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 211 - The Gospel in Human Contexts 3 Credits
or
CHM 325 - Biblical Evangelism and Missions 3 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits

General Education Core

II. General Education - 30 Credits

Communication Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: COM 133 , COM 140 or COM 252 )
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
History Elective 3 Credits
Math or Science Elective 3-4 Credits
Communication, Humanities, Math, Science or Social Science Electives 17-18 Credits^1,2*

Major Core

III. Psychology Major - 43 Credits

MAT 224X - Applied Psychology Statistics 1 Credits
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 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
Psychology Electives (300-400 level) 6 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. Additional Requirements - 6 Credits

ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
Fine Arts or Humanities Elective 3 Credits ^1,3

V. Electives - 43 Credits*

Electives (300-400 level) 9 Credits
Electives 34 Credits

A minimum of 36 credits must be at the upper (300-400) level for a bachelor degree.

* 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, FAR, HIS, HUM, LAN, MUS, PHI, or PRC.

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

³Select fine arts electives from FAR and MUS. (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 - 15 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits *
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits *
Communication Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: COM 133 , COM 140 , or COM 252 )
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
History Elective 3 Credits
PSY 130 - General Psychology 3 Credits *

Spring Semester - 15 Credits

ANT 231 - Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits
or
SOC 230 - Sociology 3 Credits
BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits *
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits *
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
Fine Arts or Humanities Elective 3 Credits ^1,3
Elective 3 Credits

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester - 15 Credits

MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits *
PSY 236 - Developmental Psychology 3 Credits *
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits
Elective 6 Credits

Spring Semester - 15 Credits

CHM 201 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
or
CHM 300 - Spiritual and Personal Formation 3 Credits
PSY 240X - Social Science Research Methods 3 Credits *
Elective 9 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 is required for departmental admission in the Psychology major.

Junior Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

CHM 211 - The Gospel in Human Contexts 3 Credits
or
CHM 325 - Biblical Evangelism and Missions 3 Credits
MAT 224X - Applied Psychology Statistics 1 Credits
PSY 330 - Counseling Psychology 3 Credits *
Elective 6 Credits
PSY 331 - Personality Theories 3 Credits * (odd)
or
PSY 431X - Social Psychology 3 Credits (even)

Spring Semester - 18 Credits

BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
PSY 345 - Psychology of Spiritual Development 3 Credits
Psychology Elective (300-400 level) 3 Credits
SOC 415X - Human Sexuality 3 Credits
Elective 6 Credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

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

Spring Semester - 15 Credits

BIB 434 - Romans 3 Credits
SOC 461X - Senior Interdisciplinary Seminar 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits
Elective (300-400 level) 6 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.