Psychology Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)
(All colleges)
42 credits
PSY 331 recommendation
The department strongly recommends that all psychology students take the required course of PSY 331 Research Methods: Lecture and Laboratory (4 cr.) late in their sophomore year or early in their junior year. Once students have declared psychology as a major, they should plan on at least four semesters to complete the sequence of courses necessary for graduation with a psychology major. The four semester timeline does not include the time it takes to complete general education credits or credits necessary for a minor. We also recommend that students consider volunteer work and/or fieldwork as an important part of their psychological training. The psychology major provides solid training in the liberal arts and in research methods.
Enrollment in PSY 331 requires the following prerequisites: "C" or better in PSY 100 & STAT 145; 2.25 GPA in PSY 100, STAT 145, CST 110, & ENG 110/ENG 112, plus 30 credits. Students will not be able to progress in the major without this course.
Curriculum
Select required number of credits from the following five categories. Additional credits completed within a category, after the required credits are met, may be used as elective credits in category V. STAT 145 is required as part of the 42 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| I. Core courses | 11 | |
| General Psychology 1 | ||
| Research Methods: Lecture and Laboratory | ||
| Elementary Statistics 1 | ||
| II. Foundation courses | 9 | |
| Select three of the following: | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Cognitive and Biological Foundations of Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| III. Sociocultural awareness | 3 | |
| Select one of the following (more than one strongly recommended): | ||
| Cross-Cultural Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Culture and Race | ||
| Culture and Mental Health | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Men and Masculinities | ||
| LGBTQ+ Youth Psychology | ||
| Multicultural Counseling | ||
| Racism and Oppression | ||
| Prejudice and Stigma | ||
| IV. Capstone/Experiential | 4 | |
| Select four credits from any combination of the following: | ||
| Research Apprenticeship | ||
| Teaching Apprenticeship in Psychology | ||
| Internship in Psychology 2 | ||
| History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| Individual Projects in Psychology | ||
| Honors Projects in Psychology 3 | ||
| Appraising Psychology Seminar | ||
| Research Capstone: Revise and Resubmit | ||
| Honors Seminar 3 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Psychology | ||
| V. Electives | 15 | |
| Select 15 credits from the following or from any remaining PSY credits listed above (at least 12 credits must be at the 300/400 level): 4, 5 | ||
| Orientation to the Psychology Major | ||
| Effective Behavior | ||
| Contemporary Topics in Psychology: Beginner | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Environmental Issues: Applied Psychology | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Intimate Relationships | ||
| Behavior Modification | ||
| Child Abuse and Neglect | ||
| Human Motivation | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Group Dynamics | ||
| Empathic Listening Skills | ||
| The Practice of Art Therapy | ||
| Infancy and Childhood | ||
| Adolescence | ||
| Adulthood | ||
| Aging and the Elderly | ||
| Cross Cultural Human Development | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
| Psychology and Law | ||
| Contemporary Topics in Psychology: Intermediate | ||
| Advanced Psychopathology | ||
| Counseling and Personality Theories | ||
| Positive Psychology | ||
| Children's Cognition | ||
| Advanced Developmental Psychology | ||
| Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | ||
| Advanced Research Methods | ||
| Death, Dying, and Bereavement | ||
| Understanding the Mental Health Counseling Profession | ||
| Addictive Behaviors | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Consciousness | ||
| Learning and Memory | ||
| Clinical Neuropsychology | ||
| Cognitive Processes | ||
| Psychology of Language | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Advanced Social Psychology | ||
| Psychological Measurement | ||
| Genes and Behavior | ||
| Contemporary Topics in Psychology: Advanced | ||
| Nature and Forest Therapy | ||
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- 1
Psychology majors may double count only PSY 100 and STAT 145 as both general education and major credits.
- 2
PSY 450 requires arrangements with the Career Services Office and the psychology internship coordinator that must be initiated prior to the start of the semester.
- 3
PSY 482 and PSY 489 require admission to the Psychology Honors Program.
- 4
If not used to satisfy minimum requirements in category I - IV.
- 5
Psychology majors should consult with their advisor on which courses might be recommended based on their post-graduation plans.
All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Science core requirements
The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:
- Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
- Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
- Language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) used to fulfill general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2) may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
- All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 42 credits required in the General Education Program.
- At least one course in the B.A. or B.S. college degree program (core requirements) must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
- Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.
Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements except for language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) that count in the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2).
Bachelor of Science students complete four courses outside the department of the student's major as follows:
- A lab science course (from the general education list); and
- A social science course; and
- Another social science or general education natural science, or math course, or an approved CASSH alternative (ENV 101, PHL 334, PHL 339); and
- One additional course in humanities or fine arts or complete a global cultures and languages course 102 level or higher.
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or program option by satisfying one of the following:
- Complete a minor (or second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
- Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
- Complete 18 credits in two or more departments or programs (at least 12 credits earned at the 300/400 level). These courses must be outside the student's major department and can be from any college. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
- 1
Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
- 2
The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | PSY 100 (Gen Ed Self & Society (PSY Cat I))1 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Natural Lab Science | 4 | CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 |
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math (PSY CAT I))1 | 4 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2 | Gen Ed Arts | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| PSY Cat II: Foundation Course | 3 | PSY Cat II: Foundation Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math/Logical Systems/Language | 3-4 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| PSY Cat II: Foundation Course | 3 | PSY Cat III: Sociocultural Awareness | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | PSY Cat IV: Experiential/Capstone | 1-3 |
| PSY Cat V: Electives (300/400-level) | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| CASSH Core Diversity Course | 3 | CASSH Core Course - Natural Lab Science | 4 |
| PSY 331 (PSY Cat I)2 | 4 | PSY Cat V: Electives (300/400-level) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | PSY Cat V: Electives (300/400-level) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 | PSY Cat V: Electives | 3 |
| PSY Cat V: Electives (300/400-level) | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| PSY Cat IV: Experiential/Capstone | 1-3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
Psychology majors may double count only PSY 100 and STAT 145 in both General Education and the major.
- 2
Enrollment in PSY 331 requires the following prerequisites: "C" or better in PSY 100 & STAT 145; 2.25 GPA in PSY 100, STAT 145, CST 110, & ENG 110/ENG 112, plus 30 credits. Students will not be able to progress in the major without this course.