All psychology majors receive a rigorous program of undergraduate education and training that encourages critical thinking, lifelong learning, and the analysis and integration of information about individuals and groups of people. The curriculum leading to a degree in psychology provides students with an understanding of human behavior and the ability to use scientific methods to answer questions about human behavior.
Students majoring in psychology may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The psychology course requirements for the two degrees are identical; they differ with respect to the requirements in other disciplines. For example, the BA degree requires courses in a foreign language and extra humanities hours, whereas the BS degree requires additional hours in the physical and biological sciences.
Students interested in studying human behavior, with a science-oriented supporting curriculum, pursue a Bachelor of Science degree. The BS can successfully prepare students interested in further study in a science-oriented psychology graduate program (such as neuroscience) or medical school, or other health-related graduate and professional programs (e.g., pharmacy, physical therapy), as well as students interested in entry-level positions in business or applied psychology.
Plan of Study Grid First Year |
Fall |
ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
PBSI 105 | Psychology as a Major and Profession | 1 |
PBSI 107 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| 3 |
1 | 3 |
2 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
PBSI 245 | Introduction to Psychological Science Methods | 3 |
| 3 |
| Public Speaking | |
| Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition | |
| Writing about Literature | |
| Technical and Professional Writing | |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Second Year |
Fall |
PBSI 235 | Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
| 3 |
| Black Psychology | |
| Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Minority Experience | |
| Psychology of Culture and Diversity | |
| Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality | |
| Psychology of Women | |
| Psychology of Women of Color | |
| Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations | |
| 3 |
| 3 |
1 | 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Third Year |
Fall |
PBSI 301 | Elementary Statistics for Psychology | 4 |
| 3 |
| Lifespan Development | |
| Psychology of Adjustment | |
| Psychological Disorders | |
| Developmental Psychology | |
| Social Psychology | |
| History and Systems of Psychology | |
| Psychology of Adolescence | |
| Personality | |
| Organizational Psychology | |
| Personnel Psychology | |
| Psychology of Aging | |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
PBSI 302 | Research Methods and Design in Psychology | 4 |
| 3 |
| Psychology of Animal Behavior | |
| Sensation-Perception | |
| Neuroscience of Learning and Memory | |
| Biology of Psychological Disorders | |
| Drugs and Behavior | |
| Psychology of Learning | |
| Human Cognitive Processes | |
| Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine | |
| 3 |
3 | 3 |
| 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
Fourth Year |
Fall |
| 3 |
| Psychology of Animal Behavior | |
| Sensation-Perception | |
| Neuroscience of Learning and Memory | |
| Biology of Psychological Disorders | |
| Drugs and Behavior | |
| Psychology of Learning | |
| Human Cognitive Processes | |
| Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine | |
2 | 3 |
3 | 3 |
4 | 3 |
| 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
Spring |
| 3 |
| Psychology of Adjustment | |
| Psychological Disorders | |
| Developmental Psychology | |
| Social Psychology | |
| History and Systems of Psychology | |
| Psychology of Adolescence | |
| Personality | |
| Organizational Psychology | |
| Personnel Psychology | |
| Psychology of Aging | |
3 | 3 |
3 | 3 |
4 | 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
A grade of C or higher is required if a course is to be counted in the major field.
No course can be counted in more than one category.
Graduation requirements include 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. The required 6 hours may be met by courses satisfying other areas of a degree program. See your academic advisor for further information.