Department of Psychology

Rivier’s programs in human development and psychology offer built-in flexibility, so that you can tailor your degree to your individual interests and goals. Our graduates work as social work case managers, juvenile justice workers, program directors, mental health counselors, and more in a variety of fields including education, healthcare, social services, government, business, and industry.

In preparing for a career or graduate school, students often collaborate with faculty members to conduct research in an area of interest. Our faculty are published in peer-reviewed academic journals, and their research has been featured in national and regional newspapers, including USA Today, the Nashua Telegraph, and the Union Leader.

Students have presented at professional conferences, including the New England Psychological Association Conference, and graduates have continued on to master’s and doctoral programs in psychology, social work, law, education, and business.

Hands-On Learning

Internships

Students build their resumes with valuable hands-on experiences. The department maintains close relationships with local agencies, allowing for a wide variety of internships and service learning opportunities. Students who are interested in pursuing careers in psychology, human development, and social work are strongly encouraged to gain professional experience by taking advantage of these programs.

Many Rivier students volunteer or intern at local social service agencies, such as Boys & Girls Inc., the Nashua Youth Council, the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, and the N.H. State Women’s Prison.

Behavioral Science Lab

The Behavioral Science Laboratory offers opportunities for students to design and implement experiments and to analyze and interpret results. Mentored by our credentialed faculty, students conduct original research studies, design experiments, collect data, and analyze and interpret results.

Lab resources include:

• Computer stations equipped with Empirisoft MediaLab and DirectRT software packages, which allow for millisecond precision in measuring cognition and perception from human subjects and with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis
• Collaborative space for students and faculty to discuss research and current findings in the field
• Access to journals, information on conferences, calls for papers, and research and career opportunities

Psychology Club

The Psychology Club and other campus organizations offer students co-curricular opportunities to enhance their academic and professional preparation. Through community service, guest speakers, and career planning, the Club offers students a broad base of resources and networking opportunities related to psychology, human development, social work, sociology, education, and business.