Psychology
http://www.uwplatt.edu/psychology
Department Chair: Patricia L. Bromley
Office: 228 Warner
Phone: 608-342-1723
E-mail: bromleyp@uwplatt.edu

Professor Emeritus: Professor: Associate Professors: Assistant Professors:


Lecturers: Psychology


About The Department & Major

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 font 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 high quality liberal arts education.

In cooperation with the Department of Criminal Justice and/or the Counselor Education Graduate Program, undergraduate psychology majors may obtain AODA certification (alcohol and other drug counseling) or complete course requirements for the State of Wisconsin Social Worker Training Certificate.

General Requirements


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 Courses *MATH 1830 Elementary Statistics does not count toward the 36 credits for the major.

Elective Category 1: Applied Courses (select 2) Elective Category 2: Experimental-Content Courses (select 2) Elective Category 3: Clinical Courses (select 2) Plus at least four (4) elective credits:
(Select additional courses from the above elective categories or from the following courses.) *Four credits of Cooperative Field Experience 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 of 1130 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 credit requirement for a psychology major.
  2. Elementary Statistics (MATH 1830) must be successfully completed ("D" or better) before taking Behavorial Research I (PSYCHLGY 3960).

Psychology Emphases


Emphases within the major: Completion of an emphasis, a career-related minor, or a second major is strongly recommended.

Human Services Emphasis

This includes appropriate selection of electives from the elective categories of the psychology major plus additional courses, requiring 15-18 credits beyond the minimum 36 for the major:

Required Course Work:

The course work in this emphasis is recommended by the Psychology Department to students interested in pursuing a career in the human service professions or in applying for the State of Wisconsin Social Work Training Certificate or for state AODA (alcohol and other drug) certification. Obtaining these certifications may require coursework or training beyond that provided at UW-Platteville. Please check regularly with your advisor regarding possible revisions.

Applied Business Emphasis

This includes appropriate selection of electives from the elective categories of the psychology major plus additional courses, requiring 15-18 credits beyond the minimum 36 for the major).

Required Course Work:

A technical writing course (ENGLISH 3000 or COMMNCTN 3010) and BUSADMIN 3630 (Advertising) are also strongly recommended.

The course work in this emphasis is recommended by the Psychology Department to students interested in pursuing a career in business fields related to psychology.


Suggested Sequencing of Courses:

The following is a recommended sequence of courses. It includes the requirements for the core major and those for the basic skills component (only) of the general education requirements.

First Year Second Year Third Year Fourth Year

We highly recommend that you not leave any required courses (for major, emphasis, or general education) to be taken the final semester. Elective credits toward the 120 required for graduation and additional electives in psychology should be taken.


Psychology Minor (24 credits)

The remaining 12 credits must be selected from other Psychology courses offered by the Department of Psychology. A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all psychology courses that contribute to the Psychology minor.


Social Sciences Comprehensive Major

Students may complete a social sciences comprehensive major with an emphasis in psychology, economics, geography, history, political science, or sociology. Please refer to the catalog section "Social Sciences Comprehensive" for details.