Psychology, BA

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What Is the Study of Psychology?

Psychology's attempt to understand the human condition takes many approaches. Some psychologists study brain chemistry and its relation to behavior, while others study the behavior of individuals in groups. Still others are engaged in providing counseling or psychotherapy to people who are mentally ill or who are having difficulty in coping with the demands of life. With a faculty of over 30 women and men, all of whom hold a doctoral degree; the Department offers a program of study which provides a solid foundation in the general concepts and methods of Psychology, as well as courses and programs for students in many of the more specialized areas.

The core program in general Psychology is designed to ensure that all students majoring psychology will develop a sound basic preparation for advanced study, as well as contributes significantly to a liberal education. The program is designed to allow students flexibility in selecting courses with the assistance of their advisor.

Why Should I Consider this Major?

Most of the major issues facing the people of the world today--hunger, overpopulation, the continuing threat of war, prejudice, pollution, drug addiction--are people problems; people have created them, and it will be people who must and will find solutions to them. Psychology, as the scientific study of mind and behavior, will help provide the answers to many of these pressing problems.

How to Declare:

 

Pre-Major: To be eligible, students must have completed 15 credits in Psychology with a minimum of 5 credits at Western.

Admissions:

Contact the department to declare the major once you have completed the following requirements:

  • Completed a total of at least 75 credits.
  • Successfully completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 301.
  • Achieved a Western Cumulative GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher. A GPA of 3.0 in all Psychology courses taken at Western, including PSY 301, may substitute for the cumulative GPA.

Coursework

  • PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
  • PSY 210 Cognition
  • PSY 220 Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSY 230 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 240 Social Psychology
  • PSY 250 Introduction to Personality and Abnormal Psychology
  • PSY 301 Overview of Research Methods
  • PSY 302 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis: Correlational Approaches
  • PSY 303 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis: Experimental Approaches
  • One course from:
    • PSY 310 Sensation and Perception
    • PSY 311 Human Memory
    • PSY 318 Psychology of Language
    • PSY 319 Cognitive Neuroscience
    • PSY 320 Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
    • PSY 321 Learning
    • PSY 322 Motivation
    • PSY 323 Psychopharmacology
    • PSY 324 Comparative Psychology
  • One course from:
    • PSY 330 Children Development
    • PSY 331 Adult Development and Aging
    • PSY 332 Adolescent Development
    • PSY 333 Infant Development
    • PSY 340 Environmental Psychology
    • PSY 341 Psychology and Culture
    • PSY 342 Social Cognition
    • PSY 343 Social Processes
    • PSY 344 Psychology and the Law
    • PSY 345 Evolutionary Psychology
    • PSY 346 Stereotyping, Prejudice, & Discrimination
    • PSY 351 Abnormal Psychology
  • One course from:
    • PSY 410 Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
    • PSY 411 Seminar in Cognition
    • PSY 420 Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience
    • PSY 421 Seminar in Learning
    • PSY 422 Seminar in Motivation
    • PSY 424 Seminar in Comparative Psychology
  • One course from:
    • PSY 430 Seminar in Developmental Psychology
    • PSY 431 Seminar in Adult Development and Aging
    • PSY 440 Seminar in Environmental Psychology
    • PSY 441 Seminar in Cross-Cultural Psychology
    • PSY 442 Seminar in Social Psychology
    • PSY 451 Seminar in Abnormal Psychology
  • One course from:
    • PSY 481 Seminar in History and Systems of Psychology (4)
    • PSY 482 Seminar in Psychological Theory (4)

GURs:

The courses below satisfy GUR requirements and may also be used to fulfill major requirements.

  • SSC: PSY 101, 341
The Psychology Department at Western is one of the largest and most productive on campus. Students are dynamically engaged in close-knit classroom and laboratory experiences with faculty members. As teachers, researchers and advisors, the Psychology Department faculty offer the intimacy of a small liberal arts college and the resources and activity of a larger university. Students have direct access to faculty and work collaboratively on cutting-edge psychological research that gets published in scientific outlets. By the time they graduate, psychology majors have had opportunities to present research at conferences, effect changes in their communities through service-learning courses, and expand their intellectual capacity through the provocative discussions of small seminar classes. This confluence of pedagogical approaches fosters a unique learning environment in which students thrive and succeed.

- Dr. Alex Czopp, Faculty

When I entered WWU I really had no idea what I was going to major in. I’ve always wanted to make a difference, but I wasn’t sure how best to go about it. After taking Psychology courses I realized that when we break any societal problem down to its roots, it becomes a people problem. Since all problems are people problems, I decided to major in the study of people. WWU has an incredible Psychology program that gave me the opportunity to perform research, engage in enlightening discussions with my peers and professors, and allowed me to present research findings at professional conferences. In my time at WWU I made lifetime friends as well as mentors, and left feeling confident in my capability to continue on in a career in Psychology.

- Connor Herron, Student

Sample Careers

  • Counselor
  • Employment Agency Counselor
  • Training and Development Professional
  • Mental Health Coordinator
  • Human Resources Personnel
  • Social Service Administrator
  • Public Relations
  • Corrections Officer
  • Educator
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Social Service Worker
  • Psychologist

Department

Contact

Department Chair

Dr. Larry Symons
AI 440, 360-650-4019
Larry.Symons@wwu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor

See Department Office
AI 434, 360-650-3515

Related Majors

Behavioral Neuroscience, BA
Psychology: Human Development—Elementary, BAEd