Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
Nature of the Program
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology has an emphasis in human behavior and counseling. It is broadly conceived and designed to prepare students for a variety of careers. Among the notable features of the program are a course in research methods with an emphasis in behavior analysis and adjustment in a laboratory setting, a field experience option that allows students to earn credits for placement in a public or private enterprise for professional competence development, and a capstone course that integrates methodology, research, and writing in the discipline. The combination of coursework and field experience will permit students to achieve professional certification necessary to work with special needs children.
Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter careers in applied mental health or organizational settings. Some examples of career options include education, children and youth behavioral services, adult behavioral services, counseling, corrections, health-care related occupations, and other fields. Psychology majors may also pursue advanced degrees in graduate or professional schools.
Faculty
Associate professor
- Cynthia R. Hall - Ph.D. Psychology
Assistant professor
- Jemma E. Cook - Ph.D. Psychology
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations | ||
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
Total Hours | 31-37 |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Requirements | 30 | |
Program Requirements | 20 | |
Psychology Major Requirements | 70 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
University Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 5, and 6 | 12 | |
WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
General Electives | 17 | |
Total Hours | 30 |
Program Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL 111 | General Biology (GEF 2) | 4 |
BIOL 112 | General Biology (GEF 8) | 4 |
MATH 126 | College Algebra (or higher, GEF 3) | 3 |
MDS 270 | Effective Public Speaking (GEF 8) | 3 |
SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GEF 8) | 3 |
WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | 3 |
Total Hours | 20 |
Psychology Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A minimum grade of C- is required in each of the following: PSYC 101, 203, 204, 241, 301, 302, and 474. | ||
An overall 2.0 GPA in PSYC courses. | ||
PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4) | 3 |
PSYC 201 | Psychology as a Profession | 1 |
PSYC 203 & 203L | Research Methods and Analysis 1 and Research Methods and Analysis 1 Laboratory | 3 |
PSYC 204 & 204L | Research Methods and Analysis 2 and Research Methods and Analysis 2 Laboratory | 3 |
PSYC 234 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
PSYC 241 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
PSYC 281 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology (GEF 7) | 3 |
PSYC 301 & 301L | Biological Foundations of Behavior and Biological Foundations of Behavior Laboratory | 4 |
PSYC 302 | Behavior Principles | 4 |
PSYC 350 | Topics in Social Psychology | 3 |
PSYC 362 | Psychological Assessment | 3 |
PSYC 363 | Personality Theory | 3 |
PSYC 382 | Exceptional Children | 3 |
PSYC 401 | Psychology Capstone Experience | 1 |
PSYC 424 | Learning and Behavior Theory | 3 |
PSYC 474 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Professional Field Experience | ||
Special Topics | ||
Independent Study | ||
Science Electives: BIOL, CHEM, CS, GEOL, MATH, PHSC, PHYS, STAT courses | 9 | |
Minor or Restricted Electives (six credit hours must be at 300-400 level): ANTH, ARHS, ART, BIOL, CHEM, CRIM, CS, CJ, ECON, HIST, MATH, MUSC, PHSC, PHYS, POLS, PSYC, SOC, FRNX, Foreign Language courses * | 12 | |
Total Hours | 70 |
- *
Students must either take a minor or 12 credit hours of restricted electives with a required 6 credit hours of 300 or 400 level courses.
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
PSYC 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | MATH 126 (GEF 3) | 3 |
WVUE 191 | 1 | PSYC 201 | 1 |
SOC 101 (GEF 8) | 3 | PSYC 241 | 3 |
GEF 5 | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
Open Elective | 3 | Open Elective | 3 |
16 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PSYC 203 & 203L | 3 | PSYC 204 & 204L | 3 |
PSYC 363 | 3 | PSYC 301 & 301L | 4 |
PSYC 281 (GEF 7) | 3 | PSYC 350 | 3 |
BIOL 111 (GEF 2) | 4 | BIOL 112 (GEF 8) | 4 |
PSYC 234 | 3 | WRIT 305 | 3 |
16 | 17 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
PSYC 302 | 4 | PSYC 474 | 3 |
PSYC 362 | 3 | PSYC 382 | 3 |
MDS 270 (GEF 8) | 3 | Math/Science Elective | 3 |
Math/Science Electives | 6 | Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 |
16 | 12 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
Select one of the following: | 3 | PSYC 401 | 1 |
Open Elective | 11 | ||
PSYC 424 | 3 | ||
Restricted Electives or Minor | 9 | ||
15 | 12 | ||
Total credit hours: 120 |
Major Learning Outcomes
Psychology
Students completing the program will:
- Summarize key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology
- Assess and apply psychological concepts to real-world practices
- Engage in integrative thinking and problem solving
- Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research
- Interpret psychological phenomena using scientific reasoning
- Demonstrate effective writing skills
- Exhibit effective presentation skills
- Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice
- Develop and use effective team-working skills