Requirements for the Psychology Major 1999-2006

 

As with any major, the requirements for a degree in psychology depend on which catalog applies to you.  These requirements have remained basically the same for many years except for changes in the number of elective hours required (see ≥C≤ below) and the requirements for the B.A. and B.S. (see ≥D≤ below). You can use the following description (from the current catalog) as a guide, but check with your advisor to make sure which requirements apply to you. The major currently requires a minimum of 43 semester hours and includes the following:

 

1.       Five core courses (12 semester hours):

          PSY 100       Introduction to Psychology

          STA 205       Elementary Statistics

          PSY 210       Research Methods (previously PSY 310)

          PSY 210L     Research Tools (previously PSY 310L)

          PSY 210R      Career Planning (previously PSY 310R)

 

2.  Three courses (9 semester hours) in each of the following course groupings:

          A.       PSY 309       Psychology of Perception

                     PSY 311       Biopsychology

                     PSY 337       Animal Learning

                     PSY 338       Cognitive Processes

                     PSY 340       Social Psychology

 

          B.       PSY 300       Psychology of Personality

                     PSY 305       Psychological Testing

                     PSY 319       Child Psychology

                     PSY 333       Abnormal Psychology

                     PSY 344       Industrial/Organizational Psychology

 

3.       Five elective courses in psychology (which must total at least 13 semester hours) with at least three of these courses at the 300 or 400 level.  These courses may include 200 level classes that also count towards general studies requirements (PSY 200, PSY 201, PSY 205, PSY 220).  Optional 2 hour lab classes that accompany PSY 309, PSY 311, PSY 338 and PSY 340 also can be included in this category.

 

4.       The final set of requirements depends on whether a student is seeking a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

 

1.     For the B.A. degree, the requirement is: a minimum of six

credit hours in the same foreign language or its equivalent.  This requirement is in addition to current general studies requirements, so students cannot use these courses to also meet the general studies humanities requirement.

OR

Successful completion of 3 semester hours credit in a Study Abroad program approved by NKU Office of International Programs. The course does not have to be in psychology.

 

2.  For the B.S. degree, students must complete either: (a) a college level math or statistics course (in addition to STA 205) and two laboratory courses in psychology, or (b) two statistics courses beyond STA 205 (i.e., STA 312, STA 314, STA 315) and one laboratory course in psychology. Lab courses in psychology include PSY 309L, 337L, 311L, & 340L.  Lab classes may be taken at the same time as the core class, or at a later time, but students must complete PSY 210 to take a lab.  PSY 210L does not count here as one of the required labs in this category.  However, the other lab classes also count as elective classes towards the major requirements.

 

5.  Psychology majors are required to participate in a standardized assessment  (ACT) given by the department prior to graduating.  This is in addition to whatever the university requires for graduation.

 

6.   All courses required for the major must be completed with a ≥C≤ or better.

 

7.  Transfer students must complete at least half of their required coursework in psychology at NKU.