Program Overview

---

Psychology: The Other STEM

Psychology is the science of mind and behavior—we study them wherever they’re found—self, others, technology, education, health professions, culture, biology, business, counseling, and more.

Learn More About This Program

Our program provides a solid grounding in and understanding of psychology. Classes seek to bring material to life by encouraging you to make the material relevant to your own experiences. The variety of courses and flexibility of our major allow you to tailor your studies to personal interests and goals guided by faculty who will advise you on degree requirements, course work and career planning.

Minor in This Program

Requirements for the Psychology Minor (18 Total Credit Hours)

• PSY 101 General Psychology class (3 credits)
• 5 PSY electives (3 credits) that meet the following criteria:
  • All electives must be at or above the 200 level
  • At least 3 of 5 electives must be at or above the 300 level
  • At least 3 of 5 electives must be completed at Shenandoah University
  • 1 elective may have a non-PSY prefix. This elective may be EXSC 350, BA 307, PSCI 333, or a course approved by the psychology department chair.

Declaring A Minor

Shenandoah students work with their Academic Adviser to declare a minor. Academic Advisers will continue to work with students to ensure that they fulfill all of the requirements to complete the minor.

Incoming students should not indicate their intended minor on their Shenandoah application. Applications are for intended majors only.

NOTE: Psychology minors have to be approved by the psychology department chair before they have completed 75 credit hours.

Internship Possibilities

You can earn course credit for your resume by taking part in internships (i.e., practica) in the community or conducting research. They are not required for Psychology, but are strongly recommended. To be eligible, students need to be in good academic standing. Our practica are designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply information gained in the classroom and to obtain further knowledge and skills. Practica also allow students to demonstrate their abilities, hone their interests, prepare for graduate school and/or make a difference in the community.

Practica Locations

• Winchester Rehabilitation Center
• Winchester Department of Social Services
• Grafton Integrated Health Network
• Connected Communities
• Head of the Class Dog Training
• Winchester Community Mental Health Center
• Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging Winchester Senior Center
• Adult Care Center of Northern Shenandoah Valley
• The Recovery Connection
• Concern Hotline
• Clarvida

Career Possibilities

Psychology majors learn marketable, job-related skills, such as critical thinking, valuable interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of human behavior and an understanding of research procedures and how best to answer psychology-related questions. Oftentimes, students graduating with a degree in psychology pursue careers in business, government, education and health-related organizations.

Psychology has many areas of specialization, such as:

• social psychology
• personality psychology
• developmental psychology
• cognitive psychology
• school psychology
• clinical psychology
• counseling psychology
• educational psychology
• industrial-organizational psychology
• forensic psychology
• cross-cultural psychology
• health psychology
• biopsychology

Some specific careers that are well-suited for students studying psychology include:

• social worker
• behavioral specialist
• substance abuse mentor
• teacher
• special education specialist
• guidance or academic counselor
• criminal investigator
• animal trainer
• corrections officer
• occupational therapist
• retail/sales marketing personnel
• public relations worker

Classes

Requirements For The Psychology Major (42 credit hours total)

• Required Core Courses (18 credit hours)
  • PSY 101 General Psychology
  • MATH 207 Introduction to Statistics OR PSY 207 Quantitative Analyses in Psychology
  • PSY 208 Research Methods I
  • PSY 308 Research Methods II
  • PSY 222 Lifespan Development
  • PSY 310 Abnormal Psychology
• Biological Bases of Human Behavior
  • Take at least 1 of the following courses (3 credit hours)
    • PSY 313 Sensation and Perception
    • PSY 316 Cognitive Psychology
    • PSY 360 Biopsychology
• Foundational Influences on Human Behavior
  • Take at least 1 of the following courses (3 credit hours)
• Human Development
  • Take at least 1 of the following courses (3 credit hours)
    • PSY 321 Infancy and Childhood
    • PSY 322 Adolescent Development
    • PSY 324 Adult Years and the Aging Process
• Counseling and Clinical Applications
  • Take at least 1 of the following courses (3 credit hours)
    • PSY 327 Psychology of Death
    • PSY 328 Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • PSY 411 Foundations of Counseling and Counseling Theories
    • PSY 412 Clinical Helping Skills
    • PSY 414 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Open Electives
  • Take four courses of electives (12 credit hours)

Electives can include unused choices from above categories, any psychology course at or above the 300 level, and any one of the courses below:

• BA 307 Introduction to Management to Management and Organizational Behavior
• EXSC 350 Sport and Exercise Psychology
• PSCI 333 Political Psychology

Psychology Organizations

The psychology department has two organizations devoted to students interested in psychology-related issues. The Psychology Club offers you a chance to explore areas of psychology outside the classroom. Meetings generally include guest speakers, group discussions, volunteer work in the community, and a chance for interaction with Shenandoah alumni. Psi Chi is the international honor society that recognizes psychology majors and minors with outstanding academic records.

Psi Chi International Honor Society

Psi Chi, the International Honor Society for Psychology, was founded in 1929 to promote excellence in scholarship and the advancement of psychology as a science. Today, over 1,000 senior colleges and universities, including Shenandoah University, have active chapters of Psi Chi, composed of graduate and undergraduate students pursuing psychology as their major. Membership in Psi Chi is based on student academic performance, and therefore is by invitation only.

Psychology Club

The Shenandoah University Psychology Club was established in 2001 to create a forum for students to discuss psychological issues, learn about the various fields of study and careers within psychology and help the community. Activities include guest speakers, group discussions on selected topics, community service projects and fundraisers.

Join the Honors Program

The Honors Program is a multidisciplinary Honors Program for students who are curious, creative, self-motivated, and eager to engage in their education and community.

Not only do Honors Program students partake in honors courses that emphasize collaboration, service, and communication, but they will also have the opportunity to develop aspects of the program based on their own interests and goals. By participating in the Honors Program you will acquire the tools, knowledge and experiences necessary to make meaningful contributions to your community – whether it be globally, locally, or specific to your life’s work. You will have access to unique courses, exciting experiences and a community of peers and faculty who never stop asking questions and striving for excellence.

Study Abroad

Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks. You will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.

Related Programs

Students interested in this program should also look into these other majors, graduate degrees, minors, and certificates.

All majors within the College of Arts & Sciences require students to complete a minor in the program of their choice at Shenandoah.

These minors complement this program well:

• Public Health
• Criminal Justice
• Sociology
• Gender & Women’s Studies
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Political Science
• Religion
• Business

Continue your education by earning a graduate degree:

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Occupational Therapy

Students wishing to obtain careers in academia, counseling or clinical work, pharmacology or other professions requiring a license will need a graduate degree. Completing a graduate program is a huge investment, both in time and money. A master’s degree typically can be achieved in 2-3 years, whereas a Ph.D. degree will take a minimum of 4 years, with the average program being 5-6 years.