Students frequently
have questions about the psychology major that are not addressed
in the Undergraduate Academic Catalog ("The Catalog").
The information provided in this handout addresses some of the more
frequently asked questions about an undergraduate major in the behavioral
sciences. This should not be viewed as a replacement to The Catalog;
please continue to refer to The Catalog for important information
about your degree.
Why should I
major in a behavioral science?
A degree in
psychology or sociology will prepare you for work in a variety of
disciplines. Behavioral science majors learn how people perceive,
think, and behave. While a majority of behavioral science majors
at Northwest want to work as counselors or go on to graduate school
to earn a masters degree or doctorate, others will work in the criminal
justice system, or as teachers, engineers, business or personnel
managers, physician assistants, radiologists, nurses, environmental
psychologists, and lawyers. Job performance in each of these professions
is facilitated by the ability to explain, predict, and modify behavior
and requires good listening and communication skills, all of which
you will acquire as a behavioral science major at Northwest.
What courses
should I take and when should I take them?
When registering
for classes keep in mind you need to complete 30 hours
of coursework per year to be able to move to the next academic
class, but you need 124 hours to graduate. This means you should
take, on average, 15 hours per semester with an extra hour in
four semesters to meet the graduation requirements.
Psychology
majors must take General Psychology (08-103)
before taking any other psychology course. Sociology majors
must take General Sociology (35-101)
before taking any other sociology course. Additionally,
it is recommended that Psychology majors take General Sociology
as their social science general education requirement, and Sociology
majors should take General Psychology as their general education
behavioral science.
All psychology
majors must complete their general education core requirements
before registering for psychology
courses with the number 234 or above.
In cooperation with the Advisement Assistance Office at Northwest, you can find our recommendations for your four year plan
Does the department
offer scholarships?
The Department
of Psychology, Sociology, & Counseling awards several scholarships
to Department majors each year.
The scholarships range in value from $100 - $400.
The deadline
for Scholarship applications is usually December 1st.
The scholarships are then awarded at the Honors Day Luncheon in
April. Contact your advisor for more information about the scholarships
and to determine whether you are eligible for a scholarship.
