the "why" of people's actions. Psychology can make you communicate better, become better leader, and even improve your personal life. The potential to impact others and yourself with your new knowledge is boundless!