Psychology Major

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 and that students will have to improve their grades in subsequent psychology courses per probation contract. Failure to meet the probation standards means leaving the department.

Number of credit hours/minimum required GPA
4-Year Students: 9 / 2.50
Transfer Students: 6 / 2.50

A student who receives three or more grades of “W” or “I” in a semester will be placed on departmental probation. Once students are placed on probation, they will be given a probation plan that specifies the requirements to remain in 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 area by the end of the sophomore year.
• Foundation 2 courses should be completed by the end of the junior year.
• The Psychological Methods and Depth courses can be completed in the second semester of the junior year or in the senior year.
• The Advanced Electives are any 300/400 level courses not listed under Depth or Methods. Within this requirement, several special options are available, including the counseling sequence (PSY 377, 407, and ), which introduces students to some applied aspects of 417psychology.
• Students interested in research who are considering eventual graduate education in psychology may apply to pursue Thesis Research (PSY 498 and 499) or Independent Study (495).
• Research opportunities are possible in any area represented by our faculty, including cognitive, developmental, social, biological and clinical areas.
• There is also a combined bachelor’s and master’s program (BA/MA), which allows talented students to earn both degrees within 5 years. Psychology majors interested in that program should plan to apply no later than the junior year.
• 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.