Psychology Major (B.A.)

Professor DiLillo
Associate Professors Bailey, Brandt, Modica
Assistant Professors Cashen, Vadnie

The department provides a variety of courses in psychology useful to both students with a general interest in the field and those interested in pursuing graduate or professional training. Although the overall emphasis of the department is to provide students with a broad background in the scientific aspects of the discipline, students also acquire skills necessary to apply that knowledge. Students can focus their study on one or several areas of psychology ranging from the social and intellectual development of the person to the prevention and treatment of psychological disorders, from operant and Pavlovian analyses of behavior to models of human thought processes, from the microscopic analysis of brain circuits to the mechanisms of long-term memory, from the behaviors of persons in isolation to group behavior in organizations, from the biological bases of visual perception to the therapeutic means of treating people with schizophrenia. One-on-one work with a faculty member is strongly encouraged for each major, either in empirical research or in an internship.

Completing Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110 ) with a C- or better is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses. To register for a 300-level course, students must also have sophomore, junior, or senior standing. All 400-level courses require permission of the instructor to register.

Quantitative Methods (PSYC 210 ) is a course that teaches statistical theory and techniques that are used in psychological research. Because of significant content overlap, students may not receive credit for PSYC 210 and credit for any other statistics course (i.e., MATH 105 , MATH 235 , or MATH 230 ). Because the content of PSYC 210 is specific to psychological science and because the course is designed to prepare students for Research Methods (PSYC 310 ), students intending to major in psychology are encouraged to take PSYC 210 as opposed to any of the other statistics courses.

Learning Objectives

Students who graduate with a psychology major will be able to

Describe and apply key concepts, principles and overarching themes from each of the major’s distribution areas
Effectively communicate psychological knowledge to audiences of varying levels of scientific expertise
Critically evaluate claims involving psychology and psychological science
Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice

Major Requirements

A minimum of nine units of credit in psychology and a maximum of 13 units.

The major consists of three required courses: Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110 ), Quantitative Methods (PSYC 210 ) (or MATH 105 , MATH 235 , or MATH 230 ), and Research Methods (PSYC 310 ). Six additional elective courses are required. Students must take one elective course in each category A - E (5 total). The sixth elective course may be taken in any category A - F. Credit/no entry courses will not count toward the major. Students must complete a minimum of five of the major courses at Ohio Wesleyan.

Group A: Neuroscience

Group B: Thinking and Adaptive Behavior

Group C: Psychology Across the Lifespan

Group D: Social Aspects

Group E: Psychological Health

Group F: Advanced Studies

Note(s):

Checklists for the major and minor, as well as other resources, can be obtained in the Psychology office, 52 Phillips Hall.