Psychology Major (B.A.)

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This program is a pre-professional degree for students who will go on to graduate study at the master’s or doctoral levels that are required for professional careers in psychology and counseling. It is also designed as a liberal arts degree, emphasizing interpersonal relations for students who anticipate jobs in business, the social services, and other fields. Students take a common core of required classes in the major and then, in consultation with their academic advisor, choose electives appropriate to their educational and vocational goals.

Program Requirements

Christian Studies Core

I. Christian Studies - 24 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits *
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits *
BIB 434 - Romans 3 Credits
BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
CHM 201 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
or
CHM 300 - Spiritual and Personal Formation 3 Credits
CHM 210 - Missions in Perspective 3 Credits
or
CHM 325 - Biblical Evangelism and Missions 3 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits

General Education Core

II. General Education - 40 Credits

COM 133 - Speech 3 Credits
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
FAR - Fine Arts Elective 3 Credits³
or
LAN - Foreign Language Elective 3 Credits
HIS 133 - World Civilizations to 1500 3 Credits
or
HIS 134 - World Civilizations since 1500 3 Credits
Humanities Elective 3 Credits¹
MAT - Math Elective 4 Credits
SCI - Lab Science Elective 4 Credits
Social Science Elective 5 Credits²
Humanities, Math, Science or Social Science Electives 9 Credits^1,2*

Major Core

III. Psychology Major - 50 Credits

MAT 225 - Statistics 4 Credits *
PHI 232 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credits *
PSY 130 - General Psychology 3 Credits *
PSY 236 - Developmental Psychology 3 Credits *
PSY 240X - Social Science Research Methods 3 Credits
PSY 330 - Counseling Psychology 3 Credits
PSY 331 - Personality Theories 3 Credits
PSY 336 - Abnormal Psychology 3 Credits
PSY 345 - Psychology of Spiritual Development 3 Credits
PSY 431X - Social Psychology 3 Credits
300-400 Psychology Electives 6 Credits
SCI 243 - General Biology I 4 Credits *
SOC 230 - Sociology 3 Credits *
or
ANT 231 - Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits *
SOC 415X - Human Sexuality 3 Credits
SOC 461X - Senior Interdisciplinary Seminar 3 Credits

IV. Electives - 11 Credits*

Electives 2 Credits
300-400 Electives 9 Credits

At least 30% of this degree, or a minimum of 38 credits, must be at the upper (300-400) level. If you choose to take lower-level Christian Studies core classes (CHM 201 or CHM 210 ), then you must take enough upper-level general electives to meet this requirement.

* Some courses from the Christian Studies Core and Major Core can be used to fulfill requirements in the General Education Core. By doing that the number of electives needed would increase so that the minimum of 125 credits is reached.

Total - 125 Credits

¹ Select humanities electives from COM, ENG, ESL, FAR, HIS, HUM, LAN, MUS, PHI, or PRC.

² Select social science electives from ANT, CSJ, ECO, ESL, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, or SOC.

³ Fine arts courses include music, art, drama, and dance. COM 328 also qualifies as a fine arts elective. (Only three credits of music organizations and/or lessons can be counted toward humanities/fine arts requirements.)

Four-Year Suggested Program for the Psychology Major

Freshman Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
HIS 133 - World Civilizations to 1500 3 Credits
or
HIS 134 - World Civilizations since 1500 3 Credits
PSY 130 - General Psychology 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
SCI 243 - General Biology I 4 Credits (fulfills Lab Science elective)*

Spring Semester - 15 Credits

ANT 231 - Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
or
SOC 230 - Sociology 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Humanities elective)*
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Humanities elective)*
COM 133 - Speech 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
Humanities, Math, Science or Social Science Elective 3 Credit

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

MAT 225 - Statistics 4 Credits (fulfills Math elective)*
PSY 236 - Developmental Psychology 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits
Fine Arts or Foreign Language Elective 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits

Spring Semester - 15 Credits

CHM 201 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
or
CHM 300 - Spiritual and Personal Formation 3 Credits
PHI 232 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credits (fulfills Humanities elective)*
PSY 240X - Social Science Research Methods 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits

Departmental Acceptance

Students apply for departmental acceptance during their sophomore year spring semester or their junior year fall semester. A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and completion of half of the Christian Service requirements are required for departmental admission in the Psychology major.

Junior Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

CHM 210 - Missions in Perspective 3 Credits
or
CHM 325 - Biblical Evangelism and Missions 3 Credits
PSY 330 - Counseling Psychology 3 Credits
PSY 331 - Personality Theories 3 Credits (even)
or
PSY 431X - Social Psychology 3 Credits (odd)
Elective 3 Credits
Elective 4 Credits

Spring Semester - 16 Credits

BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
PSY 345 - Psychology of Spiritual Development 3 Credits
300-400 Psychology Elective 3 Credits
SOC 415X - Human Sexuality 3 Credits
Elective 4 Credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
PSY 331 - Personality Theories 3 Credits (even)
or
PSY 431X - Social Psychology 3 Credits (odd)
PSY 336 - Abnormal Psychology 3 Credits
300-400 Psychology Elective 3 Credits
Elective 1 Credits
300-400 Elective 3 Credits

Spring Semester - 15 Credits

BIB 434 - Romans 3 Credits
SOC 461X - Senior Interdisciplinary Seminar 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits
300-400 Elective 3 Credits
300-400 Elective 3 Credits

Footnote:

For helpful information about majoring in Psychology and careers in Psychology, please follow these links:

http://www.learnpsychology.org/resources/pre-professional-experience/

http://www.learnpsychology.org/

For resources on mental health and well being, follow this link:

http://www.learnpsychology.org/mental-health/

For information on the study materials for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for those going on to graduate school, please click here.