Psychology is defined as “the science of behavior and mental processes, and the application of research findings to the solution of problems.” This definition encompasses an enormous number of specialty areas, and psychologists are the most diverse group of people in our society to share the same title. The core goals of the Psychology Department are:

• CONTENT: to acquire a degree of mastery of both factual and conceptual knowledge in several areas of psychology.

• THINKING SKILLS: To become habitually inquisitive, trustful of reason, and honest in facing personal biases; to actively evaluate knowledge and ideas.

• SELF-EXPRESSION: to become competent and confident in the oral and written skills needed to speak and write with facility and sophistication about psychological issues and research.

• THE METHODOLOGY OF PSYCHOLOGY: to acquire the ability to use the scientific method to generate and answer significant questions in an ethical manner, to demonstrate quantitative literacy, and to become increasingly independent in posing questions and pursuing answers through several research strategies.

• PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIETY: to understand the nature of the complex relationship between psychological inquiry and social policy; to think critically about how the results of psychological research are used and how they might be used in the future.

• HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: To understand and be able to evaluate critically the diversity of viewpoints about human nature and behavior represented over the course of psychology's history.

Requirements for the Major and Minor: In the spring of 2004 we established new requirements for the major and minor. Although we recommend that all majors and minors immediately follow the new requirements whenever possible, students graduating in 2007 or earlier may choose whether to follow the old or the new requirements. Beginning with the Class of 2008, all majors and minors must follow the new requirements.

Off-Campus Study: Psychology majors and minors considering taking courses at other campuses, or abroad, should be aware that it is difficult to meet our Psychology 201 and 202 requirements at other schools. Because both courses combine research methods and statistics, most off campus statistics courses do not substitute for either requirement. This means you should plan to take Psychology 201 and 202 at Wabash. Permission to spend the junior year abroad requires completion of Psychology 201 and 202 prior to going off campus.