Psychology Major

Department of Psychology

OVERVIEW

Explore the complexities of the human mind and behavior. Learn why people think, feel and behave as they do. Whether your career interest is in applied psychology (counseling, industrial/organizational, legal, neuropsychology, forensic, sport or school psychology), or in a medical profession, scientific research or in teaching, psychology is a versatile major that will help you understand biological, psychological and social causes of behavior.

Baldwin Wallace's psychology major combines rigorous coursework with extensive research and community engagement opportunities. You'll explore the broad areas of human development, experimental psychology, applied psychology and human relations. Through elective courses, you will then personalize your major to align with your career interests.

In-Demand Career Field

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of psychologists is expected to grow at a rate of about 14 percent through the year 2028. This is considered much faster than average growth.

Why Employers Like Psychology Majors

The skills acquired in the study of psychology, such as analyzing data, communicating complex information and understanding human behavior, are highly valued by employers. You'll learn how to communicate thoughtfully, purposefully and clearly. This broad skill set will make you employable in a wide range of career fields.

Career Opportunities in Psychology

Healthcare
Law enforcement
Social work
Human resources
Marketing/sales
Laboratory research
Public relations
Law school
Advertising

CURRICULUM

Psychology is offered as a major and minor. The coursework provides a theoretical and empirical framework for your studies. You'll progress from learning the basics of psychology to gaining knowledge and skills that will enable you to analyze data, communicate complex information, and understand behavior and mental processes.

Gain Marketable Research Skills

A four-course sequence that includes semester-long courses in statistics, statistical analysis software, research methods and thesis provide an outstanding opportunity to gain advanced research skills. As part of your studies, you'll conduct original research that includes data collection and analysis, scientific writing and oral presentation.

View a full list of courses and course descriptions for the psychology major >

What You'll Learn

BW's psychology major prepares students to:

Develop ethically and socially responsible behaviors for work in professional settings.
Gain a meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.
Become knowledgeable about psychology, both theoretically and empirically, as it relates to human motivation, cognition, psychotherapy, neurophysiology and behavior.
Interpret, design and conduct psychological research.
Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena.

Affiliated 3+2 Social Work Program Leading to MSW

BW's affiliated social work program enables students to earn a bachelor's degree from BW and a master's degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University in only five years.

Earn Your Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)

BW’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) offers psychology program graduates an opportunity to earn a master’s degree in 24 months through a full-time cohort program. The CMHC program prepares students to become licensed professional counselors (LPC), working with clients to improve their mental health and well-being. Learn more.

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Small class sizes, individual attention and faculty mentoring are central to the psychology program. You'll learn from professors who hold doctorates in their subject areas and have decades of teaching experience.

Student Clubs and Organizations

PSI CHI Chapter (International Honor Society)

Members participate in chapter-sponsored research and service projects. They also travel to conferences to present their research and to build skills in professional development.

Psychology Club

Offering educational, professional and social opportunities, the Psychology Club helps students learn about a range of psychology-based topics and coordinates activities that include guest speakers, field trips and service.

Jacket Philanthropy Program

The BW Jacket Philanthropy Program is a course-based, service-learning program that engages students in volunteerism and the grant-making process. Courses are open to students of all majors, from first-year students to seniors. Courses have been offered in business, English, psychology and sociology.

Graduate-Level Research Opportunities

You'll learn in the classroom, then take that knowledge and apply it in a lab. You'll gain advanced skills and hands-on learning experiences comparable to those of a master's level program.

The quality of research through faculty-student collaboration and student thesis are outstanding. Many BW students have presented their research at professional conferences like the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science and the Society for Neuroscience. Other students have had their research published in scholarly journals.

At BW, you can participate in faculty-led research as early as your first year. The psychology department has facilities for human and non-human research, including:

Behavioral Science Lab

This lab utilizes animal models to better understand normal and disordered human behavior. Recent studies have focused on anxiety, anorexia, autism and drug addiction. Faculty researcher: Dr. Brian Thomas

Center for Psychological Science

The social, developmental and counseling psychology lab allows for computer research, video recording and the observation of human participants in research rooms equipped with one-way mirrors. Faculty-led projects have included social rejection, self-concept and child research. Faculty researchers: Dr. Stephanie Rothman, Dr. Deb Esty and Dr. Jennifer Perry

Health and Well-being Lab

Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), the health and well-being lab studies how to sustain well-being in the midst of chronic illness and psychopathology. The research team is currently conducting a study on the emotional benefits of health behaviors (e.g., eating fruits and vegetables, physical exercise) for adults with depressive and anxiety disorders. Faculty researcher: Dr. David Disabato

Internships and Field Experiences

BW partners with several organizations to provide psychology students with opportunities for internships, clinical field experiences and off-campus research. National and regional placement sites for students include research labs, hospitals, counseling and therapy facilities, nonprofit and community agencies, personnel offices and education centers.

Psychology Speaker Series

Harrington Lecture Series

The Harrington Visiting Professor series offers annual presentations by national and international experts. Past speakers have included Drs. Philip Zimbardo, Albert Bandura, Elizabeth Loftus, Walter Mischel, Anthony Marsella (BW alumnus), Robert Sternberg, David Buss, Daniel Schacter, Robert Sapolsky, Carol Tavris and Roy Baumeister, among others. Recent topics have included:

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People
Addiction: A Problem of Motivation, Free Will, or Self-Destructive Behavior?
Talking Up, Talking Down: The Power of Positive Speaking
How Mind and Brain Enable Self-Control

The Harrington Colloquium series offers monthly presentations by regional experts. Past speakers have included: Dr. Sandra Russ (CWRU), Dr. Eric Geyer (Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital), Dr. John Gunstad (KSU) and Dr. Frederick Frese (NEOUCOM). Recent topics have included:

Myth and Truths of Forensic Psychology
Recovery: Myths, Mountains and Miracles
Christmas Cookies and Alzheimer's Disease: How Obesity Hurts the Brain
ADHD Across the Lifespan
Creativity in Children and Adults

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Baldwin Wallace has long championed the success of its students. Evidence of this can be seen in the extraordinary achievements of its alumni spread throughout the United States and the world.

Aliyah Szojka '24

"Since graduating from BW, I have been attending Ohio University as part of the experimental psychology Ph.D. program. I am also a teaching assistant and a member of the Structure, Concepts, and Perception (SCOPE) Laboratory. My research focuses on investigating the processes of concept formation and categorization through mathematical and computational approaches to human cognition.

"The biggest contribution to my career trajectory was that BW inspired my curiosity to engage in psychology research. The professors were always passionate and enthusiastic. Courses such as Research Method and Thesis motivated me to continue seeking research opportunities. Through independent studies, I learned more advanced statistical analyses and programming skills that can be applied to psychology research projects. These opportunities cultivated my passion for psychology research and prepared me to be successful in a graduate program and as a researcher."

Jaxon Hart '20

"After graduation, I was accepted into a Ph.D. program in social psychology at Wayne State University where I work in a research lab aimed at understanding and preventing sexual violence.

"BW gave me many opportunities to get hands-on research experience, which helped me decide what career I wanted to pursue. Beyond the required research project as a psychology major, I was able to complete a senior thesis project, which made my graduate school applications much more competitive. Faculty were always willing to help students get the experience they needed, so I was also able to work on additional faculty-led projects. Overall, the psychology department's encouraging faculty, small class sizes, and exposure to empirical research set me up for success as a graduate student."