GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT

THE MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY

The major in psychology consists of a minimum of 42 semester hours and requires the completion of the following:
1. Five core courses:
2. Three courses from each of two course groupings:
3. Five additional courses in psychology with at least three at the 300 level or above.

Additional courses are also required depending upon the student's choice to pursue a BA or BS degree.

There are additional requirements regarding minimum grades, Computer Literacy, Transfer Students, and assessment testing.

1. Five core courses:
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
MAT 205 Elementary Statistics
PSY 210 Research Methods in Psychology
PSY 210L Research Tools in Psychology
PSY 210R Career Planning in Psychology

2. Three courses from 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 319 Child Psychology
PSY 300 Personality Theory
PSY 305 Psychological Testing
PSY 333 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 344 Industrial/Organizational Psychology

3. Five additional courses in psychology with at least three at the 300 level or above (minimum of 13 semester hours).

The psychology major is designed to provide students with flexibility in the selection of courses to meet their individual interests and career goals. Students must meet with a psychology faculty adviser each semester to receive assistance in designing a program of course work based on their individual needs.

For students planning to pursue graduate study in psychology, the department strongly recommends a broad and balanced program of applied and theoretical courses with careful planning to meet the requirements for admission to graduate schools in psychology. In addition, such students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of required courses including advanced courses that involve the opportunity for independent research.

Additional Course requirements:

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science is conferred upon students completing the major in psychology.

The degree of Bachelor of Science is conferred upon students who have completed one of the following options: (1) one college-level mathematics course (in addition to MAT 205) and two laboratory courses in psychology or (2) two statistics courses (beyond MAT 205) from MAT 312, MAT 314, and MAT 315; and one laboratory course in psychology.

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred upon students completing a minimum of 3 semester hours credit in a Study Abroad program approved by the NKU Office of International Programs OR 6 semester hours of a foreign language or its equivalent. This requirement is in addition to current University general studies requirements.

Students pursuing a psychology degree in conjunction with a secondary education curriculum should review that portion of the University catalog relating to education and health/physical education. Upon deciding to pursue the teacher education program, students must meet with the coordinator of certification and advisement in the School of Education.

GRADE REQUIREMENT
Students majoring (or minoring) in psychology must have a grade of C or better in all courses applied toward certification of the major or minor in psychology.

COMPUTER LITERACY REQUIREMENT
Students majoring in psychology satisfy the University requirement of competence in comupter use by successfully completing PSY 210L Research Tools in Psychology or its equivalent.

TRANSFER STUDENTS
Students majoring (or minoring) in psychology must complete at least half of their required coursework in psychology at NKU.

ASSESSMENT TESTING
All students majoring in psychology are required to participate in departmental assessment testing, which is conducted in December and May upon completion of each student's final full semester prior to graduation.

GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT
PSY 100 and one of PSY 200, 201, 205, 206, or 220 (6 semester hours) will satisfy the general studies requirement in behavioral sciences. PSY 201 also satisfies the general studies requirement in race/gender perspective.