Success in nearly all professions can be improved through better knowledge and understanding of human behavior. Providing A Strong Scientific Background Wofford's Psychology Program differs from most psychology programs because it is a well-established part of the Natural Sciences Curriculum, along with other recognized scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Unfortunately, the popular media often represents psychology as a mixture of pseudoscience, extrasensory perception, faith healing, and unsubstantiated opinions from the self-help aisles in bookstores. As a result, students often do not know what to believe. The best defense is to provide a strong education in the scientific principles underlying our cognition and behavior so that our students can separate fact from fantasy.
Students learn how knowledge is obtained in all areas of psychology.
All students then complete a Senior Thesis in which they review the scientific literature in their area of interest and actually create knowledge by carrying out their own empirical research. This research is frequently published in journals and presented at national conferences. Internships are also available for students planning careers in applied psychology. During their junior and senior years, students take advanced electives in the areas of psychology that interest them most.