Exploring Psychology

The interest areas listed below are some of the more common.  However, if you come across a reputable site that you think should be included, please feel free to email the undergraduate advisors at psy-advising@wmich.edu.

General Psychology Art/Music Therapy
School Psychology Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Behavior Analysis Clinical/Counseling Psychology
Forensic Psychology Sports/Health Psychology

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Exploring Psychology In General

Resources to Explore at WMU:  General psychology classes will begin to help you decide if psychology is right for you.  Our introductory core consisting of PSY 100, PSY 160 and PSY 250 is the same for both majors and minors. 

Web Sites of Interest:  

    American Psychological Association

    A Professor's Guide to Navigating Psychology

    Psych Web

In addition, you may want to use a search engine to find other pages.  Some good key terms are "psychology", "psychology careers" and "learning psychology".  As with all web searches, keep a critical eye and talk with your advisor or a faculty member about the information that you find.  There is a lot of information out there and not all of it is accurate!

School Psychology 

Resources to Explore at WMU:  Unfortunately, at this time, WMU does not have a graduate level program in school psychology.  However, we do continue to offer PSY 517:  Psychology in the Schools as an elective for psychology majors.  This course will continue to cover issues that are of importance to future school psychologists.

Web Sites of Interest

    School Psychology division of the American Psychological Association

    Educational Psychology division of the American Psychological Association 

    National Association of School Psychologists

    School Psychology Resources Online

Behavior Analysis

Resources to Explore at WMU:  Several of our courses within both the major and the minor integrate crucial information about behavior analysis and the practice of psychology as a natural science.  Key courses include:  PSY 330, PSY 360 and PSY 460.

Web Sites of Interest

    Association for Behavior Analysis

    Behavior Analysis division of the American Psychological Association

    Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies

    Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Forensic Psychology

Resources to Explore at WMU

While we realize that this is an area of interest to many students, our department does not currently offer any coursework specifically in forensic psychology. Most individuals interested in this field find that having a double major or a minor in criminal justice is helpful to them.

Web Sites of Interest

American Board of Forensic Psychology

Art & Music Therapy 

Resources to Explore at WMU

While the WMU Psychology Department does not currently offer any course work in these areas, you are encouraged to talk with advisors in the art or music departments about possible coursework options.

Web Sites of Interest

Art Therapy:

American Art Therapy Association

Music Therapy

American Music Therapy Association

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Resources to Explore at WMU

WMU offers students several courses in industrial/organizational psychology including PSY 444: Industrial/Organizational Behavior and PSY 547: Practicum in I/O Psychology. Minors in psychology are encouraged to enroll in PSY 344: Industrial/Organizational Behavior if they are interested in the area. Note that PSY 344 is an elective for minors only--majors should enroll in PSY 444.

In addition, PSY 597: Behavior Based Safety is offered regularly and provides a background to individuals interested in I/O Psychology.

Finally, follow the link below for information on a certificate program in I/O Psych.

Certificate Program for Undergraduates

Web Sites of Interest

    Industrial/Organizational Psychology division of the American Psychological Association

    Organizational Behavior Management Network

Clinical/Counseling Psychology

Resources to Explore at WMU

Clinical and counseling psychology programs often look for some research and applied experiences. Courses that may be appropriate include all of the introductory core as well as PSY 561: Introduction to Clinical Psychology.

Web Sites of Interest

Divisions related to Clinical and Counseling Psychology within the American Psychological Association:

            Clinical Psychology

            Counseling Psychology

            Clinical Neuropsychology

            Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology

            Pediatric Psychology

    Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (AABT)

Sports & Health Psychology

 Resources to Explore at WMU:  A course in the management of health-related behaviors (PSY 463) is offered and fulfills an elective requirement for both majors and minors.

While there is no specific course offered in sports psychology, Dr. Dickinson's section of PSY 460 currently has a unit devoted to research in the area.

Web Sites of Interest

Health Psychology Sites

    Health Psychology division of the American Psychological Association

Sports Psychology Sites

    Sports Psychology division of the American Psychological Association

    Association for the Advancement of Applied Sports Psychology