50 Reasons We Love WJC

In honor of our 50th year, we’ve put together a list of 50 reasons we love William James College (in no particular order)!

1. We are a unique institution that is 100% focused on psychology and behavioral health. You will be surrounded by peers, faculty, and staff who all share the same dedication to the field throughout our four academic departments: Organizational and Leadership Psychology, School Psychology, Counseling and Behavioral Health, and Clinical Psychology.
2. Our location in Newton, MA puts us nearby great organizations, school, hospitals, and businesses in Boston and Greater Boston where our students can complete their field education. (It also means we’re nearby great sports teams, restaurants, museums, and other recreational activities!)
3. Our supportive admissions team will help you at every step of the application process. They host open houses, virtual information sessions, campus visit days, and more to help you get a feel for William James.
4. Our practitioner faculty not only have experience teaching, but also have experience working in the field—and many still do! You will be learning from people who have tangible experience with what they are teaching in the classroom.
5. Our emphasis on experiential education gives every student opportunities to put into practice what they’re learning in the classroom. Through field education, days in residence on campus, role play scenarios, and other projects, you will get hands-on experiences to enhance your learning. 39% of students’ post-graduation employment in 2022 resulted from a WJC internship or practicum position.
6. Our expert field education professionals won’t leave you stranded. They will support you throughout the process of finding, applying to, and engaging with your field sites.
7. We have a variety of program types and delivery options to help you find the best path to reach your educational and career goals. William James offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels along with many graduate certificates. Check out our Program Finder to explore which programs have full-time and part-time options and which are in-person, fully online, or blended.
8. We have a wide range of scholarship opportunities for students to help you achieve your academic and professional goals. Most programs offer merit scholarships, which applicants are automatically considered for at the time of admission. Plus, William James offers a variety of additional opportunities, including the Serving the Mental Health Needs of the Underserved Scholarship, which covers 2/3 of tuition.
9. Our Academic Resource Center provides support, tutoring, informational sessions, workshops, and more to help you throughout your program. Students in every program are able to get help with writing, studying, organization, research, etc. The ARC also assists students with documented disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations.
10. Our comprehensive library has a broad range of academic literature, but that’s not all. It also provides a computer lab, access to digital databases, interlibrary loan, a board game collection, and many other resources and guides.
11. William James College has a diverse and collaborative learning community made up of individuals from a wide range of locations, backgrounds, identities, education, careers, and more. We offer many opportunities to engage with the community, both within your program and beyond. A fun fact about the incoming class for Fall 2023: they come from 28 different countries including Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Norway, Iran, Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and more.
12. We have six college-wide concentration options that students across programs can choose to participate in. These concentrations give students the training to become culturally responsive clinicians to diverse and vulnerable populations. Concentration options include African and Caribbean Mental Health, Asian Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Latino Mental Health, LGBTQIA+ Studies, and Military and Veterans Psychology.
13. If one of our college-wide concentrations isn’t the right fit for you, many of our degrees also offer program-specific concentrations where you can deepen your knowledge of specific topics in the field including neuropsychology, couples and family therapy, substance use and addictions, talent management, and more.
14. Our Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health trains, educates, supports, and mentors professionals to address mental health disparities, serve culturally diverse populations, and promote social justice across the globe. It hosts our concentrations in African and Caribbean Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Asian Mental Health, and Latino Mental Health as well as provides scholarships, campus events, community service, and professional development opportunities.
15. Our active Dean of Students Office is consistently providing engaging and educational opportunities for the campus community. From stress relief with farm animals, to lunch and learn sessions on timely topics, to free professional headshots, these events are great ways to connect with your peers outside of the classroom.
16. We have over 15 student-led groups on campus that you can get involved with, from the Rainbow Alliance to the First Generation College Student Group to the Gero Volunteer Corps, the Self-Care Group, and more. If you don’t see something that interests you, talk to the Dean of Students Office about starting your own!
17. Our military and veteran community is robust and active on campus. We not only offer a Military and Veteran Psychology concentration for those (in the military or not) wishing to work with military servicemembers, veterans, and their families, but also a Train Vets to Treat Vets® program for student-veterans interested in behavioral health careers. William James also provides support and resources for our military servicemembers and veterans and regularly hosts events and professional development opportunities for our campus community.
18. The Black Mental Health Graduate Academy recruits, mentors, and supports Black students in master’s and doctoral programs at William James College. The Academy not only provides critical cultural and academic support to Scholars, but also represents William James College’s commitment to decreasing racial and ethnic disparities by diversifying the mental health workforce.
19. William James College offers opportunities for students to travel abroad for Service Learning and Cultural Immersion Programs. Through many of the concentrations housed in the Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health, students are able to travel to Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, or Kenya to participate in global mental health initiatives in low-resource countries.
20. Our core value of social responsibility means all of our programs, centers, and work at the College focus on meeting the diverse and changing mental health needs of today’s society. We, as students and professionals in the field, emphasize culturally responsive practice and bringing high-quality mental health care to all.   
21. We have engaged student ambassadors across all our programs to help guide prospective students on their academic journey. You can hear from these students at admissions events or reach out directly via email with any questions you may have about what life is like as a William James College student.
22. Throughout our building and departments, we have welcoming staff who are always happy to answer your questions. Be sure to say hi to Marice at the front desk when you visit campus!
23. The behavioral health workforce needs highly trained, culturally responsive professionals. Our Center for Workforce Development houses academic programs, scholarship and grant-supported opportunities, professional development initiatives, and partnerships with organizations to help expand and diversify behavioral healthcare.
24. Our unique Behavioral Health Service Corps is a paid, year-long service and learning opportunity. It provides entry-level experience in the behavioral health field, free master’s credits towards a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and professional development opportunities to recent college graduates or those wanting to make a career change.
25. We have a 12:1 student to faculty ratio, giving all our students opportunities to engage in their classes and connect with their professors. You won’t find large lecture halls where you are forgotten. At William James, your professors will know you, your progress, and your goals.
26. We prioritize faculty advising and mentorship opportunities to support you throughout the program and as you transition into the next stage of your career. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor at the beginning of the program who will oversee your progress, deliver feedback, and offer guidance.
27. Our innovative Educational Technology Department supports online and blended learning for both faculty and students. Even before the pandemic, William James College has been providing programs in online and blended spaces.
28. The William James INTERFACE Referral Service, a mental health and wellness referral helpline, provides confidential services to participating communities to help increase access to mental health services.
29. We have relationships with community colleges, school districts, and other organizations that allow incoming students opportunities such as streamlined application processes, scholarships, and more.
30. At William James College, we have a commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our framework for inclusive excellence focuses on creating and sustaining an inclusive environment for learning, teaching, working, and collaborating.
31. We offer career services for both current students and alumni of William James. You’ll have access to resume help, interview coaching, career fairs, cover letter reviews, LinkedIn tips, networking opportunities, and much more. 77% of students from the Class of 2022 secured post-graduate employment prior to their degree conferral (including paid fellowship and military service). Go WJC grads!
32. Our engaging in-person residencies for many of our blended programs (such as programs in our Organizational and Leadership Psychology Department), allow cohorts to come together for hands-on learning, self-care opportunities, sharing of experiences, and more. These residencies, which can range from one weekend to a week or two, provide opportunities for our students in the online space to engage more deeply with the field, the faculty, and their peers.   
33. Our Center for Behavioral Health, Equity, and Leadership in Schools engages with school districts, leaders, and educators to build healthy, supportive, and inclusive school climates. BHELS provides academic programs, consulting services, roundtable discussions, events, presentations, and more for teachers, school leaders, and administrators.
34. To help create effective partnerships between law enforcement and mental health professionals, William James College established the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health to address response methods for individuals experiencing psychiatric, substance-related, or mental health crises. It houses a graduate certificate program and hosts and annual co-response research symposium.
35. Our inspiring commencement celebration held at the end of the academic year is not only an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our students, but to also recognize leaders in the field for their contributions and look ahead to the difference our graduates will make as alumni.
36. William James has a connected Alumni Association where graduates of our programs continue to engage with the College. As part of our alumni network, you will have access to discounts, library and career services, opportunities to connect with current students, alumni networking groups, and much more.
37. Each program hosts an orientation for incoming students to become familiar with the College, meet their cohort or peers in the program, and find helpful resources to support them during their time at William James. Whether online or on-campus, our students are not left alone when beginning this next step in their education and career.
38. Our community of academic fellows and scholars go above and beyond in their programs. Not only are these students dedicated to becoming professionals in the field, they are passionate about diversifying the behavioral health workforce, meeting the needs of underserved populations, and making a long-lasting difference in communities across the globe.
39. Our collaboration with the Newton Food Pantry provides a free, self-serve food pantry on campus to students, faculty, and staff who are experiencing food insecurity. It provides shelf-stable foods and personal care products in a confidential and easily accessible way.
40. Since 2003, William James College has housed a curated art collection, displayed throughout the building. What started as 20 pieces has grown to a collection of over 100, ranging from modern oil on canvas to ancient cultural artifacts. As you walk through our campus building, you will find art that represents the work of many cultures through a variety of artistic styles.  
41. Our annual Rapport magazine compiles stories, student features, faculty viewpoints, highlights from the year, and much more. Published every fall, Rapport gives you a snapshot of William James and dives deeper into important topics in psychology, counseling, leadership, and behavioral health.
42. William James College has many areas focused on forensic psychology and counseling. From concentrations in our Clinical Psychology PsyD and MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs, to the Center of Excellence for Children, Families, and the Law; the Juvenile Court Clinics; and more to support court-involved children and families.
43. The Human Trafficking Community Research Hub, along with its community partners, evaluates human trafficking-specific services and conducts research to address its psychological consequences and promote best practices when working with this population.
44. Not only are we focused on experiential education, William James also prioritizes psychological research. Our Center for Psychological Science was created in 2020 to facilitate, support, and disseminate research studies and presentations.
45. We have a robust and diverse Board of Trustees, made up of 17 individuals who are professionals across many fields and passionate about the work and mission of William James College.
46. As society changes, William James changes with it. We prioritize meeting our communities where they are and addressing the mental health needs of today and the future. From establishing new programs, creating innovative events, and continuously partnering with others doing great work in the field, WJC continues to evolve.
47. Our Atrium and student lounge areas throughout the campus building provide space for our community to come together for events, study sessions, lunch gatherings, and more. We prioritize connecting with others at William James College outside of the classroom.
48. The Dr. Leon O. Brenner Center for Psychological Assessment and Consultation brings services directly to the community. The Brenner Center provides comprehensive evaluations, accessible reports, consultation, and advocacy for clients of all ages.
49. The Office of Continuing Education at William James hosts events and provides certificates and other learning experiences on important, timely topics in the field. These opportunities, both online and in-person, give our community ways to deepen and refresh their knowledge as well as connect with thought leaders and colleagues in the field.
50. We're proud to attach our institution to the important legacy of William James—the founder of American psychology. He championed diversity and access to education across race and gender lines, advocated for openness to wide ranging social perspectives, and promoted a more practical application of psychology. We strive to provide an education aligned with these ideals.

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