Psychology

Psychology at Earlham enables you to study human behavior through conducting research, engaging in collaborative inquiry with peers and faculty, and practicing counseling skills. This approach allows you to experience the full scope of what it means to be a psychologist in today’s world.

We offer several unique and innovative courses not often seen at other small liberal arts colleges, including Psychology of Happiness, Psychology of Sport, Psychology of Sustainability, Psychoactive Drugs and Behavior, and Human Sexuality.

Graduate Icon
94%
of 2017-2019 graduates from the psychology program reported a career outcome within six months of graduation.
Jobs icon
Careers
Top job industries for psychology majors include mental health treatment, healthcare, social work, human resources, research and nonprofits.
Outcomes

Within six months of graduation, one-third of grads from 2017-2019 were attending graduate programs in fields like counseling, organizational psychology, education and early childhood development.

A hands-on approach to the science of human behavior

As a first- and second-year student, you will become proficient in the methods and practice of psychology through courses that include activities such as replicating published research, volunteering in community mental health settings and practicing counseling skills with other students.

You will have multiple opportunities to apply psychological methods through conducting your own research, assisting faculty with ongoing research projects and working in the community.

Hands-on research

Between 12 and 15 students each semester serve as research assistants for faculty examining memory for future events, motivation and emotion, relationships between stress and health and the effect of gendered pronouns.

Independent projects

As a senior psychology major, you will conduct an independent research project on a topic that most interests you.

Psychology Department group photo

Our faculty

We are student-focused lifelong learners, excited about applying intellectual discoveries to real-world problems. In our work, we tackle issues of medical ethics, racism and health, children’s school readiness, motivation, the power of gender and much more.

Program details

The psychology program begins with core courses that cover the many different theoretical and methodological approaches to the field. In these courses, you will survey a wide range of psychological subfields and explore their relevance to current social issues and everyday life.

Additionally, you will acquire a basic understanding of the principles of research and critical thinking that serve as the foundation of science.

As a liberal arts college, Earlham offers multiple disciplinary and interdisciplinary majors and minors in which students cultivate deep and specific knowledge and experience. Equally important, the College expects every student to develop broad, general skills and proficiencies across the curriculum.

As part of their general education, students complete six credits in each academic division of the College: humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and visual and performing arts. In addition, students meet requirements for first-year courses, analytical reasoning, perspectives on diversity and wellness.

Learn more about general education at Earlham.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, you must complete a total of 38-40 credits, made up of the following courses:

  • PSYC 115 Introduction to Psychological Perspectives OR PSYC 116 Behavior, Health Care and Society
  • PSYC 210 Social Psychology
  • PSYC 220 Adult Psychopathology
  • PSYC 230 Human Development
  • PSYC 245 Research Methods and Statistics
  • PSYC 250 Brain and Behavior
  • PSYC 440 Senior Capstone Experience
  • PSYC 486 Senior Comprehensive Research
  • One psychology course from those numbered 351-359
  • Three additional psychology courses from those numbered 340-379

Psychology courses with a primary focus on basic research in psychology are numbered 351-359. Other courses offer depth in a specialized area, integrate psychological research and theories with other disciplines, focus on applications of psychology, or some combination.

Courses 300-339 are cross-listed from other departments, which may be of interest to psychology majors. Courses cross-listed from other departments do not count toward the major. These courses help to engage in scientific psychological research; utilize psychological theory, methods and data in addressing applied questions; and think richly, systematically and critically about the personal experiences, interpersonal interactions, social issues and problems they will encounter throughout their lives.

View a full list of psychology courses and their descriptions.

Yes! To earn a minor in psychology, you must complete:

  • PSYC 115 Introduction to Psychological Perspectives OR PSYC 116 Behavior, Health Care and Society
  • PSYC 245 Research Methods and Statistics
  • Three of the following courses:
    • PSYC 210 Social Psychology
    • PSYC 220 Adult Psychopathology
    • PSYC 230 Human Development
    • PSYC 250 Brain and Behavior
  • One psychology course from those numbered 340-379

View a full list of psychology courses and their descriptions.

Earlham psychology students have pursued graduate studies in clinical mental health counseling, organizational psychology, applied animal behavior and welfare, education, and healthcare, among other fields.

Recent graduates have landed jobs as behavioral clinicians, therapists, research assistants and teachers, to name a few.

Are you intrigued by how people think or why they behave in certain ways? Understanding human psychology is critical in many careers, and psychology majors work in a variety of fields—from counseling and education to scientific research to business administration and nonprofits.

Next steps

EARLHAM ALERT:
We continue to monitor the effects of an industrial fire 1.1 miles from campus.
EARLHAM ALERT:
We continue to monitor the effects of an industrial fire 1.1 miles from campus.