Major Degree Requirements
The major in psychology requires a minimum of 60 credits in the field. Students must complete the required courses in statistics before taking any 400-level course or any course with statistics as a prerequisite.
All psychology majors are strongly encouraged to participate in the advising process, which includes a Group Orientation session, peer mentoring, and faculty advising.
All courses taken to satisfy the requirements for a major in psychology, including the mandatory statistics courses, must be passed with a grade of C- or above. Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling departmental major requirements.
In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the student must meet the following requirements for major:
| Courses | Notes | Credits Required |
|---|
| NB Stat 243 or SOC 396 - Social Statistics | In order to understand psychological research methods, an applied understanding of statistics is necessary. | 4 |
| NB Stat 244 or PSY 320 - Social Science Research Methods II | In order to understand psychological research methods, an applied understanding of statistics is necessary. | 4 |
| PSY 201Z | PSY 201Z is Introduction to Psychology I. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: research methods, behavioral neuroscience, consciousness, sensation/perception, learning, memory, thinking and intelligence, and related topics. | 4 |
| PSY 202Z | PSY 202Z is Introduction to Psychology II. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: personality, social psychology, health and well-being, motivation and emotion, disorders, therapies, lifespan development, and related topics. | 4 |
| PSY 321 | | 4 |
| PSY Elective 200+ | | 4 |
| PSY Elective 410-498 | Choose among different Pathways Through Psychology that focus your studies on specific areas and applications of psychology, | 16 |
| PSY Elective 300/400 | Additional upper-division elective credits (300- and 400-level), excluding courses numbered 399 to 409 | 16 |
| PSY Human Diversity Elective | See below | 4 |
| Total | | 60 |
Human Diversity Elective
Majors are required to take a course in human diversity. To fulfill this requirement, students can choose to take any 300- or 400-level class in the following subjects: Black Studies, Chicano/Latino Studies, Indigenous Nations Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, or any of the following classes:
- ANTH 318U: Asian American Experience
- ANTH 426: Transnationalism and Migration
- ANTH 432: Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
- COMM 415: Problems of Intercultural Communication
- CR 312: Intercultural Conflict Resolution
- PSY 310U: Psychology of Women
- PSY 410: Cross-cultural Psychology
- PSY 410: Native American Psychological Healing
- PSY 425: Psychology of Black Manhood in America
- PSY 426: Psychology of Stigma & Social Inequality
- PSY 428: Diversity, Prejudice and Intergroup Relations
- PSY 429: The Psychology of Race & Gender in Sport
- PSY 431U: Psychology of Men and Masculinities
- PSY 458: Development & Education of African-Diaspora Children & Youth
- PSY 469: Psychology of Human Sexuality
- PSY 470: Diversity in the Workplace
- SOC 337U: Prejudice, Privilege and Power
- SOC 344U: Gender and Sexualities
- SOC 423: Stratification
- SOC 427: Gender and Work
- SOC 430: Hate Crimes
- SOC 444: Race, Ethnicity and Nationality
- SOC 446: Immigrants in America
- SOC 452: Education and Equality: Comparing the US, Asia, Europe
- SOC 463: Global Inequalities and Health
The list above is not comprehensive; students can also use courses not included here with advisor approval.
Minor Degree Requirements
To earn a minor in psychology, a student must complete 28 credits (8 credits of which must be taken in residence at PSU), to include the following:
| Courses | Notes | Credits Required |
|---|
| PSY 201Z | PSY 201Z is Introduction to Psychology I. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: research methods, behavioral neuroscience, consciousness, sensation/perception, learning, memory, thinking and intelligence, and related topics. | 4 |
| PSY 202Z | PSY 202Z is Introduction to Psychology II. Emphasis will be placed on psychological concepts, theories, and principles related to: personality, social psychology, health and well-being, motivation and emotion, disorders, therapies, lifespan development, and related topics. | 4 |
| PSY Electives 300/400 | Upper-division psychology courses (300- or 400-level), excluding 401 to 409 | 20 |
| Total | | 28 |
All courses submitted to satisfy the requirements for a minor in psychology must be passed with a grade of C- or above. Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling department minor requirements.