Psychology, B.A.

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At-a-Glance

Minimum credit hours required for major: 40

Minimum credit hours required for minor: 19. Within the basic framework for the Psychology minor, a student may design a program of study that complements his or her major.

Advising: For advising on program requirements or what psychology classes to take, trained advisers are available in the department office. Additionally, for career-related advising, each psychology major is encouraged to develop a relationship with at least one full-time faculty member. To learn about available times for advisers and full-time faculty, email psych.advising@csuohio.edu, call the department office at (216) 687-2544 or visit the department office in CB 158.

Student Organizations: Psi Chi (a national psychology scholastic honorary society).

Additional information:

Psychology is concerned with explaining, predicting, and describing the thoughts, emotions, and actions of humans and animals. An undergraduate psychology major is an appropriate preparation for a wide variety of careers in which an understanding of mind and behavior would be of value. Some students who complete a psychology major pursue advanced study in psychology or in such professional disciplines as law and medicine; others find employment in human services and business settings.

In the CSU Psychology Department, approximately 14 full time faculty members have active research programs in areas that range from consumer spatial navigation to psychopathology and from successful aging to workplace dynamics. Information about and contact information for faculty members can be found on the department website, http://www.csuohio.edu/sciences dept/psychology/. Faculty members are willing to talk about opportunities for participation in their research programs with interested and suitably prepared undergraduates.

Independent study opportunities (PSY 396 ) may be arranged by a student in consultation with a faculty member.

It is possible to complete the requirements of the psychology major by taking courses only in the evening (i.e., that have class meetings that begin at 4 p.m. or later). Although not all courses are offered with evening class meetings, all required courses are offered, and at least one course from each core group is offered each year.

An Outstanding Undergraduate Psychology Student award is presented annually.

Requirements of the College of Sciences and Health Professions:

A minimum of 128 credit hours is required for a degree, of which 42 semester credit hours must be earned in 300- and/or 400-level courses.

General Education Requirements:

All degree-seeking students are required to meet general education requirements in addition to the course work required by the academic major. A comprehensive description of the requirements is found at http://www.csuohio.edu/academic/gened/.

Major Requirements (B.A.)

To satisfy the requirements of the Psychology major, a student must complete a minimum of 40 credit hours of psychology courses. For a course to count toward the major, a grade of at least C must be earned.

1. Required courses:

2. One course from each of the following areas:

Psychological Health Core

Social/Personality Core

Perception and Cognition Core

Neuroscience Core

3. 8 elective credit hours:

Any courses offered by the Psychology Department, including Core courses.

Note(s):

A student who majors in psychology should seriously consider taking courses in such disciplines as biology, anthropology, mathematics, sociology, and the philosophy of science. Any student who plans to pursue graduate study in psychology should obtain a solid background in statistics, research methods, and experimental psychology.

Any student majoring in Psychology who plans to apply to graduate programs in psychology should consult an adviser (see Advising above) to appropriately structure an undergraduate program of study. A student who is not a Psychology major who is contemplating graduate study in psychology should consult with an adviser in the Psychology Department.