The psychology program allows majors and minors to pursue their educational and career goals, and also provides essential courses about human behavior for those students majoring in other fields. A wide variety of courses stressing the scientific and applied nature of the field is offered every semester. Opportunities for hands-on experience in practicum, research, and independent study courses are readily available.
The student who decides to major in Psychology has five program options:
The General Psychology Option encourages breadth of study and allows flexibility in course selection. For students who wish to have a comprehensive exposure to the discipline, it provides a general knowledge of human behavior and psychological functioning that is useful in many types of careers.
The Clinical/Counseling Psychology Option is for students who wish to have a career in the human services. This option offers basic counseling and clinical theory, supervised applied skills training and internship experience and prepares students for employment with various agencies or for graduate study.
The Experimental Psychology Option emphasizes the scientific aspects of
psychology, including theory, research methodology, statistical and laboratory skills.
The program prepares students for Ph.D. study, and/or careers in primary or applied research (e.g., government or industrial research labs).
116 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Business/Industry Option is for students interested in careers where psychology and business intersect. Such fields include advertising, marketing, personnel management, and human factors engineering. The program prepares students for graduate study or careers in business and industry.
The Child Psychology Option is for students interested in the social and cognitive development of children from infancy through adolescence. The program includes a supervised experience working with children, either conducting research or applying counseling skills. This option prepares students for graduate study or employment in child-related fields.
Requirements for the major Option 1: General Psychology Required courses:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 270 Psychological Methods and Statistics 4
PSY 391 Neuropsychology 4
PSY 470 Senior Seminar 2
One course from the following:
PSY 313 Cognitive Processes 4
PSY 315 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 350 Principles of Learning & Behavior Modification 4 Two courses from the following (limit – one Developmental course):
PSY 265 Social Development 4
PSY 280 Social Psychology 4
PSY 300 Adult Development and Aging 4
PSY 365 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 382 Theories of Personality 4
plus electives in Psychology to equal a total of 36 credit hours
Total credit hours 36
Option 2: Clinical/Counseling Psychology Required courses:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 270 Psychological Methods and Statistics 4
PSY 310 Communication and Counseling Skills 2
PSY 382 Theories of Personality 4
PSY 385 Abnormal Psychology 4
PSY 391 Neuropsychology 4
PSY 470 Senior Seminar 2
PSY 495 Clinical Procedures 4
PSY 496 Clinical Practicum 4
One course from the following:
PSY 265 Social Development 4
PSY 300 Adult Development and Aging 4
PSY 365 Cognitive Development 4
One course from the following:
PSY 313 Cognitive Processes 4
PSY 315 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 350 Principles of Learning and Behavior Modification 4
Total credit hours 40
Option 3: Scientific Experimental Psychology Required Courses:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 270 Psychological Methods and Statistics 4
PSY 312 Psychological Research and Design 4
PSY 391 Neuropsychology 4
PSY 470 Senior Seminar 2
Two courses from the following:
PSY 313 Cognitive Processes 4
PSY 315 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 350 Principles of Learning and Behavior Modification 4 Two courses from the following (limited to one Developmental course)
PSY 265 Social Development 4
PSY 280 Social Psychology 4
PSY 300 Adult Development and Aging 4
PSY 365 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 382 Theories of Personality 4
Six credit hours from the following:
PSY 340 Research Techniques 2-4
PSY 450 Independent Study 2-6
Total credit hours 40
Option 4: Business/Industry Required Courses:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 270 Psychological Methods & Statistics 4
PSY 280 Social Psychology 4
PSY 302 Psychological Measurement 4
PSY 310 Communication and Counseling Skills 2
PSY 391 Neuropsychology 4
PSY 414 Industrial/Organizational Psychology 4
PSY 470 Senior Seminar 2
One course from the following:
PSY 265 Social Development 4
PSY 300 Adult Development and Aging 4
PSY 365 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 382 Theories of Personality 4
One course from the following:
PSY 313 Cognitive Processes 4
PSY 315 Sensation & Perception 4
PSY 350 Learning and Behavior Modification 4
Related study: 9 hours from the following:
HPM 200 The Health Care Delivery System 3
HPM 205 Public Health Concepts/Issues 3
MGT 328 Management & Organizational Behavior 3
*MGT 431 Organizational Theory 3
*MGT 472 Human Resources Management 3
*MKT 321 Marketing Principles and Management 3
*MKT 452 Marketing Research 3
*MKT 480 Consumer Behavior 3
*MKT 486 Promotional Strategies 3
*ED 520 Career Development & Planning 3
*Courses with prerequisites or requiring permission from instructor
Total credit hours 44
118 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Option 5: Child Psychology Required Courses:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 265 Social Development 4
PSY 270 Psychological Methods and Statistics 4
PSY 301 Parenting Seminar 2
PSY 365 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 391 Neuropsychology 4
PSY 470 Senior Seminar 2
One course from the following:
PSY 280 Social Psychology 4
PSY 382 Theories of Personality 4
One course from the following:
PSY 313 Cognitive Processes 4
PSY 315 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 350 Learning and Behavior Modification 4
One course from the following:
PSY 380 Child Psychopathology 3
PSY 381 Child Interventions 3
Four credits from the following:
PSY 375 Practicum 2-4
PSY 340 Research Techniques in Child Psychology 2-4 PSY 496 Clinical Practicum (at an appropriate site) 4
Total credit hours 39
Requirements for the minor Required Core:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
PSY 270 Psychological Methods and Statistics 4 Content Group I (one course)
PSY 313 Cognitive Processes 4
PSY 315 Sensation and Perception 4
PSY 350 Principles of Learning & Behavior Modification 4
PSY 391 Neuropsychology 4
Content Group II (one course)
PSY 265 Social Development 4
PSY 280 Social Psychology 4
PSY 300 Adult Development & Aging 4
PSY 365 Cognitive Development 4
PSY 382 Theories of Personality 4
PSY 385 Abnormal Psychology 4
Electives in Psychology (eight credits required)
Total credit hours 24*
*Note: eight hours must be at the 300 or 400 level