Dept. of Psychology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University

Dept. navigation

• Home
• Undergraduate
• Graduate
• Program Areas
• People
• Research
• Events
• Resources
• Contact Us

Section navigation

• Program Overview
  • What to do With a Major in Psychology
  • The Curriculum
  • For More Information
• Undergraduate Newsletter
• Course Information
  • Choosing Courses
  • Course Schedules and Resources
• Requirements & Procedures
  • Course Requirements for Majors and Minors
  • Declaring a Major or Minor in Psychology
  • Petitioning to Graduate
  • Studying Abroad
• Advising
  • New Majors and Minors
  • General Department Advisers
  • Your Faculty Adviser
  • Swift Thinking
  • Exceptions to Requirements
  • Studying at Other Schools in the USA
  • Petitioning to Graduate
  • Advising by E-mail
  • Other Advising Resource
• Research Opportunities
  • Research for Course Credit (397/399)
  • Work Study
  • Travel Opportunity Grants
  • Important Deadlines
• Honors in Psychology
• Career Planning
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Jobs for Psychology Majors
  • Psychology and the Health Professions
  • Psychology and Law
  • Psychology and Business
  • Social Service: The "Helping Professions"
• Graduate Studies in Psychology
  • Areas of Specialization
  • The Application Process
  • Research Experience
  • Learning More About Graduate Study in Psych.
• Undergraduate Psychology Association

Psychology and Business

Both the understanding of human behavior and the skill in the analysis of data provided by a major in psychology are very useful to students interested in careers in management and business. Market research, human resources, advertising, and sales make direct use of knowledge gained in psychology courses. Students interested in business typically enter the work force soon after completing the requirements for a BA. Many return to school a few years later to obtain an MBA (Master in Business Administration) or another advanced degree. At Northwestern's J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, for example, approximately 99% of students have had full-time work experience. Northwestern undergraduates interested in business should consult the Pre-Business Brochure prepared by the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Certain psychology courses are especially relevant for students thinking of careers in business. Among these are 204-Social Psychology, 384-Interpersonal Relations, 228-Cognitive Psychology, and 335-Decision Making. Skills in data analysis acquired through 201-Statistical Methods, 205-Research Methods, and 351-Advanced Statistics and Experimental Design are likely to prove useful as well. Because some graduate business programs (as well as those in economics) require a background in calculus, pre-business students may choose to count Math 220, 224, and 230 (Math 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3 prior to Fall 2005) as three of their Related Courses for the psychology major.

Students interested in business careers can find many relevant courses in other departments as well. Among these are the 200-level and 300-level courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics (Economics 201, 202, 310-1, 310-2, and 311) and Economics 260-Accounting and Business Finance. Other relevant courses, including 342-Organizational Behavior, are offered by the department of Industrial Engineering. Communication Studies also offers courses relevant for pre-business students, including 250-Team Leadership and Decision Making, 360-Theories of Organizational Communication, and 364-Collective Decision Making and Communication in Organizations. Some students interested in management and business choose to complete a minor in economics or business institutions or a second major in international studies. Others choose elective courses that may not fulfill requirements for any particular program, but that best fit their own interests and strengthen their own skills.

Those interested in careers in business should also seek out summer jobs and internships in the business world. Such experiences will enhance both their resumes and their self-knowledge about what sorts of work environments and responsibilities they prefer. One excellent way to do this is through Northwestern’s Chicago Field Studies program; additional internship experiences are offered through other programs on campus. Career Services is also a valuable resource for students seeking business-related internship experiences.