Psychology Major

The Department offers a general major course of study, three specialized major concentrations of study and a minor course of study. The track selected will appear on a student’s official transcript. All programs entail completion of a core set of psychology requirements and a core set of allied requirements. Specific requirements vary by program. Beyond the core courses, majors are free to choose additional psychology courses depending on personal interest.
 

Required Core Courses

 
All Psychology majors – regardless of their selected track (General, Child and Adolescent, Mental Health or Biopsychology) – must complete the following core courses:

Departmental Courses
PSY 101 – General Psychology
PSY 209 – Abnormal Psychology
PSY 307 – Experimental Psychology I
PSY 308 – Experimental Psychology II
PSY 490 – History and Systems of Psychology
and 6 PSY 099 – Psychology Seminar offerings

Majors must also select 1 of the following:
PSY 315 – Biopsychology
PSY 316 – Cognition
PSY 413 – Psychopharmacology

Allied Courses
MTH 115 – Quantitative Reasoning*
MTH 210 – Elementary Statistics
PHI 202 – Logic or PHI 216 – Ethics
 
* Students who have achieved academic credit for MTH 210 without having completed MTH 115 are exempt from the MTH 115 requirement.
 

General Psychology Track

 
Major Academic Plan
 
The goal of this track is to provide a sound but generalized background in Psychology. Students pursuing the general track might be interested in pursuing a number of careers or fields of postgraduate study within psychology, but might also be interested in careers in business having to do with management or personnel or careers in public administration.
 
In addition to the core requirements noted above, students pursuing the General Psychology Track must take:

Departmental Courses
PSY 206 – Child Psychology
PSY 207 – Adolescent Psychology
PSY 210 – Abnormal Psychology
PSY 211 – Behavior Modification

And select 2 of the following:*
PSY 309 – Psychology of Women and Gender Development
PSY 315 – Biopsychology
PSY 316 – Cognition
PSY 317 – Psychology of Personality
PSY 321 – Health Psychology
PSY 413 – Psychopharmacology
PSY 416 – Counseling and Clinical Methods
PSY 417 – Psychological Tests and Measures
PSY 435 – Special Topics in Psychology
 
* PSY 315, 316 or 413 may not be used toward this requirement if used to fulfill one of the core requirements noted above.

Allied Courses
 
ANT 200 – Cultural Anthropology
BIO 110 – Contemporary Biological Problems
 

Child and Adolescent Psychology Track

 
The goal of this track is to provide a specialized background for careers involving day to day contact with children or adolescents, including day care provision, juvenile crime management, human service casework, educational administration and postgraduate scientific study in developmental, school or child clinical psychology.
 
In addition to the core requirements noted above, students pursuing the Child and Adolescent Psychology Track must take:
 
Departmental Courses
 
PSY 206 – Child Psychology
PSY 207 – Adolescent Psychology
PSY 309 – Psychology of Women and Gender Development

And select 1 from the following:*
PSY 210 – Abnormal Psychology
PSY 211 – Behavior Modification
PSY 316 – Cognition
PSY 317 – Psychology of Personality
PSY 321 – Health Psychology
PSY 413 – Psychopharmacology
PSY 416 – Counseling and Clinical Methods
PSY 417 – Psychological Tests and Measures
PSY 435 – Special Topics in Psychology
 
* PSY 316 or 413 may not be used toward this requirement if used to fulfill one of the core requirements noted above.

Allied Courses
 
ANT 200 – Cultural Anthropology
BIO 110 – Contemporary Biological Problems

And 1 of the following:
COM 254 – Family Communication
EIS 320 – Family Systems/Social Issues in Early Childhood
NDI 255 – Integrated Arts in Early Childhood

Mental Health Track

 
Major Academic Plan
 
The goal of this track is to provide a specialized background for careers including psychological treatment of children or adults, counseling, social work, vocational and rehabilitation counseling, probation officer work and postgraduate scientific study in clinical, counseling or school psychology.
 
In addition to the core requirements noted above, students pursuing the Mental Health Track must take:
 
Departmental Courses
PSY 370 – Internship (at least 3 semester hours)

And 3 of the following:
PSY 211 – Behavior Modification
PSY 321 – Health Psychology
PSY 416 – Counseling and Clinical Methods
PSY 417 – Psychological Tests and Methods

Allied Courses
ANT 200 – Cultural Anthropology
BIO 110 – Contemporary Biological Problems

And 1 of the following:
COM 254 – Family Communication
COM 354 – Interpersonal Communication
 

Biopsychology Track

 
Major Academic Plan
 
The goal of this track is to provide students with a specialized background for careers dealing with human biological functioning, including counseling, industrial research, pharmaceutical sales and postgraduate scientific study in biology, biopsychology, neuropsychology or medicine. Students wishing to go to medical school should consult with an advisor to plan for supplemental courses to the ones listed below.
 
In addition to the core requirements noted above, students pursuing the Biopsychology Track must take:
 
Departmental Courses
PSY 315 – Biopsychology
PSY 321 – Health Psychology
PSY 413 – Psychopharmacology

Allied Courses
ANT 205 – Physical Anthropology
BIO 110 – Contemporary Biological Problems or BIO 123 - Biology I
BIO 222 – Cell and Molecular Biology*
BIO 223 – Genetics
BIO 363 – Human and Physiology I
 
* Although this course has a co-requisite or prerequisite, it is waived for Psychology majors who have declared the Biopsychology Track.
 

Special Notes:

  • All students must complete the General Education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees that are described in the college catalog. Each degree requires students to take courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, cultures and mathematics. These courses are designed to provide a broad liberal arts background and skills specific to the particular degree program.
  • No more than 48 semester hours in Psychology (PSY) can be applied toward graduation.