In fall 2014, 669 on-campus students were pursuing degrees in psychology, making it the most popular major at Central Michigan University.
Psychology (non-graduate prep) has been the highest-signed major on campus since spring 2012. General marketing is the second major of choice, with 516 on-campus students committed.
Within the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sociology with a concentration in criminal justice came in a distant second at 231 majors. Neuroscience is the third most popular with 141 on-campus students. The Language Arts major is the third most-popular with 139 majors and English has 123 majors.
Students can fulfill every psychology requirement online through CMU's Global Campus, although they may miss out on one of the defining features of the psychology program.
"I think the opportunities for students to get involved with research and get involved in clinics is very appealing," said psychology Undergraduate Director Mark Reilly.
Reilly describes the work of graduates as "research intensive." He said this keeps CMU psychology majors active in their field, and gives them the experience to write theses and dissertations that will stand out on a resume.
"In any one semester, I usually have five to 10 undergraduate students working in my lab," Reilly said.
"We have school psychology, we have industrial organization, clinical psych, experimental psych and also the opportunity to pursue post-graduate psychological degrees," said Dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Pamela Gates.
Most students are interested in clinical work. Clinical psychology is that which focuses on treating mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, according to the American Psychological Association.
"It's just one of those majors where everyone can relate to an aspect of it," Reilly said."It really draws students in."
The involvment of undergraduate students in psychological work is a rare thing at many universities, Reilly said.
"Many of the students in psychology stay here to complete graduate school," said CHSBS Coordinations Communicator Sarah Buckley. "Many students have been at CMU for six to eight years. They finish the undergraduate program, and go right into the graduate program because they've already formed relationships with the faculty and are working in their research labs."
Professor James Carroll said he saw the appeal of a psychology program when he first joined he department in 1971.
"I saw a group of people really dedicated to making the school psychology profession important," Carroll said. "This became such a great university to work in, there was never a desire to go to a different school."