Think about the possibilities with a psychology degree.
Dive into the complexity of the human brain and behavior with the psychology major at Bethany. Whether you plan to become a licensed counselor or pursue something completely different, a psychology degree opens a wide variety of career pathways for you simply because you have a solid understanding of people—and that is the key to success in almost any job.
Courses cover everything from cognitive processes and human development, to forensic psychology and psychotherapy. Through an engaging curriculum, you will learn major concepts and historical trends in the field, implement basic research methods, understand the use of critical thinking to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes, gain insight into effective strategies for self-management and improvement, and more.
Students completing a major in psychology can earn either a Bachelor of Arts degree (Psychology with a Human Services Emphasis) or a Bachelor of Science Degree (Psychology with a Scientific Emphasis, Psychology with a Pre-Physical Therapy Emphasis, Psychology with a Pre-Occupational Therapy Emphasis).
Areas of Study
- Psychology (Major)
- Human Services Emphasis
- Scientific Emphasis
- Sports Psychology Emphasis
- Psychology and Social Work (Major)
- Pre-Art Therapy (Pre-Professional Program)
- Pre-Occupational Therapy (Pre-Professional Program)
- Pre-Physical Therapy (Pre-Professional Program)
Why Bethany
Dual major in psychology & social work
Average size of a Psychology class is 20
Choose from a BA in Science or a BA in Arts psychology degree
Careers in Psychology
- Attorney
- Career Counselor
- Caseworker
- Child Development Specialist
- Child Welfare Caseworker
- Coach
- Criminal Investigator
- Customer Service Supervisor
- Financial Aid Counselor
- Human Resource Advisor
- Market Research Analyst
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Police Officer
- Preschool Teacher
- Psychologist/Psychiatrist
- Real Estate Agent
- Social Services Aide
- Veterans Counselor
- Volunteer Coordinator
Alumni Outcomes
Kylin McCardle
Psychology | 2003
Senior Manager of Financial Services Public Policy, Amazon Web Services
Washington, DC
Alumni Outcomes
Mariah Chobany
B. S. Psychology | 2021
Research Specialist at UPMC
Pursuing Doctorate of Philosophy at Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
“The size of Bethany’s campus allows for more opportunities to pursue teaching assistantships and research opportunities than more prominent universities. In addition, Bethany’s psychology department enables students to pursue research and assists students in developing their empirical studies for presentation and publication. Such opportunities helped me when applying to my Ph.D. program in Healthcare Ethics and will continue to help me pursue my career as a researcher and ethicist.”
Meet the Faculty
Julie Osland
Associate Professor of Psychology
M.A., Ph.D., University of Albany, State University of New York
B.A., Psychology
304-829-7539
josland@bethanywv.edu
Dr. Bryon Hines
Assistant Professor of Psychology
M.A., Ph.D., Ohio University
B.A., Hampden-Sydney College
Psychology Courses
Prepare to examine why people act in a certain way and how they respond to the world around them. Whether you choose to pursue a graduate degree or enter directly into the workforce, you will benefit from expertly crafted courses that will uniquely prepare you for your lifelong career.
Your courses may include:
- PSYC 100 General Psychology
Introduces the general field of psychology, including learning, motivation, sensation, perception, cognition, personality, abnormal behavior, testing, physiological psychology, and social psychology. - PSYC 230 Developmental Psychology
Studies human development from conception through old age. Topics include the influence of genetics, socialization, cognitive growth, and physiological changes on all stages of life. - PSYC 328 Interpersonal Aspects of Psychotherapy and Counseling
Covers the interpersonal characteristics, personality traits, and communication skills that are essential for successful counselors and psychotherapists. - PSYC 344 Forensic Psychology
Reviews the applications of empirically-supported psychological theories to the criminal justice system. Theories in perception, personality, memory, problem-solving, and psycho-physiology are extended to explain validity of eyewitness testimony, lie detection devices, jury selection, jury decision-making, criminal profiling, and more. - PSYCH 470 Internship in Psychology
Provides students with off-campus exposure to the work of professional psychologists. Students keep a journal documenting how their experiences relate to pertinent theories and practices of psychology.
Psychology Internship Opportunities
An internship within the field of psychology will build skills in communication, critical thinking, research, and problem solving. It’s also a great way to explore the wide variety of career paths available to you as a psychology major!
Curious what internship opportunities are out there for psychology majors? Check out some examples.
- Child Development Intern
- Clinical Research Intern
- Community Clinic Intern
- Correctional Facility Intern
- Forensic Science Intern
- Psychology Teaching Assistant
- Research Assistant
- School Psychologist Intern
- Social Work Intern
- Sports Psychology Intern