B.Sc. Hons in Psychology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

American College of Thessaloniki

Program Overview

The B.Sc. Hons in Psychology at the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) is a modern, hands-on program that builds a strong foundation in key areas like clinical, developmental, educational, counseling, experimental, social, forensic psychology, and neuroscience, while teaching you practical skills in research design, data analysis, and hypothesis testing. It's perfect for curious students passionate about understanding human behavior, mental health, and the brain—whether you're aiming for therapy, research, HR, or further studies—and you can even pair it with a minor in areas like communication or diplomacy for a competitive edge.

Curriculum Structure
Year 1 and 2: Building the Foundations
In your first two years, you'll dive into the core theories, concepts, methods, and debates that define psychology, getting a broad understanding of personality formation, cognitive processes, brain functioning, and introductory research skills through interactive lectures, labs, and workshops. Courses like foundational psychology modules introduce major theories of human behavior, while building skills in critical thinking, data handling, and group projects prepare you for deeper exploration. This phase emphasizes self-directed learning and cooperative work, setting you up with qualitative and quantitative tools you'll use throughout.

Year 3: Applying Knowledge and Skills
By year three, you'll apply what you've learned to specialized areas, tackling courses like Psychology 305 - Counselling and Psychotherapy, where you'll explore therapeutic interventions and mental health approaches, alongside health-related topics in Psychology 270 - Health, Stress and Adaptation. You'll also engage in role-playing, case studies, and guest speaker sessions to develop counseling skills, psychological assessment, and basic therapeutic plans. This builds your ability to synthesize hypotheses, work with real-world data, and think critically about behavior in diverse contexts like stress management and positive mental health.

Year 4: Advanced Research and Capstone
Your final year focuses on independent mastery, culminating in the Senior Thesis I (Psychology 350) and Senior Thesis II (Psychology 351), where you'll design, conduct, and report on your own empirical research project under supervisor guidance. Electives such as Psychology 215 - Positive Psychology or Psychology 255 - Sports Psychology let you specialize in professional applications, honing skills in analysis, communication, and limits of psychological knowledge. You'll graduate with a portfolio-ready thesis, advanced IT skills for psych data, and readiness for multicultural careers.

Focus Areas
Core strengths include clinical and counseling psychology, developmental and educational psychology, experimental methods and neuroscience, social and forensic psychology, plus practical research design, data evaluation, and hypothesis synthesis—all aligned with US and UK standards.

Learning Outcomes
You'll gain broad, systematic knowledge of psychological theories and research methods (A1), skills to design and execute independent empirical projects (A2), comparative expertise in mental disorders and therapies, plus critical thinking, communication, and self-development for professional success (A3).

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
ACT's B.Sc. Hons in Psychology is validated by The Open University (UK) and offers dual-degree options with US accreditation, with graduates eligible for Greek public university equivalence and professional recognition—including licenses to practice in Greece.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)
ACT Psychology grads excel in dynamic fields like therapy, research, education, and organizational roles, boosted by the program's emphasis on entrepreneurial skills, multicultural readiness, and real-world projects; official stats highlight strong professional licensing success and high employability in Southeast Europe.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), our B.Sc. Hons in Psychology program dives deep into hands-on learning, where you'll gain practical skills through designing and conducting your own psychological research, working directly with data, testing hypotheses, and using information technology to analyze and report results. You'll build real-world expertise in areas like clinical, developmental, social, and experimental psychology, all while preparing a senior thesis over two terms that showcases your abilities. This experiential approach ensures you're not just studying theory—you're applying it from day one.

Here are some standout ways our program equips you with these skills, backed by ACT's dedicated facilities:

- Research methods and stats training: Take Psychology 205 (Research Methods and Statistics I), where you'll design experiments, collect data, and use software tools for analysis—essential for modern psych research.
- Senior Thesis project: In Psychology 350 and 351, you'll independently plan, execute, and present a major research project, honing skills in hypothesis testing, data synthesis, and professional reporting.
- Service Learning Practicum: Through Social Science 399, you'll apply psychology in community settings, gaining practical fieldwork experience that builds your resume.
- Access to Bissell Library: Dive into over 30,000 print books and 230,000 e-books focused on psychology, plus subject-specific research guides, a library lab with 24 computers, group study rooms, and borrowable laptops for data work and stats software.
- Science Facilities in Constantinidis Hall: Use ground-floor labs (including Biology/Ecology setups adaptable for psychophysiological research) equipped for hands-on experiments tied to courses like Psychophysiology of Behavior (Psychology 150).
- Technology integration: Leverage the Stavros Niarchos Technology Center in the library basement for IT tools, supporting psych courses that emphasize data handling and info tech.

Imagine turning these opportunities into your edge—students who apply now are already gearing up for this transformative experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

ACT’s B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology prepares students to understand human behaviour, emotions, cognition, and social interaction through a strong scientific and applied approach. Graduates develop both academic knowledge and practical research skills, enabling them to step confidently into roles within mental health support, organisations, education, and applied behavioural science fields.

Typical career paths for graduates include: psychological research assistant, counselling support worker, human resources or organisational development associate, and forensic or social services assistant.

The programme is designed to strengthen both employability and academic readiness by combining research training, applied psychology modules, and hands-on learning through practicum and dissertation work. This ensures students graduate with real-world skills that are valued internationally.

• Career-focused training and research practice: Students are trained in psychological research design, data analysis, and applied areas such as clinical, counselling, social, forensic, and developmental psychology.
• University services supporting employability: Students benefit from academic advising, learning support, library resources, and guidance for further study and career planning.
• Practical experience opportunities: The programme includes internship and practicum elements, helping students gain direct exposure to professional environments and build relevant experience.
• Strong academic recognition: The degree follows an established UK-linked academic framework, supporting international recognition for both employment and postgraduate study.
• Graduate outcomes: Students are well-prepared for entry into both the workforce and advanced academic study, with many progressing into psychology-related fields across healthcare, education, research, and organisations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this degree, students can continue into Master’s-level study in areas such as Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Neuropsychology, Educational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, or Organisational Psychology. Some graduates also pursue research-focused postgraduate degrees or professional training routes that lead toward becoming a licensed psychologist, depending on the country’s requirements.