The primary goal of the Faculty of the Western Washington University Department of Psychology is to provide an exemplary educational program based on the scientific study of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes. We strive to represent the comprehensive scope of psychology including its historical, developmental, biological, cognitive, social, and cultural foundations as well as its applications to the world's needs and problems. In teaching the content of psychology, the faculty emphasize scientific methodology to enhance students' basic skills in critical thinking and writing, in quantitative and qualitative research, and in ways in which psychological knowledge can be applied. We regard Psychology as a "Life Science " in which we create new knowledge about living organisms through research, both individually and collaboratively with our students as part of their educational processes. To foster this process we provide our students with opportunities for independent study and research, small group seminars and laboratories, and individual consultation. Our educational audiences are numerous and diverse. They include undergraduate students (Psychology majors and minors, students from other majors who seek to broaden their psychological knowledge), graduate students (general and applied programs), and the larger community (public schools, legal systems and the courts, social agencies, health and mental health professionals, and the university as a whole).
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