The professors are approachable and love talking with students during office hours. I’ve had positive experiences building relationships with them in my classes and participating in research in the lab. You really get the sense that they care about you as an individual, not just as a student.
What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Delve into the science behind behavior with Reed College's psychology major. Our program ignites your curiosity as you study the intricacies of human and animal behavior. Gain skills in research methods, scientific writing, and statistics through our labs and research opportunities, preparing you for a future where you can make a meaningful impact in the world of psychology and beyond.
Roadmap to the Psychology Degree at Reed
Our psychology department focuses on empirical methods that teach students to use research to answer psychological questions. Learn the science of the mind, brain, and behavior, and spend time working with faculty on their research or completing your own independent project.
Year One
Lay the Foundation
Hit the ground running with our yearlong Humanities 110 course. Build the skills and habits you need to think critically and write persuasively by studying diverse historical contexts.
Take Psychology 101—your first psychology course—which introduces you to psychological research in applied and concept labs. And don’t forget to connect with our friendly student peer mentors, the Griffin Guides, who can help you find the classes you need, transition to Reed culture, and more.
Year Two
Explore Empirical Methods
Start getting hands-on experience through our 200-level psychological science labs. Each lab section examines research methods and current topics in various subdisciplines of psychology, from cognitive to social psychology. Explore each specialty area through structured research projects.
Faculty—not teaching assistants—teach all of Reed’s psychology courses, which means you get to know your professors and their areas of expertise. You may even be able to join their projects to help them with their research.
Year Three
Build Research Skills
Prepare for your junior qualifying examination by taking additional psychology courses, such as Developmental Psychology and Health Psychology.
Gain more research experience by assisting faculty projects, working as a participant observer in community settings, or joining research programs at the Oregon Health & Science University and the Oregon National Primate Research Center. You can also seek Reed funding to join a lab or create an independent research project under faculty supervision.
Year Four
Showcase Your Findings
Complete your senior thesis during your last year at Reed. Employ empirical approaches, from laboratory work to interview studies, to complete an original project that displays your mastery of research methods, statistics, and scientific writing. See our list of past student theses to be inspired by the work you can do at Reed.
Why Study Psychology at Reed College?
Go Beyond Traditional Boundaries
Discover the power of interdisciplinary learning at Reed College. By incorporating related disciplines into your psychology studies, you gain a broader perspective on human behavior and develop a holistic approach to research. Along with your psychology courses, you choose classes from an allied field that enrich your learning:
- Arts and Literature
- Biological, Physical, and Computation Sciences
- Cognitive Science
- History and Social Sciences
Present and Publish Findings
At Reed College, we prioritize research opportunities for our psychology students. These experiences develop your critical thinking, data analysis, scientific writing, and communication skills, setting you up for success in your future endeavors.
Collaborate with our esteemed faculty on their projects and make scientific discoveries in their research labs. You may present research at conferences and publish your results in professional journals with faculty members.
Access Unique Resources
Reed’s psychology department supports your success and encourages exploration. Join our yearly Squier Retreat, where psychology majors and professors spend a day together in the Columbia Gorge to explore psychology topics while having fun.
Expand your knowledge and discover new fields through our annual Rhodes Series and Psych Events & Colloquium Series. We also sponsor Poster Sessions so you can share your research with fellow students and faculty. These events foster engaging discussions and provide valuable feedback.
My Professors
Clarissa Madar ’23
Psychology
Naim Currimjee ’21
Psychology
My academic adviser and professor, Kris Anderson, continuously supported me and got me to where I am today. Her endless care and professionalism still impress me, and I'm forever grateful for everything she's done for me.
Careers for Psychology BA Graduates
Reed psychology majors have a solid analytical background that prepares them for jobs in various fields. Many go into graduate programs in psychology, while others enter medical or engineering fields.
- Engineering research psychologist, Federal Aviation Administration
- Games researcher, Microsoft
- Post-baccalaureate clinical fellow, McLean Hospital
- Product designer, Ford Motor Company
- Program director, Community Innovators Lab, MIT
- Registered nurse, Trillium Family Services
- Research assistant, Oregon Health & Science University
Publications by Reed Psychology Majors
All Reed psychology students take part in research, leading to publishing opportunities. In 2022, Reed students coauthored four papers with their professors:
- “Comparing college students’ motivation trajectories before and during COVID-19: A Self-Determination Theory approach” in Frontiers in Education
- “Examination of social smoking classifications using a machine learning approach” in Addictive Behaviors
- “Elevated ghrelin alters the behavioral effects of perinatal acetaminophen exposure in rats” in International Journal of Developmental Psychobiology
- “A behavioral-economic analysis of demand and preference for social and food reinforcement in rats” in Learning and Motivation
Students Contribute to Research
Partner with faculty and gain research experience through a range of independent research opportunities. See how students will work with Kevin Holmes, associate professor of psychology, to co-write empirical reports on topics that include the role of syntax in shaping beliefs about social groups and the psycholinguistic properties of metaphorical compound words such as “hogwash” and “spitfire.”
