Catalog Information

Professors: Jill G. Morawski, Scott Plous, John G. Seamon,  Robert S. Steele, Ruth Striegel-Moore, Chair

Associate Professor:  Lisa Dierker, Andrea L. Patalano

Assistant Professors:  Hilary Barth, Henry A. Danso, Barbara Juhasz, Matthew Kurtz, Anna Shusterman, Steven Stemler

Adjunct Professor:  Philippa Coughlan, Director, Office of Behavioral Health for Students

Undergraduate Program

Departmental Advising Experts 2008-2009: Matthew Kurtz, Anna Shusterman

Department/Program Home Page

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.

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.) Please refer to the department's Web site for for more detail.

Major requirements. Ten 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.)

Introductory psychology. These courses provide a broad overview of psychology. Either Psychological Science (PSYC101) or Foundations of Contemporary Psychology (PSYC105) 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) or Psychological Statistics (PSYC201) is required.

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).

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

Specialized. These courses (PSYC300-398) aim to ensure that students study at least one subfield of psychology in depth. 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.

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 have earned at least a B average in all non-psychology 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, in order 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.

Transfer credits. No more than three transfer credits from other departments or institutions can be applied to fulfill requirements for the major. These 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 credit. Students who receive a score of 5 or 4 and complete a full-credit Breadth Requirement course may receive 1.00 credit. This credit may fulfill the introductory course requirement. AP credits may not be counted toward admission to the major.

Catalog Information

Psyc Majors Manual
(udpated 2/4/08)

Admission

Honors Thesis Guidelines

Calculating GPA

Mind Matters Journal

Poster Session Retrospective