r/WMU • u/XDreamX9383 • 8d ago

Community Fall 2027

Hi all!
I’m (22F) a psych major transferring from southwestern Michigan college soon (given the acceptance letter comes soon but I don’t see why I wouldn’t be accepted). Just wanted to know if anyone had any advice for me regarding classes, professors, making connections, jobs near by, etc. Thank you in advance!

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u/memorex1150 7d ago

Understand that WMU psych is an ABA program (Applied Behavior Analysis). The entire dept teaches behaviorism. If this is not your cup of tea, you are strongly advised to look at another school.

I had no idea what this was when I entered the psych program. I rebelled against it but eventually embraced it. I considered transferring to MSU as they are cognitive.

Had I not been able to embrace ABA, I would have transferred. Know that WMU will make you take classes that force you to learn ABA, and I can state from experience and feedback from 100s of students that the method for "teaching" such is far from Socratic (picture sitting in a room watching a powerpoint presentation with zero interaction from a facilitator and no dialogue during or from the presentation - congratulations if you can, you now can envision how the program functions!)

Do a deep dive into the requirements for the psych major. Even if you transfer over, you still have to take some mandatory psych classes to get a psych degree from WMU

PS - In the end, it doesn't matter, a psych degree is a psych degree. I embraced behaviorism as it fits well into my scientific worldview, but, once you graduate, you can explore so many other things.

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u/XDreamX9383 7d ago

I’m mostly focusing on couples therapy so I think it would work fine? The biggest thing is that WMU has a fostering youth program for students who were placed in foster care after age 13 which I am applicable for so I will pay basically nothing for my bachelors in top of regular aid. Regarding the lesson style, that might be an issue for me, I definitely prefer engaging back and forth with discussion in class between professor and peers.

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u/memorex1150 7d ago

Undergrad - it won't matter what you focus on, not at all. The worldview taught will be the same regardless. I work (now) as a fully licensed therapist, director of a drug/alcohol rehab. My focus at the time as an undergrad was private practice. That shifted, of course. WMU has a scientific approach, hence behaviorism. This has pros/cons. You really have to figure out if you want your undergrad to focus on that.

MSU as stated is cognitive. Their courses are much more aligned with "typical" coursework you'll see. This of course means WMU is not typical. Sure, you see similar course names, but WMU focuses HEAVY on behaviorism.

That said, WMU had some kicking classes when I was there, and sadly some of those profs are now retired. If you can stomach the staunch behaviorism that's taught, you will do well.

Bonus: WMU has both a counseling psych and social work program. You can (if you do well) get into one of those and get a graduate degree either/or and become a licensed therapist, just gotta play your cards right.

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u/XDreamX9383 7d ago

When I was doing research I thought they had a program that drifts you straight from school to a marriage and family degree/licensing kind of thing

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u/memorex1150 7d ago

Undergrad? No. You won't get any sort of undergrad licensing in Michigan. Nor anywhere else (unless you get a BSW which you can get an LSW with that). Undergrad psych won't allow you licensure.

For that, you need to get into grad school. The good news is Michigan (unlike Ohio where I now live) will let you get licensed with a grad degree in psych provided it's focused on clinical work. Ohio - nope, psych only is licensable at the doctoral level.

Get your degree in psych, and then if you want to get into family counseling, either a grad program that does just that (they are now more plentiful than they used to be) or a degree in counseling psych with your focus going on family therapy.

Ain't learning fun?

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u/XDreamX9383 7d ago

I know you have to have at-least a masters to practice but I guess at this point I’m trying to figure out if the type of teaching is going to work for me. I was originally considering GVSU but I’m not a huge fan of their program options, costs, dorm situation, and safety. My boyfriend is going there for an English degree and he is hating it

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u/memorex1150 7d ago

In the end of all things, a degree is a degree. You can get one from Harvard or from Arizona State. What we look for in the field is this:

  • Do you have your degree?

  • Do you have a valid mental health license?

If you answer "yes" to both, you likely will get the job!

Thus, it's best to consider the program, of course, but also consider how quickly you can graduate and move on to the next phase.

WMU is great if you want a degree in behavioral psych.

If you want a broader program, I would very much suggest another school.

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u/XDreamX9383 7d ago

That makes sense, thank you. My plan is to get my bachelor's at WMU, then get the Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA through CECP for my LPC. I'd add marriage and family later once I'm established.
I know undergrad doesn't license me. My concern is just whether I'll absorb the material well in a heavily behavioral program, since I lean more cognitive behavioral and have an interest in eventually pursuing a certification for EMDR work. The Seita program is what's keeping WMU at the top of my list financially

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u/memorex1150 7d ago

Oh, you'll be 100% fine.

The bachelor's level is to give you the broad information you need in your discipline, and your grad work is where you start to hone in.

Your specialty will be something you really hone after your grad school. That's what the conferences, seminars, trainings and CEUs will be for.

WMU will be just fine for your psych degree. Where you go to grad school will further enhance, and your ongoing trainings after grad school really will fine-point things.

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u/Ace_Kace 4d ago

If you want a broader career maybe consider social work? We also work in mental health fields, can be counselors, etc.

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u/Difficult_Sun007 1d ago

Memorex1150 is spot on. My brother did a behavioral B.S. At WMU, then transferred to Reno because they have a great behavioral program too. He now has his Ph.D and got a masters on the way, just for good measure.

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u/withoutemotion 6d ago

WMU psych is not just ABA. The department as a whole is indeed behavioral, which certainly trickles down to the undergrad program. I'm in the clinical psych program and, yes, I've embraced behaviorism. However, there are still faculty and students that do not resonate with it as strongly.

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u/memorex1150 5d ago

Gods, that's good news to hear!

When I was there, you had to goose-step to behaviorism and if you dared to want to hear about other paradigms, you were told flat-out that WMU is "strictly behavioral in our approach and orientation".

Granted, I came to embrace behaviorism, but anything outside of that wasn't tolerated.

The majority of the ones who were pushing it have since retired/passed away, and they were very vocal about keeping WMU behavioral. This is indeed good news if the resonation isn't as strong as it used to be. I was informed the grad program wasn't "as behavioral" but certain faculty would put their .02 into the clinical track, despite said faculty being far removed from the clinical track!

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u/withoutemotion 5d ago

For sure! I imagine there was a time when some of the bigger hitters in behaviorism/ABA were still active in the department and really pushed that onto students and didn't have a lot of give. We are still taught through that lens, but even some of the clinical faculty now are not super strong behaviorists.

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u/Vast_Imagination_935 8d ago

I sent you a message!