2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog

Jun 16, 2026

2026-2027 Academic DRAFT Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, BA (PSYCH-BA)

CIP Code: 420101

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) curriculum offers students an array of courses in psychological theory supported by coursework in research methodology, statistics, and writing. Students will also choose from a variety of elective courses including those related to counseling and psychotherapy, forensic psychology, neuroscience, as well as applied areas in human performance and effectiveness. The BA degree offers flexibility encouraging students to supplement their education in psychology with additional courses outside of psychology. This enables students to customize their degree to meet individual goals. BA graduates prepared with knowledge of human behavior who are adaptable and willing to learn, socially skilled, and focused on problem solving will have the greatest flexibility in pursuing the jobs and careers of their choice given the demands of employers in the 21st century.

Program Admission Requirements

This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to Wright State University. Any student is eligible to declare this academic program.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Knowledge of human behavior related to many areas of psychology, including an understanding of thoughts, motivations, and feelings of individuals and groups, as well as how to assess these factors.
Strong research skills, including an understanding of how to collect, analyze, and interpret data related to psychology, as well as how to critically evaluate published and non-published information. Students will gain experience in using available resources to define goals, identify problems, and develop potential solutions.
Strong ethical principles as they apply to general psychology, including those related to work practices and to the protection of information, including how to safeguard privacy and confidentiality.
Ability to communicate information effectively both verbally and in written form, in a clear and concise manner. Students will be able to communicate technical (including statistical) information clearly to non-specialists and translate data into easily interpreted graphs and figures.
Ability to work effectively in teams, both as a member and as a leader, with others from diverse backgrounds. They will learn how to follow established protocol and response to both positive or negative feedback.
Strong self-management skills and the ability to define and achieve goals in unclear situations, develop and complete projects from idea conception through final presentation of results or work products, as well as manage multiple, simultaneous demands relating to school, work, and family.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Analyze and evaluate thoughts, motivations, and feelings of individuals and groups, as well as how to assess these factors (human behavior).
Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to many areas of psychology, as well as understand how to critically evaluate published and non-published information. Students have basic experience in using available resources to define goals, identify problems, and develop potential solutions (research skills).
Apply strong ethical principles to research in psychology, including those related to work practices and to the protection of information, including how to safeguard privacy and confidentiality.
Communicate information effectively both verbally and in written form, in a clear and concise manner. Students can communicate technical (including statistical) information clearly to non-specialists and translate data into easily interpreted graphs and figures.
Work effectively in teams, both as a member and as a leader, with others from diverse backgrounds. They follow established protocol and respond to both positive or negative feedback.
Define and achieve goals in unclear situations.

Honors Program

Psychology Research with Distinction (Wundt Scholars) - Undergraduate Certificate

Students interested in being admitted to the psychology research with distinction certificate program should apply in their junior year. After acceptance, students enroll in one Wundt Scholars seminar each academic year. Part-time students must complete one seminar prior to graduation. All students must complete a thesis or research project, for which academic credit is granted.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete the first-year seminar class during their first year.

UVC 1025 - US Civic Literacy Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours

Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.

Required:

STT1600 or STT2640

STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement
Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)
Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavorial Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavorial Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Required:

PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
Select an additional Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with a different course prefix (not PSY) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 4 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 4 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Psychology Courses: 47 Credit Hours

Research Methods Requirements: 5-8 Credit Hours

Students must take either (PSY 3010 and PSY 3020) or PSY 3030

PSY 3010 - Research Methods in Psychology I Credit Hour(s): 4
PSY 3020 - Research Methods in Psychology II Credit Hour(s): 4
or
PSY 3030 - Research Methods in Psychology I & II Credit Hour(s): 5

Careers Requirement: 1 Credit Hour

Select one of the following courses:

PSY 2020 - Careers in Psychology Credit Hour(s): 1
PSY 2030 - Careers in Clinical Psychology Credit Hour(s): 1

Psychology Foundations: 18 Credit Hours

Select six courses with at least two from row 1 and two from row 2.

Capstone Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

Two PSY 4100-4990 (seminar courses) Credit Hour(s): 6

Psychology Electives: 14-17 Credit Hours

Psychology Electives Credit Hour(s): 14-17

Any PSY course 2000 and up

V. Outside of College Requirement: 18 Credit Hours

Select 18 credit hours from outside the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

VI. General Electives: 19 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.