Course Planning for the
Psychology Major
The Psychology degree is designed to help you obtain both a broad overview of psychology and build depth in an area especially interesting to you. To this end, the requirements for a psychology major provide a great deal of choice in designing an appropriate curriculum to meet your needs. The following tracks list recommended course selections for the most popular areas of interest among our majors:
- Clinical, Counseling and Social Work
- Criminal Justice and Law
- Education
- Human Resource Management, I/O and Business
- Neuroscience, Medicine and Health
If you have other career goals that are not represented by these tracks, see a psychology advisor to select a program that works for you.
Clinical, Counseling and Social Work
Many students seek a Psychology degree as preparation for careers in counseling and social work, including such occupations as adoption or substance-abuse counselor, caseworker for government agencies, crisis outreach worker, counselor for the elderly or special populations, or mental health worker. Our students have been quite successful at gaining employment in many local settings. In addition, our students have pursued graduate degrees, including locally in the MSW program at PSU's School of Social Welfare, Counseling Psychology at PSU's School of Education and Lewis & Clark College, and the PsyD program at George Fox College.
Recommended Courses:
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Psych 372 Introduction to Physiological Psych |
Psych 321 Introduction to Personality |
Psych 440 Clinical/Community Psychology |
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Psych 490 Cognition & Memory |
Psych 333 Abnormal Psychology |
Psych 445 Practicum |
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Psych 350 Social Psychology |
Psych 496 Cooperative Education Internship |
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Psych 412 Psychological Testing & Measurement |
In addition, students should consider courses related to their specific population of interest from Psych as well as other areas:
Child/Family: Psych 361, 464; Outside Psych: HD 301, 302, 350, 420, SOC 351, 362, 367
Elders: Psych 361, 363; Outside Psych: HD 305, SOC 356
Women: Psych 324; Outside Psych: W St 300, 316, 384, 402, 403
Multi-cultural: Outside Psych: CAC 300, 302, HD 350
Neuropsychology: Psych 384, 473, 492
Criminal Justice and Law
The study of human behavior is an ideal education for many legal professions. As a result, many students seek a Psychology degree who are interested in careers related to the court system upon graduation. A psychology degree also provides good preparation for law school.
Recommended Courses:
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Psych 470 Motivation |
Psych 321 Introduction to Personality |
Psych 445 Practicum |
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Psych 490 Cognition & Memory |
Psych 333 Abnormal Psychology |
Psych 496 Cooperative Internship |
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Psych 350 Social Psychology |
Students interested in legal professions should also consider courses, and perhaps a second major or minor, in Criminal Justice or Political Science. Students could also consider SOC 360, 361, 364, 367, 461.
Education
Psychology is an excellent background for educational professions including teaching, school psychology or guidance counseling. Many of our graduates have enrolled in the MIT program here at WSU Vancouver. In addition, our students have gone on to the School Psychology program at Lewis & Clark College and Central Washington University.
Recommended Courses:
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Psych 390 Operant Behavior |
Psych 350 Social Psychology |
Psych 328 Self Control |
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Psych 470 Motivation |
Psych 361 Principles of Development |
Psych 440 Clinical/Community Psych |
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Psych 490 Cognition & Memory |
Psych 363 Psychology of Aging |
Psych 492 Psychology of Language |
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Psych 412 Testing & Measurement |
Psych 445 Practicum |
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Psych 464 Behavior Disorders of Children and Adolescents |
Psych 496 Cooperative Education Internship |
Human Resource Management, Industrial/Organizational Psychology and
Business Related Careers
I/O Psychology provides an excellent background for people who are interested in business-related careers, or pursuing a graduate business degree, such as an MBA. I/O psychology is concerned with the relationships between people and their work environments, and especially how such environments can be improved. Here at WSU Vancouver we offer a certificate as well as a General Studies major in Personnel Psychology and Human Resource Management which may be of interest to people wishing to pursue a career in these areas.
Recommended Courses:
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Psych 384 Sensation & Perception |
Psych 350 Social Psychology |
Psych 306 Industrial Psychology |
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Psych 470 Motivation |
Psych 363 Psychology of Aging |
Psych 308 Organizational Psychology |
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Psych 490 Cognition & Memory |
Psych 412 Testing & Measurement |
Psych 309 Cultural Diversity in Organizations |
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Psych 466 Environmental Psychology |
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Psych 495 Practicum in Personnel Psychology |
Courses outside Psychology: MGT 301, 401, 450, HD 320, 406, 430, W St 315.
Neuroscience, Medical and Health Related Professions
Many students seek a Psychology degree as preparation for a career in health-related professions or graduate training in medicine or neuroscience. In addition to our other practicum and internship opportunities, students who are interested in pursuing graduate training in science or medicine have the opportunity to gain research experience in medical and neuroscience laboratories.
Recommended Courses:
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Psych 372 Introduction to Physiological Psych |
Psych 333 Abnormal Psychology |
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Psych 384 Sensation & Perception |
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Psych 390 Operant Behavior |
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Psych 470 Motivation |
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Psych 473 Advanced Physiological Psychology |