2017-18 Catalogs

BA in Psychology

The Department of Psychology offers a four-year degree as well as courses for students majoring in allied fields, or who would like an orientation to the field of psychology as part of their general education. Courses are designed to create an awareness of the fundamental principles of psychology, psychological research, and the means by which psychological knowledge is acquired. The emphasis is upon the scientific inquiry into basic phenomena and principles of behavior, not upon the development of professional skills.

The minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University's Core curriculum) required for the major: 46

Students must achieve a 2.0 grade point average and grades of C- or better in all courses that count toward fulfillment of the major requirements.

PSY 101 and PSY 102 should be successfully completed no later than the end of the sophomore year by students who plan to major in psychology. All majors should also complete PSY 205 and PSY 206 no later than the end of their junior year.

Transfer psychology majors who have taken an introductory psychology course that was completed in one semester have the option of taking PSY 102 or having it waived. If a transfer psychology major waives PSY 102, he or she must take an additional three credits of 300 level psychology electives. Students who are not psychology majors cannot waive PSY 102. MAT 120 can be used in place of PSY 201.

All students are reminded that, in addition to meeting Departmental requirements for a major leading to a baccalaureate degree, they must also meet the University's Core curriculum requirements.

Required Courses:
     PSY 101 and PSY 102 General Psychology I and II, to be taken as a two-semester sequence
     PSY 201 Statistics in Psychology
     PSY 205 Experimental Methodology
     PSY 206 Methodology Lab
     PSY 220 Psychology of the Lifespan
     PSY 230 Social Psychology
     PSY 233 Psychopathology
     PSY 338 Theories of Personality
     PSY 350 Psychology of Learning
     PSY 360 Cognitive Processes
     PSY 361 Sensation and Perception
     PSY 365 Physiological Psychology
     PSY 371 History and Systems of Psychology

In addition, successful completion of the following non-psychology course is required for psychology majors. This course should be completed by the end of the sophomore year:
     BIO 111 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Prerequisite for PSY 365)

Other courses offered by the Department numbered 300 or above can be taken as electives to complete the 46-hour minimum. In addition, BIO 321 Neurobiology and BIO 405 Animal Behavior can be used to complete this requirement.

Successful completion of PSY 101 is the prerequisite for the following upper division psychology courses:
     PSY 205 Experimental Methodology
     PSY 206 Methodology Lab
     PSY 230 Social Psychology
     PSY 310 Popular Psychology
     PSY 315 Psychology of Human Sexuality
     PSY 316 Psychology of Gender
     PSY 323 Psychology of Infancy and Childhood
     PSY 324 Psychology of Adolescence
     PSY 325 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
     PSY 326 Psychology of Social and Linguistic Development
     PSY 338 Theories of Personality
     PSY 340 Behavior Modification
     PSY 360 Cognitive Processes
     PSY 361 Sensation and Perception
     PSY 366 Drugs, Mind, and Behavior

Successful completion of both PSY 101 and PSY 102 is the prerequisite for the following upper division psychology courses:
     PSY 220 Psychology of the Lifespan
     PSY 233 Psychopathology
     PSY 350 Psychology of Learning
     PSY 365 Physiological Psychology
     PSY 371 History and Systems of Psychology
     PSY 375 Psychology in the Public Interest

Additional prerequisites for PSY 205, PSY 206, PSY 323, PSY 324, PSY 325, PSY 326, PSY 365, and PSY 366 are listed in the course descriptions.

Independent Study

With the permission of a faculty sponsor, junior and senior psychology majors may elect to participate in PSY 400 Independent Study. No more than 12 credits may be earned.

Directed Study

With the permission of a faculty sponsor, students may elect to participate in directed study in one or more of the following courses: PSY 401 Research Apprenticeship, PSY 405 Teaching Apprenticeship, and PSY 410 Internship/Field Experience.

The Department recommends that students who wish to take a more extensive program or who plan to enter graduate school elect, in consultation with their major advisor, other courses in psychology and also include study in related fields, such as mathematics, biology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, computer science, health sciences, and social work.

Psychology majors who plan to attend graduate school should keep in mind that Graduate Record Examinations must be taken no later than December of their senior year. Students should plan to complete as many psychology courses as possible by the end of the fall semester of their senior year.