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2024-2025 Undergraduate 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 two 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.
  • 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). 

Students must earn a C- or better in each of the following courses: PY 101, PY 201, PY 202, PY 406 and PY 407.

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 PY classes, including at least one class in three of these four catagories (more can be taken if desired).

Learning/Cognition

Social/Interpersonal

Biological

Developmental

Any of these courses:

Optional Concentrations:

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. Students must obtain a C- or better in each course required for the concentration. 

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.

Core Curriculum Requirements

Theological/Religious Inquiry (4 credits)

Choose one:

Philosophical Inquiry (4 credit)

Quantitative Reasoning (4 credit) *Appendix 1

Choose one:

Written Communication (3 credit)

Human Foundations and Multicultural Inquiry (3 credit)

Inquiry into the Natural World (3 credit) *Appendix 2

Choose one:

Inquiry into Society (3 credit) *Appendix 3

Choose one:

Literacy in Environmental Science (4 credit)

Historic and Civic Literacy for Effective Citizenship (3 credit) *Appendix 4

Leadership and Building JEDI (3 credit) *Appendix 5

Choose one:

Artistic Exploration and Expression (3 credit)

  • Any Fine Arts (AT) course

Literary Exploration and Expression (3 credit)

Wellness (3 credit) *Appendix 6

Choose one:

First-Year Experience (1 credit)

Appendix

One option (Mode #3) to meet core curriculum outcomes is to actively and intentionally engage in experiences that allow for careful reflection and assessment. This is designed to encourage and increase flexibility in the new LSC Core. Mode #3 is optional. It can use to to fulfill a maximum of two Mode #1 Categories.

Three to four credits may be earned by way of an approved experiential equivalency for a maximum of two Mode #1 Categories. Students are required to seek out a faculty sponsor with expertise in the subject matter to assist them in navigating the experiential equivalency process, along with approval from the Office of Academic Affairs. 

Guidelines for establishing credit weight: Depending on the nature and extent of the experience, students can gain three or four credits. Students who provide supporting documentation (letters from community partners, organizations or agencies where the experience took place), complete the experiential equivalency benchmarks and the portfolio can earn credit. The narrative and reflection within the portfolio will vary along with the nature of other deliverables (art projects, brochures, podcasts, blog postings, video presentations, etc.).

PRIOR EXPERIENCE: For those seeking credit for a prior learning experience, students will need to complete a screening questionnaire. This questionnaire allows a faculty sponsor and the Office of Academic Affairs to properly evaluate the experience, the amount of credits that may be applied and provides insights as to what core outcome(s) may be fulfilled. Once the questionnaire has been reviewed, the faculty sponsor and Associate Dean will meet with the student to discuss the project plan moving forward. Once the project plan is approved and benchmarks are provided, the student will be enrolled in the Brightspace course. The student will then have 15 weeks to complete the portfolio.

PLANNED EXPERIENCE: This process needs to be planned in consultation with a faculty sponsor. The faculty sponsor and student must complete an experiential equivalency project plan which will then be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for review. This project plan will be mapped out for the upcoming semester. The project plan must include benchmarks to assess progress throughout the time frame agreed upon. Once the project plan is approved and benchmarks are provided, the student will be enrolled in the Brightspace course. The student will then have 15 weeks to complete the portfolio.

EE 100 Core Experiential Equivalency (3-4 Credits): This course allows students to use prior or planned experiences to meet Mode #1 core curriculum outcomes. A faculty sponsor is required along with approval from the Office of Academic Affairs. 

EE 101 Core Experiential Equivalency (3-4 Credits): This course allows students to use prior or planned experiences to meet Mode #1 core curriculum outcomes. A faculty sponsor is required along with approval from the Office of Academic Affairs.

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