UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING BOOK

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Psychology Major Information

 

     Psychology is the scientific study of human cognition, affect, behavior, and relationships. Psychologists seek to understand, predict and influence behavior through research into a wide range of issues which affect human functioning, including social, physiological, developmental, cognitive and emotional factors. Research methodology is central to the discipline, and all psychology majors learn about research strategies and methods of data analysis.

 

    The psychology major earns a liberal arts BA degree while also preparing for a variety of post-baccalaureate options. These include: a) graduate education in such fields as psychology, medicine, law or business; b) work in business, industry and organizations; and c) work in mental health and social service settings.

 

     Since graduate education is essential for students hoping to become psychologists and since admission into graduate programs in psychology is quite competitive, students with graduate education goals are encouraged to work particularly closely with their advisors throughout their undergraduate careers.

 

     Please note that for all upper division (300- and 400-level) psychology courses, prerequisites include successful completion of at least 12 college credits at the 100-level

 

BA Program Goals* - Graduates of the program will:

(adapted from the American Psychological Association’s Program Goals for undergraduate Education in Psychology)

Goal 1:            Knowledge Base of Psychology

                        Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings,   

                        and historical trends in Psychology

 

Goal 2:            Research Methods in Psychology

                        Understand and apply basic research methods in Psychology, research design, data analysis,   

                        and interpretation

 

Goal 3:            Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology

                        Respect and use of critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, scientific approach

                        to solve problems to behavior and mental processes

 

Goal 4:            Application of Psychology

                        Understand and apply Psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues

 

Goal 5:            Values in Psychology

                        Value empirical evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the

                        underpinnings of Psychology as a science

 

Goal 6:            Information and Technological Literacy

                        Demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for

                        many purposes

 

Goal 7:            Communication Skills

                        Communicate effectively in a variety of formats

 

Goal 8:            Sociocultural and International Awareness

                        Recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of Sociocultural and international diversity

 

Goal 9:            Personal Development

                        Develop insight into one’s own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective

                        strategies for self-management and self-improvement

 

Goal 10:          Career Planning and Development

                          Pursue realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and

                          values in occupational in a variety of settings

 

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BA Program in Psychology (33 credit hours in Psychology)

Students may apply in the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) to become psychology majors at any time.  They will be advised in the COLA office until they meet the following requirements:

1. Complete the following three courses with a grade of C or better in each: PSY 201, ENG 101, MTH 121 or higher.
   Complete at least 6 additional credit hours at the 100 level or above.
2. Marshall and overall GPA's of at least 2.0 at the time of application to be a major.

 Upon completion of these requirements, students will be assigned to a fulltime faculty member for advising.

Required Courses: (21 credits)

1. General Psychology - PSY 201.
2. Elementary Behavioral Statistics - PSY 223.
3. Experimental Psychology - PSY 323.
4. Choose at least one from the Social/Personality Perspective: PSY 302, PSY 360, PSY 408, PSY 418, PSY 420, PSY 426, PSY 433.
5. Choose at least one from the Experimental/Biopsychology Perspective: PSY 324, PSY 350, PSY 416, PSY 417, PSY 440, PSY 443.
6. Choose at least one from the Developmental/Individual Perspective: PSY 311, PSY 312, PSY 330, PSY 406.
7. Capstone Course: After consulting with your advisor, choose one of the capstone options. PSY 456, PSY 457, PSY 460, PSY 470, PSY 471, PSY 499. Not all will be available every semester, so you may not be able to enroll in your first choice. See description of "capstone" on the next page.
8. Computer Literacy requirement: either CSD 101 or CT 107.

Capstone

Psychology majors can satisfy the capstone requirement by successfully completing one of several courses: Research in Psychology (PSY 456-457); an undergraduate practicum in either clinical or industrial/organizational psychology (PSY 470 or 471); the capstone seminar (PSY 499), which will focus on a variety of topics, or History and Systems of Psychology (PSY460).

In order to enroll as a capstone student in any of these courses, a student must have a 2.0 GPA in Psychology and overall, have completed at least 80 credit hours of undergraduate coursework, and satisfy the specific course prerequisites. Permission to enroll as a capstone student is required from the instructor, and there is an application process for admission to PSY 470, 471, 456, and 457. Advanced students can take more than one of these courses, but only one will be used for the capstone experience. Check with your advisor in your junior year for specific capstone requirements.

Electives: (12 credits)

Students may select any additional 4 courses (12 credits) in psychology to complete their major requirements. Students are strongly urged to consult with their advisors about these important choices. The groupings of courses listed below are intended to guide the selections of students with specific educational and career objectives.

1. Majors intending to apply for graduate/professional schools (e.g., Psychology, Medical School, Law School): PSY 302, PSY 311/312, PSY 360, PSY 406, PSY 408, PSY 416, PSY 417, PSY 440, PSY 456, PSY 460. Suggestions for minor: consult with your advisor.
2. Majors intending to work in business and industry after completing their BA degree: PSY 302, PSY 406, PSY 416, PSY 418, PSY 427, PSY 470, Economics 100, Accounting 215. We suggest a minimum of 2 computer courses beyond CSD 101, including PSY 427. Suggestions for minor: Marketing, Management, Safety Technology.
3. Majors intending to work in mental health settings after completing their BA degree: PSY 204, PSY 311/312, PSY 330, PSY 360, PSY 380, PSY 408, PSY 433, and PSY 471. Suggestions for minor: Counseling, Social Work or Special Education.
4. Majors who wish to use psychology as a general Liberal Arts degree: Follow requirements and any minor (whatever interests you, in consultation with advisor).

Remember, a minimum of 33 hours of Psychology is required for the major, but a student may take more hours than that.

PSYCHOLOGY COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJORS

  

A student must complete 128 hours in order to graduate and 48 of these must be taken at the 300-400 level.  Courses with a course number that begins with a 0 do not count toward graduation.

 

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General advising suggestions and issues

• Meet with your advisor early and often.  S/he can help you think about all aspects of being a successful major.
• Discuss your career goals with your advisor early and then again frequently as they develop or change.  S/he can assist you with thinking about supplementary courses, field experiences, research opportunities, etc., that may help in this regard.
• Discuss possible minors with your advisor.  S/he can help you think about the type of minors that may best complement your major or strengthen your record for graduate schools or for career goals.
• Begin your foreign language sequence as early as possible, and plan to work primarily on fulfilling the College course requirements in areas such as literature, natural and social science, etc., in your first two years.
• For the Social Science requirement, your psychology course will meet 9 of the required 15 credit hours.  However, you are still required to complete courses from at least 2 other social science departments.  See the discussion of the Marshall Plan requirements below, because Social Science courses are frequently used to meet part of these requirements.
• Integrated Science courses are high demand courses; realistically, you should may not be able to enroll in one until you are a senior, but don’t wait until your senior year to first consider a course in this area.
• Spring or Fall courses:  not all courses are offered every semester.  Discuss these with your advisor.  For example, History and Systems of Psych (PSY 460) and our field practicum courses (PSY 470 and 471) are typically offered just once per year.
• Marshall Plan requirements: Though discussions with your advisor, make sure that you understand the Marshall Plan Requirements:  which courses meet the requirements, which departments offer them, how to find them in the schedule and the benefits of courses that meet more than one requirement.*
• Be sure you are clear about the rules associated with upper and lower division credit requirements.  This is particularly important for transfer students, for whom courses taken at another institution may not transfer in the way that the student might have expected them to.
• Junior/Senior Evaluation:  All seniors MUST schedule a Senior Evaluation meeting with the Academic Advisor (Kandace Napier) in the College of Liberal Arts office.  You call the college to schedule the appointment.  In this meeting, your academic record will be carefully examined, and you will receive an official list of whatever graduation requirements remain for you to complete.  This is an important meeting!  Though sometimes call a “senior” evaluation, you ought to plan to make that appointment near the end of your junior year (or as soon as you achieve senior status at the very latest) so that you have at least two semesters to meet any requirements that might have slipped by you!

 *Please note that several PSY classes may meet Marshall Plan requirements.  PSY 302 (if taught by Dr. Williams) and PSY 323 (if taught by Dr. Mewaldt) are writing intensive and PSY 426 is “multicultural.”  These can change, so please check with your advisor.

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Choosing a Minor

• Majors intending to apply for graduate/professional schools (e.g., Psychology, Medical School, and/or Law School) should consult with their advisor for suggestions for a minor:

• Majors intending to work in business and industry after completing their BA degree, should take Economics 100 and Accounting 215.We suggest a minimum of two computer courses beyond IT 101, including PSY 427 and a minor in Marketing, Management, Safety Technology.

• Majors intending to work in mental health settings after completing their BA degree, should minor in Counseling or Social Work.

• Majors who wish to use psychology as a general Liberal Arts degree, can choose any minor, in consultation with your advisor.

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Prerequisites for Marshall’s Graduate Programs in Psychology

 M.A. Program

Admission to the M.A. program requires the following coursework: Statistics PSY 223, Social Psychology PSY 302, Child Development PSY 311, Experimental Psychology PSY 323, Abnormal Psychology PSY 408, and Learning PSY 416.

Psy.D. Program

Admission to the Psy.D. program requires the following coursework:  Introductory Psychology PSY 201, Statistics PSY 223, Experimental Psychology PSY 323, Personality PSY 360, Abnormal Psychology PSY 408, and Psychometrics (or tests and measurements) PSY 406.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Exam

Both graduate degree programs require scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) as a part of the application materials.

 

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UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

 

100 Careers in Psychology. 1 hr.
Prepares students to be successful undergraduate Psychology majors and introduces possible careers and educational requirements. Does not count toward hours in major required for graduation. (Graded CR/NC only)

201 General Psychology. 3 hrs.
Principles and methods in the scientific study of behavior.

201H General Psychology —Honors. 3 hrs.
For the superior student. (PR: ACT score of 26 or GPA of 3.2)

204 Psychology of Adjustment. 3 hrs.
Modes of personal and social adjustment; assessment and treatment techniques.

223 Elementary Behavioral Statistics. 3 hrs.
Orientation to the philosophy of science; survey of methods in behavior study; elementary statistics.  (PR: MTH 121 or higher)

280-283 Special Topics. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.

300 Paranormal Phenomena. 3 hrs.
Investigation of such putative paranormal events as ESP, clairvoyance, UFO’s , ghosts, astral projection, astrology, and related topics. Emphasis on evaluation of evidence using the scientific method and scientific criteria.

302 Social Psychology. 3 hrs.
Social determinants of individual behavior. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

311 Child Development. 3 hrs.
Psychological characteristics and personal and social problems of developmental periods. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

312 Adult Development. 3 hrs.
Study of the physiological, psychological, and social processes that occur with aging. (PR: PSY 201 or 311; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

323 Experimental Psychology. 3 hrs.
Methodology and research in psychology. (PR: PSY 223)

324 Sensation and Perception. 3 hrs.
Methodology and research in sensory and perceptual processes. (PR: PSY 223)

330 Human Sexual Behavior. 3 hrs.
A psychological approach to the functioning, attitudes, varieties and development of human sexual behavior. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

350 Animal Behavior. 3 hrs.
A comprehensive study of the behavior of non-human animals. (PR: Nine hours of Psychology)

360 Personality. 3 hrs.
Personality structure, dynamics and development. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

380 Introduction to Professional Psychology. 3 hrs.
This course surveys the application of psychology to human problems in clinics, schools, consumer patterns, environmental matters, the legal system, health psychology, clinical neuropsychology and others. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

391 Psychology of Aggression. 3 hrs.
A multifaceted study of aggressive behavior in humans and other animals. (PR: PSY 201, 302)

402 Advanced Social Psychology. 3 hrs
Advanced study of selected topics in social psychology. (PR: PSY 223, PSY 302 or consent of instructor)

403 Applied Social Psychology. 3 hrs.
Examination of the applications of social psychological methods, theories, principles and research findings to the understanding or solution of social problems. (PR: PSY 302)

406 Psychometrics. 3 hrs.
Mental test theory and applications. (PR: PSY 223)

408 Abnormal Psychology. 3 hrs.
An overview of the theories, assessment techniques, and treatment of maladaptive behavior. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

411 Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology. 3 hrs.
This course will provide an advanced study of topics regarding change throughout the lifespan. Emphasis will be on understanding the interactions of biological, psychological, and social factors. (PR: PSY 311)

416 Psychology of Learning. 3 hrs.
Critical study of the major theories of learning and the related research. (PR: PSY 201, PSY 223)

417 Intermediate Behavioral Statistics. 3 hrs.
An intermediate level presentation of descriptive and inferential statistics as applied in behavioral research. (PR: PSY 201 and 223)

418 Psychology of Personnel. 3 hrs.
Psychological principles and methods applied to functions in personnel administration. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

420 Introduction to Industrial - Organizational Psychology. 3 hrs.
A systematic study of the application of psychological methods and principles in business and industry. Emphasis is on research methods, motivation, training, leadership, personnel selection,
employee safety, and job satisfaction. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

426 Cross Cultural Psychology. 3 hrs.
Emic and etic cultural concepts are considered from an American (subcultural) and international perspective. Cultural influences on healing, health and service are covered. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

427 Computer Applications in Psychology. 3 hrs.
An introduction to computer applications in psychology, emphasizing data collection, management, organization, analysis and reporting. (PR: PSY 201, 223; IT 101 or CT 101)

433 Current Models of Psychotherapy. 3 hrs.
Introduction of theoretical models and related therapeutic strategies which influence the practice of modern psychotherapy. (PR: PSY 201, either PSY 360 or 408; or permission)

440 Physiological Psychology. 3 hrs.
The relationships between physiological functions and biochemical processes and behavior. (PR: PSY 201; 12 college credits at 100 level or higher)

443 Health Psychology. 3 hrs.
Introduction to the contribution of psychology to the promotion and maintainance of health and the prevention and treatment of illness (PR: PSY 201, 323)

456-457 Research in Psychology. 3; 3 hrs.
Laboratory courses to give advanced students experience in conducting psychological research. Capstone experience. (PR: Permission of instructor)

460 History and Systems of Psychology. 3 hrs.
An examination of the historical and philosophical antecedents of contemporary psychology. Capstone experience (PR: Twelve hours of Psychology)

470 Practicum in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. 3 hrs.
The course will offer students applied observational/research experience in Personnel/Human Resource Departments under the supervision of professionals within the fields of Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resources. Capstone experience. (PR: Either PSY 418 or 420; Major in Psychology; permission of instructor; complete application form).

471 Practicum in Clinical Psychology. 3 hrs.
Students work 6 hours per week in a local clinical setting where they have the opportunity to observe individual and group therapy, psychological testing, staff meetings, etc. Capstone experience.  (PR: 12 hours of PSY including 408 and permission of instructor; complete application form)

480-483 Special Topics. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.

485-488 Independent Study. 1-4; 1-4; 1-4; 1-4 hrs.
A course or seminar on some aspect of Psychology not otherwise treated in regular course offerings (PR: Permission of instructor and department chairperson)

495H-496H Readings for Honors. 2-4 hrs. each.
Open only to students of outstanding ability. See Honors Courses.

499 Psychology Capstone Seminar. 3 hrs.
A capstone course which integrates research methods, critical analysis, and problem solving applied to psychological questions and issues. (PR: PSY 223 and 323; 2.0 GPA in PSY and overall)