Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Psychology B.A.


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The Psychology major emphasizes broadly applicable skills such as critical thinking, quantitative ability and writing with a curriculum is grounded in the American Psychological Association’s guidelines. Students emerge from the program well-prepared for graduate study in psychology and related fields.

The major offers three optional concentrations:

Clinical/Counseling: a concentration designed for students with a particular interest in careers in clinical/counseling psychology and other areas of mental health and human services

Behavioral Neuroscience: a concentration focused on the biological determinants of human behavior, and designed for students with a particular interest in the complex interactions between the brain and the environment and their impact on behavior.

Forensic Psychology: a concentration is designed for students with a particular interest in the interaction of psychology and the law. Forensic Psychology is a broad field – practitioners work in areas such as crime trends, criminal profiling, mental health treatment for offenders and substance abusers, jury selection, impact of divorce, custody, and more.

Psychology Students majoring in Psychology are required to complete a minor(20 credits).  Additionally, the Psychology major requires a completion of two semesters of the same foreign language.

Students must earn a C- or better in each of the following courses: PY101, PY201, PY202, PY406 and PY407.

With the completion of this degree program students will:

  • Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
  • Understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
  • Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
  • Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
  • Be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline
  • Demonstrate effective use of written and oral communication skills

 

 

Courses required for the major:


Note:  A minimum grade of C- is required for these five courses.

Major Electives:


Students must take eight elective classes, including at least one foundational class in three of the following categories:

Optional Concentrations:


Behavioral Neuroscience


Behavioral Neuroscience (also called Biopsychology) is a cutting-edge subfield within psychology that applies principles of biology to the study of mechanisms of behavior.  To complete this concentration, students must take at least four of the following:

Clinical / Counseling


The clinical / counseling psychology concentration provides a foundation for graduate work or employment in this area as well as other areas of mental health and human services.  (Note: It does not lead to a professional license.)  To complete this concentration, students must take at least four of the following:

Forensic Psychology


The Forensic Psychology Concentration is designed for students with a particular interest in the interaction of psychology and the law. This concentration does not lead to a professional license; rather it provides a foundation for graduate work or entry-level employment. To complete this concentration, students must take at least four of the following:

Core Curriculum:


In addition, all students must fulfill the college’s core curriculum  requirements and meet the 120 credit graduation requirement.  The First Year Experience (FYE) Seminar  is a requirement for all first-year students.

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