Advising Handbook 2020-2021 
    
    Dec 21, 2024  
Advising Handbook 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology


Psychology
Academic Bulletin

When advising a student interested in Psychology, please note the following:

Entering students may take any 100-level course; however care should be exercised regarding enrollment in Psych 110, which can be a challenging course for first-semester, first-year students. Psych 110 is recommended for students who have demonstrated success in AP/IB/college-level courses (earning a 4 or 5 on AP exams, transfer credit for Science/Math). There are an increased number of seats being held for first-year students in the other 100-level courses and suggest that advisors steer students to those courses.

Psychology 110 is required for both the major and the minor. This course may be taken at any point in the students college career. It can benefit students who take the MCAT to take Psych 110 the semester prior to the MCAT.

FSPSY201 is not required for the major and, at this point, is NOT being offered; Psychology majors need to take a non-Psych FS201.

Psych 206 is required for minors and majors; Psych 207 is required for majors. It is best if the student begins the Statistics and Research Design sequence (206/207) in the Sophomore year. It is fine for students to take psych 110 the Sophomore year along with 206 or 207.

Three upper level courses (300 or 400) are required for majors, one of which must be designated as a Structures of Power and Privilege (SPP) course.

Junior Seminars are signature courses, so students should decide which seminar they wish to take late in their Sophomore year and then speak to the professor who is teaching that course, even if it is planned for the spring of the Junior year.

Students can begin independent studies (Psych 590) as early as their sophomore year. To determine what opportunities are available, students should contact professors doing research in the department.

Internships are usually taken Junior or Senior year. Psychology 540 is a co-requisite for all clinical internships.

Suggested Course Sequence for a Major in Psychology 

  1st Semester 2nd Semester Either Semester
First Year FS 101 FS 102

Two 100-level courses
Note that Psych 110 may not be appropriate for all first-year students; students should consider taking Psych 110 in the sophomore (or later) year.

Sophomore PSYCH 206 PSYCH 207

At least 1 core course
Psych 110 (it is fine to take this at the same time as 206 or 207)

Junior    

Complete core course requirement
At least 1 advanced topics course
Jr. Seminar

Senior     Complete advanced topics requirement
PSYCH 600, 610, or 620

Required courses for a Minor in Psychology:

Minor Requirements: 20 credits, including
Psych 110 (avoid this in the first semester; consider taking it in the sophomore or later year)
Psych 206
One course from each of two Core Area categories (150s, 160s, 170s) NOTE: This is a good place to start the minor
One course from those numbered in the 300s or 400s
NOTE: For students who are transferring in one or more of these courses, please make sure they understand that if they receive 3 credits (instead of 4) per course, they still will need a total of 20 credits in Psychology to earn the minor.