Psychology Major and Minor Requirements
Courses in psychology provide a background for a better understanding of the modern world, other academic fields, and one's self. Classes can be taken as courses for a major or minor concentration in psychology, as supporting courses for other majors, or because of general interest.
The major concentration in psychology is designed to encourage an understanding of human behavior from a broad perspective, to prepare students for graduate study in psychology, for employment in a psychology-related field, or for further education or career training in a variety of other fields.
Psychology Major (48 credits):
Four courses are required of all psychology majors:
| PSYC 150 | Introduction to Psychology |
| SOCS 233 | Social Science Behavioral Research Statistics |
| PSYC 290 | Experimental Psychology |
| PSYC 370 | Thesis Development |
In addition, majors are required to take at least four breadth courses from the following five breadth courses:
| PSYC 210 | Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience |
| PSYC 220 | Social Psychology |
| PSYC 230 | Cognition |
| PSYC 245 | Abnormal Psychology |
| PSYC 285 | Child and Adolescent Development |
Majors also are required to take three depth courses after they have met the prerequisites for the respective depth course. These depth courses include:
| PSYC 315 | Sensation and Perception |
| PSYC 335 | Tests and Measurements |
| PSYC 345 | Contemporary Issues in Sex and Gender |
| PSYC 365 | Childhood Psychopathology |
| PSYC 375 | Personality |
| PSYC 385 | Adult Development and Aging |
| PSYC 395 | Neuroscience II |
| PSYC 471 | Topics |
Finally, students may take one or more electives from the following:
| PSYC 271 | Topics |
| PSYC 400 | Senior Seminar |
| PSYC 470 | Field Work |
All majors are required to complete a thesis. Thesis projects are begun in the course titled Thesis Development 370.
Psychology Minor ( 24 credits):
| PSYC 150 | Introduction to Psychology |
| PSYC 290 | Experimental Psychology |
| SOCS 233 | Social Science Behavioral Research Statistics |
and any three additional courses from the listing of the department.
Independent Study and Field Work Students desiring to enroll in Independent Study or Field Work in psychology must consult the chair of the department of psychology regarding deadlines and other procedural details.
Students involved in an overseas language experience should consult with the chair of the psychology department about the completion of their Senior Thesis in Senior Seminar 400.
Students with a broad field Social Science major with a concentration in psychology should complete a minor in Psychology and a Senior Thesis in psychology; they should be enrolled in Thesis Development 370 or Senior Seminar 400 as one of their three additional courses.
Honors in the Major
Please see department chair for details. Basic requirements are listed under All-College Programs in the catalog.
