Frequently Asked Questions

1. What courses should I take in my first two years?

In general, you should focus on completing any required ≥developmental≤ courses, beginning work on your psychology major, and taking courses that meet the general studies requirements. In addition, you should be aware that:

(a) PSY 100 (Introduction to Psychology) is a prerequisite to all other psychology courses and should be taken during your first semester.

(b) PSY 210, PSY 210L, and PSY 210R (Research Methods, Research Tools, and Career Planning) are co requisites and must be taken at the same time. Ideally, they should be completed during the sophomore year.

(c) STA 205 (Statistics) is a prerequisite to the PSY 210 courses, and therefore should be completed in the freshman year or in the first semester of the sophomore year. One implication of this is that any ≥developmental≤ math courses (e.g., MAH 095, or 099) must be completed as soon as possible because they are a prerequisite to STA 205.

2. When do I need to come for advising?

All freshmen are required to meet with Dr. Hatchett before they will be allowed to register for classes. During the initial meeting, Dr. Hatchett will discuss the graduation requirements (including the general studies and major requirements) to make sure you know what you must complete in order to graduate. After earning 30 hours, students are allowed to register for classes without meeting with an advisor until they reach 90 hours. At that point, seniors must complete a thorough advising session with Dr. Burr to determine their progress towards graduation.

Transfer students, newly declared majors and current majors over 30 hours should see Dr. Burr or one of the other faculty available for advising. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to meet individually with faculty members.

3. Do I have to take a ≥psychology lab≤?

The lab classes are only required for those students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology. The Research Tools class (210L) does not count as one of the required labs for the B.S. student. The Research Tools class counts only as a core course. Students seeking a B.A. may take labs as an elective class. Regardless of whether you are pursuing a B.A. or a B.S., the lab classes count towards the elective category.

The lab classes offer an opportunity to explore how research is conducted in each of these specialties in psychology. Each lab is worth 2 hours at the 300 level.

Lab classes are provided for PSY 309, PSY 311, PSY 338 and PSY 340. You may take the lab during the same semester as the course, or you may take the lab after you take the class at a later time. However, you must complete PSY 210 (Research Methods) prior to enrolling in a lab class.

4. Can I take STA 205 the same semester that I take PSY 210, PSY 210L and PSY 210R?

No, STA 205 is a prerequisite for the ≥210πs≤ and must be successfully completed prior to taking these classes.

5. Does PSY 210L count as a lab for the B.S. requirement? No, PSY 210L is a required core course. The labs that count towards the B.S. are PSY 309L, PSY 311L, PSY 338L, and PSY 340L.

6. Can I take PSY 220 (Lifespan Development) and PSY 319 (Child Development) or PSY 320 (Adult Development)? No, the content in these classes significantly overlaps. As a result, you canπt take PSY 220 and PSY 319 or PSY 320 for credit. Although PSY 220 does count for General Education Requirements, and as an elective, you are better off taking another PSY course (such as 200 or 205) to meet the Behavioral/Social Sciences requirement so that you have the option to take PSY 319 or PSY 320 later.

7. If I took MAT 113 or MAT 212, do I still have to take STA 205?

If you took MAT 113 (now STA 113), you still need to take STA 205. The college will now give you credit for both courses. If you took MAT 212 (now STA 212) before declaring psychology as your major, then you do not have to take STA 205. STA 113 is designed primarily for elementary education majors, and thus is not a recommended course for psychology majors.

8. Is a B.S. in psychology better than a B.A.?

No, they are both undergraduate degrees in general psychology. The B.S. does require additional math and lab experience, which may give you a slight advantage if applying to a very competitive graduate program. However, for most students, there is not a substantial advantage for one over the other.

9. What should I do to prepare for graduate school?

If you hope to go to graduate school, prepare early and throughout your college career. Most programs expect students to have research experience, so it is in your best interest to take the ≥210πs≤ early to prepare you to do independent research or participate in the lab classes. Also, think about work or volunteer experience that could strengthen your application. Your G.P.A. and GRE scores will be critical to your acceptance into a graduate program, so study hard and prepare for the GRE.