Psychology Major (BS)
College: College of Natural & Health Sciences
The psychology major provides a broadly based education in the content, methods, principles, and theories of the science of psychology. The required courses in the major expose students to the traditional important subject areas of psychology. The elective courses in the major allow students the flexibility to pursue their own interests and goals.
Students who are considering psychology as a major should speak with a psychology adviser early in their education. This will allow them to develop a long-range plan that best meets their educational and career goals. Students whose interests are in the social service and mental health areas should consider the Certificate in Mental Health Skills. Students whose interests are in research should consider the Certificate in Psychological Research. Students with interests in graduate school in psychological neuroscience should consider the Concentration in Neuroscience and/or the Certificate in Neuroscience.
Students who intend to pursue graduate study in psychology or a related field should discuss this with their adviser as early as possible to develop a plan of study that will prepare them for graduate school. These students should plan to take more than the minimum 39 credits in psychology required for the major. They are also encouraged to complete at least one of the three certificates and to participate in PSYC 494 Psychology Internship or PSYC 499 Independent Study under the guidance of a member of the department.
Students majoring in psychology may be eligible for membership in Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. Psychology Club is a student organization that sponsors activities of broad interest to psychology students (e.g., workshops on graduate school and discussions of employment opportunities). Contact Dr. Hillard for information about how to join Psi Chi and/or the Psychology Club.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Communication: Students successfully communicate psychology-related material.
- Critical Thinking: Students apply critical thinking skills to reading scholarly material and writing a scholarly paper.
- Social and Personal Responsibility: Students apply psychological principles.
- Content Knowledge: Students can explain the major theories and research findings major areas of psychology.
Minimum 2.50 GPA in all courses used in the major (including transfer credits).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College of Natural and Health Sciences requirement | ||
| New entering students, and transfer students with less than 30 college credits, choosing a major in the College of Natural and Health Sciences are required to take this course. | ||
| UWP 101 | First Year Seminar: Natural and Health Sciences | 1 |
| Core Courses | ||
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychological Science | 3 |
| PSYC 250 | Psychological Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 300 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| Breadth Courses | ||
| PSYC 200 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYC 205 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 210 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
| PSYC 220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| Completion Options | ||
| Choose one option | 18-31 | |
| Total Credits | 40-53 | |
Completion Options
General Psychology Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Depth Courses | ||
| Select fifteen credits of PSYC courses numbered 301 and above 1 | 15 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select three credits of any 200-level, 300-level, or 400-level PSYC course that is not required for the major | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Neuroscience Concentration
The neuroscience concentration will provide students with an interdisciplinary perspective on the emerging area of neuroscience research. The neuroscience concentration will provide students with the background and critical thinking skills necessary to prepare for graduate programs in neuroscience and career opportunities in a diverse range of scientific research and medical fields.
Students must have completed PSYC 200 Introduction to Neuroscience with a B-minus or better to declare this concentration.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| PSYC 420 | Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| Select six of the following courses: | 18 | |
| Learning and Memory | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Biological Psychology | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Brain Development and Plasticity | ||
| Psychopathology | ||
| Senior Capstone in Neuroscience | ||
| Interdisciplinary Electives | ||
| Choose one group | 8-10 | |
| Chemistry Group | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry Lab I | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| General Chemistry Lab II | ||
| Biology Group | ||
| Bioscience | ||
| Organismal Biology | ||
| Physics Group | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Math Group | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | ||
| Total Credits | 29-31 | |
General University Degree Requirements (Bachelor's Degree)
In addition to individual program requirements, students must also fulfill the following requirements:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Skills | 7-8 |
| General Education | 36 |
| Foreign Language** | 6-8 |
| Ethnic Diversity | 3 |
| Total | 52-55 |
** Transfer students in sustainable management, and health information management and technology collaborative, online degree-completion programs, the business management online degree-completion program, and the flexible option degree-completion program will be exempt from the university’s foreign language requirement. See appropriate academic section for further information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| Computational Skills | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| College Mathematics with Applications | ||
| College Algebra I | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Minimum Total Credits | 120 |
| Upper Level Credits (300 level or above) | 36 |
| Residency | 30 |
Cumulative Degree GPA: 2.0 minimum
Psychology with General Psychology Completion Option
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ENGL 100 | Fundamentals of English | 3 |
| MATH 104 or MATH 111 |
College Mathematics with Applications or College Algebra I |
4-5 |
| UWP 101 | First Year Seminar: Natural and Health Sciences | 1 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| General Education (SS) | 3 | |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Reading | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychological Science | 3 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| General Education (NS) | 3 | |
| General Education (SS) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 29-30 | |
| Year 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| PSYC 205 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 210 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| General Education (NS) | 3 | |
| Introductory Language | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSYC 220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 250 | Psychological Statistics | 3 |
| General Education (HU) | 3 | |
| General Education (NS) | 3 | |
| Introductory Language | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| PSYC 300 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 200 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 3 |
| 300/400 Level Psyc Elective | 3 | |
| General Education (NS) | 3 | |
| General Elective OR DV course (if needed) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 300/400 Level PSYC Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level PSYC Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Year 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| 300/400 Level PSYC Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective | 3 | |
| General Education (SS) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSYC Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective | 3 | |
| 300/400 Level General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |