Major Requirements

The major in psychology requires a minimum of 40 credits, representing 13 credits in required courses and 27 credits in psychology electives. The four required courses are: 50:830:101 Introduction to Psychology; 50:830:250 Statistics for Social Science; 50:830:256 Research Methods in Psychology (or 50:830:255 Method and Theory in Psychology); and 50:830:381 and 380 Experimental Psychology with laboratory (or an equivalent course that has an associated laboratory component [see Preparation for Graduate Study]).

Statistics (830:250) and Research Methods (830:256) (or Method and Theory [830:255]) are prerequisites for Experimental Psychology (830:381).

Graduating with a major in psychology requires at least a 2.5 grade-point average in the major, with no more than two grades lower than a C in courses presented to satisfy the major. Students may petition the department to request an exception to these requirements if they feel it is warranted.

After the first year, students may take 50:830:494,495 Advanced Independent Study in Psychology and 50:830:493 Applied Experience in Psychology. No more than 9 credits from either or both of these courses may be used for psychology electives. Students with more than 9 credits in the two courses may use the balance for general electives.

Students may take Experimental Psychology and Lab (50:830:380/381) or, under certain circumstances, complete a 4-credit Independent Study capstone project (50:830:498) under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. The Independent Study option must be preapproved by the psychology department committee once you complete the form found on the psychology department's webpage.

Special topics experimental courses that focus on a specific area of psychology will also be alternatives offered occasionally to fulfill this requirement (50:830:499).