Science and Mathematics
Psychology
Professors Flach, Hennessy, H. Klein, Kurdek, Nagy, Shebilske (chair)
Associate Professors Bennett, Campbell, Colle, Edwards, Gilkey, Gill (WSU–Lake Campus), Kruger, Tsang, Watamaniuk, Weber
Assistant Professors Shalin, Steele-Johnson, Ivkovich, Miller, Schneider
The Department of Psychology offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degrees. Both degree programs are designed to give students a broad introduction to contemporary psychology. The Bachelor of Arts curriculum offers the greatest flexibility in electives within and outside of psychology. The Bachelor of Science curriculum is recommended for students planning careers in academic, research, or professional fields. Both degree programs offer enough flexibility so that students can supplement their individual program with additional courses both inside and outside psychology; allowing students to tailor their degree to meet their individual goals. Students considering graduate school should consult with their departmental advisors early in their academic career.
Students must have earned 30 hours and have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 to transfer into the Department of Psychology. Once students have been accepted by the department, they are invited to attend a department orientation. This orientation provides students with critical information about degree completion, graduate school, and job opportunities among other information. After attending orientation, students should work with their assigned advisor. Because of the breadth of psychology, a variety of different educational options are available. Students can select courses that best fit their area of interest. Advising materials for students interested in cognitive science, human factors, human services or clinical psychology, and industrial/organizational psychology can be obtained from the department. The department offers a concentration in human factors. Students must earn at least 65 credit hours in departmental requirement courses for a Bachelor of Arts, and at least 73 credit hours for a Bachelor of Science degree.
Degree Requirements—Psychology/Academic Concentration
Degree requirements for all the psychology programs are subject to change. Check with the department office for the current degree requirements.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
The B.A. curriculum is designed to provide you with opportunities to achieve four outcomes.
Outcome 1:
You will be familiar with current theory and research in diverse areas
of psychology.
Outcome 2:
You will have fundamental research design and mathematical/statistical
skills needed to appreciate psychological science.
Outcome 3:
You will have advanced knowledge in self-selected areas of psychology.
Outcome 4:
You will communicate effectively in both written
and oral forms.
Each of the requirements listed below relates specifically to one of
these outcomes.
| General Education Requirements | 54 |
| Required Substitutions, which are also major program requirements: STT 264, 265 | |
|
Departmental Requirements (minimum) |
65 |
| PSY 105, 110 | 8 |
| PSY 300 | 5 |
|
Four of the following (at least one from
each group): PSY 311, 331, 341, 351 PSY 321, 361, 371, 391 |
16 |
| Four 400-level electives in psychology (excluding 432, 489, 490, 498, 499) | 16 |
| Minimum electives in psychology | 20 |
| Two of the courses required for the major must be writing intensive. | |
| Related Course Requirements | 38 |
| STT 264, 265 | 8 |
| One additional course in science and mathematics or engineering and computer science outside psychology | 3 |
| Electives outside of science and mathematics and engineering and computer science | 27 |
| Electives | 26 |
|
Total (minimum requirements) |
183 |
Degree Requirements— Psychology
Bachelor of Science Degree
The B.S. curriculum is designed to provide you with opportunities to achieve five outcomes. Relative to the B.A. curriculum, the B.S. curriculum has a stronger focus on research methodology.
Outcome 1:
You will be familiar with current theory and research in diverse areas
of psychology.
Outcome 2:
You will have advance research design, mathematical/statistical, and
computing skills needed to appreciate psychological science.
Outcome 3:
You will have advanced knowledge in self-selected areas of psychology.
Outcome 4:
You will conduct research in self-selected areas
of interest.
Outcome 5:
You will communicate effectively in both written
and oral forms.
Each of the requirements listed below relates specifically to one of
these outcomes.
| General Education Requirements | 54 |
| Required Substitutions, which are also major program requirements: STT 264, 265 | |
| Departmental Requirements (minimum) | 73 |
| PSY 105, 110 | 8 |
| PSY 300 and 400 | 9 |
| Five of the following (at least two from
each group): PSY 311, 331, 341, 351 PSY 321, 361, 371, 391 |
20 |
|
Two courses from the following: PSY 323, 333, 343, 353, 363, 373, 393 |
8 |
| Four 400-level electives in psychology (excluding 432, 489, 490, 498, 499) | 16 |
| Minimum electives in psychology | 12 |
| Two of the courses required for the major must be writing intensive. | |
|
Related Course Requirements |
19 |
| MTH 128 or 129 | 3 |
| STT 264, 265 | 8 |
| CS 141 | 4 |
| CS 142 or PSY 401 | 4 |
| Electives | 37 |
|
Total (minimum requirements) |
183 |
Human Factors Psychology Concentration
Human factors is a field that was pioneered by psychologists, and the overwhelming majority of people in the field are psychologists. Graduates of the human factors concentration typically find employment in industry or government. They are also well prepared for graduate study in engineering psychology, experimental psychology, or human factors.
Degree Requirements— Human Factors Concentration/ Experimental Psychology
| General Education Requirements | 54 |
|
Required Substitutions, which are also
major program requirements:
STT 264, 265 PHY 111/101, 112/102, and 113/103, or PHY 240/200, 242/202, 244/204 |
|
|
Departmental Requirements (minimum) |
73 |
| PSY 105, 110 | 8 |
| PSY 300, 400 | 9 |
| PSY 321, 331, 351, 371, and 391 | 20 |
| PSY 323 and 373 | 8 |
| PSY 401, 421, 465, and 471 | 16 |
| PSY 306 4 PSY 304 | 4 |
| PSY 432, 498, or 499 | 4 |
| Two of the courses required for the major must be writing intensive. | |
|
Related Course Requirements |
42.5 |
| PHY 111, 112, 113, or 240, 242, 244 | 13.5 |
| STT 264, 265 | 8 |
| MTH 229, 230 | 10 |
| CS 141, 142 | 8 |
| MTH 253 | 3 |
| Electives | 13.5 |
|
Total (minimum requirements) |
183 |
Psychology Honors Program
Students interested in being admitted to the psychology honors program should apply before the beginning of their senior year. Students usually apply at the end of the sophomore year. After acceptance, students enroll in one departmental honors seminar each academic year. Part-time students must complete one honors seminar prior to graduation. All students must complete an honors thesis, for which academic credit is granted.
Minor Program
The psychology minor is available for students who would like to gain a better understanding of psychological processes. Students in a wide variety of majors may benefit by supplementing their knowledge and skill with a stronger background in psychology. The minor is flexible and allows students to select subsets of courses that are appropriate for particular majors. Students in biology, business, communication, computer science, education, nursing, and sociology may find that the psychology minor enhances their educational goals. The minor may be fulfilled by completing the following requirements.
Minor Requirements—Psychology
| Departmental Requirements | 36 |
|
Required courses: PSY 105, 110 |
8 |
|
Three of the following courses: PSY 311, 321, 331, 341, 351, 361, 371, 391 |
12 |
|
Elective Courses: Electives in Psychology (200–400 level) |
16 |
A GPA of at least 2.0 must be attained in all minor courses. Courses cross-listed with the student’s major department cannot be included in the minor.
Science and Mathematics Education
Teacher Education—Content Preparation
The following science and mathematics baccalaureate programs are offered as preprofessional programs in preparation for the graduate level Adolescence to Young Adult licensure programs:
- Chemistry (p. 175)
- Earth and Space Sciences (p. 178)
- Earth Sciences/Chemistry (p. 179)
- Earth Sciences/Physics (p. 186)
- Integrated Mathematics (p. 182)
- Integrated Sciences (p. 180)
- Life Sciences (p. 172–173)
- Life Sciences/Chemistry (p. 172)
- Life Sciences/Earth Sciences (p. 179)
- Life Sciences/Physics (p. 186)
- Physical Sciences (p. 186)
