Nov 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Psychology, BA

Location(s): On Campus


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Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. Psychology focuses both on explaining, predicting, and controlling behavior, and also on understanding inner experience and consciousness, including emotion, thoughts, memories, self-awareness, and perceptions. In addition, psychology considers the impact of social and cultural context on behavior and experience. Psychology has its origins in multiple disciplines such as philosophy and biology and in many countries, including Germany, England, and Austria. It has flourished in the United States, and both professional and research organizations have had dramatic increases in membership. The psychology program at Wesleyan emphasizes intensive training in psychological research that will prepare students for graduate study. Students who plan on entering the workforce after graduation will also benefit from an understanding of the role of research in their field.

Major Program

A major in psychology provides a student with a foundation for graduate and/or professional study. There are numerous fields and specialties available in this discipline, including physiological, cognitive, developmental, social, personality, clinical, counseling, community, health, industrial/organizational, experimental, consumer, evolutionary, school, and forensic psychology. Interdisciplinary specialties such as psycholinguistics are also options. Some of these require more than a four-year degree, and some require graduate work at the doctoral level. But a major in psychology also enables one to enter the world of work without advanced study. A psychology major who plans to seek a position in the human services field after graduation should work with her advisor to select interdisciplinary courses that will complement the major courses.

Major Requirements: Psychology

The curricular model on which the psychology major is organized is described as a “generalist” model which places psychology squarely in the liberal arts tradition. This model includes an introductory course, methods courses in statistics and research, content courses in several areas of psychology, and integrative or capstone courses. As the introductory course, general psychology is a survey of the field with emphasis on research findings and methods of research. The methods courses (statistical methods, preparing to conduct research, and research methods) enable students to read, evaluate, and conduct psychological research. Content courses include the knowledge base of the discipline. According to the generalist model used, students are required to take at least two psychology courses with a brain and cognition orientation, one course with a clinical/counseling orientation, and at least two psychology courses with an interpersonal orientation. These content courses and elective courses, as outlined below, enable students to sample several areas in building a sound, broad knowledge base.

Capstone work in the major is completed in our History and Systems of Psychology course. This course offers an overview of the field of psychology and allows students to critically analyze major theories in psychology.

Wesleyan College’s psychology program closely follows the American Psychological Association’s recommended guidelines for the undergraduate major. Each of the broad goals below include several learning outcomes that we expect students to be able to meet by the end of their degree.

Goal 1 - Develop a knowledge base that includes significant development in breadth and depth of knowledge in psychology

SLO 1 - Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology

SLO 2 - Apply psychological principles to relevant situations

Goal 2 - Develop a scientific approach to understanding human behavior

SLO 3 - Demonstrate psychology information literacy

SLO 4 - Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research

Goal 3 - Develop ethics and values that includes an appreciation of human diversity, as well as a sensitivity to issues of gender, race, ethnicity, and class as they relate to psychological theory, research, and practice

SLO 5 - Evaluate psychological science and practice using ethical standards

Goal 4 - Develop written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills appropriate to the standards and practice of the discipline of psychology

SLO 6 - Demonstrate effective writing skills

SLO 7 - Exhibit effective presentation skills that appropriately incorporate psychological language and methodology

Goal 5 - Develop the ability to apply psychological content and skills to career goals in order to facilitate meaningful professional direction

APA recommendations regarding professional development are met through Wesleyan College’s Here to Career Professional Development Experience courses.

Psychology Major Requirements (41-42 hours)


Note:


*Courses denoted with an asterisk should be taken sequentially. See course descriptions in Catalog. MAT 220  and PSY 230  may be taken concurrently.

II. Content Requirements (Brain and Cognition): 7-8 hours


Select two:

III. Content Requirements (Clinical/Counseling): 3 hours


Select one:

IV. Content Requirements (Interpersonal): 6 hours


Note:


(or other brain and cognition or clinical/counseling content courses not selected in Sections II and III.) *at least one elective must be at the 300-level or higher.

Course Sequencing for the Psychology Major


As there are few sequences of courses, the psychology major provides a great deal of flexibility in scheduling. Students who expect to major in psychology early on should plan on taking PSY 101  (General Psychology) and MAT 220 /PSY 220  (Statistical Methods) in their first year; these two courses serve as prerequisites for most of the major courses. The research sequence (PSY 230 /PSY 305 ) may be taken either during the sophomore or junior years. Students who decide to join the major later on can shift most of the major courses to their third and fourth years as long as they prioritize being able to take the research sequence by their junior year.

First Year


Second Year


Third Year


Fourth Year


Integrative Experience


The Integrative Experience requirement is met through PSY 402: History and Systems of Psychology . In this course, students apply accumulated knowledge to critical analysis of a selected issue or problem in psychology and develop their understanding of how research evidence is generated and applied to real-world issues.

Professional Development


Throughout their Wesleyan education each student is given opportunities to explore professional and career choices, and to develop and demonstrate the knowledge and skills essential for professional success. Each student will complete PDE 350: Professional Practice Seminar  and PDE 400: Professional Development Experience .

Other Postgraduate Opportunities


Although a substantial portion of psychology graduates with a bachelor’s degree will enter the job market directly, many will continue on to psychology-related graduate programs, professional programs in law or medicine, or advanced study in closely related fields such as social work or speech-language pathology. The psychology major prepares graduates for professional employment in a wide variety of settings, including non-profits, educational institutions, healthcare or business settings, and government agencies.

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