Franklin and Marshall College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as part of its liberal arts curriculum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The college holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and offers psychology-specific study abroad programs in Vienna, Madrid, and Paris.
Founded in 1787 as Franklin College and merged with Marshall College in 1853, Franklin and Marshall College is a private liberal arts college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Today, F&M’s psychology majors study alongside programs in business management, political science and government, and economics, and the college earns consistent recognition for academic quality from U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Washington Monthly, and The Princeton Review.
Franklin and Marshall College: Accreditation Details
Franklin and Marshall College holds Carnegie classification as a baccalaureate institution and maintains regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. F&M also follows Pennsylvania’s higher education regulations for programs in education, counseling, business, and emergency medical services. Coursework is designed to meet the standards required for graduate study or professional certification and licensure.
Franklin and Marshall College: Application Requirements
All applicants to F&M submit the Common Application. Requested information and requirements include:
- Official transcripts from high school or a high school equivalency program
- Official transcripts from accredited colleges attended, for transfer students
- SAT or ACT scores submitted directly from the testing agency (F&M is test-optional for students who opt out)
- Two teacher evaluations from junior or senior year high school teachers
- A written personal statement from the Common Application prompt list
- An optional personal interview, conducted on campus, at a regional location, or by video call
- A non-refundable application fee (check F&M’s admissions page for the current amount; fee waivers are available for economic hardship)
- A non-refundable enrollment fee for incoming first-year students, transfers, or re-admissions to reserve a spot (check F&M’s admissions page for the current amount)
International students or ESL students with less than three years of schooling in the U.S. should also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, passport or visa documentation, and verification of financial status.
Franklin and Marshall College: Tuition and Financial Aid
Total cost at F&M includes tuition, on-campus housing (required for all first-year students), a meal plan, health insurance unless waived under an existing policy, and a one-time orientation fee. Tuition and fee amounts change each academic year, so check F&M’s official tuition and financial aid page for current figures.
F&M offers a Tuition Management System that spreads payments over eight, 10, or 12 months, and participates fully in federal, state, and F&M-specific aid programs. Eligible students can apply for:
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal PLUS parent loans
- Federal Stafford Loans
- Federal Work Study Program
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant
- Pennsylvania State Work-Study Program
- Pennsylvania State Grant Program
- Pennsylvania Partnerships for Access to Higher Education
- Pennsylvania Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program
- More than 50 F&M fellowship and scholarship opportunities
Psychology Programs at Franklin and Marshall College
F&M’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology explores behaviorist and empirical approaches to understanding human nature, assessing behavior, and applying appropriate treatment approaches. Degree completion requires a minimum of 32 course credits, with each course assigned a credit value of 0.5 to 2. Students can also pursue the related Moral Psychology major, which blends psychology, philosophy, and sociology to examine questions of moral reasoning and behavior.
General education requirements cover English, social sciences, natural sciences, math, and approved electives. Upper-level coursework builds on psychology history, theory, and practice, including:
- Psychology, history and principles
- Experimental design and statistics
- Sensation and perception
- Biopsychology and neuroscience
- Development and cognition
- Health psychology
- Personality and psychopathology
- Social and cross-cultural psychology
- Animal behavior conditioning and learning
Psychology majors can also study abroad through F&M-specific programs, including cross-cultural psychology coursework in Madrid, health psychology coursework in Vienna, and observation of hospital or educational programs in Paris.
Graduates with a psychology degree from F&M can continue into master’s or doctoral work, including psychology doctoral programs in Pennsylvania, that prepare them for professional licensure and certification, or begin entry-level human services careers such as:
- Social work assistant
- Mental health technician
- Community health worker
- Forensics technician
- Social justice advocate
- Special education assistant
- Human resources technician
- Research assistant
For a broader look at what these roles pay, see our guide to the highest-paying jobs with a psychology bachelor’s degree. For current course offerings, faculty, and research opportunities, visit F&M’s Psychology Department.
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