The Psychology Department supports Reed's mission to provide an exemplary liberal arts education by training students to think critically about the science of mind and behavior.
In psychology courses at Reed, students learn how to evaluate theory and empirical research on behavior and mental processes in humans and nonhuman animals. Although the field of psychology is diverse and wide-ranging, our department is united by the use of scientific methods: we believe that systematic observation through experiments and other empirical approaches offers the greatest potential for understanding psychological phenomena. Empirical research is embedded in coursework at all levels of the curriculum, spanning the core areas of cognitive, comparative, developmental, social, clinical, and health psychology and behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.
Students begin the with the Foundations in Psychological Science course (PSY 101), which provides an introduction to the content of the field and the methods by which psychological research is conducted. Majors go on to complete four introductory methods labs (PSY 200–210), carrying out structured research projects in selected areas of psychology. For their central coursework in the major, students achieve breadth by selecting four of eight 300-level core courses, each surveying a key subfield of the discipline. They also complete a course in statistical analysis, electives on specific psychological topics, and a set of courses in an allied field that complements their work in psychology. After successfully demonstrating their understanding of research methods on the junior qualifying exam, students pursue a senior thesis—typically an empirical project on a topic of their choosing—in close collaboration with a faculty mentor.
Beyond coursework and the senior thesis, there are opportunities for students to contribute to research in faculty labs. Collaborative research projects by psychology students and faculty routinely result in co-authored presentations at scientific conferences and publications in scientific journals. Many students are also successful in obtaining competitive awards and fellowships. Additional student research and volunteer opportunities may be available through partnerships with local institutions and community organizations in Portland.
A psychology degree from Reed prepares students for a wide array of career paths. Our department ranks #1 in the U.S. in the percentage of graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Some psychology majors pursue advanced training in professional fields such as law or medicine, and recent graduates have started careers in such diverse fields as community mental health, industry and government research, writing and copy editing, technology, K-12 education, and university administration.
The Psychology Department also contributes to Reed’s interdisciplinary neuroscience major, designed for students who wish to study brain and behavior through the intersection of biology and psychology.