Program Overview

Introduction to the Psychology Program

The Psychology program at Western Washington University is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the general concepts and methods of psychology, as well as courses and programs for students in many of the more specialized areas. With a faculty of more than 40 people, the department offers a comprehensive program of study that prepares students for advanced study and real-world applications of research findings in the field.

Why Consider a Psychology Major?

Psychology, as the scientific study of mind and behavior, helps provide answers to many of the pressing problems facing the world today. The program is designed to allow students flexibility in selecting courses with the assistance of their advisor, ensuring that each psychology major has direct experience with research methodology, from the theoretical underpinnings through research design, implementation, and data analysis.

Student Resources

• Department website: Psychology
• Department advising: Information for incoming students and department advisors
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample careers:
  • Counselor
  • Employment Agency Counselor
  • Training and Development Professional
  • Mental Health Coordinator
  • Human Resources Personnel
  • Social Service Administrator
  • Public Relations
  • Corrections Officer
  • Educator
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Social Service Worker
  • Psychologist
  • Foster Care and Adoptions
  • Data Analyst

Admission and Declaration Process

To declare a major in psychology, a student must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Completion of the Major Application
• Completion (including currently enrolled WWU courses) of at least 90 credits, including:
  • PSY 101 and PSY 203 completed
  • Two courses from PSY 210, PSY 220, PSY 230, PSY 240, and PSY 250, completed or currently enrolled
  • At least five PSY credits taken at Western, completed or currently enrolled
• Achieved a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) or psychology GPA (based on an average of all completed PSY 210-250 and 203 coursework) of 2.70 or higher

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements (75 credits)

• PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology (5 credits)
• PSY 203 - Research Methods (5 credits)
• PSY 210 - Cognition (5 credits)
• PSY 220 - Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PSY 230 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology (5 credits)
• PSY 240 - Social Psychology (5 credits)
• PSY 250 - Introduction to Behavioral and Mental Health (5 credits)
• PSY 305 - Scientific Thinking and Writing (5 credits)
• PSY 306 - Correlational Approaches to Research and Statistics (5 credits)
• PSY 307 - Experimental Approaches to Research and Statistics (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • PSY 310 - Sensation and Perception (5 credits)
  • PSY 311 - Human Memory (5 credits)
  • PSY 315 - Applied Cognition for User Experience Design (5 credits)
  • PSY 318 - Language, Brain, and Mind (5 credits)
  • PSY 319 - Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
  • PSY 320 - Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)
  • PSY 321 - Learning (5 credits)
  • PSY 322 - Motivation (5 credits)
  • PSY 323 - Psychopharmacology (5 credits)
  • PSY 324 - Comparative Psychology (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • PSY 334 - Cognitive Development (5 credits)
  • PSY 335 - Socioemotional Development (5 credits)
  • PSY 336 - Personality Development (5 credits)
  • PSY 338 - The Cultural Nature of Human Development (5 credits)
  • PSY 340 - Psychology of Environmental Sustainability (5 credits)
  • PSY 341 - Psychology and Culture (5 credits)
  • PSY 342 - Social Cognition (5 credits)
  • PSY 343 - Social Processes (5 credits)
  • PSY 344 - Psychology and the Law (5 credits)
  • PSY 345 - Evolutionary Psychology (5 credits)
  • PSY 346 - Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination (5 credits)
  • PSY 351 - Interventions in Adult Mental Health (5 credits)
  • PSY 354 - Interventions in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (5 credits)
  • PSY 359 - Foundations of Counseling (5 credits)
• One 300-level course (in addition to the two 300-level courses above) from:
  • PSY 310 - Sensation and Perception
  • PSY 311 - Human Memory
  • PSY 315 - Applied Cognition for User Experience Design
  • PSY 318 - Language, Brain, and Mind
  • PSY 319 - Cognitive Neuroscience
  • PSY 320 - Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSY 321 - Learning
  • PSY 322 - Motivation
  • PSY 323 - Psychopharmacology
  • PSY 324 - Comparative Psychology
  • PSY 334 - Cognitive Development
  • PSY 335 - Socioemotional Development
  • PSY 336 - Personality Development
  • PSY 338 - The Cultural Nature of Human Development
  • PSY 340 - Psychology of Environmental Sustainability
  • PSY 341 - Psychology and Culture
  • PSY 342 - Social Cognition
  • PSY 343 - Social Processes
  • PSY 344 - Psychology and the Law
  • PSY 345 - Evolutionary Psychology
  • PSY 346 - Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination
  • PSY 351 - Interventions in Adult Mental Health
  • PSY 354 - Interventions in Child and Adolescent Mental Health
  • PSY 359 - Foundations of Counseling
  • PSY 375 - Health Psychology (5 credits)
  • PSY 376 - Psychology of Romantic Relationships (5 credits)
  • PSY 377 - Positive Psychology (5 credits)
  • PSY 378 - Personality Psychology (5 credits)
  • PSY 379 - Psychology of Sexuality (5 credits)
• One course each from two of the following six content areas:
  • Cognitive:
    • PSY 410 - Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
    • PSY 411 - Seminar in Cognition (5 credits)
  • Behavioral Neuroscience:
    • PSY 420 - Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)
    • PSY 421 - Seminar in Learning (5 credits)
    • PSY 422 - Seminar in Motivation (5 credits)
    • PSY 424 - Seminar in Comparative Psychology (5 credits)
  • Developmental:
    • PSY 430 - Seminar in Developmental Psychology (5 credits)
    • PSY 435 - Seminar in Culture and Development (5 credits)
  • Social:
    • PSY 440 - Seminar in Environmental Psychology (5 credits)
    • PSY 441 - Seminar in Cross-Cultural Psychology (5 credits)
    • PSY 442 - Seminar in Social Psychology (5 credits)
  • Behavioral and Mental Health:
    • PSY 451 - Seminar in Mental Health Topics and Interventions (5 credits)
    • PSY 455 - Seminar in Culture and Mental Health (5 credits)
  • Multidisciplinary:
    • PSY 472 - Seminar in Health and Well-Being (5 credits)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement