Undergraduate programs

The program in psychology has been planned with the idea that all students, regardless of major, will have to solve significant psychological problems in their relations with others, at home and at work, in their personal decisions, and in their efforts to understand the problems and processes of society. The program serves students intending to do professional work in the field; liberal arts majors who are interested in psychology as part of a liberal arts education; and students of other social sciences or in a professional field such as business, education, medicine, or the ministry who seek a working knowledge of psychological principles.

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

Psychology B.A./B.S.

Psychology Minor

Psychology Secondary Education Program

Psychology B.A./B.S.

Requirements

The major in psychology requires a minimum of 60 credits in the field. Students must complete the required courses in statistics before taking any 400-level course or any course with statistics as a prerequisite.

All students majoring in psychology, especially those that are considering graduate work in psychology, are encouraged to plan their program with an adviser from the Department of Psychology no later than the beginning of their first term of junior standing.

All psychology majors are strongly encouraged to participate in the advising process, which includes a Group Orientation session, peer mentoring, and faculty advising. Information about the psychology advising program is available on the Psychology Department website.

It is recommended that freshmen not enroll in psychology courses unless they have a B average (3.00 GPA) or above in high school.

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the student must meet the following requirements for major:

Besides taking courses in a range of subjects in psychology, majors are also required to take a course in human diversity. To fulfill this requirement students can choose to take any 300- or 400-level class in the following subjects: Black Studies, Chicano/Latino Studies, Indigenous Nations Studies, and Women's Studies, or any of the following classes:

Anth 318U	Asian American Experience	4
Anth 426	Transnationalism and Migration	4
Anth 432	Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective	4
Comm 415	Problems of Intercultural Communication	4
CR 312	Intercultural Conflict Resolution	4
Psy 310U	Psychology of Women	4
Psy 410	Cross-cultural Psychology	4
Psy 410	LGBTQ Psychology	4
Psy 410	Native American Psychological Healing	4
Psy 425	Psychology of Black Manhood in America	4
Psy 426	Psychology of Stigma & Social Inequality	4
Psy 428	Diversity, Prejudice and Intergroup Relations	4
Psy 429	The Psychology of Race & Gender in Sport	4
Psy 431U	Psychology of Men and Masculinities	4
Psy 458	Development & Education of African-Diaspora Children & Youth	4
Psy 463	Development and Education of Immigrant Children and Youth	4
Soc 337U	Prejudice, Privilege, and Power	4
Soc 344U	Gender and Sexualities	4
Soc 423	Stratification	4
Soc 427	Gender and Work	4
Soc 430	Hate Crimes	4
Soc 444	Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality	4
Soc 446	Immigrants in America	4
Soc 452	Education and Equality: Comparing the US, Asia, Europe	4
Soc 463	Global Inequalities and Health	4

The list above is not comprehensive; students can also use courses not included here with advisor approval.

Courses

Stat 243	Introduction to Probability and Statistics I	4
	And
Stat 244	Introduction to Probability and Statistics II	4
	or
Stat 243	Introduction to Probability and Statistics I	4
	And
Psy 320	Social Science Research Methods II	4
	or
Soc 396	Social Research Methods, Social Statistics	4
	And
Psy 320	Social Science Research Methods II	4
Psy 200	Psychology as a Natural Science	4
Psy 204	Psychology as a Social Science	4
	Psychology elective 200-level or above (including 399-409)	4
Psy 321	Research Methods in Psychology	4
Psy 410-498		16
	Additional upper division psychology courses (300-or 400-level, excluding 401-409)	20

All majors are encouraged to begin their work in statistics as soon as possible in preparation for Psy 321, which is a prerequisite for many of the upper-division courses.

Total Credit Hours: 60

All courses submitted to satisfy the requirements for a major in psychology, including the mandatory math courses, must be passed with a grade of C- or above. Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling department major requirements.

Students considering graduate work in psychology should be especially well prepared in mathematics and should take experimental psychology (Psy 454). They should consider participating in research with a faculty member. They are encouraged to develop breadth by pursuing interests in diverse fields outside psychology before beginning the greater specialization of graduate work.