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Professors: Charles Lemert (Cochair) (Sociology),
Jill G. Morawski (Psychology), Karl E. Scheibe, (Cochair) (Psychology)

Associate Professors: Mary Ann Clawson
(Sociology), Gary Comstock (Sociology), Scott Plous (Psychology)

The psychology-sociology joint major is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the departments of psychology and sociology. Students interested in this major should consult with the faculty coordinators for the joint program, namely, Professor Karl Scheibe in the Psychology Department and Professor Charles Lemert in the Sociology Department. Professors Lemert and Sheibe are the co-chairs of this program.

Requirements: A total of 11 courses is required to complete the major: four foundation courses, including introductory psychology (PSYC 101 or PSYC 105), Introductory Sociology (SOC 151), Psychological Statistics (PSYC 201/PSYC 214), and a sociological methods or theory course (SOC 202 or SOC 212); the senior seminar course in psychology and sociology (PSYC 364 or SOC 324); and six elective courses, striking a balance between the two departments (senior honor thesis tutorials can be counted as elective courses). The senior seminar course is offered once per year, with each department sponsoring the seminar in alternate years. A grade of B- or better in both introductory courses is required for regular admission to the major, and a grade of C- or better in both introductory courses is required for provisional admission to the major. All foundation courses are taken at Wesleyan.

Senior honors thesis or comprehensive oral examination: Successful completion of the joint major requires either a senior honors thesis or a senior comprehensive oral examination, both of which serve to demonstrate an ability to integrate concepts and facts from the two disciplines.

The senior honors thesis may be on a topic in psychology or sociology but must exhibit interdisciplinary competence. Two senior thesis tutorials (fall, 409, and spring, 410) are credited toward the major requirements.

The senior comprehensive oral examination will be based primarily on the studentÃs senior essay, which is normally the research paper prepared in the senior seminar (PSYC 364 or SOC 324). The senior essay, along with (normally) two other papers chosen by the student from work done in the major, will be the focus (but not the exclusive focus) of the oral exam.

Faculty advising: Majors are expected to consult closely with their faculty adviser associated with the joint major and to rely upon this advice to plan an academically coherent course of study. Special attention should be paid to the selection of research-methods courses, the choice of a senior honors thesis or a senior comprehensive oral examination, and the choice of advanced courses. Because of the unique interdisciplinary nature of the program, students are strongly advised to take all of their courses for the major in the two departments at Wesleyan. Students studying abroad may apply psychology and sociology courses from Wesleyan-approved institutions to the major. These credits must be approved in advance by the chair of the PSOC program. In any case, at least seven of the eleven courses must be taken at Wesleyan.

Responsibilities: Majors are responsible for knowing and following these guidelines. Majors are also expected to have regular contact with both departments.