Nov 08, 2024  
2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2011-2012 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Psychology, B.A. Major in


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The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Major in Psychology is a program of study that:

  • Exposes students to concepts and research from multiple theoretical perspectives on behavior and mental processes
  • Trains students in the scientific method and engages them in behavioral research

Within these program goals the B.A. in Psychology also helps carry out the mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: students of psychology are taught to think critically about truth claims involving behavior, and to reason and communicate scientifically. The B.A. in Psychology prepares students for work and/or graduate study in a wide range of fields outside of psychology including business, education, health, law, and technology. The B.A. in Psychology is preparation for graduate study in psychology, and for careers in behavioral research and human service professions.

Program Requirements


A Psychology major consists of 33 semester hours distributed as follows:

1. Required Courses - Total Semester Hours: 15


2. Psychology Electives (Essential Electives) - Total Semester Hours: 9


Complete three (3) courses from the essential electives category, which represent the fundamental areas of psychological science.


Three (3) of the following courses with at least one (1) course from each category (9 s.h.):

a) Biopsychological


b) Learning/Cognitive


c) Developmental/Social/Clinical


Specialty/Applied Electives - Total Semester hours: 9


Complete three (3) additional PSY courses. These courses, generally represented by a 2-digit course code in the list of courses below (e.g., PSY 89) represent important, but more narrowly focused or applied fields of psychology, as compared to the Essential Electives. The only prerequisite generally required for these courses is PSY 1, but see the course descriptions for other requirements.


This requirement may be fulfilled by combinations of specialty/applied elective courses and/or additional essential elective courses.

3. ETS Major Field Test


The ETS Major Field Test in Psychology is required of all majors and is to be taken in the senior year.

4. Grade requirement


All courses for the major require a grade of C- or better.

Note:


There is a 45 semester hour limit in the student’s major. This means that although psychology majors are welcome to take more psychology courses than the 33 s.h. minimum required for graduation, no credit toward graduation will be given for any semester hours in psychology over 45 s.h.. A student may go beyond this limit if enrolled in Honors in Psychology (PSY 100) with permission from the Psychology Department. No other exceptions will be made.

See Also: Complete B.A. Requirements


B.A. Requirements  in HCLAS.

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