Why Study Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, emotions, and behavior. It is a STEM major with a liberal arts perspective, which facilitates access to many career fields and provides strong preparation for a wide variety of graduate and professional programs. Psychology is a hub science, meaning that scientific findings in psychology advance not only the field of psychology, but also contribute to many other scientific fields. In fact, psychology is one of the disciplines whose scientific work is most often cited within other fields.

A Psychology major can be a good choice for students who want to understand more about how and why people think, feel, and behave the way they do. This knowledge can be applied within the workforce, on a personal level, or both, to promote a clearer understanding of yourself, others, and the world around you. Psychological principles can be used to enhance interpersonal relationships, raise healthy children, improve efficiency and effectiveness in organizations, support healthy behaviors, and predict and understand the behavior of individuals and groups. 

A student majoring in Psychology at OSU can expect challenging coursework which develops workforce skill development across many areas including:

• Data interpretation
• Creative thinking and problem-solving
• Project management
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Writing and presentation skills
• Flexibility
• Managing difficult situations and high stress environments
• Start and carry out projects with limited information or experience
• Ability to adapt to change
   

References

• American Psychological Association. (2016). Guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major: Version 2.0. American Psychologist, 71(2), 102-111.
• Halonen, J. S. (2011). Are there too many psychology majors? [White paper]. 
• Cacioppo, J. (2007). Psychology is a hub science.