Congratulations, 2026 Graduates!
Congratulations, OWU Class of 2026! Commencement Information
Psychology Major
Majoring in psychology opens the door to a world of possibilities, and OWU psychology alumni are doing vital work in many fields across the country. Psychology majors collect and analyze data and learn to communicate the observed trends. Many also engage in unique projects with professors.
About the Major
Ohio Wesleyan's Psychology program is highly regarded for excellent teaching and research opportunities for students. In fact, College Factual in 2019 ranked OWU's Psychology program in the top 11% of all colleges and universities in America as a "Best Value for the Money" program.
As a Psychology major at OWU, you'll study a broad range of topics:
- From the social and intellectual development of the person to the prevention and treatment of psychological disorders.
- From operant and Pavlovian analyses of behavior to models of human thought processes.
- From the analysis of brain circuits to the mechanisms of long-term memory.
- From the behaviors of persons in isolation to group behavior in organizations.
- From the biological bases of visual perception to the therapeutic means of treating people with schizophrenia.
You will complete courses that span the breadth of the field, and you'll have the freedom to choose from a number of courses to fulfill those requirements.
OWU also offers a minor in Psychology.
Popular Second Majors
Some students majoring in Psychology also complete a second major or a minor in another field to expand their opportunities. Some of the most popular second majors are: Zoology, Biology, Business Administration, and Sociology / Anthropology.
Popular Minors for Psychology Students
Think Big
Independent research is a central element of The OWU Connection and is an important part of psychology studies at OWU.
You can work one-on-one with faculty to contribute to ongoing research investigations in a faculty member's lab, or you can design an investigation of a research question of your own interest. These collaborations may last more than one semester, and students with very strong projects may present their results at professional conferences.
Go Global
You will have many opportunities to expand your classroom learning by immersing yourself in another culture, from Travel-Learning Courses with 7-14-day travel components to semester-abroad programs.
Psychology majors take advantage of travel programs across the university.
Get Real
Ohio Wesleyan students gain valuable real-world experience through internships in governmental agencies, private sector business and legal firms, nonprofit advocacy organizations, medical & scientific research facilities, media outlets, think tanks, and more.
The Career Connection office can help connect you with internship opportunities and career support.
Inspired Teaching
OWU faculty are outstanding scholars and researchers—and passionate teachers. They will push you, challenge you, inspire you, and work with you on your own research and creative projects.
They can even pack a 3-minute lecture with ideas, insight, and imagination. Check out our unique i³ lectures.
Highlights
Lab Space
Phillips Hall, which provides approximately 3,000 square feet for empirical research and clinical observation. You'll have the opportunity to learn state of the art methodologies and procedures, with labs equipped with computers to measure reaction times, and EEG and virtual reality equipment.
Early Childhood Center
If you're interested in developmental psychology, you can gain experience in OWU's Early Childhood Center, a preschool run jointly by the psychology and education departments. The school enrolls more than 100 children and serves as a laboratory and observation center. It's the ultimate on-campus theory-to-practice learning.
Internships
If you want to gain real-world experience, we offer a large number of internship opportunities. You can spend 120-150 hours per semester working in a job relevant to your interests in psychology. Recent student placements have included: Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, Delaware City Schools, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Maryhaven Delaware, and Helpline, Inc.
Summer Research
Ohio Wesleyan's unique 10-week Summer Scholarship and Research Program offers students the opportunity to carry out cutting-edge research side by side with faculty mentors. Students and faculty are fully engaged partners in research projects that are ideal preparation for graduate studies.
Graduate Outcomes
Virginia Faeth '24
Ginny participated in hands-on research through the Summer Science Research Program, studying topics such as House Wren nest-building behavior and nest architecture, gaining experience in experimental design and data analysis while at OWU. She now works full-time as a Substitute Teacher for Clyde-Green Springs Schools in Clyde, Ohio, supporting K‑12 education and classroom instruction.
Headlines
Goldwater Scholar
Ohio Wesleyan Student Ian Sander Earns National Award to Support Tobacco-Oral Cancer Research
More information
Gene Therapy Research
Ohio Wesleyan Student Completing Internship at Nationwide Children's Hospital
More information
A Look at Psychology
Measuring Brain Activity— Erika Shultz '18 reproduced and extended previous experiments that measured the brain waves of subjects while they completed certain tasks. These experiments support the theory that, depending on our goals, our brain activity switches between proactive and reactive control. Her mentor was Professor Kira Bailey.
Measuring Brain Activity
Erika Shultz '18 reproduced and extended previous experiments that measured the brain waves of subjects while they completed certain tasks. These experiments support the theory that, depending on our goals, our brain activity switches between proactive and reactive control. Her mentor was Professor Kira Bailey.
Psi Chi Honor Society
Psi Chi Honor Society
Habits of the Heart— I-Cubed lecture by Ohio Wesleyan Professor of Psychology Vicki DiLillo.
Habits of the Heart
I-Cubed lecture by Ohio Wesleyan Professor of Psychology Vicki DiLillo.
Professor Vicki DiLillo— OWU classes are small, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1.
Professor Vicki DiLillo
OWU classes are small, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1.
Children's Hospital Internship— Samuel Stull's '17 internship at Nationwide Children's hospital led to a research project with Professor Kira Bailey on hepatitis C and opiod abuse.
Children's Hospital Internship
Samuel Stull's '17 internship at Nationwide Children's hospital led to a research project with Professor Kira Bailey on hepatitis C and opiod abuse.
Studying Terrorism in France— Psychology and French major Emma Beale '17 used a grant for signature projects to study terrorism in France from multiple angles, including patriarchy within terrorist organizations, the prison system and terrorist recruitment, and the role of propaganda and media coverage.
Studying Terrorism in France
Psychology and French major Emma Beale '17 used a grant for signature projects to study terrorism in France from multiple angles, including patriarchy within terrorist organizations, the prison system and terrorist recruitment, and the role of propaganda and media coverage.
Messages about Race— Morgan Christie '16 worked with Professor Sarah Bunnell to examine the types of messages transmitted by ethnic minority and majority parents to their adolescents regarding race and how these messages prepare adolescents to cope with discriminatory experiences.
Messages about Race
Morgan Christie '16 worked with Professor Sarah Bunnell to examine the types of messages transmitted by ethnic minority and majority parents to their adolescents regarding race and how these messages prepare adolescents to cope with discriminatory experiences.
Measuring Memory— Allie Eynon '19 and Shelby Quade '18 contributed to a psychological investigation of memory. They developed materials for an online memory test that measures the amount of knowledge students from 1992 to 2017 retained from a Quantitative Methods course. Professor Lynda Hall was their mentor.
Measuring Memory
Allie Eynon '19 and Shelby Quade '18 contributed to a psychological investigation of memory. They developed materials for an online memory test that measures the amount of knowledge students from 1992 to 2017 retained from a Quantitative Methods course. Professor Lynda Hall was their mentor.
New York Internship— Psychology major Mac Willard '18 received a Theory-to-Practice Grant to work as a summer intern for fashion editor Caroline Vazzana.
New York Internship
Psychology major Mac Willard '18 received a Theory-to-Practice Grant to work as a summer intern for fashion editor Caroline Vazzana.
Department Contact Info
Location
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
Department Contact
Chair: Kira Bailey
David O. Robbins Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology; Neuroscience Program Director
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 227 | 740-368-3808 | kmbailey@owu.edu
Academic Assistant: Angela Moore
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907 | almoore@owu.edu
David O. Robbins Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology; Neuroscience Program Director
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 227 | 740-368-3808 | kmbailey@owu.edu
Academic Assistant: Angela Moore
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907 | almoore@owu.edu