Psychology Major

Psychology Major

IN THIS SECTION

Choose a major that will give you a foundation for a variety of career opportunities.

The Psychology Major will give you a wide range of marketable skills that include interpersonal awareness, problem solving, and research skills. You will learn how mind, brain, and behavior are connected, and you will build a strong scientific foundation in the principles of human and animal behavior, cognition, emotion, and development. Courses include abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, psychobiology, cognition and learning, diversity, and social psychology. You can choose to focus your studies with a concentration in mental health services, developmental process, or women’s studies, or pair this program with a major or minor in a wide range of fields, including biology, business, communication, criminal justice, education, English, health sciences, history, nursing, occupational theory, philosophy, public health, sociology, Spanish, and urban studies.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

  • Develop experiential understanding of psychological processes
  • Apply scientific methodology to solve problems
  • Examine various theories to explain behavior and cognitive abilities
  • Participate in faculty-led undergraduate research on topics like mental health, motivation, gender studies, immigration, culture, age, neuroscience, and memory
  • Discover the relevance of psychology in your every day life, community, society, and worldwide

Concentrations in Psychology

Explore sample courses in this program.
PS-101 General Psychology
Introduction to history of psychology, scientific method, brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, social behavior.
3 credits
PS-210 Developmental Psychology
Physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral development from conception to adolescence is examined within a framework of various theories.
3 credits
PS-222 Introduction to Health Psychology
Topics include epidemiology, behavior change, compliance, alternative medicine, healing, chronic illness.
3 credits
PS-224 Positive Psychology
Exploration of the psychology research on a fulfilling and flourishing life including happiness, self-esteem, love, goal setting, mindfulness, and spirituality.
3 credits
PS-230 Brain and Behavior
An introduction to the biological basis of behavior.
3 credits
PS-250 Social Psychology
The psychological dynamics of social interaction including verbal and non-verbal communication, group dynamics, and attitude formation and change.
3 credits
PS-254 Persuasion
Explores the areas of persuasion, social influence, and compliance gaining in various situations by utilizing psychological theories/approaches to explain behavior.
3 credits
PS-255 Psychological Foundations of Diversity
Explores the gender, racial/ethnic, multiple-group membership, cultural, social class, religious, disability, and sexual orientation facets of diversity.
3 credits
PS-260 Psychology of Human Sexuality
Sexuality as a foundation of personality. The wide range of human sexuality is explored as well as sexual development, roles, attitudes, and behaviors.
3 credits
PS-261 Couples and Family Psychology
Couples and family psychology is explored, focusing on dating, partnering, separation, divorce, intimacy, sexuality, parenting, and aging families.
3 credits
PS-263 Psychology of Women
Women’s psychological development throughout the lifespan is examined, including female development, achievement, stereotyping, stress, violence, and psychological disorders.
3 credits
PS-270 Psychopharmacology
This course explores the effects of psychotropic drugs on the brain and subsequent effects on behavior.
3 credits
PS-275 Psychological Statistics
Data tabulation; graphing; measurement of central tendency, variability, and correlation; hypothesis testing applied to psychological and sociological data. Hand and computer analysis.
4 credits
PS-276 Research Methods
Exploration of psychological research methodologies including scientific method, design, conduction, analysis, and reporting of research, ethical principles, and APA format.
3 credits
PS-280 Sensation and Perception
Selected sensory and perceptual processes are studied in the context of current theory and research.
3 credits
PS-310 Development of Exceptional Children/Youth
Characteristics and needs of children with exceptionalities, including behavior retardation, giftedness, physical or sensory disabilities, and emotional or social maladjustments.
3 credits
PS-312 Psychology of Adolescence
The mental, emotional, social, and physical changes of contemporary adolescence are examined with emphasis on family, peer, and school influence.
3 credits
PS-315 Physical and Sexual Abuse
Etiology, characteristics, consequence, treatment, and prevention of various forms of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in children, adolescents, and adults.
3 credits
PS-318 Behavior Management Techniques
Considers the basic concepts of behavior management, including behavior modification for exceptional and normal populations.
3 credits
PS-322 Psychology of Aging
Adulthood and old age are studied with special emphasis on current developmental theories.
3 credits
PS-325 Psychology of Learning
Learning as a fundamental concept in understanding behavior; examines principles and theories of learning, emphasizing experimental findings.
3 credits
PS-330 Theories of Personality
A survey of major theories of personality. Why people behave as they do is explored through the different theories.
3 credits
PS-335 Abnormal Psychology
Etiology, dynamics, and treatment of psychopathology and their relation to normal personality are considered from traditional and contemporary perspectives.
3 credits
PS-340 Psychological Testing and Measurement
How do psychologists evaluate individual characteristics like extroversion, depression, and attention? How do mental health providers and researchers administer psychological assessments and interpret their results? This class explores the theory and practice of psychological testing, including sections on measurement theory, psychometric research, and clinical assessment.
3 credits
PS-345 Cognitive Psychology
This course introduces students to areas of cognitive psychology including memory, language processing, and decision making.
3 credits
PS-365 Cultural Psychology
This course addresses the role culture plays in human psychological processes and approaches to researching cultural aspects of human action.
3 credits
PS-381 Physiology of Behavior
The use of physiological methods in physiological research covering topics such as emotion, motivation, sleep, and learning.
3 credits
PS-385 Motivation
A study of conditions that arouse, direct, and sustain behavior. Topics include goals, competence, control, arousal, self-esteem, achievement, and stress.
3 credits
PS-435 Clinical Psychology
Practical issues, methods, and techniques of current psychotherapies with emphasis on psychoanalytic, client-centered, and behavioral approaches.
3 credits
PB-200 Introduction to Psychobiology
Introductory course in psychobiology that covers topics including neurobiology, evolution, sensory/motor systems, learning and memory, and social behavior.
3 credits

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