Psychology Major (B.A.)

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This major is offered through the School of Arts & Sciences. The psychology program gives students a deeper understanding of people for wherever their future paths may lead them. The program is designed for students to learn effective skills in relating to and communicating with others, and to develop insight into the whole person and the life experiences which impact human behavior and mental processes. Students look broadly into the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of human behavior and integrate the learning with a biblical foundation. These abilities and knowledge are transferable to many vocations such as the mental health field, business, health care, and human services. The psychology undergraduate degree also prepares students for graduate studies.

Program Requirements

I. Core Curriculum - 48 Credits

BIB 434 - Romans 3 Credits
BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective (300-400 level) 3 Credits
CHM 122 - The Great Commandment 3 Credits
CHM 301 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
CHM 328 - The Great Commission 3 Credits
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
HIS 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits
HIS 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits
PSY 130 - General Psychology 3 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits
Communication Elective - choose one of the following:
COM 140 - Perspectives in Communication 3 Credits
COM 252 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits
Fine Arts Elective - choose one of the following:
FAR/MUS Fine Arts or Music Elective - 3 Credits
HON 225 - Beauty: Art and Culture 3 Credits
ENG/HIS/MAT/SCI Elective - choose one of the following or take two History Electives:
ENG 250 - Short Story 3 Credits
ENG 312 - American Literature 3 Credits
ENG 314 - Poetry 3 Credits
ENG 322 - The Novel 3 Credits
ENG 326 - Global Literature 3 Credits
MAT 130 - Mathematics Survey 3 Credits
MAT 131 - College Algebra 3 Credits
Lab Science Elective - 4 Credits
History Elective - choose one or two of the following:
HIS 133 - World Civilizations to 1500 3 Credits
HIS 134 - World Civilizations since 1500 3 Credits
HIS 231 - American Civilization to 1877 3 Credits
HIS 232 - American Civilization since 1877 3 Credits

II. Psychology Major - 36 Credits

ANT 231 - Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits
or
SOC 230 - Sociology 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 337 - Understanding Psychopathology 3 Credits
PSY 345 - Psychology of Spiritual Development 3 Credits
PSY 415 - Human Sexuality 3 Credits
PSY 431X - Social Psychology 3 Credits
PSY - Psychology Elective (300-400 level) 6 Credits (Choose from PSY classes or SOC 325 or SOC 434 )
SOC 461X - Senior Interdisciplinary Seminar 3 Credits

III. Electives - 41 Credits

Electives (300-400 level) 9 Credits
Electives 32 Credits

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

Total - 125 Credits

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
CHM 122 - The Great Commandment 3 Credits
Communication Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: COM 140 or COM 252 )
ENG 131 - English Composition 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
PSY 236 - Developmental Psychology 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester - 15 Credits

History Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: HIS 133 , HIS 134 , HIS 231 or HIS 232 )
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits
Elective 3 Credits
ENG/HIS/MAT/SCI Elective 3-4 Credits (Choose from: ENG 250 , COM 312 , ENG 314 , ENG 322 , MDA 326 , HIS 133 , HIS 134 , HIS 231 , HIS 232 , MAT 130 , MAT 131  or a Lab Science class)

Spring Semester - 16 Credits

CHM 328 - The Great Commission 3 Credits
Fine Arts Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: FAR or MUS classes or HON 225 )
PSY 240X - Social Science Research Methods 3 Credits
Elective 6 Credits
Elective 1 Credit

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 - 15 Credits

CHM 301 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
Elective 6 Credits
PSY 330 - Counseling Psychology 3 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 (300-400 level) 3 Credits
PSY 345 - Psychology of Spiritual Development 3 Credits
PSY - Psychology Elective (300-400 level) 3 Credits
PSY 415 - Human Sexuality 3 Credits
Elective 6 Credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester - 16 Credits

PSY 337 - Understanding Psychopathology 3 Credits
PSY - Psychology Elective (300-400 level) 3 Credits
Elective 1 Credits
Elective 3 Credits
Electives (300-400) 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