Minor in Psychology
The psychology department offers a minor that introduces students to the complexities of human behavior, hands-on exposure to working in a laboratory setting, and an introduction to understanding behavioral science data. The following courses fulfill the requirements for a minor in psychology. For more information about the Major in Psychology, learn more here
Minor Requirements
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mind, embracing all aspects of human experience. Topics include the anatomical and functional organization of the nervous system, consciousness, learning, memory, development, emotion, social interactions, psychopathology, and society and culture. This course surveys the methods and major findings of the various fields of psychology.
PSY 111 (General Psychology I) introduces the student to the cognitive, neurological, and biological aspects of psychology in addition to basic research methodologies.
PSY 112 (General Psychology II) covers the clinical/counseling, developmental, personality, and social aspects of psychology.
Students will gain a basic understanding of how to analyze and interpret quantitative statistical data. Students must take one of the following statistical courses:
- PSY 209. Statistics and Research Design I
An introduction to the science of human and animal behavior. This course surveys the methods and major findings of the various fields of psychology. The course covers the clinical, personality, and social aspects of psychology. - MAT 109. Statistics
Introduction to the appropriate methods for analyzing data and designing experiments. After a study of various measures of central tendency and dispersion, the course develops the basic principles of testing hypotheses, estimating parameters, and reaching decisions. - BUS 109. Managerial Statistics
Managerial statistics focuses on the use of statistical analysis to make fact-based decisions for business firms and other organizations. Topics taught include descriptive statistics, normal distributions, probabilities, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, and simple and multiple linear regression analysis. Data analysis techniques using Microsoft Excel are included. - ECN 215. Data Analysis
An introduction to research design, applied statistical methods, and writing in the discipline. Students study questionnaire design, sample selection, descriptive statistics, and hypothesis testing using a statistical software package, Stata. They also work in groups to design their own online survey and analyze the results. Finally, they learn about communicating and writing their results for both lay audiences and academic journals. Students are encouraged, though not required, to take MAT 109 or BUS 109 prior to taking ECN 215.
Student must take at least one psychology course that includes a lab component (not including PSY 209 or PSY 309). The following courses are frequently offered:
- PSY 210. Biopsychology
- PSY 302. Advanced Developmental Psychology
- PSY 305. Psychopharmacology
- PSY 313. Learning & Applied Behavioral Analysis
- PSY 316. Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSY 317. Sensation and Perception
- PSY 321. Experimental Social Psychology
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PSY 320. Health Psychology
Students must take at least two additional psychology courses beyond the general psych, statistics, and lab course requirements. These can be chosen from any of the psychology department courses. There is no lab requirement, though courses with a lab (including PSY 309) would also count for credit. Check out the course catalog for a full list of courses
Note: At least four of the six courses must have the PSY prefix and be completed at Washington College.