PSYC - PSYCHOLOGY

Senior Majors’ Exam

In the senior year, each major is required to take a comprehensive major exam. Its purpose is to provide an additional source of feedback to the Department of Psychology and to the individual student about the educational experience in psychology. Graduation with a major in psychology requires taking the exam at the scheduled time. Individual and group scores are reviewed annually by psychology department faculty for use in program evaluation. Each graduating senior receives an individual score report for self-evaluation.

Additional Information on Curricular Planning:

In addition to the requirements outlined here, the department asks students to consider the following issues:  

Science and Mathematics

Success in psychology is enhanced by substantial exposure to scientific and quantitative material. Therefore, psychology majors (especially those considering graduate work) are encouraged to take courses in other sciences and in mathematics.

Research

Psychology majors—especially those considering graduate study in psychology—are strongly encouraged to seek out additional research experiences. On-campus research opportunities include assisting a faculty member with his or her research, developing a research project in collaboration with a faculty member, and designing an independent project and conducting it under faculty supervision. Course credit may be granted for working in research labs (0.25 or 0.50-credit practicum projects), or for student-designed or collaborative research under the heading of a research project (one semester for 1.0 credit) or senior thesis (two semesters for a total of 2.0 credits).  Such projects sometimes result in student-faculty coauthored publications. Off-campus research opportunities are made available to students through research internships.

Internships

Off-campus internships in social service agencies, hospitals, research labs and other applied educational, organizational, or legal settings allow students to cultivate skills in counseling, teaching, research and other areas in preparation for later professional training or employment. 

Career Preparation

If you're interested in...

• Helping Professions: be sure to take PSYC 350 & 375.  Also consider PSYC 210, 255, 330, 425, 455 

• Education: be sure to take PSYC 210.  Also consider PSYC 320, 360, 425 

• Health Professions: consider taking PSYC 310, 320, 350, 370L, 385 

• Business: consider taking PSYC 255, 345, 360 

• Law: consider taking PSYC 205 & 255”