Southwestern University

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Studying Psychology at Southwestern

Southwestern University appears in our ranking of the 50 Great Small Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Psychology.

At the F.W. Olin Building, the Brown College of Arts & Sciences has provided a Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) since 1975 for Southwestern University Pirates to examine the intricate inner workings of the brain. Chaired by Dr. Fay Guarraci, a Mellon Interdisciplinary Research Award winner, the 127-credit, SACS-accredited curriculum emphasizes the central nervous system’s impact on our thoughts and behaviors. Each 16-week semester, undergrads engage in Georgetown courses like Personality Theory and Evolutionary Psychology with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. Internships, such as the DePelchin Children’s Center, Genesis Women’s Shelter, Caring Place, and Community Montessori School, fulfill the capstone requirement. Students might also pledge Psi Chi, join Active Minds, study abroad from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires, become Newman Civic Fellows, and tutor in the Debby Ellis Writing Center.

About Southwestern University

Southwestern University originated on February 1, 1840, when Methodist missionary Martin Ruter welcomed an inaugural class of 63 to Rutersville College in Fayette County. In 1841, Rev. John W.P. McKenzie followed suit by opening McKenzie College at a Clarksville log cabin. By 1856, Methodists had opened the Wesleyan College in San Augustine and Soule University in Chappell Hill. On February 6, 1875, the Texas Legislature passed a charter to combine the four schools into Southwestern University. In Fall 1873, President Francis A. Mood formally opened Southwestern for coeducational liberal arts instruction. In April 1909, Southwestern held the first homecoming celebration on record. In 1915, SU became a founding member of the Southwest Conference for NCAA Division I athletics. Seven years later, Southwestern established the Alpha Chi Honor Society. In 1943, Southwestern University joined the Navy’s V-12 Training Program. In 1977, SU launched the Brown Symposium. In 1995, Southwestern University received a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter.

Endowed for $281.5 million, Southwestern University now employs 112 full-time and 40 part-time faculty teaching 1,511 Pirates from 34 states plus 16 countries on its 701-acre Central Texas campus in Georgetown with 100+ clubs like the Coalition for Diversity & Social Justice. In 2018, Southwestern won a CASE District IV Gold Circle of Excellence Award. In 2019, SU accepted an Omicron Delta Kappa Membership Growth and Stability Award. Southwestern University had the 2014 SCAC Ian Thompson Award for Academic Excellence recipient too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Southwestern the 92nd best liberal arts college and 63rd top social mobility performer. On Niche, SU boasts America’s 38th best Christian education and 230th top psychology degrees. The Princeton Review picked SU 19th for health services. Kiplinger’s named Southwestern University the 158th top value. The Wall Street Journal chose Southwestern 218th overall. Payscale placed SU 474th for a $93,500 median mid-career salary.

Southwestern University Accreditation Details

On June 25, 2013, Southwestern University announced that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees reaffirmed the Level II accreditation status through 2022-23 under President Edward Burger, who earned the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. Located 909 miles east via Interstate 20 in Decatur, Georgia, this superb 11-state Southeast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to evaluate SU’s 36 baccalaureate majors.

Southwestern University Application Requirements

Admission at Southwestern University is classified as “very selective” by Peterson’s because only 2,049 of the 4,551 Fall 2018 applicants were triumphant for tough 45 percent acceptance. First-year Pirates pursuing the Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) must finish a college-prep secondary sequence. Four units each of language arts, mathematics, and social studies are strongly recommended. High school GPAs above 3.0 are suggested. The Class of 2022 reported a 3.59 average GPA. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 1150-1310. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 23-29. Psychology Department transfers need 12+ non-remedial credits from accredited institutions. Partnerships exist with four Texas schools like Tarrant County College and Temple College. Undergrads can transfer up to 64 credits graded C- or higher. The Honors Program only considers major GPAs above 3.60. International learners must also achieve at least 88 TOEFL iBT or 6.5 IELTS scores in English.

Featured Programs

Southwestern University enforces freshman deadlines of November 1st for Early Decision, December 1st for Early Action, and February 1st for Regular Decision. Transferring into the Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) should be done by April 1st for Fall or October 1st for Spring starts. Absolute final deadlines are July 1st and November 15th. Non-U.S. transfers must file before June 1st or October 1st. Accordingly, complete the Southwestern, Common, Coalition, or ApplyTexas Application online for $0. Send official transcripts to PO Box 770 in Georgetown, TX 78627. Forward test scores using SAT/TOEFL code 6674 or ACT code 4186. Finish supplemental steps, such as the campus visit, personal interview, teacher recommendation, mid-year report, essay, and declaration of finances form. Contact (512) 863-6511 or admission@southwestern.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2020-21, Southwestern University will charge full-time Psychology Majors (B.A./B.S.) $22,560 per term or $45,120 annually. Lab fees are $75 per class. Dewar tuition insurance is $464 each year. Student health insurance fees are $1,850 yearly. Residing at the Georgetown campus’ dorms like Ernest L. Kurth Hall adds $5,440 to $14,830 for housing. Unlimited meal plans for Mabee Dining Commons are $6,298 extra. Residents pay $100 per semester for vehicle registration. SU budgets $1,300 for textbooks and $1,400 for miscellaneous expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance will equal $59,580 on-site or $51,660 if commuting. Part-time tuition will be $1,880 per credit. Summer sessions are priced at $3,525 per class.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office on the Cullen Building’s 2nd Floor connects 100 percent of new full-time SU Pirates to tuition assistance averaging $26,506 apiece for $9.43 million combined. University funds include the Bishop Ernest Dixon Jr. Scholarship, Garey Scholarship, Sarofim Scholarship, Legacy Scholarship, United Methodist Beneficiary Grant, National Merit Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Hyer Scholarship, National Hispanic Institute Grant, President’s Achievement Award, Cody Scholarship, Ruter Scholarship, Mood Scholarship, and Preministerial Scholarship. The Brown Scholarship provides $33,000 annually to outstanding freshmen with a minimum 1400 SAT or 31 ACT score. The $25,000 Finch Scholarship assists transfers with 30+ credits and 3.70 or higher GPAs. Federal resources, such as the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant or Direct Subsidized Loan, require FAFSA applications coded 003620. Texans can also use the Tuition Equalization Grant, Armed Services Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Hamman Scholarship, Irma Gesche Scholarship, and others.

Learn more about Southwestern University at the Psychology Department website.

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