Major

Students majoring in psychology have the option of completing either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

Students in both degree programs acquire a knowledge of the theoretical approaches, research methodologies, research findings, and practical applications of the many subfields within the science of psychology. Students acquire the ability to:

  • critique new research findings in psychology.
  • present research findings and theoretical systems in oral and written formats.
  • apply theory to real-world problems.
  • evaluate contemporary controversies in the field of psychology.

In addition to the skills above, students in the B.S. degree program acquire the following specific research skills designed to best prepare them for graduate study:

  • critically reviewing and synthesizing diverse bodies of research literature.
  • designing and conducting original research projects.
  • using SPSS to analyze research data.
  • using computer-based graphics packages to prepare professional quality figures and graphics.
  • preparing publication quality research reports in APA format.

All students majoring in psychology, whether pursing the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science, must take the following eight courses in psychology, and these courses must satisfy the following conditions:

  • PS 101 Introduction to Psychology
  • PS 200 Methods I: Research in Psychology
  • PS 201 Methods II: Statistics in Psychology
  • PS 498 Comprehensive Exam
  • Any 200-level Elective

Students must also take at least one course in each cluster listed below:

Cluster 1:

  • PS 205 Human Cognition
  • PS 212 Animal Cognition
  • PS 214 Sensation and Perception

Cluster 2:

  • PS 275 Social Psychology
  • PS 202 Developmental Psychology

Cluster 3:

  • PS 209 Perspectives in Mental Health
  • PS 234 Health Psychology

To fulfill the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology, students must take the eight courses listed above, and they must choose three 300/400-level electives and one more elective at any level for a total of 12 psychology courses. Any psychology course may be used for this purpose, with the exception of directed/independent studies and winter terms. No more than four transfer classes may count toward the B.A. psychology major.

To fulfill the requirements for a Bachelor of Science with a major in psychology, students must take the eight courses listed above, and they must take the following courses:

  • PS 321 Advanced Statistics
  • PS 428 Advanced Research or PS 460 Supervised Research II
  • PS 435 Contemporary Issues in Psychology

Additionally, students pursuing the B.S. track must choose two 300/400-level electives and one more elective at any level for a total of 14 psychology courses. Any psychology course may be used for this purpose, with the exception of directed/independent studies and winter terms. No more than four transfer classes may count toward the B.S. pscyhology major.

To fulfill the requirements of the psychology minor, the student must take Introduction to Psychology and four other psychology courses. Independent studies and winter terms may not be used for this purpose, and at least one of the four additional courses must be a 300-level course. No more than two transfer classes may count toward the psychology minor.

All courses for the psychology major and minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.