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Study Psychology

Explore the diversity of the human experience. Test the boundary between nature and nurture and discover how understanding psychology can help people thrive.

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

Major

124

4 Years

Salem Campus

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Our Psychology Major & Minor

Study the motivations, emotions, and cognitive processes that drive human actions. Explore both the social and natural sciences to gain a grasp of modern views on psychology. Our program prepares students for a variety of careers in a rapidly changing job market.

Why choose Psychology at Willamette?

  • Prepare for the future. All psychology majors must complete a Senior Experience, which involves completing a senior internship and advanced senior seminar on one of many rotating topics. Our students also complete a Professional and Career Planning sequence to give them practical tools to help them prepare for life after Willamette.

  • Application of our coursework. Our internship program provides a unique opportunity for students to apply their coursework in the real world through research or fieldwork. Our field interns have worked with survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence, victims of crime, children in the child welfare system, preschoolers and infants in at-risk families, special needs individuals, as part of law enforcement agencies, and in counseling offices at schools. 

  • A scientific approach. Our students gain a deep understanding of psychology through a liberal arts lens while engaging in the scientific study of human behavior. They are able to examine the many subdisciplines in psychology through an array of course options.

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Alumni Stories

Our alumni have taken advantage of the events and connections offered at Willamette to jumpstart their careers. They are pursuing a variety of careers in psychology, working with both adults and youths. Some have even applied the skills gained from a psychology program to diverse career options.

  • Hayley Freedman ’09

    Willamette student's commitment to global citizenship brings life-saving care to East Africa
    Hayley Freedman ’09, inspired by transformative courses and faculty at Willamette, now helps communities in East Africa access cancer treatment as a Program Manager at the American Cancer Society, driven by her commitment to global health and personal experiences.

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  • Portrait of a smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a light blue, striped shirt over a white top.

    Gale Lucas ’05

    Gale Lucas ’05 Furthers the Field of Human Interaction Research
    Now a research assistant professor at USC, Gale Lucas ’05 found her passion for psychology at Willamette. She conducted groundbreaking research on human interaction with technology, including virtual humans, and exploring innovative ways to reduce workplace stress through technology.

Curriculum

Our psychology major focuses on building a foundation in research methods and analysis. You will also enhance your studies by delving into specific areas of psychology such as developmental psychology, animal cognition and behavior, and cognitive neuroscience. Learn about human behaviors in the context of their social, cultural, and physical environments.

  • PSYC 332 Personality Psychology

    Explore the major approaches to studying human personality and discover how traditional theories relate to modern research. Engage in assignments that promote self-reflection and deep analysis of fascinating course content.

  • PSYC 337 Diagnosis of “Abnormal” Child and Adolescent Behavior

    Dive into the world of psychological diagnosis and explore the scientific evidence behind the DSM's reliability and validity, especially for children and young adults. Understand the concepts of "abnormality" and mental illness, and evaluate the DSM's effectiveness through in-depth analysis of various disorders and their symptoms.

Program Requirements

Our Psychology major requires 44 semester hours to complete the degree.

Students pursuing a Psychology minor will need to complete 20 semester hours in Psychology.

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Admissions Information

Our Psychology program is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

Willamette University is committed to supporting Psychology majors with generous merit scholarships and financial aid. There is no separate application required for these scholarships. All admitted undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships, starting at $26,000 per year. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, taking into account cumulative GPA and SAT or ACT scores, if provided.

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FAQs

Willamette University

Psychology