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)

50:830:381 and 50:830:380  Experimental Psychology with laboratory (or an equivalent course that has an associated laboratory component [see Preparation for Graduate Study])

Statistics (50:830:250) and either Research Methods (50:830:256) or Method and Theory (50:830:255) are prerequisites for Experimental Psychology (50:830:381).

Graduating with a major in psychology requires at least a 2.5 grade-point average in courses presented for the major, with no more than two grades lower than a C in those courses.  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 the required psychology electives, although students with more than 9 credits may use the balance for general electives.

Under certain circumstances, students may complete a 4-credit Independent Study capstone project (50:830:498) under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in lieu of taking Experimental Psychology with lab (50:830:381/380). The Independent Study option must be preapproved by the department.  The form to seek approval can be 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).