Psychology

Charles A. Cannon College of Arts and Sciences

In this Section

ABOUT PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is one of the most popular majors at Wingate. Through our curriculum students are exposed to a variety of topics and fields, preparing students for careers or graduate school. Students have required research methods and statistics courses to ensure they are critical consumers of psychological research and well-prepared should they choose to pursue graduate education. Students looking to gain additional preparation for graduate school often take the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on independent research studies, putting theories into practice. Internships also allow students to try out a psychology-related career, while earning course credit along the way.

With a major in psychology, you’ll be exposed to fields common in graduate schools including:

Clinical psychology
Cognitive psychology
Counseling psychology
Developmental psychology
Health and Performance psychology
Personality Psychology
Physiological psychology
Social psychology

Psychology Major Map

First Year

Category	To Do
Courses	Take PSYC 101, MATH 209 & SOC 101 Make progress towards General Education course requirements Meet with your Psychology faculty advisor to develop course plan for semesters 2 and 3
Opportunities	Connect with the Psychology Club Explore other clubs and service organizations on campus Attend tutoring or supplemental instruction (SI) sessions for Psychology and other courses
Research	Meet with your Success Coach or academic advisor to get connected on campus Meet with Psychology faculty through campus events
EXPLORATION	Take the FOCUS2 Inventory offered through Career Services Through clubs, peer tutoring/SI and Gateway, talk with upper class students about their career plans

Second Year

Category	To Do
Courses	Take PSYC 210 Explore an elective that might interest you as a possible minor or double major (SOC, MARK, HS, BIO, EXER are common)
Opportunities	Consider serving as a peer mentor for Gateway 101 or as a peer tutor/SI. Explore on-campus job opportunities Consider getting more involved with a club or organization, perhaps keep a leadership position in mind
Research	Check out the W'Engage seminar offerings Are you interesting in studying abroad? If so, get in touch with International Programs
Exploration	Begin to research possible positions in Psychology that interest you Attend Lyceums offered by Career Services

Third Year

Category	To Do
Courses	Take PSYC 307 Take Psychology electives that fulfill the four tracks Take additional electives outside of Psychology or towards your minor
Opportunities	Pursue paid or volunteer experience in psychology-related fields Is an internship right for you? Consider enrolling in a service-learning course Where else can you plug in on campus?
Research	Consider signing up for a W'International course to learn more about another culture and travel in May or Janurary Consider joining an undergraduate research lab Partner with a faculty member and apply for Reeves Summer Research Grant
Exploration	Discuss career/graduate school plans with faculty advisor Start researching possible graduate school programs or specific positions that interest you If needed, start preparing for the GRE or MAT (if applicable)

Fourth Year

Category	To Do
Courses	Take GATE 301, PSYC 497 (Exit Exam) and remaining Psychology electives Meet with your faculty advisor and review NaviGate to ensure you are on track for graduation
Opportunities	Pursue a leadership role in a campus organization You have knowledge, skills, and connections, how can you put them to use? What experiences do you want to have before you graduate?
Research	Look for opportunities to present research findings, whether on-campus or at a regional or national conferences Present your PSYC 307 or other research project at the Wellspring Symposium
Exploration	How is that internship going? Like the work? Develop a personal statement, cover letter, and resume with Career Services If applicable, take the GRE or MAT Cultivate your list of graduate school programs or employers

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

If you declare a major in psychology, learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Through internship opportunities, independent and collaborative research opportunities, and W’International study abroad opportunities, students have ample opportunity to incorporate concepts discussed in the classroom with real world experiences.

Recent Wingate students have independently researched such topics as body image and self-esteem, help-seeking behaviors, false memories, parental modeling, and growth mindsets, among many others. Students have also worked closely with faculty on projects such as purpose formation in adolescent females, food choice and cognitive biases, social comparison in children, and the efficacy of academic interventions. Multiple psychology majors have had their research funded by Reeves Summer Research grants. This program provides students with a stipend and funding to cover research costs and presenting at a national conference.

Psychology faculty and students have also recently traveled to Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands through the W’International program to further immerse students in psychological concepts while cultivating their global citizenship. Majors are also encouraged to get involved in Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.

While a graduate degree and professional license are required for many fields of psychology, you can still earn up to three additional academic credit hours by completing an internship. Wingate students gain valuable hands-on experience by interning in settings such as:

Daycare centers
Children’s hospitals
Local nursing homes
Local schools
Shelters for victims of domestic violence

Psychology Overview

Most Psychology majors at Wingate pursue a Bachelor of Science degree over the Bachelor of Arts, but what's the difference?

The Bachelor of Science degree requires additional credit hours in math or lab science courses. This option prepares students to pursue scientific research and its the predominant option for those Psychology majors interested in graduate school.

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires additional credit hours in intermediate-level foreign language courses. Students who plan to work with diverse populations and might utilize foreign language skills might prefer this option.

Check out the Honors College

Psychology Snapshot

Major Overview

Required Courses

General Psychology

Psychological Statistics

Research Methods

TRACKS

Choose two from each track and two more electives from any category.

Developmental	Counseling/Clinical	Social/Applied	Cognitive
Child Psych	Psychopathologies	Social Psych	Learning & Memory
Adolescent Psych	Intro to Counseling	Personality	Sensation & Perception
Adulthood & Aging	Psychotherapy	Health Psych	Physiological Psych
Psych of Women	Psych Testing	Performance Psych	Cognitive Psych
Social Development		Intimate Relationships

Experiential Learning Course Opportunities

PSYC 490: Research Experience

PSYC 499: Internship in Psychology

PSYC 475: Special Topics Courses

Minor Overview

Step 1: General Psychology
Step 2: Choose 1 from each track and 1 more elective from any category

TRACKS

Developmental	Counseling/Clinical	Social/Applied	Cognitive
Child Psych	Psychopathologies	Social Psych	Learning & Memory
Adolescent Psych	Intro to Counseling	Personality	Sensation & Perception
Adulthood & Aging	Psychotherapy	Health Psych	Physiological Psych
Psych of Women	Psych Testing	Performance Psych	Cognitive Psych
Social Development		Intimate Relationships

Career Opportunities

Wingate psychology graduates have gone on to careers in a variety of fields. While many opt to continue to graduate school, others choose to enter fields such as sales, marketing and human resources upon graduation. Recent graduates pursuing graduate education have gone on to programs to become:

Clinical psychologists
Licensed counselors
Marriage and Family therapists
High school and college counselors
Social workers
Occupational therapists
Social psychologists

For those looking to enter the workforce upon graduation, recent graduates have become:

Alcohol and drug abuse assistance coordinators
Market research analysts
Human resources managers
Recreational therapists
Psychiatric technicians
Behavioral technicians
Rehabilitation specialists

Interested in going to graduate school or professional school? Then working in a research lab might be for you. Check out the Psychology Department's Research Labs here.

Take your degree further...

A Psychology degree can be a perfect springboard to these graduate programs:

An artistic drawing of a brain in bright color.

Being a Psychology major and Addiction Counseling minor at Wingate has connected me to many knowledgeable people in the field of psychology. Wingate provided me with the opportunity to jump headfirst into research with the P.U.P.P.Y. Lab. As a member of the Honors College, I have met so many devoted and like-minded students who share a passion for helping others. I’m proud to be a Bulldog!

Ferran Parks
Class of 2028

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Questions?

Dr. Matt Davis
(704) 233-8158
m.davis@wingate.edu

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