The major in Psychology (all concentrations) and minors in Psychology and Industrial & Organizational Psychology have been revised, as have many PSY course numbers and titles. The new plans of study are effective Fall 2021 and are published here (majors) and here (minors). This FAQ provides information about the new curricula and is a helpful advising resource.
- Students who declared a major or minor in Psychology in or before Spring 2021 follow the plans of study below. Please refer to the FAQ for a crosswalk to new course numbers/titles.
Major in Psychology (40*-41 credits)
* Students who receive three (3) transfer credits for a course considered equivalent to PSY275 Psychological Statistics may fulfill the major requirements with 40 credits.
To declare a major in Psychology, students must have:
- Completed PSY272 Introductory Psychology
- A total cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better and
- A Math Placement Level (MPL) of 3 or higher.
I. Introductory Requirement (3 credits)
PSY272 Introductory Psychology (3)
II. Methodological Skills Requirement (8 credits)
PSY275 Psychological Statistics (4)* - see note above regarding transfer equivalencies
PSY311 Psychological Research Methods (4) [prerequisite: PSY275]
III. Content Area Studies (18 credits)
Physiology, Learning & Cognition (choose 2)
PSY303 Introduction to Psychology of Learning (3)
PSY305 Psychology of Perception (3)
PSY310 Psychology of Memory & Thinking (3)
PSY402 Psychology of Language (3)
PSY403 Health Psychology (3, WI)
PSY436 Physiological Psychology (3)
Social, Developmental & History (choose 2)
PSY302 History & Systems in Psychology (3)
PSY306 Social Psychology (3)
PSY308 Psychology of Motivation (3)
PSY343 Psychology of Infancy & Childhood (3)
PSY344 Psychology of Adolescence & Adulthood (3)
PSY350 Psychology of Women (3)
Personality & Abnormal (choose 1)
PSY313 Psychology of Personality (3)
PSY412 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY440 Clinical and Counseling Psychology (3)
Applied (choose 1)
PSY304 Industrial Psychology (3)
PSY315 Basics of Organizational Psychology (3)
PSY456 Disaster Psychology (3)
PSY458 Introduction to Psychological Testing (3) [prerequisite: PSY275]
IV. Capstone Experience (3 credits)
PSY498 Seminar in Psychology (3, WI) [prerequisite: PSY311]
V. Electives (9 credits) - Choose three courses. Each of the three may come from either this list OR may be an additional course coming from ANY of the categories above.
| PSY273 Psychology of Adjustment (3) PSY293 Psychology Selected Topic PSY295 Independent Study Psychology PSY307 Evolutionary Psychology (3) PSY309 Constructivism (3) PSY318 Group Behavior (3) PSY320 Behavior Modification (3) |
PSY330 Crisis Intervention (4) PSY393 Psychology Selected Topic PSY442 Psychological Study of Social Problems (3) PSY493 Psychology Selected Topic PSY494 Fieldwork in Psychology PSY495 Independent Study Psychology PSY497 Internship in Psychology (3) |
VI. Research Experience Component
At least 12 half-hour experiential credits (i.e., 6 hours) completed.
Major in Psychology - Concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (58*-59 credits)
* Students who receive three (3) transfer credits for a course considered equivalent to PSY275 Psychological Statistics may fulfill the major requirements with 58 credits.
To declare the concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, you must have a transcript that indicates:
1) Completion of Introductory Psychology (PSY272)
2) An overall GPA of 2.75 or better and a Math Placement Level (MPL) of 3 or higher.
Note: A maximum of six transfer courses in Psychology and nine transfer courses overall will be counted toward the major.
I. Introductory requirement..........................................................3 creditsPSY272 Introductory Psychology [prerequisite for all psychology courses]
II. Methodological skills requirement.............................................7-8 credits
PSY275 Psychological Statistics (4) or 3-credit equivalent transfer course
PSY311 Psychological Research Methods (4) [prerequisite: PSY275]
III. Content area studies.................................................................24 credits
Physiology, Learning & Cognition (6 credits)
Choose two of the following:
PSY303 Intro to the Psychology of Learning (3)
PSY305 Psychology of Perception (3)
PSY310 Psychology of Memory & Thinking (3)
PSY402 Psychology of Language (3)
PSY403 Health Psychology (3 - WI)
PSY436 Physiological Psychology (3)
Personality & Abnormal (3 credits)
Choose one of the following:
PSY313 Psychology of Personality (3)
PSY412 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY440 Clinical and Counseling Psychology (3)
History of Psychology (3 credits)
PSY302 History & Systems in Psychology (3)
Social, Developmental & History (3 credits)
Choose one of the following:
PSY306 Social Psychology (3)
PSY308 Psychology of Motivation (3)
PSY343 Psychology of Infancy & Childhood (3)
PSY344 Psychology of Adolescence & Adulthood (3)
PSY350 Psychology of Women (3)
Industrial/Organizational Specialization (9 credits)
Complete all of the following:
PSY304 Industrial Psychology (3)
PSY315 Basics of Organizational Psychology (3)
PSY458 Intro to Psychological Testing (3) [prerequisite: PSY275]
IV. Capstone experience.................................................................3 credits
PSY498 Seminar in Psychology (3 - WI) [prerequisite: PSY311]
V. Business Administration studies...............................,...............9 credits
BUS250 Principles of Management (3)
and two of the following:
BUS312 Operations Management (3) [course has prerequisites - details here]
BUS322 Organizational Theory (3) [prerequisite: C- or better in BUS250]
BUS325 Marketing (3) [course has prerequisites - details here]
BUS326 Consumer Behavior (3) [course has prerequisites - details here]
BUS345 Human Resources Management (3) [requires C- or better in BUS250]
VI. Electives......................................................................................12 credits
Choose, by advisement, four (4) additional courses from Psychology, Business, or
other relevant fields. (Students are encouraged to consider completing either
PSY495 Independent Study Psychology or PSY494 Fieldwork in Psychology.)
Recommended elective courses (outside of Psychology and Business) - Note that
some of the listed courses have prerequisites - see the Undergraduate Catalog for
details. (Follow the links below.)
Communication
CMM104 Public Speaking (3)
CMM202 Interpersonal Communication (3)
CMM204 Small Group Communication (3)
CMM353 Persuasion & Social Influence (3)
CMM360 Organizational Communication I (3)
CMM450 Negotiation (3)
Economics
ECO206 Microeconomics (3)
ECO207 Macroeconomics (3)
History
HIS367 Business and Society (3)
Philosophy
PHI201 Symbolic Logic (3)
PHI305 Business Ethics (3)
Political Science
POL356 Sex Discrimination and the Law (3)
Sociology
SOC220 Social Inequality in the United States (3)
SOC407 Organizations and Work (3)
Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
WOM311 Women and Work (3)
VII. Research experience component
Students must complete at least 12 half-hour experiential credits (i.e., 6 hours).
Major in Psychology - Concentration in Psychobiology (65*-68 credits)
* Students who receive three (3) transfer credits for a course considered equivalent to PSY275 Psychological Statistics may fulfill the major requirements with 65 credits.
Many graduate programs in psychology regard a broad undergraduate background in natural, physical, and social sciences as the best preparation for graduate study. For those students interested in pursuing graduate training in physiological psychology, psychobiology, neuropsychology, or animal behavior, or in preparing for professional school while combining an interest in these areas, the department offers a concentration in psychobiology.
To declare the concentration in psychobiology, you must have a transcript that indicates:
1) Completion of Introductory Psychology (PSY272)
2) An overall GPA of 2.75 or better and a Math Placement Level (MPL) of 4 or higher.
Note: A maximum of six transfer courses in Psychology and nine transfer courses overall will be counted toward the major.
Completion of the Psychology major..................40-41 credits
Some courses required for the Psychobiology concentration also fulfill Psychology's Content Area or elective requirements.
Required course...................................................3 credits
PSY436 Physiological Psychology (3) - also may count toward Psychology's Content Area or elective requirement
Physiology, Learning & Cognition courses..........6 credits
Choose two (2) of the following courses, which also may count toward Psychology's Content Area or elective requirement:
PSY303 Introduction to Psychology of Learning (3)
PSY305 Psychology of Perception (3)
PSY307 Evolutionary Psychology (3)
PSY310 Psychology of Memory & Thinking (3)
PSY343 Psychology of Infancy & Childhood (3)
PSY402 Psychology of Language (3)
PSY403 Health Psychology (3) [WI]
Required Biology courses....................................15-16 credits
BIO201 General Biology I (3) and BIO211 General Biology I Lab (1)
BIO202 General Biology II (3) and BIO212 General Biology II Lab (1)
BIO320 Genetics (3) and BIO321 Genetics Lab (1)
Plus one of the following courses (3-4 credits):
BIO370 Animal Physiology (4)
BIO412 Evolutionary Theory (3)
BIO418 Animal Behavior (3)
Electives................................................................9-11 credits
Choose three (3) courses from the course lists of the Departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology. A list of potential courses appears below. Other courses might be chosen in agreement with the Psychobiology advisor.
ANT301 Human Evolution (3)
BIO349 Biology Research (3)
BIO491 Capstone Research (3)
CHE201 General Chemistry I (3) and CHE211 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE202 General Chemistry II (3) and CHE212 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
CHE318 Organic Chemistry I (3) and CHE306 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHE319 Organic Chemistry II (3) and CHE309 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
CHE461 Biochemistry (3)
PHY201 General Physics I (3) and PHY211 Physics I Lab (1)
PHY221 Fundamental Physics (3) and PHY211 Physics I Lab (1)
PSY495 Independent Study (3)
PSY558 Seminar in Contemporary Research (3)
PSY560 Cognitive Processes (3)
PSY570 Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
Minor in Psychology (18-20 credits)
Required Courses...................................... 3 credits
PSY272 Introductory Psychology (3) [prerequisite for all psychology courses]
Core Requirement .................................... 9 credits
Physiology, Learning & Cognition (choose 1)
PSY303 Introduction to Psychology of Learning (3)
PSY305 Psychology of Perception (3)
PSY310 Psychology of Memory & Thinking (3)
PSY402 Psychology of Language (3)
PSY403 Health Psychology (WI) (3)
PSY436 Physiological Psychology (3)
Social, Developmental & History (choose 1)
PSY302 History & Systems of Psychology (3)
PSY306 Social Psychology (3)
PSY308 Psychology of Motivation (3)
PSY343 Psychology of Infancy & Childhood (3)
PSY344 Adolescence & Adulthood (3)
Personality & Abnormal (choose 1)
PSY313 Psychology of Personality (3)
PSY412 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY440 Clinical and Counseling Psychology (3)
Electives ................................................... 6-8 credits
Complete two (2) additional psychology courses. These may be from the minor's Core Requirement list or any other undergraduate psychology course.
Minor in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (18-20 credits)
Required Courses....................................................................9 credits
PSY272 Introductory Psychology (3) [prerequisite for all psychology courses]
PSY304 Industrial Psychology (3)
PSY315 Basics of Organizational Psychology* (3)
Required Elective Courses in Psychology ...............................9-11 credits
Select three of the following:
PSY275 Psychological Statistics (4)
PSY302 History & Systems of Psychology (3)
PSY303 Introduction to Psychology of Learning (3)
PSY306 Social Psychology (3)
PSY308 Psychology of Motivation (3)
PSY310 Psychology of Memory & Thinking (3)
PSY311 Research Methods**(3)
PSY320 Behavior Modification (3)
PSY458 Psychological Testing (3)
PSY493 Selected Topics in Psychology** (3)
PSY498 Senior Seminar** (3)
NOTES:
*Students cannot receive credit for both Organizational Behavior (BUS321) and Basics of Organizational Psychology (PSY315). Students who have received credit for Organizational Behavior (BUS321) must substitute an additional elective course under advisement.
**By advisement.
