The Department of Psychology, then called the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy, was one of the original academic departments at the founding  Francis Marion College in 1970. The first department chair, Louis Hoff, hired Gary Hanson, in 1971 and Mike Jordan joined him in 1972. Dr. Jordan has spent his entire career at FMU and received the coveted Distinguished Professor award.

As of  Spring 2008, Psychology has 11 full-time faculty and 2 full-time staff members. With 181 undergraduate majors psychology is the fourth most popular major after business, education and biology. Psychology currently has 43 graduate students in the Applied Masters Programs of clinical and school psychology.