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Chair: Patricia Bromley Professor Emeritus: William K. Miller Psychology is the empirical and theoretical study of behavior and mental life. It is a science that investigates the causes and dynamics of behavior patterns, and it is a profession that applies knowledge, skills, and techniques to the solutions of individual and social problems. A psychologist may be either a scientist, a practitioner, or both, who specializes in the study of behavior and the treatment of behavior-related problems. Educational and professional experiences help the psychologist to understand normal human developmental patterns and how people normally perceive, think, and behave in a wide variety of environments and under many different conditions. The scientist conducts research to add to the ever-expanding fund of knowledge available to colleagues and the general public. The practitioner is trained to provide professional assistance to children, adolescents and adults, as well as to couples, families, and groups and may also provide services to schools, agencies, organizations, industries, and institutions. Students major in psychology for a variety of reasons: 1. as preparation for graduate work in psychology; 2. as a liberal arts preparation for employment in a wide variety of semiprofessional or psychology-related fields, including management and personnel work, sales and services, and social service work; 3. as a second major in support of a more vocationally-oriented major. Many psychology majors also major in criminal justice, business, and other related fields. 4. In addition, there are a significant number of students who major in psychology as preprofessional undergraduates in preparation for law, clergy, or medicine, or to complete a bachelor's degree for nursing. Others have no more specific goal in mind than to obtain a quality liberal arts education. In cooperation with the Department of Criminal Justice and the Counselor Education Graduate Program, undergraduate psychology majors may obtain AODA certification (alcohol and other drug counseling).
General Requirements Bachelor of Science Degree
Total for Graduation 120 credits General Education 44-58 credits Major Studies 36 credits
Psychology Major (36 credits)
All majors will complete the required sequence of courses. Majors are advised to select either the human services emphasis or the applied-business emphasis, or to pursue a career-related minor or second major.
Core CoursesPSYC 1130 General Psychology 3 PSYC 2230 Introduction to Experimental Psychology 3 PSYC 3950 Advanced Experimental Psychology 5 PSYC 4330 History and Systems of Psychology 3 MATH 2430* Elementary Statistics 3 *MATH 2430 Elementary Statistics may count for both the major and for the university general requirements in mathematics, if a grade of "C" or better is earned.
Elective Category 1: Applied Courses (select 2) PSYC 2990 Industrial Psychology 3 PSYC 3130 Child Psychology 3 PSYC 3230 Adolescent Psychology 3 PSYC 3990 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging 3 PSYC 4830 Psychology and the Law 3
Elective Category 2: Experimental-Content Courses (select 2) PSYC 3000 Cognitive Psychology 3 PSYC 3030 Learning and Behavior 3 PSYC 3430 Physiological Psychology 3 PSYC 3530 Social Psychology 3 Elective Category 3: Clinical Courses (select 2) PSYC 3330 Psychological Measurement 3 PSYC 4030 Theories of Personality 3 PSYC 4430 Abnormal Psychology 3 PSYC 4930 Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3
Plus at least one (1) elective credit: (Select an additional course from the above elective categories or from the following courses.) PSYC 2010 Careers in Counseling and Human Services 1 PSYC 2030 Psychology of Personal Adjustment 3 PSYC 2530 Psychology of Women 3 PSYC 3630 Psychology of Human Sexuality 3 PSYC 3830 Psychology and Religion 3 PSYC 4020 Contemporary Issues in Psychology 3 PSYC 4130 Interpersonal Psychology 3 PSYC 4660 Cooperative Field Experience, CFE 1-8** PSYC 4730 Independent Study in Psychology 3 PSYC 4940 Advanced Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3 **One credit of CFE may count toward the 36 credits required for the major; up to eight credits may count toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Departmental Writing Requirements: In addition to the completion of 36 credits in psychology, all psychology majors must also successfully complete the following writing requirements: 1. Completion of Freshman Composition 1130 and 1230 with a minimum grade of "C," or verification of testing-out by the Department of Humanities (English). 2. Satisfactory completion of papers in those courses in which papers are required, which are evaluated for ability to communicate in written form as well as knowledge of psychological concepts. 3. Satisfactory completion of the junior writing exam. During the first semester of a student's junior year, each major will write an essay which will be evaluated for writing competence and psychological content.
Course Grade and Prerequisite Requirements: 1. A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all psychology courses that contribute to the 36 hour requirement for a psychology major. 2. Elementary Statistics (MATH 2430) must be successfully completed ("D" or better) before taking Advanced Experimental Psychology (PSYC 3950). MATH 2430 can only count as part of the 36 required credits if a "C" or better is earned. Emphases within the major: Completion of an emphasis or a career-related minor or second major is strongly recommended. |