2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalogue 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, BA


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Students majoring in Psychology are required to complete the following courses (below), for a total of 12 3-credit courses, two 4-credit courses, and one 1-credit course.  Students should consult with their Major Advisor to discuss which courses might best support their progress towards their career goals.  For example, students interested in graduate school in the practice of clinical or counseling psychology will likely take Psychopathology, Social Psychology, and Intro to Counseling (for counseling psychology). Students interested in a research career and/or a Ph.D. should consider taking additional research courses. 

Requirements for All Psychology Majors


The following are required for all psychology majors:

Foundation Course


 Introductory Psychology is required of every Psychology major. Other foundation courses (if offered) can count as electives. 

Breadth and Depth Courses


Students are required to complete six Breadth and Depth Courses. These courses move students towards competency in the knowledge of psychology theory and content, Learning Aim 1: Knowledge. Selected courses must include a) at least one course from each of the Breadth and Depth groups, b) and include at least one breadth course (200-level) and at least one depth course (300-level). 

Information and Quantitative Literacy Courses


Students are required to complete two Information and Quantitative Literacy Courses.  The courses with this designation emphasize information and quantitative literacy and help students develop skills in consuming and producing research.  These courses encourage students' progress towards Learning Aim 2: Research; they help students understand and apply research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and reporting of findings. Information and Quantitative Literacy courses cannot be used to fulfill the Breadth and Depth courses requirement. 

Diversity, Ethics, and Justice Course


Students are required to complete one Diversity, Ethics, and Justice Course.  This requirement includes courses that provide a special emphasis on human diversity, ethics, and justice encourage students to engage deeply with themes that are cross-cutting in psychology. Through these courses, students make progress towards Learning Aim 5: Diversity, Ethics, and Justice and learn how to weigh evidence, think critically, act ethically, and recognize and understand the complexity of individual and societal diversity, all in the spirit of promoting social justice. Courses in this group cannot be used to fill the Breadth and Depth course requirement. 

Professional Readiness Course


Students are required to complete one Professional Readiness Course. Courses in this category encourage professional development and support students' abilities to communicate effectively in psychology and support students' progress towards Learning Aim 3:  Communication. These courses expose students to the myriad professions and day-to-day pursuits of individuals who study psychology. , Professional Development, a 1-credit course, fulfills this requirement. Courses in this group cannot be used to fill the Breadth and Depth course requirement. 

Mastery Courses


Students are required to complete two Mastery Courses.  Mastery Courses are 400-level courses and are designed as capstone experiences that include high impact teaching practices and occur towards the end, or near end, of a students' progression through degree requirements.  These courses may solidify understanding of the science of psychology by integrating knowledge from multiple courses, may provide intensive study on one area of psychology, and/or may be defined by experiential learning through research projects or semester-long internships.  These courses emphasize Learning Aim 4: Application of Psychology and Learning Aim 3: Communication as well as at least one other learning aim specified in the course description. 

Electives


Students must complete two additional courses of their choosing from any group and any level: 200, 300, or 400. 

Additional Requirements


In addition to these courses, Psychology majors are required to complete , , or ; as well as either  or  .  A recommended (not required) core math/science course is . 

Requirements for the Major


Requirements for a major and an example of a typical program of courses are as follows:

Freshman Year


Honors in Psychology


An honors option is available to psychology majors who hold a 3.700 GPA in the major and a 3.500 overall GPA and complete the semester sequences and capstone projects described below. This GPA requirement is based upon cumulative grades and is confirmed in the student's second to last semester.

Entry into the honors option is contingent upon the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Education. Students should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Education no later than the close of the student's second to last semester.

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