Total hours:

Students who choose to major in psychology must have A TOTAL OF 34 SEMESTER HOURS of psychology courses.

B.A. in Psychology: 34 - 45 credits

B.S. in Psychology: 34 - 60 credits

NOTES:

1. In both the B.A. and B.S. degree programs, the maximum credits shown above are the most that may be counted toward the degree. Students may take more psychology courses than the maximum credits shown above, but the additional psychology credits may not count toward the required minimum total credits for the degree.

2. Students who wish to take more than 45 credits in psychology may want to consider changing from a B.A. degree program to a B.S. degree program. This is a simple change done through the Academic Advisement office.

3. All Psychology courses you take count toward the totals above, plus STAT 101 and (if you take it) EPSY 240. However, the Required Related courses that are in departments other than Psychology are not counted toward these totals.

Six Required Courses:

Prerequisite

NOTES:

1. The Introductory Psychology course will count to meet part of your General Education requirement in Social and Human Behavior (S2).

2. The Research Methods course will count to meet your General Education Writing Skills requirement (WS2).

3. The Psychology Department has established a policy that a grade of "C" or better must be obtained in any course that serves as a prerequisite for another psychology course. If you get a grade of C- or lower in a course that is a prerequisite for another psychology course, you must retake the prerequisite course and achieve a grade of C or better before you may register for the advanced course.

---- This DOES mean you MUST achieve a grade of C or better in PSYC 100 (Introductory Psychology), STAT 101 (Statistics), and PSYC 220 (Research Methods), since these serve as prerequisites for additional courses that are required for the major. It also means you cannot register for certain advanced courses without achieving a grade of C or better in any other course that is a prerequisite for the course you want to take. (For example, Social Psychology is a prerequisite for Advanced Social Psychology, so you must get a C or better in Social Psychology before you can take Advanced Social Psychology).

---- This DOES NOT mean you must get a grade of C or better in every psychology course you take. If you get a passing grade of less than C in a course that is NOT a prerequisite for another required course, you may count that grade toward your psychology major. You are, however, required to meet the overall college requirement of a GPA of 2.0 or better in your major in order to graduate.

Hints and suggestions:

Take the writing exam early. You must pass the writing exam before taking PSYC 220, Research Methods. 

Many students find it advisable to take MATH 104 before STAT 101. MATH 104 satisfies one of the Psychology Department related work requirements. It also can help prepare you to do well in the required STAT 101 course.

Area Requirement:

You MUST take 1 of the following courses

Prerequisite

C in PSYC 100
C in PSYC 100
C in PSYC 100
C in PSYC 100
C in PSYC 100

PSYC 324. Physiological
PSYC 326. Comparative       

NOTES:

1. The two 300-level courses above will meet both the Area Requirement and the 300-level requirement. However, each course only counts once toward your required total credits in Psychology.

300-Level Requirement:

You must take at least two 300-level Psychology content courses. Any 300-level Psychology courses may be used to satisfy this requirement except PSYC 399, Independent Study.

NOTES:

1. The two 300-level courses listed above under the Area Requirement will meet both the Area Requirement and the 300-level requirement. However, each course only counts once toward your required total credits in Psychology.

2. All 300-level courses require C or better in PSYC 100, STAT 101, and PSYC 220. Some 300 level courses also have additional prerequisites.

Hints and suggestions:

STAT 101 (Statistics) must precede PSYC 220 (Research Methods) which must precede your two required 300-level courses. This is a three-course sequence, so you should start it early. Take STAT 101 as soon as possible (also planning that you may want to take MATH 104 before STAT 101).

Related Coursework from Other Departments:

Psychology Majors are required to select 15 hours of courses from lists of eligible courses in the following areas:

Mathematics

Statistics and Computer Science

Language Arts

Cultural Diversity

The required related coursework is described in the college catalog and on your arrow sheet.

Hints and suggestions:

Review these requirements and the available course options carefully. Some of the course also will satisfy General Education Requirements applicable to all majors.

Be aware that some courses on the list of options are offered infrequently. For this reason you should try to take courses that satisfy most of these requirements prior to your junior year and all of them prior to your senior year.

Special Opportunities: Courses

The Psychology Department offers a number of special opportunities that are encouraged but not required. These opportunities will broaden your training and experience, and increase your chances of being admitted to graduate school or getting a job in the field of psychology.

PSYC 295. Teaching Assistantship in Psychology.
(1 to 3 s.h.)
(Pass/Fail only)

Internship:

PSYC 297. Field Experiences in Psychology.
(1 to 15 s.h.)
(Pass/Fail only)

Research Assistantship
or
Independent Study

PSYC 299. Independent Study in Psychology.
(1 to 3 s.h.)

C in 100, STAT 101, 220, 2.5 GPA in Psychology, written permission of instructor and department chair.

See catalog.

Advanced Research
or
Independent Study

PSYC 399. Independent Study in Psychology.
(1 to 3 s.h.)

C in 100, STAT 101, 220, 2.5 GPA in Psychology, written permission of instructor and department chair.

See catalog.

NOTES:

1. Students wishing to register for teaching assistantships or internships should obtain the application form for a complete and up to date list of prerequisites. These prerequisites are college requirements and cannot be waived by the Psychology Department.

2. The college has established limits on the total number of semester hours of teaching assistantships and internships that may be applied toward graduation. See the application forms for these limits.

3. Students registering for internships should be aware that there is a mandatory insurance fee required by the college.

4. See further information about research opportunities, teaching assistantships and internships in the Opportunities section of this website.

Special Opportunities: Psychology Organizations

Students are strongly encouraged to become involved in some of the many organizations and activities offered by the college. Two of these are very valuable for Psychology Majors.

Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society