Psychology Major

The major in Psychology is designed to prepare students for a variety of career choices including graduate and professional training. Many psychology majors do not want to become psychologists choose to major in psychology as a chance to acquire many skills valued in today's job market or to just learn about themselves. For example, you learn critical thinking throughout studying psychology. You will also learn to apply statistics and to do systematic problem solving: skills much in demand in our changing world. Psychology majors must also learn to work alone and as a part of a team. For example, each student majoring in psychology will be required to design and coordinate a research project, in the lab or in the primary literature of psychology constructing a complete review of one question of interest.

For those not seeking a graduate degree, psychology offers a variety of highly useful skills and an introduction to human behavior that will serve well in a variety of careers. For those wishing to purse graduate or professional training, we recommend that the student consider where they want to go to graduate school, what their ultimate goal is, research vs application, for example, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. In either case, each student is encouraged to choose carefully choose his or her advisor as an important first step toward success.

Core Courses:

*must be taken in the fall of Senior year.

**must be taken in the winter and spring of Senior year

Student Learning Outcomes:

The psychology major will satisfy the following outcomes:

  • demonstrate familiarity with major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology
  • understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation
  • use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes
  • understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social and organizational issues
  • be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline
  • demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes
  • be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats
  • recognize, understand and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity
  • acquire realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings