Psychology

The Psychology major is designed for students to study the science of human and animal behavior. Departmental courses provide the student with the opportunity to gain a general understanding in three different core areas: Brain and Behavior, Development and Potential, and Society and Relationships. Courses include lecture, didactic, seminars and hands-on laboratory and field work experiences for students to gain competency and skills within the field of Psychology.

Courses within the department are designed to equip students with marketable skills for a complex dynamic global workforce and to prepare students for graduate studies in a variety of fields ranging from legal, medical, research and business.

Student learning opportunities culminate in senior capstone experiences including a required senior research thesis and options for internships in a variety of legal, clinical, educational, political, and business settings. Additional research or field experience can be achieved through Independent Study.

Major requirements include:

Four additional courses, at least one from each of the following areas:

Brain and Behavior:

Development and Potential:

Society and Relationships:

At least one intermediate level research methods course selected from the following:

Note:

PY210 (special topics courses) will be determined on a case by case basis by the Chair as which of the three categories they fulfill.

Psychology majors are expected to complete a research proposal that is either theoretical, applied or empirical in orientation either within a content course, a “Research Methods in..” course or as an independent endeavor. They must have a proposal in place prior to their registration for PY 401 Advanced Research Seminar that has been reviewed by Psychology faculty.

Course Sequence Outline

Freshman Year

Fall

Spring

HU 104 - Conversatio II
Language
Psychology Elective
Core/Elective

Sophomore Year

Psychology majors generally take Behavioral Statistics and the Foundations in Research Methods courses. They may also want to begin their electives in one of the three content areas. Depending on their placement, they may also be finishing their language requirement and may choose to fulfill other core requirements.

Junior Year

Psychology majors would be looking to take electives in the three content areas as well as the “Research Methods in..” course in one of the areas listed above. They would also be completing core requirements. Eligible juniors may look to complete their upper level research course, Advanced Research Seminar, depending on their readiness. The rest of their schedule would be filled with core requirements or electives.

Senior Year

Psychology majors would be completing their Advanced Research Seminar in one of the two semesters and may look to take Internship in one of the two semesters as well. It is not recommended that seniors take their Advanced research Seminar AND internship at the same time, unless their research project is tied to their internship experience. It is expected they would complete their Psychology electives in the three content areas and the Research Methods area if not already completed. They would complete the rest of their schedule with electives.