Experimental psychologists use scientific methods to collect data and perform research that is integral to our understanding of psychological phenomena—from learning—to cognitive processes. Graduate-level research projects combined with discussion-rich courses and an abundance of clubs and internships, allow Western Psychology graduates to stand out from the pack when pursuing advanced degrees and competitive career fields.
Program Overview
Turn your passion for psychology into action.
The Experimental Psychology emphasis provides you with a comprehensive background in the biological bases of behavior and prepares you for graduate studies in experimental psychology or the neurosciences. Most graduate programs look for research experience in addition to strong GPAs and a passion for the field of psychology. At Western Colorado University, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your own graduate-level research projects and receive one-on-one faculty support throughout the process.
Through a combination of discussion-rich courses and an abundance of clubs and internship opportunities, your experience at Western will ensure that you are well-prepared to work towards an advanced degree or pursue a meaningful career as a school psychologist, social worker or researcher.
Understanding human behavior
Psychology students research topics including the biological bases of behavior, human development, sensation, perception, intelligence, cognition, language, states of consciousness, learning, memory and much more.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
A minimum of 40 credits is required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 200 | Statistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
| PSY 210 | History of Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 301 | Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 345 | Biological Psychology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| Psychology Electives | 9 | |
| Select four of the following: | 12-13 | |
PSY 335 | Learning and Behavior | |
PSY 338 | Cognitive Psychology | |
PSY 361 | Industrial and Applied Psychology | |
PSY 369 | Health Psychology | |
PSY 380 | Evolutionary Psychology | |
PSY 437 | Behavioral Pharmacology | |
PSY 457 | Social Psychology | |
| Select one of the following capstone courses: | 3 | |
PSY 492 | Independent Study | |
PSY 498 | Capstone Seminar in Psychology | |
PSY 499 | Capstone Internship in Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 40-41 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following courses in the Psychology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: PSY 498 Capstone Seminar in Psychology, or PSY 499 Capstone Internship in Psychology (with a minimum grade of “C” ).
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 15 for 2021. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Board, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming freshman or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found here (click). Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western’s highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming freshmen.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- Active Minds: An advocacy group that provides mental health education.
- Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology.
- Psychology Club: A place to participate in discourse and activities that are psychological in nature.
- Research: Students can develop their own projects under faculty supervision or participate in internship activities. In you can envision a research project, then the Psychology program can help you create and execute it.
Experience in the field
Psychology majors work to gain field experience through direct, supervised contact with professionals in psychology and related fields. In addition to on-site responsibilities, students write a comprehensive paper integrating the field experience and psychological theory and later formally present the paper in an open forum.
Department Information
Behavioral & Social Sciences (BASS) Department
Department Chairperson
Greg Haase, Ph.D.Professor of Sociology, Department Chair of Behavioral & Social Sciences Department
Administrative Assistant
Patricia McCarthyBASS Administrative Assistant
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Kelley Hall 240
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231