How to Declare a Psychology Major

To declare a major in psychology, students should choose a professor in the Department of Psychology to be their major advisor. The advisor will approve the major essay, help students complete the Degree Requirements Worksheet, and sign the Declaration of Major form.

Once students have met with their major advisor, they are required to submit:

1. Two copies of the Declaration of Major form, filing one copy with the department and one copy with the Registrar. (Available from the Registrar's office or on Rhodes Express online.)
2. The Degree Requirements Worksheet, filing one copy with the department and one copy with the Registrar. (Available from the Registrar's office or on Rhodes Express online.)
3. The major essay (emailed as a Word document to the Departmental Assistant).

Major Essay

When declaring a major in psychology, students must submit an essay in which they articulate their educational goals. The essay should be four paragraphs, with one paragraph dedicated to each of the questions below (question 3 has two parts.)

1. In your opinion, what are the defining characteristics of the discipline of Psychology?
2. How do the requirements for the Psychology major complement your program of liberal arts study and support your career or life goals?
3. As a Psychology major, how will you (a) build on your strengths and (b) address your weaknesses?

The entire essay should be between 250 and 1000 words and must accompany the Declaration of Major form when a student has the initial meeting with her/his major advisor. A student may choose to revise the essay after meeting with the advisor. Students will electronically submit the final, advisor approved, version of the essay as a Word document by emailing it to 2121.fdhcxgqnbg33wt6m@u.box.com so that it can be archived. The file name for the essay should be as follows: student’s last name, student’s first name, and graduation year. Each student will revisit the major essay in the senior seminar course.