| The College of Arts & Sciences

 

Our Students

The Department of Psychology serves students who are majors and minors in the College of Arts and Sciences. This page details the requirements for our Arts and Sciences program. Information about the orgnaizational behavior and pyschology programs in the Hamilton Holt school can be found on the Organizational Behavior and Psychology Web sites.

The psychology program reflects the breadth, excitement, and rigor of scientific inquiry into human behavior and experience. It serves four groups of students:

• Those who want to sample the discipline;
• Those who think psychology might enrich their main academic/professional interest: business administration, education, religion and philosophy, sociology, anthropology, creative writing, health sciences, or law;
• Those who need psychology for "helping professions" such as human resources, secondary teaching, vocational and educational guidance, special education, early childhood education, or day-care work; and
• Those who intend to pursue a career in professional psychology: college or university teaching, research, or clinical or industrial psychology.

Students need to consult a departmental adviser as early as possible to plan course selections. Because of the structure of the major, transfer students should expect to spend at least two years in the Rollins program to complete major requirements.

 

Majors and Minors

If you are interested in becoming a Psychology major or pursuing a Psychology minor, please meet with a faculty member in the department.  It is important if you are majoring in Psychology to choose a faculty member in Psychology to serve as your academic advisor.

In the Fall, 2010, the major and minor requirements in Psychology changed.  Thus, if you declared a major or minor in Fall, 2010 or afterwards, you should follow the new major (or minor) map, which was made effective in Fall, 2010.  However, if you declared a major or minor prior to Fall, 2010, you are expected to meet the requirement formerly in place (these were made effective in the Spring, 2007).  If you have any confusion about which set of requirements applies to you, make an appointment with your academic advisor.

Maps:  Major Map | Minor Map

 

For Majors and Minors Who Declared in Fall, 2010 Or Later

Total Credits Required

Twelve (12) courses and a comprehensive exam required for majors.
Nine (9) courses required for minors.

Foundations

Both courses are required for both majors and minors.  May be taken in any order.

• PSY 150: Perspectives In Psychology I
• PSY 155: Perspectives In Psychology II

Scientific Core

Both courses are required for both majors and minors.

• PSY 250: Statistics and Research Methods I
• PSY 255: Statistics and Research Methods II (requires PSY 250)

Domains

At least one course from each domain and at least 3 laboratory courses are required of both majors and minors.  Majors are required to complete seven (7) total courses at the 300 level and minors are required to complete five (5) courses at the 300 level.  Laboratory courses require PSY 150, PSY 155, and PSY 255 as pre-requisites.

• Domain I: Behavioral Perspectives (courses with BEH titles)
• Domain II: Biological Perspecitves (courses with BIO titles)
• Domain III: Cognitive Perspectives (courses with COG titles)
• Domain IV: Developmental Perspectives (courses with DEV titles)
• Domain V: Individual-Social Perspectives (courses with ISP titles)

Capstone

Required of majors but not required of minors.  Students must take one (1) Senior Seminar course, Advanced Topics courses (PSY 415), or Honors Research (two semesters) in their senior year.

 

For Majors and Minors Who Declared Prior To Fall, 2010

Total Credits Required

Eleven (11) courses and a comprehensive exam required for majors.
Seven (7) courses required for minors.

Core Courses

Majors and minors must complete the following courses:

• PSY 101: Introduction To Psychology
• PSY 250: Statistics and Research Methods I (previously PSY 265)
• PSY 255: Statistics and Research Methods II (previously PSY 361)
• PSY 328: Developmental Psychology with Laboratory
• PSY 341: Learning with Laboratory

Additional Required Courses

Majors and minors must complete two (2) courses as follows:

• Choice of PSY 332: Psychology of Social Behavior (previously PSY 211) or PSY 354: Personality (previously PSY 254)
• Choice of PSY 322: Cognitive Psychology or PSY 324: Neuropsychology or PSY 326: Physiological Psychology

Majors (but not minors) must complete three (3) additional Psychology courses, at least one of which must be a 300- or 400-level course. 

400 Level Requirement

Majors (but not minors) must complete one 400-level Psychology course, which may include senior research.