Dec 30, 2024

2024-2025 General Catalog [Current]

Psychology (B.A., B.S.)

Location(s): Main Campus

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Program Summary

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology are designed to prepare students for a wide array of professional careers that emphasize the importance of working with and understanding people. The courses in these degrees are designed to build progressively upon each other as students begin with more general psychology courses, advance through a variety of methods courses with labs, and then finalize their degree with a Capstone course. Throughout this progression, students complete courses covering the major subfields of study in psychology including abnormal, developmental, cognitive, social/personality, biological, and diversity psychology. These degrees are optimal for 1) students planning to pursue an advanced degree in psychology, in areas such as counseling, clinical, and research psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, etc.), and 2) students wanting to pursue a career immediately upon graduation in a field other than mental-health. Students wanting to pursue a career working in a helping profession (e.g., mental health) immediately upon graduating with their B.A. or B.S. should consider pursuing the Psychology - Human Services Emphasis (B.A., B.S.) .

Program Information

All courses must be passed with a “C-” (1.7) or better to be counted in the major.
No more than 15 lower-division credits (1000- and 2000-level courses) may be counted toward the total major credits.
Students may count up to three (3) credits of internship credit (PSY 4890 ) toward the major requirements.
Exceptions to the requirements below require departmental approval. Students are encouraged to work closely with their Student Success Advisor to develop their program of study.

General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)

See General Education for course options.

Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
Breadth Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)

Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Breadth Area requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree Type: Arts or Science Requirement (12* or 16** Credits)

Select one degree type from either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science:

Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)

Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits

* Note: A portion of the B.S. requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education Core and Breadth Areas. Because of this, these credits are typically not counted in the degree total at the bottom of page. Some students majoring in non-science fields may need additional math/science courses to reach the minimum 12 credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

or

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Requirement (16 Credits**)

Bachelor of Arts Degree - Foreign Language Requirement 16 Credits

** Note: One semester of a foreign language may also fulfill the General Education Humanities requirement. The 16 credits may be fulfilled by taking four semesters of a foreign language or by testing out of a language and purchasing the credits. These credits are typically counted in the degree total at the bottom of the page. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Psychology Curriculum (45 Credits)

Foundation Courses (10 Credits)

PSY 1010 - General Psychology 3 Credit(s) (can be used to fulfill General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences Breadth Area)
PSY 2010 - Psychology as a Science and Profession 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3010 - Statistics in Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3015 - Statistics in Psychology Lab 1 Credit(s)

Methods Courses (8 Credits)

Complete 8 credits from the following lecture/lab pairings*:

PSY 3400 - Experimental Analysis of Behavior 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3405 - Experimental Analysis of Behavior Lab 1 Credit(s)
PSY 3410 - Research Design 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3415 - Research Design Lab 1 Credit(s)
PSY 3430 - Principles of Assessment 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3435 - Principles of Assessment Lab 1 Credit(s)
PSY 4930 - Senior Project: Independent Research I 3 Credit(s) **
PSY 4935 - Senior Project: Independent Research I Lab 1 Credit(s) **

Notes

* A given lecture/lab pairing may not be broken up or taken separately.

** PSY 3410 & PSY 3415 are strongly recommended as a prerequisite for PSY 4930 & PSY 4935 .

Developmental Course (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PSY 3210 - Infant and Child Development 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3220 - Adolescent Development 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3230 - Adult Development and Aging 3 Credit(s)

Note

PSY 1100 - Lifespan Development is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for these developmental courses.

Abnormal Course (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PSY 2300 - Abnormal Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4300 - Abnormal Psychology: Children and Adolescents 3 Credit(s)

Bio-Psychology Course (3 Credits)

Complete at least 3 credits from among the following:

PSY 3150 - Sensation and Perception 3 Credit(s) (may count as either a Bio-Psychology or Cognitive course, but not both)
PSY 3600 - Stress and Pain 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3650 - Health Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4320 - Clinical Neuropsychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4510 - Brain and Behavior 2 Credit(s) ***
PSY 4515 - Animal Behavioral Neuroscience Lab 1 Credit(s) ****
PSY 4525 - Human Neuropsychophysiology Lab 1 Credit(s) ****
PSY 4550 - Drugs and Behavior 3 Credit(s)

Notes

*** Students may take PSY 4510 - Brain and Behavior and take one of the associated labs (PSY 4515 or PSY 4525 ), both labs, or neither lab.

**** Students may not take a lab (PSY 4515 or PSY 4525 ) without registering for the class PSY 4510 - Brain and Behavior .

Cognitive Course (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PSY 3150 - Sensation and Perception 3 Credit(s) (may count as either a Bio-Psychology or Cognitive course, but not both)
PSY 3320 - Cognitive Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4330 - Theories of Learning 3 Credit(s)

Social/Personality Course (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PSY 3270 - Motivation and Emotion 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3370 - Social Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3500 - Environmental Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3700 - Personality Theory 3 Credit(s)

Diversity Course (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PSY 3200 - Psychology of Culture 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3250 - Introduction to Psychology of Gender 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4999 - Engaged Learning in Psychology: Variable Topic 1-6 Credit(s) (Study Abroad; must be at least 3 credit hours) 3 Credit(s)

Capstone Course (3 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

PSY 4891 - Psychology Internship Capstone 3-12 Credit(s)
PSY 4910 - Senior Project: Literature Review 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4940 - Senior Project: Independent Research II 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4950 - History and Systems 3 Credit(s)

Psychology Electives (6 Credits)

Complete two of the following:

PSY 2000 - Introduction to Human Services Professions 1 Credit(s)
PSY 2020 - Professional Resiliency and Well-Being in Behavioral Health 3 Credit(s)
PSY 2030 - Ethics, Law, and Professional Issues for Behavioral Health Technicians 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3130 - Evolutionary Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3510 - Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3800 - Professional Roles and Ethics Practicum in Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 3820 - Human Relations in Group Dynamics 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4340 - Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4400 - Positive Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4530 - Forensic Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 4890 - Psychology Internship 1-12 Credit(s)
PSY 4830 - Readings and Conferences 1-3 Credit(s)
PSY 4831 - Readings and Conferences: Leadership 1 Credit(s)
Any additional psychology courses (other than PSY 1010 )

Free Electives (24-48 Credits)

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Total Credits, B.A./B.S. Degree: 120

Program Learning Outcomes

Content Knowledge and Applications: Students should demonstrate fundamental knowledge and comprehension of the major subfields, major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavioral problems. Students completing foundation courses should demonstrate breadth of their knowledge and application of psychological ideas to simple problems. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should show depth in their knowledge, application, and integration of psychological concepts, themes, and frameworks to problems of greater complexity.
Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and problem solving, including effective research methods. Students completing foundation-level courses should learn basic skills and concepts in interpreting behavior, studying research, and applying research design principles to drawing conclusions about psychological phenomena. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should focus on theory use as well as designing and executing research plans.
Values in Psychological Science: The skills in this domain involve the development of ethically and socially responsible behaviors for professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity. Students completing foundation-level courses should become familiar with the formal regulations that govern professional ethics in psychology and begin to embrace the values that will contribute to positive outcomes in work settings and in building a society responsive to multicultural and global concerns. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should have more direct opportunities to demonstrate adherence to professional values that will help them optimize their contributions and work effectively with all individuals. This domain also promotes the adoption of personal and professional values that can strengthen community relationships and contributions.
Communication: Students should demonstrate competence in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills. Students completing foundation-level courses should write a cogent scientific argument, present information using a scientific approach, engage in discussion of psychological concepts, explain the ideas of others, and express their own ideas with clarity. Students completing a baccalaureate degree should produce a research study or other psychological project, explain scientific results, and present information to a professional audience. They should also develop flexible interpersonal approaches that optimize information exchange and relationship development.
Personal and Professional Development: The emphasis in this goal is on application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation. Foundation-level outcomes concentrate on the development of work habits and ethics to succeed in academic settings. The skills in this goal at the baccalaureate level refer to abilities that sharpen student readiness for post baccalaureate employment, graduate school, or professional school. These skills can be developed and refined both in traditional academic settings and in extracurricular involvement. In addition, career professionals can be enlisted to support occupational planning and pursuit. This emerging emphasis should not be construed as obligating psychology programs to obtain employment for their graduates but instead as encouraging programs to optimize the competitiveness of their graduates for securing places in the workforce.

Source: American Psychological Association. (2023). APA guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major: Version 3.0. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/undergraduate-psychology-major.pdf