Psychology Major

Our psychology major combines a program of applied psychology, clinical psychology, and research methods. The program includes opportunities for internships and allows for exploration of both secular and spiritual perspectives on psychology.

Program Strengths

The psychology major at Bryn Athyn gives students opportunities to explore and integrate secular and spiritual perspectives in psychology.

Our program gives students a Swedenborgian perspective on human behavior, the mind, spiritual development, examining questions about conscience, moral development, and free will. The program covers both abnormalities and the flourishing mind, and the professors help students to find, describe, explain, and predict mental functions.

The program includes supportive requirements in sociology, anthropology, biology, and religion, and provides students with opportunities for internships in the field as early as freshman year.

Hands-On Learning

Psychology majors are given many opportunities for hands on learning. Projects may include opportunities to work under psychologists at nearby clinics, assisting with social skills training programs for autistic children, and working with individuals with memory problems. Psychology internships place students under the supervision of various types of psychologists working in the field, so students experience real-world psychology well before graduation.

Meet the Major Head

Dr. Sonia S. Werner, Assistant Professor of Psychology

BA, West Connecticut State University
MS, PhD, Iowa State University

Dr. Werner teaches psychology and interpersonal communication skills at Bryn Athyn. Her special areas of interest are moral and spiritual development, social psychology, human resource management, service learning, women's roles in society, conflict resolution, the brain, and the new synthesis of theology and psychology called positive psychology. She has also studied the history of psychology with a focus on Swedenborgian influences, especially William James and his connection to the 12-step program and mental health.

More psychology faculty