Apr 18, 2024  
2009-2010 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2009-2010 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Psychology Major


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BA degree 

GPA Requirements

The Psychology Department has a GPA requirement that varies with the number of credit hours completed (see below). Failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average will mean departmental probation. In the semester following one in which the student’s GPA is below the minimum, the student will not be allowed to register for courses designated for psychology majors only.

Number of credit hours/minimum required GPA
30 / 2.00
50 / 2.750

A student who receives three or more grades of “W” or “I” in a semester will be placed on departmental probation. After two consecutive semesters of departmental probation, students may be dis-enrolled from the major.

Major Requirements

Psychology majors must fulfill the requirements listed below. Students must have earned  a C- or better in any psychology course taken to meet the requirements listed as required courses.

All psychology majors are required to complete successfully the courses listed among the four areas in the requirements section. This system is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the field, a strong foundation in research methodology, the ability to understand research and apply it to theory and practice and opportunity to explore areas of the field in depth. Students should plan to complete General Psychology, Statistics for Psychology and three other classes from the Foundations 1 and 2 areas by the end of  the sophomore year.  Available as electives are PSY 406, 407 and 480, which introduce students to some applied aspects of psychology. In addition, students interested in research who are considering eventual graduate education in psychology may apply to pursue Honors Research or Independent Study. Both of the above options are available for students interested in pursuing clinical research. All Psychology majors are required to participate in the senior year assessment. The purpose of this assessment is to provide an empirical basis for curricular improvement.

Requirements


Foundations of Psychological Sciences 2 (6 Credits)


 Choose two of the Following Courses.

Advanced Electives (6 credits)


Choose two additional Psychology courses at the 300 or 400 level.  You may not select PSY 323.

Total Credits: 34


General Education Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Psychology will meet their departmentally-determined General Education requirements as follows:

Area I, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

Area W, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

PSY 210 or any of PSY 390, PSY 391, PSY 392, PSY 393 or PSY 394

Area O


Satisfied by any two of the following:

PSY 210, PSY 390, PSY 391, PSY 392, PSY 393, PSY 394, PSY 423, PSY 490

Psychology Honors Program


The Psychology Department participates in the university honors program by offering honors sections of general psychology, and it also has a departmental honors program.

The psychology honors program is designed to provide psychology students with the opportunity to engage in independent research. It is recommended for all students who wish to pursue a PhD degree, whether in an experimental or applied area. Honors students typically have GPAs over 3.0, but admission to the honors program is based on overall potential and motivation rather than on grade point average alone.

The sequence begins in the junior year with the identification of a research topic and a faculty advisor. Beginning in the junior year or in the first semester of the senior year, honors students carry out an original research project by enrolling in an eight-credit honors research seminar.

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