Psychology, BS

Program Requirements:

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Psychology, BS (3 yr) (GPS) 
• Psychology, BS (GPS) 

Behavioral Neuroscience Concentration

Program Description:

Behavioral Neuroscience (BNS) is the study of biology of behavior and mental processes. It focuses on the behavioral, neural, and physiological processes involved in perception, learning, memory, cognition, motivation, and emotion. Behavioral neuroscientists study the brain in relation to behavior, its evolution, development, functions, abnormalities, and repair, as well as interactions with the immune system, cardiovascular system, endocrine systems, and energy regulation systems.

Psychology majors interested in applying to the BNS Concentration must be classified as Bachelor of Science (BS) degree-seeking students.  In addition, students must have completed at least 45 semester credits, including PSY 3910 , Behavioral Neuroscience I.  An overall grade point average (GPA) and psychology GPA of at least 3.2 are also required for admission into and graduation with the concentration.  Graduates of the BNS concentration are excellent candidates for graduate work and careers in neuroscience, psychology, and other health science programs including medicine, laboratory science, and public health administration.

Degree Requirements:

The BNS Concentration curriculum is designed to achieve five outcomes:

1. Be familiar with current theory and research in diverse areas of psychology with an emphasis on topics related to neuroscience
2. Have fundamental research design and mathematical/statistical skills needed to understand psychological science
3. Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms
4. Have skills in integrating and communicating about psychological knowledge
5. Have advance research design, mathematical/statistical, and computing skills needed to critically evaluate and conduct research in areas related to neuroscience

Clinical Psychology Concentration

Program Description:

Clinical Psychology is the study of abnormal behaviors and mental processes.  It focuses on the study of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, by observation or experimentation, with the intention of promoting change.  Clinical psychology integrates the science of psychology with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of diverse and complicated human problems.

Psychology majors interested in applying to the Clinical Psychology Concentration must be classified as Bachelor of Science (BS) degree-seeking students.  In addition, students must have completed at least 45 semester credits, including Abnormal Psychology 3110.  An overall grade point average (GPA) and psychology GPA of at least 3.2 are also required for admission into and graduation with the concentration.  Graduates of the Clinical Psychology concentration are excellent candidates for graduate work.

The Clinical Psychology Concentration curriculum is designed to provide opportunities to achieve five outcomes.

1.         Be familiar with current theory and research in diverse area of psychology with an emphasis on topics related to clinical psychology

2.         Have fundamental research design and mathematical/statistical skills needed to understand psychological science

3.         Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms

4.         Have skills in integrating and communicating about psychological knowledge

5.         Have advanced research design, mathematical/statistical, and computing skills needed to critically evaluate and conduct research in areas related to clinical psychology.

Cognition and Perception Concentration

Program Description:

The Cognition and Perception (CAP) concentration focuses on how the brain works when it interacts with the environment.  Scientists who work in this area have been making a diverse array of discoveries over the past few decades.  In fact, the projected growth in this area is only expected to increase.  Among the more important insights, researchers have shown that humans do not passively register information.  They actively select and interpret what to perceive, remember, decide, and act upon.  These processes occur along with immediate and long-term goals and constraints, whether interacting with people, the environment, or technology.  Understanding these processes have wide ranging applications in education, industry, and government.

Psychology majors interested in applying to the CAP Concentration must be classified as Bachelor of Science (BS) degree-seeking students.  In addition, students must have completed at least 45 semester credits, including PSY 3210 , Cognition and Learning, PSY 3710 , Perception, and PSY 3010 , Research Methods I.  An overall grade point average (GPA) and psychology GPA of at least 3.2 are also required for admission into and graduation with the concentration.  Graduates of the CAP Concentration are excellent candidates for careers and graduate work in cognition, perception, and human factors or engineering psychology.

The CAP Curriculum is designed to provide opportunities to achieve five outcomes:

1. Be familiar with current theory and research in diverse areas of psychology with an emphasis in topics related to cognition and perception
2. Have fundamental research design and mathematical/statistical skills needed to understand psychological science
3. Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms
4. Have skills in integrating and communicating about psychological knowledge
5. Have advanced research design, mathematical/statistical, and computing skills needed to critically evaluate and conduct research in areas related to cognition and perception

Industrial/Organizational Concentration

Program Description:

Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology is the study of psychological processes related to the workplace. Experts in the field focus on topics including selection, legal issues and diversity, organizational behavior, training, motivation, leadership, job attitudes, teams and group processes organizational structure, and organizational change.  I/O Psychologists contribute to an organization’s success by improving the performance and well-being of its people.  There is a strong quantitative focus in I/O since such knowledge and skills are needed to design and validate selection tests.  Other areas of psychology, such as social, cognitive, and developmental psychology, have influenced I/O Psychology by helping to increase the understanding of how people function in the workplace.

Psychology majors interested in applying to the I/O Concentration must be classified as Bachelor of Science (BS) degree-seeking students.  In addition, students must have completed at least 45 semester credits, including PSY 3040 , Industrial Organizational Psychology, with a minimal grade of C.  An overall grade point average (GPA) and psychology GPA of at least 3.2 are also required for admission into and graduation with the concentration.  Graduates of the I/O Concentration are excellent candidates for graduate work and careers in industrial and organizational psychology.  They may also work in industry, government, or education.

The I/O curriculum is designed to provide opportunities to achieve five outcomes:

1. Be familiar with current theory and research in diverse areas of psychology with an emphasis on topics related to industrial and organizational psychology
2. Have fundamental research design and mathematical/statistical skills needed to understand psychological science
3. Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms
4. Have skills in integrating and communicating about psychological knowledge
5. Have advanced research design, mathematical/statistical, and computing skills needed to critically evaluate and conduct research in areas related to industrial and organizational psychology.