Psychology is a relatively new science that deals with age-old questions: namely, the way human beings and other living creatures behave and the reasons for their behavior. Like other fields, psychology is organized into subject-matter areas, each with its own methods of study and focus of concern. Some areas include abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, educational psychology, developmental psychology, learning and behavior analysis, social psychology, personality, and physiological psychology.

1. What will I learn in psychology?

Answer: Because psychology is the study of behavior, you will learn a wide array of information about humans, their behavior in different settings and environments, and abnormal behavior.  Further, you will learn skills such as oral and written communication, interpersonal interaction, problem solving, and critical thinking. 

2. Who will be my psychology professors?

Answer: You will be taught by professors committed to teaching.  At many universities, your teachers are graduate students; at YSU, your teachers are Ph.D. level professors.  The 13+ members of the psychology faculty have diversified professional backgrounds and are well-qualified to teach both general and specific courses.

3. Are there any special characteristics I need to be a psychology major?

Answer: Our psychology majors are very diverse, and there really isn’t a “profile” that describes them.  Because psychology is such a diverse field with multiple subdisciplines, it is only natural that our students would enter the major equally diverse!

4. What can I do with a degree in psychology?

Answer: There are many things you can do with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  People with psychology degrees often work in social services (such as Department of Family and Children or Medicaid) as case managers, in psychiatric facilities as group home managers or psychiatric technicians, or in businesses as personnel coordinators.

You can also elect to enter graduate school in a number of fields to get a Master’s or Doctoral degree in psychology.  People with graduate degrees in psychology and related fields typically work as social workers, counselors, therapists, research associates, school psychologists, or college professors.

5. How do I prepare for graduate school in psychology?

Answer: Students considering graduate work in psychology should be especially well prepared in statistics and research methodology and are strongly encouraged to take Advanced Statistical Methods in Psychology (PSYCH 3724).  Furthermore, taking additional classes in your area of interest (i.e., additional development courses, psychological measurement, or applied behavior analysis) will better prepare you for graduate school.

Here are some more suggestions and resources for preparing for graduate work in psychology:

• Participate in research with a faculty member
• Inquire about current research being conducted by faculty in your area of interest
• Become an active member of Psi Chi
• Begin researching graduate programs no later than your junior year (Visit Gradschools.com for more information)
• Begin preparing for the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) no later than your junior year.