PSYCHOLOGY

Marston Hall
206-281-2918
spu.edu/psychology

Learn more about the School of Psychology, Family, and Community.

The science of psychology explores the nature and causes of behavior, feelings, and thoughts, as well as effective ways to maintain psychological and social health. Modern psychology constantly changes as discoveries reveal new understandings, new research possibilities, and new applications to the human condition.

BA in Psychology

Psychology provides an excellent background for careers in counseling, teaching, social service, medicine, nursing, law, business, pastoral ministry, and many other areas of work where interpersonal understanding and skills are needed. Additionally, Seattle Pacific's Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program allows students to obtain a double major, thereby broadening career opportunities.

BS in Psychology

Our more comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Psychology program combines behavioral and natural sciences and is particularly relevant for students with interests in the more experimental and laboratory side of psychology. The BS program also prepares students for further study and careers in fields such as behavioral neurobiology, health psychology, and behavioral medicine, and it is an effective major for premedicine students.

Seattle Pacific University’s location in an urban area provides students with opportunities to gain field experiences in mental health clinics, social-service agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, and in the business world. An internship coordinator is available to ensure a match between preparation, abilities, and interests of the student and the demands of the field experience. Teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and less formal opportunities to work with psychology faculty on research projects are available to interested and qualified students.

The Psychology program at SPU endeavors to accomplish four goals:

• To provide students with solid academic and experiential grounding in the theory, research, and practice of the field of psychology.
• To prepare and inspire able and motivated students to enter and contribute to the field of psychology.
• To nurture students toward valuing themselves and others as persons of worth, created in God’s image.
• To empower students to act in this world. That is, actively celebrating God’s human and nonhuman creation, actively showing mercy and compassion to the vulnerable, and actively challenging and changing aspects of society that deny or denigrate persons.

Admission to the Major or Minor
To qualify for admission to the Psychology major, a student must have a 2.5 minimum GPA and apply through the Psychology Department after successfully completing "PSY 1180 General Psychology."

Application to this program may be made through the Major or Minor Application form (PDF). A student must complete the major or minor requirements in effect when the student is admitted to the major or minor.

Students completing a major or minor in psychology should note the following:

• Students must apply for and be accepted into the Psychology major before registering for PSY/SOC 2360 "Introduction to Statistics."
• Students registering late are not guaranteed space in any course, regardless of their class standing (e.g., graduating senior).

Need to know when a course is being offered? Check the 2014-15 Time Schedule.

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