Psychology Department
Psychology Department Overview
The Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Our undergraduate major is designed to provide students with knowledge of psychology's history, major theories, philosophical assumptions, current research, and in-depth knowledge of psychological science. You will also be challenged to develop critical thinking skills and a scientific understanding of research methods and statistics. Our program closely aligns with the American Psychological Association's learning guidelines for increasing student knowledge, developing scientific reasoning, advancing ethical and social responsibility, developing communication skills, and refining career goals and professional development.
All faculty members in the Department of Psychology have doctoral degrees and are trained researchers. We are a diverse department and our areas of expertise range from consulting work to research on program evaluation, mindfulness meditation, animal behavior, substance use, small group behavior, behavioral neuroscience, cognition and perception, child development, and self-concept and motivation.
Psychology Features
A variety of options encourage you to move beyond the classroom:
- You can work with faculty mentors on a research project. To help you, we have dedicated laboratory facilities for animal learning, child development, cognition, neuroscience, visual perception, and human-computer interaction.
- You can do an internship by finding a position at crisis centers, educational institutions, rehabilitation centers, non-profit organizations, court rooms, law enforcement agencies, and many other domains.
- You can participate in an extracurricular activity like the Psychology Book Club where you'll meet other majors, hear guest speakers, and take trips to conferences, institutions, and research facilities.
- Students who qualify with an overall QPA of 3.0 or above and a 3.2 or above in psychology are invited to apply to Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions and Guide Sheets
120 total credits are required to graduate with a B.A. in Psychology
*45 General Education Credits
*42 Psychology Major Credits
*33 Free Electives (includes additional Psychology Core and Electives courses - beyond the requirements for the major)
Additional Psychology Courses
Selected Topics in Psychology (credits count towards free electives)
*See psychology department emails for specific topics as they change each semester
Internship (3 credits could count towards major – for Capstone requirement)
PSY 385 Internship I
PSY 386 Internship II
*Students can take PSY 385 Internship I or both PSY 385 and PSY 386 Internship II. Students must apply to earn internship credit. Successful applicants must have completed relevant courses that will prepare them for the internship for which they apply. Final approval is made by the Psychology Department Internship Committee and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Note: It is a student’s responsibility to make sure they are progressing through the Major, General Education, and other requirements to graduate in a timely fashion.
GRAD SCHOOL/TECHNICAL FIELD
*PSY 105
*PSY 205
Career Goals for this Track
Intend, at some point, to go to ANY graduate program including: all fields of psychology, counseling, social work, occupational therapy, marriage & family therapy, medical school, law school, MBA, etc..
OR immediate employment in technical fields such as: research assistant, grants manager, research associate, data analyst, lab manager, quality assurance specialist, etc.
CAREER READINESS
*2 additional courses in the Professional Development category
Career Goals for this Track
Immediate employment after graduation as: behavior health technician, case manager, counselor, registered behavior technician, resident support staff, human resource generalist, psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner, treatment specialist, probation officer, college admissions counselor, etc.