Psychology Program of Study

All psychology majors begin their study with introductory psychology.Additional coursework includes both survey courses and more specialized courses referred to as advanced laboratory courses, systems courses, and foundation courses.The goal of advanced laboratory courses is for students to become knowledgeable and proficient in scientific methods. The objective of systems courses is to familiarize students with the major theories of psychology. Finally, foundation courses strive to increase students' knowledge of the major content areas in psychology.

The Department's teaching philosophy and strategies emphasize the concept of active learning. The faculty believe that students learn best when they actively participate in their own learning.Our philosophy is captured in a Chinese proverb:

I hear, and I forget,

I see, and I remember,

I do, and I understand.

Related to the importance placed on active learning in psychology coursework at UWM, is the value placed on teaching important skills such as how to write and how to support arguments with data. In the process of learning about psychology, UWM psychology students learn invaluable skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

The Psychology curriculum emphasizes familiarity with the major theories of psychology and the methods used to develop these theories. While students are exposed to theory in every course in Psychology, Systems courses are specialized courses dealing with theories in specific subfield of psychology. To gain expertise in scientific methods, all psychology majors take three laboratory courses. The first (Psych 325, Research Methods in Psychology) teaches the basic techniques and ethical principles of research and introduces the research designs used in many psychological studies. The two advanced laboratory courses build upon this knowledge base by providing first-hand laboratory experience with research techniques in a particular area of psychology.

While building knowledge in psychological theories and scientific methods, students will also develop skills in writing and handling numerical data. Writing is a key component of most upper division courses. Students will also be trained in scientific writing as they write research reports in Research Methods in Psychology and the Advanced Laboratory courses required for the major. Students are also trained in 16 credits of required coursework to interpret data, and to understand probability statements, and they become familiar with a wide range of statistical procedures. Proficient writing and numerical literacy are both skills that are highly valued in many professions.

How to Declare a Major in Psychology

Complete Psych 101 and 210 with an average GPA of 2.62 (see Eligibility Table at bottom of this page).
Complete at least 15 university credits, but no more than 75, before declaring your major.
Complete the Declaration of Major form in the Psychology Department main office, Garland 224. No appointment is needed. To complete the form bring:
Your unofficial transcript (can download from PAWS).
Be prepared to identify a psychology faculty member to serve as your Psychology advisor. Choose a professor that you know or have taken a class from, or whose research interests appeal to you. A listing of faculty research and teaching interests can be found at: http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/psychology/undergrad/faculty_advisors.cfm

How to Declare a Minor in Psychology

Complete Psych 101.
Complete at least 45 university credits before declaring your minor
Complete the Declaration of Minor form in the Psychology Department main office, Garland 224. No appointment is needed. To complete the form bring:
Your unofficial transcript (can download from PAWS).
Be prepared to identify a psychology faculty member to serve as your Psychology advisor. Choose a professor that you know or have taken a class from, or whose research interests appeal to you. A listing of faculty research and teaching interests can be found at: http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/psychology/undergrad/faculty_advisors.cfm

Eligibility for Psychology 325

325 Eligibility Graph

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Psychology

Psychology Program of Study