Department website: http://psychology.wvu.edu/
Degrees Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Sciences
Students may not earn both a B.A. and a B.S. in Psychology.
Nature of the Program
Psychology is the science of behavior. Courses in this discipline convey the principles, methods, and theories that are necessary for a better understanding of human and animal behaviors. Students who choose this subject as their major are expected to fulfill certain requirements, but the program is structured to allow considerable flexibility. Students who choose this subject as their major are expected to fulfill certain requirements, but the program is structured to allow considerable flexibility. Studying psychology at WVU allows students to work toward either a BS or BA degree that allows them to seek classes and experiences that enable them to be prepared for careers that may be more applied or more research focused. Typically, individuals tailor their schedules according to the career paths they choose, and these decisions generally fall into three categories: pursuit of graduate studies, pursuit of a career applying principles of psychology to human problems, or pursuit of a career in a related field, such as medicine, law, education, or business.
Students who earn a degree in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences must complete the University requirements, the College requirements for their specific degree program, and their major requirements.
Honors Program
The Department of Psychology honors program is designed to provide special enrichment, attention, and recognition for exceptional psychology majors. Admission to the program requires completion of nine hours of psychology, a psychology GPA of 3.5, and an overall GPA of 3.4. Graduation with departmental honors in psychology requires the same GPAs and completion of an honors thesis (three to six hours of PSYC 498). Information about the program is available in the department’s student records office or from the director of undergraduate training.
Minors
All students have the possibility of earning one or more minors; view a list of all available minors and their requirements here. Please note that students may not earn a minor in their major field.
Faculty
Chair
- Claire St. Peter - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
Associate Chair
- Karen Anderson - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
Director of Graduate Studies
- Melissa Blank - Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Professors
- Christina Duncan - Ph.D. (Louisiana State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Chronic Illness, Adherence - Barry A. Edelstein - Ph.D. (University of Memphis)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Eberly Family Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology, Burnout in Intergenerational Caregiving, Older Adult Decision Making - Amy Gentzler - Ph.D. (Kent State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Emotion Regulation and Adjustment in Children and Adolescents, Positive Psychology - Kevin T. Larkin - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Clinical Health Psychology, Applied Psychophysiology, Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine - Kennon A. Lattal - Ph.D. (University of Alabama)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Centennial Professor, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, History and Philosophy of Psychology, Human-Pet Interactions - Tracy L. Morris - Ph.D. (University of Mississippi)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Eberly Distinguished Professor for Outstanding Teaching, Leadership Studies - Melanie C. Page - Ph.D. (Arizona State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Assistant Vice President for Creative and Scholarly Activity, Quantitative/Developmental Psychology - Julie Hicks Patrick - Ph.D. (University of Akron)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Health Disparities, Cognitive Aging, Mid- and Late-Life, Methodology - Michael Perone - Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Positive and Negative Reinforcement, Animal and Human Operant Behavior, Research Methodology - Claire St. Peter - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Procedural Fidelity, School-Based Behavior Supports, Observational Measurement - JoNell Strough - Ph.D. (University of Utah)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Life-Span Development, Decision Making, Everyday Problem Solving, Gender Development
Associate Professors
- Karen Anderson - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Behavioral Pharmacology, Self-Control and Impulsivity - Melissa Blank - Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Behavioral Pharmacology, Nicotine/Tobacco Addiction, Tobacco Use Disparities - Amy Fiske - Ph.D. (University of Southern California)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Late Life Depression and Suicide - Elisa Krackow - Ph.D. (Binghamton University-SUNY)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Children and Adults as Witnesses, Developmental Psychopathology - Elizabeth Levelle - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Teaching of Psychology, Academic Advising - Shari Steinman - Ph.D. (University of Virginia)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Cognitive Bias in Anxiety Disorders, Treatment of Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders - Sharon Tenenholz - Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)
Teaching of Psychology, Curriculum Design, Academic Advising - Nicholas Turiano - Ph.D. (Purdue University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Personality, Health, and Aging
Assistant Professors
- Brennan Armshaw - Ph.D. (University of North Texas)
Behavior Analysis, Behavioral Medicine and Neuromuscular Behavior, Behavior Analysis and Education, Advising and Mentorship - Ryan Best - Ph.D. (Florida State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Adult Development, Value-based Decision-making, Cognitive Aging - Mariya Cherkasova - Ph.D. (McGill University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Addiction; Psychopharmacology; Reward-related Behavior - Kathryn Kestner - Ph.D. (Western Michigan University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Behavior Analysis, Assessment and Treatment of Challenging Behavior - Stephanie McWilliams - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Youth Mentorship, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Health Psychology, Behavior Change and Weight Management - Kathleen Morrison - Ph.D. (University of Tennessee)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Stress and Neuropsychiatric Disease, Women's Health
Professors Emeriti
- Edward C. Caldwell - Ph.D. (Syracuse University)
- Stanley H. Cohen - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
- Philip Comer - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
- William J. Fremouw - Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts)
- Robert Hawkins - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
- Katherine Karraker - Ph.D. (Michigan State University)
- Daniel W. McNeil - Ph.D. (University of Alabama)
- Cheryl B. McNeil - Ph.D. (University of Florida)
- B. Kent Parker - Ph.D. (University of Utah)
Admissions
- First Time Freshmen are admitted to the major directly. For the timely completion of the degree, it is recommended that students have a minimum MATH ACT of 19, a MATH SAT of 510, or an ALEKS score of 30.
- Students coming from another major at WVU must have an overall GPA 2.0, completion of PSYC 101 with a C- or higher, and be eligible to take PSYC 203.
- Students coming from another institution must have an overall GPA 2.0, completion of PSYC 101 with a C- or higher, and be eligible to take PSYC 203.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 1466
For specific information on the following programs, please see the links to the right:
- Psychology B.A.
- Psychology B.S.
Degree Progress
- By the end of their second semester in the major (excluding summer), students must have completed PSYC 101 with a minimum grade of C-, and be eligible to take PSYC 203.
- By the end of their fourth semester in the program, they should have completed PSYC 203 (with a C- or better) and PSYC 204 (with a C- or better),
- By the end of their sixth semester, they should have completed PSYC 301 and PSYC 302.
- All students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in the major and overall.
- All majors must attend either a Group Advising meeting or individual advising sessions each semester, as specified by their Psychology adviser.
Students who fail to meet these benchmarks may be removed from their major.