Concentration in Psychology
Advisory Board
Dr. Julie Earles
Dr. Kevin Lanning
Dr. Laura Vernon
The Psychology concentration provides students with a background in the science of mind and behavior, and an understanding of how empirical methods are used to study human cognitive, motivational, social, and emotional processes. Requirements for the concentration include introductory and survey courses, specialized seminars, laboratories, and a research thesis. Psychology is intrinsically interdisciplinary, as the field lies at the nexus of the biological and social sciences. Consequently, students concentrating in psychology benefit from coursework taken outside of the field as well. Most students seeking careers in psychology and related disciplines will go on to graduate school, as most clinical and applied positions require an advanced degree. Our undergraduate concentration is broad and research-based in order to best prepare our students for entry into this competitive field.
Available options:
Concentration in psychology
Minor concentration in psychology
Psychology Concentration Form
Psychology Advising Grid
Concentration in Psychology
Foundation Courses: Psychology concentrators are required to take six foundation courses, two in social sciences, two in biological sciences, and two in mathematics. Students must earn at least a B- in PSY 1012 General Psychology. Students must earn at least a C in a course in order for it to count for the concentration. Courses that are used to fulfill the foundation requirements for the Psychology concentration cannot simultaneously be used to fulfill the Psychology Electives requirement.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
Social Science Foundation Courses
|
||
| PSY 1012 | Honors General Psychology | 3 |
| Social Science Electives One course with the prefix ANT, ECO, EVR, POS, SYD, SYG, WST or equivalent course as agreed to by the advisory board. This course must be taken at the Honors College. |
3 | |
|
Biology and Neuroscience Foundation Courses
|
||
| BSC 1010, 1010L | Honors Biological Principles and Lab | 4 |
| Biology and Neuroscience Electives (one or more of the following, or equivalent course as agreed to by the concentration advisory board): |
3-4 | |
| PSB 3340 | Honors Behavioral Neuroscience | |
| PSB 3441 | Honors Drugs and Behavior | |
| BSC 2084 | Honors Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology | |
| PCB 3703/L | Honors Human Morphology and Function 1/Lab | |
| PCB 3063 | Honors Genetics | |
| ZOO 4742 | Honors Human Neuroanatomy | |
| BSC 4930 | Honors Science of Addiction | |
|
Mathematics Foundation Courses |
||
|
STA 2023 |
Honors Introductory Statistics |
3 |
| Mathematics Electives (one or more of the following, or equivalent course as agreed to by the concentration advisory board): |
3-4 | |
| STA 3164 | Honors Intermediate Statistics | |
| PSY 4302, 4302L | Honors Psychometrics and Lab | |
| MAC 2311 | Honors Calculus | |
| COP 3076 | Honors Introduction to Data Science | |
|
Psychology Courses |
||
| PSY 3213, 3213L | Honors Research Methods in Psychology and Lab | 4 |
| Six Psychology electives (see below) | 18 | |
| PSY 4933 | Honors Advanced Writing in Psychology | 1 |
| IDS 4970 | Honors Thesis (two semesters) | 6 |
| Total Credits | 48-50 | |
Psychology Electives: Concentrators must take six intermediate and advanced electives, at least two of which must be drawn from Group A and two from Group B. Interdisciplinary courses (prefixes IDS, ISS, etc.) may be substituted for coursework in psychology at the discretion of the advisor. Students interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology should work closely with their academic advisors to insure a sufficient preparation in each of the major academic sub-disciplines of psychology (i.e., Biological, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychologies). Students are reminded they need 45 upper-level (3000 or 4000-level) credits to graduate. At least 50 percent of upper level Psychology courses must be taken at the Honors College. Courses used to fulfill the foundation requirements in Psychology may not also be used as Psychology electives.
Group A: Natural Science Approach to Psychology
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COP 3076 | Honors Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| ISS 4304 | Honors Computational Social Science | 3 |
| PSB 3441 | Honors Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| EXP 3604 | Honors Cognition | 3 |
| EXP 4631 | Honors Thinking and Decision-Making | 3 |
| EXP 3202 | Honors Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PCB 3411 | Honors Animal Behavior | 3 |
| IDS 4933 | Honors How and Why We Age | 3 |
| PSB 3340 | Honors Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSY 4930 | Honors Evolutionary Psychology | 3 |
| DEP 4463C | Honors Lab in Cognitive Aging | 3 |
| DEP 4464 | Honors Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PSY 4604 | Honors History and Systems of Psychology | 3 |
|
Other courses in psychology primarily based in biological and natural sciences |
Group B: Social Science Approach to Psychology
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 4495 | Honors Research Methods in Anthropology | 3 |
| COP 3076 | Honors Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| ISS 4304 | Honors Computational Social Science | 3 |
| PPE 3003 | Honors Personality | 3 |
| SOP 3004 | Honors Principles of Social Psychology | 3 |
| DEP 3053 | Honors Psychology of Human Development | 3 |
| DEP 4095 | Honors Personality and Social Development | 3 |
| PSY 4302, 4302L | Honors Psychometrics and Psychological Testing with Lab |
4 |
| CLP 4144 | Honors Psychopathology (Abnormal Psychology) |
3 |
| CLP 4314 | Honors Health Psychology | 3 |
| SOP 3742 | Honors Psychology of Women | 3 |
| POS 4206 | Honors Political Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 4930 | Honors Positive Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 4930 | Honors Psychotherapy Systems | 3 |
| PSY 4604 | Honors History and Systems of Psychology | 3 |
|
Other courses in psychology primarily based in the social sciences |
Minor Concentration in Psychology
The Psychology minor concentration (form here) provides students with a background in the science of mind and behavior, and an understanding of how empirical methods are used to study human cognitive, motivational, social, and emotional processes. To complete the psychology minor concentration, students complete the following courses totaling 21-22 credit hours:
- PSY 1012 Honors General Psychology (3 credits)
- STA 2023 Honors Introductory Statistics (3 credits)
- One course in advanced statistics or research methods, such as:
- PSY 3213 Honors Research Methods in Psychology and PSY 3213L (4 credits)
- COP 3076 Honors Introduction to Data Science (3 credits)
- STA 3164 Honors Intermediate Statistics (3 credits)
- POS 4302/L Honors Psychometrics and Psychological Testing/Lab (4 credits)
- Four additional 3-credit upper level psychology courses (12 credits). These electives should reflect the breadth of the discipline, and so must include at least one course from Group 'A' and one from Group 'B' in the table of psychology electives, above.
At least 50 percent of upper level Psychology courses must be taken at the Honors College. Students must attain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the minor.