Requirements for a Major or Minor in Psychology
Programs offered:• Major in Psychology (8.0 course credits)
• Major in Psychology with Honors (8.0 course credits plus honors research)
• Minor in Psychology (5.0 course credits)
• Minor in Neuroscience (see neuroscience) (5.5 course credits)
• Social Studies Education major with a teaching license, grades 5-12 (see Education: Interdisciplinary Programs for Secondary Education) (13.0 course credits plus 8.0 course credits in education)
• Social Studies Area of Specialization for Elementary Education majors, grades 5-8 (see education) (5.0 course credits)
Faculty
Susan J. Larson, chair
Mark J. Krejci
Albert E. Bartz
Michael C. Mangini
Susan J. Cordes-Green
Mikel L. Olson
Mark K. Covey
Lisa M. Sethre-Hofstad
Mona M. Ibrahim
The psychology department prepares majors for graduate study in psychology, applications in human service settings, or utilization of the concepts and methods from psychology in a variety of other careers. The curriculum is organized to ground students in the science of psychology while offering the flexibility to pursue individual interests. Beyond traditional course offerings, the department offers an animal laboratory experience, international study/travel experiences, Cooperative Education experiences and a variety of opportunities for collaborative research with faculty.
The psychology department provides learning experiences that prepare students to achieve the following outcomes:
• knowledge of the scientific methodology employed in the field of psychology
• knowledge of the major theoretical approaches to psychology, the development of theory and research efforts to answer theory-driven questions
• knowledge of major advances in both experimental and applied aspects of psychology
• the ethics and inclusiveness associated with psychology
• the ability to communicate in the discipline
Students who are eligible can apply for membership in Psi Chi, the national honor society for undergraduate psychology. Eligible students can also participate in the psychology honors program.
Department Course Descriptions
Major in Psychology
(effective beginning fall 2007)
The requirements for a major in psychology are 8.0 course credits:
• PSYC 111 — Introductory Psychology, 1.0 credit OR
PSYC 212 — Educational Psychology, 1.0 credit OR
equivalent (1.0 credit)
(Note: AP scores of 3 = elective credit and still need to take PSYC 111; scores of 4 or 5 = PSYCH 111 credit.)
• Methods Core (2.5 credits)
– PSYC 230 — Statistics and Psychological Measurement, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 301 — Research Methods in Psychology, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 477 — Senior Capstone in Psychology, 0.5 credit
(Note: These courses must be taken in order – PSYC 230 is a prerequisite for PSYC 301, and PSYC 301 is a prerequisite for PSYC 477)
• Behavior and Cognition (1.0 credit minimum, chosen from the following list of courses):
– PSYC 318 — Learning and Behavior, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 320* — Essentials of Learning and Conditioning, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 361 — Cognitive Psychology, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 399 — Motivation and Emotion, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 440 — Behavior Analysis and Modification, 0.5 credit
(Note: PSYC 318 and/or PSYC 361 are offered each semester; PSYC 399 and PSYC 440 are only offered occasionally.)
• Physiological Psychology (1.0 credit minimum, chosen from the following list of courses):
– PSYC 319 — Behavioral Neuroscience, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 321* — Introduction to Physiological Psychology, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 323 — Perception, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 324 — Drugs and Behavior, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 328 — Human Neuropsychology, 1.0 credit
• Development and Social Psychology (1.0 credit minimum, chosen from the following list of courses):
– PSYC 206 — Developmental Psychology, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 326 — Advanced Developmental Psychology, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 351 — Social Psychology, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 383 — Psychology of Gender, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 384 — The Life of a Psychologist, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 395 — Aggression, Violence and Victimization, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 420 — Cross-Cultural Psychology, 1.0 credit
• Individual Differences and Applied Psychology (1.0 credit minimum, chosen from the following list of courses):
– PSYC 227 — Personality Dynamics, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 325 — Health Psychology, 0.5 credit
– PSYC 327 — Personality Theory and Psychotherapy, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 345 — Psychology of Sport, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 347 — Psychology and Religion, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 357 — Abnormal Psychology, 1.0 credit
– PSYC 407 — Psychological Assessment, 0.5 credit
• Electives: Students will choose additional electives from the areas above or other psychology offerings, such as PSYC 380 — Special Topics, PSYC 480 — Independent Study: History and Systems, and/or they may add PSYC 390 — Cooperative Education or PSYC 300, 382 — May Seminar credits to complete at least 8.0 course credits in psychology (10-course maximum, excluding Cooperative Education and May Seminars).
*These are to be phased out after the catalog group prior to 2007 has graduated.
Minor in Psychology
The requirements for a minor in psychology are 5.0 course credits:
• PSYC 111 — Introductory Psychology, 1.0 credit OR
PSYC 212 — Educational Psychology, 1.0 credit
• 4.0 additional credits in psychology
Psychology
