Catalog Information

The Psychology Department offers introductory courses to provide a general overview of the entire field. Statistics and research methods courses familiarize students with research tools and techniques. The breadth requirement courses assure that students take an array of medium-level courses that provide an intensive exposure to the theories, practices, and results associated with important investigative areas.

Starting with the class of 2013, three new components have been added to the psychology major: (1) a cultural immersion experience in a culture other than one’s own, (2) a foreign language requirement, and (3) satisfaction of general education requirements.  Additionally, the number of transfer courses that can be counted toward the major has been increased so that students are able to fulfill major course requirements while abroad. All of these are explained below in more detail.

Admission. Prospective majors are required to earn a B or better in two psychology courses taken at Wesleyan and declare psychology as their major not later than by the first week of classes in their junior year. (Transfer students are exempted from the requirement that the psychology courses have to have been taken at Wesleyan.) Starting with the class of 2013, satisfaction of the general education stage 1 is required for admission to the major. Please refer to the department's Web site for more detail.

Major requirements. Ten psychology credits are required to fulfill the major. Nine of the 10 credits needed for the major must be graded. (Introductory and statistic courses must be taken graded.) Starting with the class of 2013, an additional 2 foreign language credits, a cultural immersion experince, and completion of general education expectation are also required.

Introductory psychology. These courses provide a broad overview of psychology. Either PSYC101 Psychological Science  or PSYC105 Foundations of Contemporary Psychology  is required. An AP course plus a Breadth Requirement course will also fulfill the introductory requirement.

Psychological statistics. These courses provide an introduction to data analysis in psychology. Either Statistics: An Activity-Based Approach (PSYC200), Psychological Statistics (PSYC201), or Applied Data Analysis (QAC 201) is required. Alternatively, this requirement can be fulfilled with one of the following approved courses from outside the department: MATH132, MATH232, ECON300, SOC 256/GOVT366, or BIOL320/E&ES320.

Research methods. These courses provide specific skills with which to evaluate and perform research. One course in methods of research is required. These courses are numbered PSYC202-219. Alternatively, this requirement can be fulfilled by taking one of the Advanced Research courses (PSYC380-399)but seats are more limited in these advanced courses.

Breadth requirement. Students must choose a minimum of one course from each of the three columns:

Specialized.These courses (PSYC300-399) aim to ensure that students study at least one subfield of psychology indepth. A student must take one specialized course that deepens the knowledge she or he gained in a breadth requirement course.

Electives. Any other courses, tutorials, or teaching apprenticeships offered by the department, or any courses approved by the chair, may also be counted toward completion of the requirements.

Foreign language requirement (starting with Class of 2013).  Learning a language other than one’s own enhances an understanding of and engagement with persons from cultures not one’s own. Psychology majors are required to work toward achieving language proficiency in a second language. Specifically, two semesters of intermediate level (or, if the student chooses an “uncommonly taught language,” two semesters at any of the levels) of language study in a language of the student’s choice are required for completion of the major. A list of university foreign language courses can be found on the department's web site. Students for whom English is a second language or students who can demonstrate mastery of a foreign language at the intermediate level (by language placement test) may opt out of the language requirement.

Cultural immersion experience (starting with Class of 2013). Direct interaction with other cultures through study abroad facilitates an understanding of cultures not one’s own and of global issues. Psychology majors need to spend at least one semester engaged in a cultural immersion experience. Study abroad automatically fulfills the requirement. Students may petition the chair to fulfill the requirement with a cultural immersion experience within the U.S., with a summer program, or with other equivalent experience.

Honors thesis in psychology. By the beginning of their spring semester junior year, psychology majors who have earned at least a B+ average in all psychology courses and who have earned at least a B average in all nonpsychology courses may pursue honors in psychology by writing a thesis. Honors will be awarded only if both readers evaluate the thesis worthy of honors.

High honors thesis in psychology. In addition to the above, psychology majors must also have met the University’s General Education requirements to pursue high honors in psychology by writing a thesis. High honors will be awarded only if both readers evaluate the thesis as truly exceptional, i.e., worthy of high honors.

To evaluate eligibility, grades are needed for all courses, including transfer courses. Please refer to the department's Web site for the formula to calculate GPAs.

Concentration in cognitive science.  Interested students have the opportunity to specialize in cognitive science within the major. To earn recognition for this specialization, the following conditions must be met.  First, three of the following courses must be included among breadth requirements and electives: Cognitive Psychology (PSYC220), Human Memory (PSYC221), Sensation and Perception (PSCY222), Psycholinguistics (PSYC228), Developmental Psychology (PSYC230), and Behavioral Neurobiology (PSYC240). Second, a 300-level course requirement should build on at least one of these three courses. Third, two additional courses are required from outside the department that are closely related to cognitive science Fourth, a semester-long research tutorial must be completed in an area of cognitive science (the research tutor must approve the tutorial for this purpose prior to its commencement). In light of these requirements, students undertaking this concentration have the option to petition to be exempted from the major’s new cultural immersion requirement.  Please refer to the department's Web site for more detail.

Cultural psychology concentration.  Interested students have the opportunity to specialize in culture and psychology within the major. To earn recognition for this specialization, the following conditions must be met. To earn recognition for this specialization, the following conditions must be met. First, three of the following courses must be included among breadth requirements and electives: Social Psychology (PSYC260) or Exploring Social Psychology (PSYC263), Psychological Measurement (PSYC245), Psychology of Women (PSYC270) or Psychology of Gender (PSYC290), Life-span Development (PSYC271), Discovering the Person (PSYC259), Culture in Psychology (PSYC265), Cultural Psychology (PSYC261). Second, one 300-level course building on one of the courses above. Third, two additional courses are required from outside the department that are closely related to culture and psychology. Fourth, one credit attained through a research tutorial (PSYC421 or PSYC422) or education in the field (PSYC465 or PSYC466). Fifth, a thesis, essay, presentation to department, or other capstone project that focuses on culture and psychology. Please refer to the department's Web site for more detail.

Transfer credits. Students may transfer up to three psychology credits from other departments or institutions (including AP psychology) or, if from study abroad, three psychology credits plus one credit from within the United States. These courses must be approved by the chair. Even though a transfer credit may have been approved toward a university credit, it must also be specifically approved toward the psychology major. Transfer credits cannot be counted toward admission to the program unless you are a transfer student.

Teaching apprentice credits. No more than two teaching apprentice credits can be counted toward the major.

Tutorial credits. No more than four tutorial credits can be counted toward the major, or six including the senior thesis tutorials.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaurate credit. Students who receive a score of 5 or 4 or an IB score of 6 or 7, and complete a full-credit breadth requirement course may receive 1.00 credit. This credit may fulfill the introductory requirement. An AP or IB credit may not be counted towards admission to the major. An AP credit will count as a transfer credit as well as the non-graded course.

Catalog Information - WesMaps

Psychology Majors Manual
(udpated 8/4/11)

Admission

Honors Thesis Guidelines

Calculating GPA

Mind Matters Journal

Poster Session Retrospective

Cognitive Science Concentration Worksheet

Cultural Psychology Concentration Worksheet

Major Requirement Worksheet Class of 2012

Major Requirement Worksheet starting with Class of 2013