Program Requirements
B.S. Degree Requirements | B.A. Degree Requirements
Requirements for the B.S. Degree
| Foundation courses | (13) | |
| PSYC 100C | P3 Introduction to Psychology | |
| PSYC 200 | Research Methods and Writing in Psychology | |
| PSYC 201 | Basic Statistics | |
| PSYC 204 | Advanced Statistics | |
| PSYC 290 | Career Planning & Exploration (1) | |
| Content Domain courses | (21) | |
| PSYC 211 | P3 Society & Mental Illness | |
| Choose one: | PSYC 227C P3 Child and Adolescent Development* | |
| PSYC 231C P3 Development Across the Lifespan* | ||
| PSYC 235C | P3 Social Psychology | |
| PSYC 236 | P3 Psychology of Personality | |
| PSYC 280 | Physiological Psychology | |
| PSYC 281 | Learning | |
| PSYC 282 | Cognitive Processes | |
| Laboratory courses | (6) | |
| Choose two: | PSYC 327 Developmental Laboratory | |
| PSYC 335 Social Psychology Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 361 Psychophysiology Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 362 Topics Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 381 Learning Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 382 Cognitive Processes Laboratory | ||
| Capstone courses | (9) | |
| PSYC 407 or 408 | Seminar in Psychology | |
| PSYC 411 | Advanced Psychopathology | |
| PSYC 415 | History and Systems of Psychology | |
| Electives | (12) | |
| Four Psychology (PSYC) elective courses | ||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences courses | (9) | |
| One Quantitative Tool (MATH, STAT) course** | ||
| One Philosophy (PHIL) course** | ||
| One Natural Science (BIOL, CHEM, PHYS) course** | ||
| Total | (70) | |
*Only one cumulative Human Development course may be applied to the Psychology major. Thus, either PSYC/EDUC 227C P3 Childhood and Adolescent Development or PSYC 231C P3 Development Across the Lifespan (but not both) may be used to fulfill Psychology major requirements.
**May be drawn from relevant courses applied to the College Core (with the exception of DEPT 199 RW courses). Consult with your departmental advisor to choose courses to meet these requirements. Note that ECON 221 may fulfill the quantitative tool requirement, but STAT 205 may not.
Note: At least half of the required PSYC credits for the Psychology major (i.e., 30 PSYC credits for the B.S. degree or 21 credits for the B.A. degree) must be taken in residence. A student must also earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all Psychology courses taken in residence for the major.
For students majoring in Psychology, all courses designated as Psychology (PSYC), including courses cross-listed with Psychology, that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.
Requirements for the B.A. Degree
Note: A minor in another discipline is required of all students following B.A. programs.
| Foundation courses | (13) | |
| PSYC 100C | P3 Introduction to Psychology | |
| PSYC 200 | Research Methods and Writing in Psychology | |
| PSYC 201 | Basic Statistics | |
| Choose one: | PSYC 204 Advanced Statistics | |
| One additional PSYC elective at or beyond the 300 level | ||
| PSYC 290 | Career Planning and Exploration (1) | |
| Content Domain courses | (18) | |
| Choose six: | PSYC 211 P3 Society & Mental Illness | |
| PSYC 227C P3 Child and Adolescent Development* –OR– PSYC 231C P3 Development Across the Lifespan* |
||
| PSYC 235C P3 Social Psychology | ||
| PSYC 236 P3 Psychology of Personality | ||
| PSYC 280 Physiological Psychology | ||
| PSYC 281 Learning | ||
| PSYC 282 Cognitive Processes | ||
| Laboratory course | (3) | |
| Choose one: | PSYC 327 Developmental Laboratory | |
| PSYC 335 Social Psychology Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 361 Psychophysiology Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 362 Topics Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 381 Learning Laboratory | ||
| PSYC 382 Cognitive Processes Laboratory | ||
| Capstone course (must be taken at Fisher) | (3) | |
| Choose one: | PSYC 411 Advanced Psychopathology | |
| PSYC 415 History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| Electives | (6) | |
| Two Psychology (PSYC) elective courses | ||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences courses | (9) | |
| One Quantitative Tool (MATH, STAT) course** | ||
| One Philosophy (PHIL) course** | ||
| One Natural Science (BIOL, CHEM, PHYS) course** | ||
| Total | (52) | |
*Only one cumulative Human Development course may be applied to the Psychology major. Thus, either PSYC/EDUC 227C P3 Childhood and Adolescent Development or PSYC 231C P3 Development Across the Lifespan (but not both) may be used to fulfill Psychology major requirements.
**May be drawn from relevant courses applied to the College Core (with the exception of DEPT 199 RW courses). Consult with your departmental advisor to choose courses to meet these requirements. Note that ECON 221 may fulfill the quantitative tool requirement, but STAT 205 may not.
Note: At least half of the required PSYC credits for the Psychology major (i.e., 30 PSYC credits for the B.S. degree or 21 credits for the B.A. degree) must be taken in residence. A student must also earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all Psychology courses taken in residence for the major.
For students majoring in Psychology, all courses designated as Psychology (PSYC), including courses cross-listed with Psychology, that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.
Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Goal #1 Knowledge base of Psychology: Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
- Be able to identify and explain some of the reoccurring themes in psychology (e.g. nature/nurture and mind-body interactions, free will vs. determinism, variability and continuity of behavior within and across the species) and major historical theoretical perspectives.
- Be able to contrast the major historical and theoretical perspectives in psychology (including behavioral, biological, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and sociocultural perspectives), differentiate them, and integrate them to produce comprehensive and multi-faceted explanations of various psychological phenomena.
Goal #2 Research methods in psychology: Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Be able to describe the different research methods used by psychologist, articulate their strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to conclude causality.
- Be able utilize basic statistical technique, interpret statistical results, including significance and effect.
- Be able to read and interpret psychological research with the appropriate appreciation for the effects of internal and external validity on the generalizability of the research results.
- Be able to design and conduct basic research studies including the relevant literature search, formulate testable hypotheses, create appropriate operational definitions, collect and analyze data in accordance with the APA Code of Ethics for the treatment of human subjects and interpret the results.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to prepare an APA style report in part and in whole.
Goal #3 Critical thinking skills in psychology: Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Be able to cite sources for their statements, and in doing, have the ability to distinguish between empirical and anecdotal evidence.
- Be able to use metacognitive strategies in order to recognize and avoid common errors in thinking.
Goal #4 Application of psychology: Students will understand and then apply psychological principles to personal, social and organizational issues.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to apply the concepts, theories, and research to solve real world problems in areas such as health, mental health, work education, etc.
- Recognize that ethical issues and sociocultural contexts influence the application of psychological principles in solving problems.
Goal #5 Values in psychology: Students will value empirical evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are underpinnings of psychology.
- Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
- Demonstrate reasonable skepticism and intellectual curiosity by asking questions about causes of behavior.
- Recognize and respect human diversity and understand that psychological; explanations may vary across populations and contexts.