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PsychologyMajor


Degree AwardedBS
Hours To Complete51
Courses Required16
Department Contact

Requirements

Note: Program opens for enrollment in Spring 2021

1. Four Foundation Courses – These courses are designed to provide students with basic knowledge about and approach to psychological science. Students must complete all four foundation courses by the end of the junior year.


A. Fundamentals of Psychology as a Behavioral Science

  • Introduction to Psychology—Psychology 110 and 111
    Students must complete a two-semester introductory sequence in psychology— Psychology 110, Introduction to Psychology I: Psychobiology and Cognition, and Psychology 111, Introduction to Psychology II: Development, Social Behavior, and Individual Differences. These courses provide all majors with a general orientation to the methods, content areas, and central findings of psychology. We recommend that they be taken before any other psychology course. Students who have received AP credit from the college by scoring a 5 on the advanced placement test in psychology will be exempted from Psychology 111. These students must take an additional elective course to replace Psychology 111, and must take Psychology 110 to complete the introductory requirement. Students who completed a one-semester introductory psychology course will receive credit for Psychology 111, and must take Psychology 110 to complete the introductory requirement.

B. Psychological Inquiry Sequence

  • Quantitative Theory and Methods (QTM) 100 and Psychology 200WR may not be taken concurrently. Students must complete the psychological inquiry sequence no later than
    the end junior year
    1. Introduction to Statistical Inference – QTM 100
    Because adequate understanding of original source material in psychology is impossible without basic statistical literacy, students are required to take a course in statistics. Majors must meet this requirement by taking the QTM 100 statistics course offered by the Institute for Quantitative Theory and Methods.
    2. Laboratory Methods—Psychology 200WR
    This course provides students with a basic understanding of methods in psychology through conducting studies and evaluating published research. Introduction to
    Statistical Methods (QTM 100) is a prerequisite and therefore must be completed prior to this course.

2. Survey Courses - These courses are intended to cover a well-established area within psychological science from a broad perspective. Students must complete one course in each area. Prior enrollment in PSYC110 or PSYC111, and QTM100 strongly encouraged.

Table showing Area 1 courses (PHYC 207, PSYC 209, PSYC 215, PSYC 223) and Area II (PSYC 205, PSYC 210, PSYC 211, PSYC 212)
Area IArea II
PSYC 207: Brain and BehaviorPSYC 205: Child Development
PSYC 209: Perception and ActionPSYC 210: Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 215: CognitionPSYC 211: Childhood Psychopathology
PSYC 223: Drugs and BehaviorPSYC 212: Social Psychology

3. Depth Courses - These courses are designed to provide students with an in-depth study of a specific topic or sub-area within psychology. Enrollment in ALL 300-level and above courses requires completion of PSYC110, PSYC111, QTM100, and any 200-level survey course. Students may seek special permission to enroll in Psychology graduate courses.

Students must complete FOUR depth (300-level and above) courses At least THREE of those courses must come from the list below:

  • PSYC 302: Human Learning and Memory
  • PSYC 303: Evolution of Acquired Behavior
  • PSYC 309: Brain and Language
  • PSYC 310: Cognitive Development
  • PSYC 320: Animal Behavior
  • PSYC 321: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology of Sex
  • PSYC 322: Biological Basis of Learning and Memory
  • PSYC 324: Sleep & Dreaming, Brain & Mind
  • PSYC 325: Primate Social Psychology
  • PSYC 351: The Nature of Evidence
  • PSYC 353: Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSYC 385R: Selected Special Topics in Psychology
  • PSYC 410: Science & Pseudoscience in Psychology
  • PSYC 424: Advanced Neuroimaging Practicum
  • PSYC 427W: Hormones, Brain & Behavior
  • PSYC 440W: Animal Communication
  • Selected 400-Level seminar courses

The fourth depth course may be selected from this list, or may be any 300 level or above course offered by or cross-listed with the Psychology department, with the exceptions as noted below:

Course Exclusions: PSYC397R: Directed Study , PSYC494R: Directed Research for Study Abroad, PSYC 495A and 495BW: Honors Program, PSYC498R: Directed Reading, PSYC499R: Directed Research.

4. Two Elective Courses –Students must take two additional courses offered by the Psychology Department, with the exception as noted below:

Course Exclusions: PSYC 190: Freshman Seminar, PSYC397R: Directed Study, PSYC 495A/BW: Honors, PSYC 498R: Directed Reading, and PSYC 494R or PSYC 499R: Directed Research. Students may count one (1) three-hour enrollment in PSYC 494R or PSYC 499R: Directed Research; only ONE such enrollment may count towards the major.

5. Quantitative and Methodological Courses – These courses are intended to enhance students’ quantitative and methodological training, providing skills and approaches that can be used in addressing psychological questions. Students must complete two courses from the designated list of quantitative and/or methodological courses. These courses may come from offerings in Psychology, QTM, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Biology. See below for the list of these courses. Of note, students will need to meet all requirements and prerequisites for a given course, as specified by its home department.

1. Psychology – (Graduate courses, 500 level and above, require permission of instructor)

  • PSYC 180: Research in College Drug Use
  • PSYC 386: Cross Cultural Studies in Psychological Research (Basic)
  • PSYC 387: Cross Cultural Studies in Psychological Research (Advanced)
  • PSYC 430: Advanced Statistics and Methods
  • PSYC 424: Advanced Neuroimaging Practicum
  • PSYC 560: ANOVA: Advanced Statistics
  • PSYC 542: Research Methods in Clinical Psychology
  • PSYC 561: Regression and the General Linear Model
  • PSYC 770R: Topical Seminars: Psych: Multilevel Modeling Theory and Application
  • PSYC 770R: Topical Seminars: Psych: Scale Development Theory and Applications
  • PSYC 770R: Topical Seminars: Psych: Data Mining the Mind

2. Quantitative Theory and Methods

  • QTM 120: Math for Quantitative Sciences
  • QTM 210: Probability and Statistics I
  • QTM 200: Applied Regression Analysis
  • QTM 220: Regression Analysis
  • QTM 355: Introduction to Time Series Analysis

3. Mathematics

  • MATH 111: Calculus I
  • MATH 112/112Z: Calculus II
  • MATH 116: Life Sciences Calculus
  • MATH 210: Advanced Calculus for Data Science
  • MATH 212: Differential Equations
  • MATH 221: Linear Algebra
  • MATH 250: Foundations of Mathematics
  • MATH 315: Numerical Analysis
  • MATH 361: Mathematical Statistics I
  • MATH 362: Mathematical Statistics II

4: Computer Science

  • CS 153: Computing for Bioinformatics
  • CS 170: Introduction to Computer Science I
  • CS 171/171Z: Introduction to Computer Science II
  • CS 253: Data Structures and Algorithms
  • CS 325: Artificial Intelligence
  • CS 329: Computational Linguistics
  • CS 334: Machine Learning

5: Biology

  • BIO 212: Computational Modeling for Scientists and Engineers (PHY 212)
  • BIO 355: Introduction to Time Series Analysis (also QTM 355)
  • BIO 361W: Neurophysiology Lab
  • BIO 450: Computational Neuroscience

Interfacing Science Courses – These courses are intended to increase students’ awareness and understanding of how psychology is situated in the broader scientific landscape, and to highlight the connections between psychology and related sciences. Students must complete two courses from the designated list of interfacing science courses. These courses may come from offerings in Anthropology, Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Science, Human Health, Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology, and Physics as well as the School of Nursing. See below for the list of these courses. Of note, students will need to meet all requirements and prerequisites for a given course, as specified by its home department.

1. Biology

  • BIO 223: Developmental Biology
  • BIO 240: Organismal Form and Function
  • BIO 241: Evolutionary Biology
  • BIO 247: Ecology
  • BIO 264: Genetics - A Human Perspective
  • BIO 301: Biochemistry
  • BIO 336: Human Physiology
  • BIO 348: Mechanisms of Animal Behavior
  • BIO 352: Epigenetics and Human Disease
  • BIO 353: Genetics of Complex Traits
  • BIO 360: Intro to Neurobiology (NBB 301)
  • BIO 365: Controversial Science
  • BIO 385: Human Genetics
  • BIO 402: Neuroscience Live
  • BIO 410: Perception & Consciousness (NBB 410)
  • BIO 434: Physical Biology (PHYS 434)
  • BIO 360: Introduction to Neurobiology
  • BIO 460: Building Brains

2. Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology

  • NBB 201: Foundations of Behavior
  • NBB 280: Intro to Neuroethics
  • NBB 300: The Musical Brain
  • NBB 301: Introduction to Neurobiology (BIOL 360)
  • NBB 317: Human Social Neuroscience
  • NBB 319: Anthropology of Fatherhood
  • NBB 361: Neurophysiology Lab
  • NBB 402: Global Neuroscience & Behavior
  • NBB 410: Perception & Consciousness (BIOL 410)
  • NBB 424: Medical Neuropathology
  • NBB 426: Neuropharmacology and Placebo
  • NBB 460: Building Brains

3. Anthropology

  • ANTH 200: Foundations of Behavior
  • ANTH 210: Human Biology - Life Cycle Approach
  • ANTH 305: The Human Brain
  • ANTH 307: Human Evolution
  • ANTH 308: Evolution of Social Behavior
  • ANTH 316: Evolution of the Human Brain and Mind
  • ANTH 317: Human Social Neuroscience
  • ANTH 318: Developmental Origins - Health & Well-Being (HLTH 312)
  • ANTH 319: Anthropology of Fatherhood
  • ANTH 333: Disease & Human Behavior
  • ANTH 339: Defining Health - Biocultural Perspective (HLTH 310) 
  • ANTH 450: The Evolution of Childhood

4. Environmental Science

  • ENVS 120: Living in the Anthropocene
  • ENVS 130: Introduction to Environmental Studies
  • ENVS 140: Environmental Change and health
  • ENVS 225(W): Environmental Communication
  • ENVS 326: Climate Change & Society

5. Chemistry

  • CHEM 333: Biophysical Chemistry
  • CHEM 340: Biochemistry

6. Computer Science

  • CS 224: Foundations of Computer Science
  • CS 326: Analysis of Algorithms
  • CS 424: Theory of Computing

7. Economics

  • 305(W): Economics of Life
  • 315: Economics & Psychology
  • 415: Behavioral Economics & Finance

8. Human Health

  • HLTH 310: Defining Health - Biocultural Perspective (ANTH 339)
  • HLTH 312: Developmental Origins - Health & Well-Being (ANTH 318)
  • HLTH 314: Science of Sleep
  • HLTH 317: Microbiome in Health & Disease

9. Physics

  • PHYS 333: Physics for Life Science
  • PHYS 434: Physical Biology (BIOL 434) 

10. School of Nursing

  • NRSG 202: Human Anatomy & Physiology II