Psychology Major

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

The B.A. in Psychology requires 38-semester hours of credit in Psychology.  Required courses include:

1. Introduction to Psychology (100) (4 hours) [HNRS 141 or 142 can replace PSYC 100];
2. Research Methods in Psychology (200) (4 hours);
3. History and Systems of Psychology (410) (4 hours);
4. Two Psychology Research Courses (see list below); Research courses must be taken concurrently with their accompanying lecture courses (4 hours each).  The FIRST research course must be a 200 level course (3 hours); the SECOND will be a 300 level course (3 hours)
5. One 300-level Psychology Seminar course (4 hours)
6. Additional electives (8 hours) selected from regular course offerings. Normally, Senior Research (451-452), Individual Work for Honors (461-462) and Directed Studies (361-362) will not be counted toward the 38-hour minimum requirement

200-level research courses:

• Development in infancy & childhood research (211)
• Adult development & gerontology research (216)
• Social psychology research (221)
• Environmental psychology research (226)
• Organizational psychology research (231)
• Personality research (241)
• Adolescence research (246)
• Abnormal psychology research (251)
• Health psychology research (271)

300-level research courses:

• Psychology of learning research (311)
• Cognitive psychology research (331)
• Sensation & perception research (341)
• Biological psychology research (351)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Requirements for the B.S. degree in Psychology include the same requirements noted for the B.A. degree and the following (Note: a and b, contribute toward the 38-hour requirement; additional electives are not required):

1. One additional 300-level psychology research course;
2. Statistics for Behavioral Sciences (370);
3. FOUR courses in the Natural Sciences outside of the Psychology Department.  This can be accomplished by taking TWO courses in two different departments or all FOUR may be in the same department.  All courses must be courses that meet requirements for the major in that department.

Additional Information

Beyond the degree requirements, the minimum credit hours necessary for the B.A. or B.S. can be obtained by selecting additional lecture courses and lecture‑research courses as electives, by taking seminars, and through participation in the field experience course (202).

When planning their program of study in psychology, students should keep in mind that not all courses in the psychology department are offered every semester.  Some are offered only once a year, and others only once every two years.  Consult your faculty advisor regarding when particular courses are offered if a question arises.

It is important that the student also keep four points in mind regarding the fulfilling of the major requirements.

1. A passing grade must be attained in all required courses.
2. The student must have a cumulative G.P.A.  of at least 2.0 in the major.
3. Directed Study (361‑362), Senior Research (451‑452), and Honors Research (461‑462) ordinarily will not count toward the hours needed for the major.
4. For students electing the B.A. option, no more than 32 hours may be obtained in the major by the end of the junior year.  Courses taken in excess of this will not count toward the degree.

You can print out a checklist for the B.A. and B.A. requirements in psychology below:

• Psychology Major Checklist [pdf]