Psychology

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Psychology

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, graduates will be able to:

  1. Think critically about major theories, concepts, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
  2. Conduct research by choosing appropriate research designs and statistical analyses, interpreting and communicating research results, and applying ethical standards.
  3. Help others by using psychological knowledge, theory, and skills, and ethical standards.
  4. Analyze how sociocultural differences affect their personal and professional interactions.
  5. Plan and pursue their ongoing career and/or professional development.

Policies

Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major. The lowest acceptable grade is a “C” in all courses listed in the major under “Program Requirements” for the major, including both courses in the major and SEE courses required by the major. 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 100First Year Seminar

1 credit

PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

3 credits

PSY 108Human Growth and Development

3 credits

PSY 136Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

4 credits

PSY 201Writing for Psychology

3 credits

PSY 205Career Development I

1 credit

PSY 215Psychopathology

3 credits

PSY 230Basic Helping Skills

3 credits

PSY 260Behavioral Approaches to Change

3 credits

PSY 262Social Psychology

3 credits

PSY 305Career Development II

1 credit

PSY 355Experimental Design and Analysis I

4 credits

PSY 356Experimental Design and Analysis II

4 credits

PSY 363Cognitive Psychology

3 credits

PSY 370Biological Psychology

3 credits

PSY 450Internship

3 credits

PSY 480Senior Seminar: Diversity in Psychology

3 credits

Six credits of psychology electives (at least three credits at the 300-level or above) from among the following:

PSY 208Human Sexuality

3 credits

PSY 216Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents

3 credits

PSY 250-254Topics in Psychology

3 credits

PSY 325Personality Psychology

3 credits

PSY 326Special Topics in Cognitive Psychology

3 credits

PSY 327Special Topics in Developmental Psychology

3 credits

PSY 328Special Topics in Personality Psychology

3 credits

PSY 329Special Topics in Social Psychology

3 credits

PSY 333Tests and Measurement

3 credits

PSY 340Advanced Helping Skills

3 credits

PSY 341Counseling Theories

3 credits

PSY 350 - 354Advanced Topics in Applied Psychology

3 credits

PSY 405Career Development III

1 credit

PSY 420History and Systems of Psychology

3 credits

PSY 470Senior Research Thesis

3 credits

Suggested Course Sequence

2024-25 SCS Psychology

Minor in Psychology

The minor in psychology requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits with a PSY prefix. Students majoring in counseling and 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:

  • PSY-206 Child Development (except for education majors)
  • PSY-330 Educational Psychology (except for education majors)

General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the Minors section of the catalog.

Other Options

BA Option: 

Students also have the option of completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. The student must fulfill all SEE requirements, program requirements, and complete two semesters of a foreign language from the point of placement or completion of 202 level.

Course Descriptions

See Psychology Course Descriptions