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.
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 | 60 | |
| Program Requirements | 20 | |
| Psychology Major Requirements | 40 | |
| 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, 6 and 7 | 15 | |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 44 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GEF 8) | 3 |
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (or higher, GEF 3) | 3 |
| WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| Select either the BIOL 111/BIOL 112 or CHEM 115/CHEM 116 science sequence: | 8 | |
| General Biology (GEF 2) | ||
| General Biology (GEF 8) | ||
or | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 2) | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | ||
| Select one of the following Public Speaking courses: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication (GEF 8) | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Communication (GEF 8) | ||
| Effective Public Speaking (GEF 8) | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
Psychology Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A cumulative 2.0 GPA in PSYC Major courses. | ||
| Psychology Core: (C or better required in Core courses) | 18 | |
| Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4) | ||
| Psychology as a Profession | ||
| Research Methods and Analysis 1 and Research Methods and Analysis 1 Laboratory | ||
| Research Methods and Analysis 2 and Research Methods and Analysis 2 Laboratory | ||
| Biological Foundations of Behavior and Biological Foundations of Behavior Laboratory | ||
| Behavior Principles and Behavior Principles Laboratory | ||
| Cluster A/B (Behavior, Biological Bases and Cognition) - Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Behavior Principles | ||
| Learning and Behavior Theory | ||
| Applied Behavior Analysis | ||
| Cluster C (Clinical and Individual Differences) - Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Psychological Disorders | ||
| Psychological Assessment | ||
| Personality Theory | ||
| Forensic Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Psychology | ||
| Exceptional Children | ||
| Cluster D (Developmental Psychology) - Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Human Development | ||
| Cluster E (Social Processes) - Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Topics in Social Psychology | ||
| Ethics and Practice in Behavior Analysis | ||
| Psychology Capstone Requirements: | 4 | |
| Psychology Capstone Experience | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Professional Field Experience | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Research | ||
| Psychology Electives (6 hours, at 300 or 400 level) * | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 40 | |
- *
Psychology Elective courses cannot have been applied to the Clusters above, nor is PSYC 304 an allowed elective for PSYC Majors.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | 1 | MATH 124 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | PSYC 201 | 1 |
| SOC 101 | 3 | Cluster D course (Developmental Psyc.) | 3 |
| GEF 5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 111 or CHEM 115 and CHEM 115L (GEF 2) | 4 | BIOL 112 or CHEM 116 and CHEM 116L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| PSYC 203 & 203L | 3 | PSYC 204 & 204L | 3 |
| WRIT 305 | 3 | GEF 6 - Arts & Creativity | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PSYC 301 & 301L | 4 | Cluster A/B course (Behavior, Biological Bases & Cognition) | 3 |
| PSYC 302 & 302L | 4 | Cluster E course (Social Processes) | 3 |
| Cluster C course (Clinical & Individual Differences) | 3 | Select one of the following Public Speaking courses: | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PSYC 401 | 1 | PSYC Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| PSYC Elective (300 or 400 level) | 3 | ||
| GEF 7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 14 | ||
| 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