AUR is proud to announce the launch of a new Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a fully accredited undergraduate degree that will welcome its first students in the 2026–2027 academic year.
The curriculum approaches the study of human behavior through international and cross-cultural perspectives. Reflecting AUR’s interdisciplinary liberal arts approach, students will also have opportunities to explore psychology-related coursework across disciplines including Art, Business, Communication, English, International Relations, and Travel and Tourism Management. Designed within the framework of the American liberal arts tradition, the program prepares students for graduate study and careers in fields including mental health, social work, education, research, human resources, and public relations.
Psychology has long been one of AUR’s most popular minors, reflecting growing student interest in the field and its relevance to an increasingly interconnected world. Studying in Rome gives students direct exposure to questions of identity, migration, intercultural communication, public health, and social change within an internationally diverse environment. Through internships, experiential learning, close faculty mentorship, and opportunities such as a practicum course in Early Childhood Learning, students are encouraged to engage these issues both academically and practically.
“Psychology has become one of the defining disciplines of the modern world,” says AUR President Scott Sprenger. “Launching this degree reflects both student demand and AUR’s commitment to preparing graduates who can navigate human complexity across cultures, professions, and societies.”
Built in alignment with the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (2023) and informed by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations’ EuroPsy standards, the degree reflects AUR’s longstanding commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, and international education.
AUR is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), ensuring that the Psychology BA carries the full recognition and academic rigor of an American undergraduate degree.
Graduates will develop strong analytical, research, and communication skills, alongside the ability to understand human behavior within complex social and cultural environments - competencies increasingly valued across professional and academic fields worldwide.
The introduction of the Psychology BA comes during a period of significant growth for AUR. The university has recorded strong enrollment growth, welcomed new academic leadership and faculty, and begun a major campus redevelopment project that will enhance classrooms, library facilities, and student spaces on its historic campus overlooking Rome. The new degree further strengthens AUR’s commitment to internationally focused liberal arts education in the heart of Rome.
For more information, visit the Psychology major page.