The Westminster psychology major is designed to prepare students with diverse interests and ambitions for careers and graduate programs in psychology and related fields. Completing the required courses, senior studies work, and internship experiences provide students with the background needed to begin careers at the bachelor’s level as well as the background needed to enter graduate and professional programs. The psychology faculty is the best source of advise for tailoring an optimal curriculum for each individual, however, some students with particular interests find it useful to have guidelines to help them select and sequence courses within the major. The following advisement tracks can assist students in selecting and sequencing options among the required and elective courses within the psychology major.

The Developmental Psychology Track:

This track focuses on courses in human development, and especially in child development.  Potential career directions for people prepared in developmental psychology include  early childhood interventions, juvenile rehabilitation, speech therapy and education support. This track prepares students for the advanced training that is required to practice as a child psychologist, school psychologist or speech therapist. Students who wish to teach in public school must be certified to do so either through undergraduate teacher preparation (Education Major) or through a post graduate teacher certification program.

Clinical/Counseling Psychology Track:

This track prepares students for post-graduate training in clinical or counseling psychology, social work, and supervised therapy settings. Students who begin work immediately following graduation are employed in group homes, day treatment facilities, hospitals and community agencies. Advanced training is required for the private practice of Psychology.

Social/Organizational Psychology Track:

Students who wish to work in business, personnel, public relations or social service administration should take the courses in this track. It also prepares students well for graduate study in social psychology, the Masters of Business Administration, or law school. Students who are interested in combining psychology and business courses should consider the interdisciplinary major Psychology-Human Resources.

Research/Experimental Psychology Track:

This track is recommended for students who are interested in the science of psychology. Graduates are employed in research laboratories, medical and educational settings, and web development companies. This track prepares students well for graduate training in a variety of areas of psychology and employment that requires the application of psychology. Students specifically interested in cognitive neuroscience should consider the interdisciplinary Neuroscience major. Students who choose psychology as a preparation for medical school should follow this advising track with some additional natural and physical science courses or the Neuroscience major.