Incoming Students

Getting Started in Psychology

Thinking about pursing psychology at WWU?

The Department of Psychology offers three degree tracks: psychology, BS; behavioral neuroscience, BS; and human development--elementary, BAE (available to Elementary Education students). All three programs are highly impacted, meaning the number of students wishing to declare exceeds the space available.

APPLICATION

To learn more about applying to the behavioral neuroscience major, please visit: https://wp.wwu.edu/bnsprogram/major-application-2/

Prerequisites for psychology or human development include:

Completion (including current class enrollment) of at least 90 credits;
Completion of at least 20 PSY credits (with a C- or better) by the end of the current quarter, including completion of PSY 101 and PSY 203*, and completion/current enrollment in two courses from PSY 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250, or transfer credit for those courses as indicated on the Transfer Equivalency Report. At least 5 200-level PSY credits taken at Western;
Achieved a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher. In the absence of a Western GPA, a GPA of 2.70 or higher from an equivalent four-year institution (based on at least 12 credits) or a cumulative GPA from a completed Associates degree may substitute for the Western GPA. A psych GPA (based on an average of two or more 200-level major-required psych courses*) may substitute for a cumulative GPA.

* Exception for current enrollment in PSY 203 sections available to most transfer students. See Major Application Exception Form.

Per the pre-reqs, no student begins their time at WWU declared in the psychology/HD major. Rather, they will declare a Psychology Interest, which--in combination with completion of a General Psychology course*--will provide access to 200-level PSY courses. *44+ completed credits also required to enroll in PSY 203 Research Methods. Once a student fulfills major application requirements, they can apply during weeks 1-3 of fall, winter, and spring quarter. More application process details will be made available on the Psychology Interest Canvas Course and through bi-quarterly Major Application Info Sessions.

To review the upcoming application schedule and/or review past acceptance data, please visit: https://chss.wwu.edu/psychology/major-application-schedule-past-acceptance

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

As a major, psychology is not linear. This means that moving from graduation into the job market will require networking and, in some cases, additional education. sample careers include, but are not limited to:

Want to speak with an advisor? Book an advising appointment or email PsychAdvising@wwu.edu

Apply to WWU Today

Thinking about pursing psychology at WWU?

APPLICATION

To learn more about applying to the behavioral neuroscience major, please visit: https://wp.wwu.edu/bnsprogram/major-application-2/

Prerequisites for psychology or human development include:

Completion (including current class enrollment) of at least 90 credits;
Completion of at least 20 PSY credits (with a C- or better) by the end of the current quarter, including completion of PSY 101 and PSY 203*, and completion/current enrollment in two courses from PSY 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250, or transfer credit for those courses as indicated on the Transfer Equivalency Report. At least 5 200-level PSY credits taken at Western;
Achieved a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher. In the absence of a Western GPA, a GPA of 2.70 or higher from an equivalent four-year institution (based on at least 12 credits) or a cumulative GPA from a completed Associates degree may substitute for the Western GPA. A psych GPA (based on an average of two or more 200-level major-required psych courses*) may substitute for a cumulative GPA.

* Exception for current enrollment in PSY 203 sections available to most transfer students. See Major Application Exception Form.

Once a student fulfills major application prerequisites, they can apply during weeks 1-3 of fall, winter, and spring quarter. More application process details will be made available on the Psychology Interest Canvas Course and through bi-quarterly Major Application Info Sessions.

To review the upcoming application schedule and/or review past acceptance data, please visit: https://chss.wwu.edu/psychology/major-application-schedule-past-acceptance

SCHEDULES

For incoming Freshman this means that the first two years at WWU will focus primarily on general requirements (GURs). We encourage first-year students to explore PSY 101, 116, and 119 to begin diving into psychology courses while also fulfilling GURs. Once PSY 101, or an equivalent, has been completed then PSY 210-250 courses will become available to students with a declared Psychology Interest. PSY 101 and 44+ completed credits serve as the pre-req for PSY 203 Research Methods. Psychology advisors recommend including one psych course each quarter, where possible, during the first two years at WWU. This will ensure students are on the right track for major application going into their third year.

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

Want to speak with an advisor? Book an advising appointment or email PsychAdvising@wwu.edu

Apply to WWU Today

Thinking about transferring to WWU Psychology?

APPLICATION

To learn more about applying to the behavioral neuroscience major, please visit: https://wp.wwu.edu/bnsprogram/major-application-2/

Prerequisites for psychology or human development include:

Completion (including current class enrollment) of at least 90 credits;
Completion of at least 20 PSY credits (with a C- or better) by the end of the current quarter, including completion of PSY 101 and PSY 203*, and completion/current enrollment in two courses from PSY 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250, or transfer credit for those courses as indicated on the Transfer Equivalency Report. At least 5 200-level PSY credits taken at Western;
Achieved a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher. In the absence of a Western GPA, a GPA of 2.70 or higher from an equivalent four-year institution (based on at least 12 credits) or a cumulative GPA from a completed Associates degree may substitute for the Western GPA. A psych GPA (based on an average of two or more 200-level major-required psych courses*) may substitute for a cumulative GPA.

* Exception for current enrollment in PSY 203 sections available to most transfer students. See Major Application Exception Form.

For incoming transfer students, we first want to determine if PSY 203 Research Methods is still needed. Often students transferring in with a DTA/AA degree can apply to the psychology/HD major their first or second quarter at WWU. Once a student fulfills major application prerequisites, they can apply during weeks 1-3 of fall, winter, and spring quarter. More application process details will be made available on the Psychology Interest Canvas Course and through bi-quarterly Major Application Info Sessions.

To review the upcoming application schedule and/or review past acceptance data, please visit: https://chss.wwu.edu/psychology/major-application-schedule-past-acceptance

SCHEDULES

Psychology advisors recommend taking a maximum of two 200-level psych courses at a time. The third course each quarter can be in an outside area of interest, preferably at the 300- or 400-level.

Some students choose to pair a minor with their psychology studies. This is an excellent way to 1) earn the required upper-division credits the psychology major will not fulfill and 2) expand the lens through which psychology can/will be applied. Please explore possible minors HERE.

Alternatively, other students to take upper-division courses in a few different disciplines to experience multiple departments/programs of study. Please explore easier to access 300- and 400-level courses HERE.

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

Want to speak with an advisor? Book an advising appointment or email PsychAdvising@wwu.edu

Apply to WWU Today

Since Psychology upper-division courses are major restricted, international students will want to email Rochelle (robins63@wwu.edu):

an introduction (name, W#, home institution, and anticipated length of study at WWU)
a copy of your unofficial transcript (in English; if English transcript is unavailable, a list of all completed Psychology course titles)
a list of WWU Psych courses they hope to take

This will enable Rochelle to contact faculty regarding override requests/exceptions to ensure international and exchange students gain access to some worthwhile psych study during their time at Western.

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Occasionally, students need to take one or two quarters away from Western. This is allowed and easily supported. That said, it is highly important to let students know that certain requirements must be fulfilled before they are able to reinstate and register at WWU. Specifically:

If a student has a break of attendance, except for summer quarter, they will need to submit a Returning Student Application and submit a $70 application fee.
Returning Student Application: Returning Students | Admissions | Western Washington University (wwu.edu)
Returning students need to submit the Returning Student Application in order to 1) have an active student record, so that 2) they can register for classes. Yes, there are priority dates for submitting this application, but the Registrar does accept these up until the Friday prior to the start of the term. Meeting priority deadlines is encouraged to make sure returning students are setup to register during Phase I registration. It is a much simpler and non-competitive application, mostly just to update the student’s records.
If a student was registered for courses and took seats in classes for the first two days of a quarter and then dropped them, they do not need to complete a returning student application. There are also nuances such as students who attended one campus and then are moving to another program/campus they will have apply as a transfer student.
WWU policy is to remove former students returning (FSR) from their major if they are gone for two or more quarters, since catalog requirements change. Students need to declare again under the new catalog requirements, but the Registrar’s Office can make exceptions and re-declare them under the original catalog for various reasons, in consultation with the specific departments. This policy can be difficult for students that need to register upon their return and re-declaring is not an instantaneous process.
- In Psychology/HD, if a student has been accepted to the major, they are reinstated upon return; no reapplication required.
If a student is academically dismissed, they need to go through the reinstatement process and will need to declare in a major again, regardless of amount of time away. The Academic Advising Center advisors work directly with students on their plans to return and connect with the department of their intended major.
- In Psychology/HD, if a student has been accepted to the major and they are academically dismissed, their major reinstatement will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Students who intend to earn an additional undergraduate degree in Psychology should apply for post-bacc status. If a student instead hopes to complete prerequisites for graduate program application, they will want to apply for non-degree seeking status (non-matriculated).

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Students who need to complete prerequisites for graduate program application should apply for non-degree seeking status (non-matriculated). Students who instead plan to earn an additional undergraduate degree in Psychology should apply for post-bacc status.

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With successful completing of PSY 101, and a psych interest or minor declared, Fairhaven students have access to 200-level PSY courses. To access 300-level PSY courses, however, a Fairhaven student must apply and be accepted to the psychology major.

In the past, Fairhaven has offered a 305-equivalent course, which enabled students to access PSY 300-levels without declaring. That course is no longer available, and PSY 305 remains the only pre-req satisfier for all 300-level psychology courses. PSY 305, without exception, is only available to declared psych/HD majors.

If, together with your Fairhaven advisor, you have included 300-level PSY courses in your plan of study (and you do not intend to major in psych), you will need to replace those desired courses with offerings in a discipline with non-major access, like Sociology, WGSS, etc.

If additional questions arise, please email psychadvising@wwu.edu.