Department Chair: Jeffrey Elliott, Ph.D.
Description
The psychology department is a scholarly community committed to helping students increase their scientific understanding of human and animal behavior, use this understanding to help others, learn to conduct research, and prepare thoughtfully and systematically for their careers. To meet these commitments, the psychology department offers its students a broad curriculum, learning experiences and professional activities beyond the classroom, and high levels of student-faculty interaction and collaboration.
The psychology major helps students develop a detailed, integrated, and science-based understanding of behavior, including mental processes. Furthermore, the major promotes the application of this understanding to benefit human welfare.
The psychology major has four components:
- Students study the content of the major subdisciplines within psychology. Through studying these subdisciplines and their associated theories, research methodologies, and scientific findings, students learn how behavior is affected by an individual’s genetic background, physical state, cognitive and socioemotional processes, and cultural environment.
- The content of psychology is based on science; therefore, majors begin to understand, evaluate, and apply research. They also have the opportunity to design and participate in research.
- Psychology students learn about psychological disorders and the clinical application of psychology. They develop the knowledge and skills to help others solve personal problems, develop professional opportunities, and lead richer, fuller lives.
- Students identify their career goals, plan the appropriate career paths to achieve those goals, learn professional ethics, and acquire skills essential to their professional interests. Psychology majors develop the intellectual, interpersonal, and technical skills to obtain employment relevant to their degree or to pursue graduate studies.
Objectives
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduates will be able to:
- Think critically about major theories, concepts, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
- Conduct research by choosing appropriate research designs and statistical analyses, interpreting and communicating research results, and applying ethical standards.
- Help others by using psychological knowledge, counseling theory and skills, and ethical standards.
- Analyze how sociocultural differences affect their personal and professional interactions.
- Plan and pursue their ongoing professional development.
Policies
Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major, and the lowest acceptable grade is a "C" in all major and Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) courses. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next course without earning a grade of "C" or better in the prerequisite course(s). When a grade below "C" is earned in a major course, the student must repeat that course.
Requirements
The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor's degree in psychology. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).
Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.
Major Requirements:
| FYS 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 credit |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 105 | Professional Issues in Psychology | 1 credit |
| PSY 108 | Human Growth and Development | 3 credits |
| PSY 136 | Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences | 4 credits |
| PSY 201 | Writing for Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 205 | Career Development I | 1 credit |
| PSY 215 | Psychopathology | 3 credits |
| PSY 216 | Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents | 3 credits |
| PSY 230 | Basic Counseling Skills | 4 credits |
| PSY 260 | Behavioral Approaches to Change | 3 credits |
| PSY 261 | Biological Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 262 | Social Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 270 | Research Methods and Data Analysis I | 4 credits |
| PSY 305 | Career Development II | 1 credit |
| PSY 333 | Tests and Measurement | 4 credits |
| PSY 340 | Advanced Counseling Skills | 4 credits |
| PSY 341 | Counseling Theories | 3 credits |
| PSY 343 | Research Methods and Data Analysis II | 4 credits |
| PSY 405 | Career Development III | 1 credit |
| PSY 450 | Internship | 3 credits |
Three credits of psychology electives from among the following:
| PSY 326 | Special Topics in Cognitive Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 327 | Special Topics in Developmental Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 328 | Special Topics in Personality Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 329 | Special Topics in Social Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSY 350-354 | | 3 credits |
| PSY 470 | Senior Research Thesis | 4 credits |
Suggested Course Sequence
Suggested Course Sequence Psychology
Minor in Psychology
The minor in psychology requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits with a PSY prefix. PSY 208 Human Sexuality will count toward the minor although it is not a major requirement. Students majoring in human services may count up to three psychology courses required by the major toward a minor in psychology. Courses ineligible for the psychology minor include:
Students majoring in Human Services may count up to three psychology courses required by the major toward a minor in psychology. General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the Minors section of the catalog.
Course Descriptions
See Psychology Course Descriptions