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Explore the brain through science. Explore science through the brain.
The psychology BS degree is a great choice for students interested in research professions. This degree requires additional research methods and evaluation coursework. It also includes specific natural science and quantitative reasoning courses. You’ll learn how it all fits together, conduct important research alongside professors, and master the skills you need to shine academically and professionally.
Requirements & Program Planning
The B.S. program requires 41 semester hours of psychology and is designed for students who intend to pursue graduate study in psychology or a closely related discipline. Students whose strengths lie in the natural sciences and mathematics are encouraged to choose the B.S. program. The B.S. program requires an introductory psychology course, a behavioral neuroscience course, two courses in research methods and data analysis, and lower and upper level courses in psychology. In addition, the B.S. program requires a laboratory course in experimental psychology and senior seminar as well as specified options for satisfying the natural science requirement of the General Education Program. Students entering the B.S. program must also complete at least two courses in advanced mathematics, statistics, or computer science. Consequently, a first year or sophomore student who wishes to defer a decision between the B.A. and B.S. programs should elect courses in natural science and mathematics that will make it possible to choose either major as late as the junior year.
While any student may enter the B.A. program in psychology, admission to the B.S. program is restricted. To be eligible for admission to the B.S. program, students must have completed 30 s.h. of college course work (excluding any credit by exam), and they must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.67 or higher. Eligible students can request admission to the B.S. program by contacting an advisor within the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. There is no limit to the number of qualified students admitted to the B.S. program.
First-year students and transfer students with fewer than 30 s.h. of course credit who are interested in the B.S. program will be admitted to the psychology B.A. program until they satisfy the admission requirements for the B.S. program. New transfer students who meet the admission requirements for the psychology B.S. program may choose to enter the B.S. program during orientation advisement. Any student in the B.A. program may switch to the B.S. program if they meet the admission requirements at the time of the request. Students may switch from the B.S. to the B.A. program at any time. Once a student is admitted to the B.S. program, their overall grade point average may drop below 2.67 without penalty. However, a student whose grade point average in psychology courses drops significantly below 2.67 will be advised to switch to the B.A. program.
Course Number | Course Name | S.H | ||
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PSY:1001 | Elementary Psychology | 3 | ||
PSY:2811 | Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology I | 3 | ||
Lower Level Courses (complete all six) Prerequisite: Completion of PSY:1001 |
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PSY:2301 | Intro to Clinical Psychology | 3 | ||
PSY:2401 | Intro to Developmental Science | 3 | ||
PSY:2501 | Intro to Social Psychology | 3 | ||
PSY:2601 | Intro to Cognitive Psychology | 3 | ||
PSY:2701 | Intro to Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 | ||
PSY:2812 | Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology II | 3 | ||
Upper Level Electives (select 3 courses)
Note: not all courses are available each semester (or summer session). |
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Selected Topics Courses (must complete both) | ||||
PSY:4020 | Lab in Psychology | 4 | ||
PSY:4090 | Psychology Seminar | 3 |
Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science Choose two courses from the list below. |
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Choose two courses from the list below; must total at least 7 s.h. and include a lab.
BIOL:1140 | Human Biology: Nonmajors | 4 |
BIOL:1141 | Human Biology: Health Professions | 4 |
BIOL:1251 | How the Brain Works (and Why it Doesn't) | 3-4 |
BIOL:1370 | Understanding Evolution | 3 |
BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology | 4 |
BIOL:2120 | Good Genes Gone Bad: Genetic Disorders of Notable Celebrities | 3 |
BIOL:2211 | Genes, Genomes, and the Human Condition | 3 |
BIOL:2512 | Fundamental Genetics | 4 |
CHEM:1070 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM:1080 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM:1090 | Supplemental Chemistry Lab | 1 |
CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
CHEM:1160 | Principles of Chemistry Lab | 2 |
CSD:2111 | Basic Acoustics for Speech and Hearing | 3 |
CSD:3112 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Production | 4 |
CSD:3113 | Introduction to Hearing Science | 4 |
CSD:3116/LING:3116 | Basic Neuroscience for Speech and Hearing | 3 |
HHP:1100 | Human Anatomy | 3 |
HHP:1110 | Human Anatomy Laboratory | 1 |
HHP:1300 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 3 |
HHP:1310 | Human Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
HHP:1400 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
PHYS:1400 | Basic Physics | 3-4 |
PHYS:1409 | Basic Physics Lab | 1 |
PHYS:1410 | Physics of Sound | 3-4 |
PHYS:1511 | College Physics I | 4 |
PHYS:1512 | College Physics II | 4 |
PHYS:1611 | Introductory Physics I | 4 |
PHYS:1612 | Introductory Physics II | 4 |
PHYS:1619 | Introductory Physics II Lab | 1 |
Course Sequence for the B.S. Program
First year students should enroll in Elementary Psychology and General Education courses. From there, students continue to work on General Education courses Research Methods and Data Analysis courses, and lower level Psychology courses. Finally, students complete upper-level Psychology electives.
It is important for students to compete the Psychology Core as early as possible as it is not possible to move on to upper-level major coursework until these courses are completed.
Please note that students must earn a C- or better in Research Methods and Data Analysis I (PSY:2811) and the corresponding lower level elective plus complete the Psychology Core prior to enrolling in more advanced courses.
Students entering the B.S. program can complete their additional course in advanced mathematics, statistics, or computer science any time, subject to course prerequisites.