Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree requires completing 120 total credit hours, including 45 semester hours in psychology, with 15 credit hours designated as psychology electives. The curriculum fulfills all university general education requirements as well as those of the Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences. The program aims to provide students with a strong foundation in psychological theory, research methods, and practical application, while promoting critical thinking, scientific literacy, and ethical reasoning.
Admission to the Psychology Program
Admission to the Psychology program follows University policies and procedures. Students majoring in psychology, including transfer students, must meet established academic requirements.
Applicants must earn a minimum grade of C in English 101 and English 102, successfully pass the University Writing Proficiency Examination (transfer students), and complete the following coursework: College Mathematics I and II or higher (6 credit hours); History (6 credit hours); two Natural Science courses in the same discipline (6 credit hours); the Health or Physical Education requirement; General Psychology; and Introduction to Sociology. In addition, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all required psychology courses.
Required Psychology Courses
Psychology Electives
Students must complete 15 credit hours of psychology electives, including at least 12 at the upper-division (300/400) level.
Prerequisite Course Requirements
- SPSY 201B: General Psychology is a prerequisite for PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics, PSYC 303B: Field Experience, and PSYC 468B: Abnormal Psychology.
- MATH electives: Completion of two mathematics elective courses, with a minimum grade of C in at least one course, is required before enrollment in PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics.
- PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics is a prerequisite for PSYC 277B: Advanced Statistics and PSYC 360B: Psychological Testing.
- PSYC 277B: Advanced Statistics is a prerequisite for PSYC 412B: Experimental Psychology.
Minor in Psychology
A minor in psychology requires at least 21 credit hours of psychology courses, including SPSY 201B: General Psychology, PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics, and PSYC 445B: Developmental Psychology. The remaining 12 credit hours must be chosen in consultation with a psychology department advisor and approved by the department chair. Students must complete a minimum of 9 out of the 12 elective credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
Minor in Psychology
First Year
First Semester
| SENL 101B | English Composition I | 3 |
HIST
| History Requirement | 3 |
| Natural Science Sequence | 3 |
| MATH 129B | College Math I (5-Hour Format) | 5 |
| Or higher | |
| Health-PE Elective | 2 |
MATH 129B or higher; SMAT 120B or higher. A minimum grade of C in at least one of the two courses.
Natural Science Sequence I: from one of the following category SBIO; CHEM; SPHY
Second Semester
| SENL 102B | English Composition II | 3 |
| SMAT 120B | College Mathematics II | 3 |
| Or higher | |
| Natural Sciences Requirement | 3 |
HIST
| History Requirement | 3 |
| SSOC 201B | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Must complete two MATH electives and earn a grade of C or higher in one of them before taking PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics
MATH 129B or higher; SMAT 120B or higher. A minimum grade of C in at least one of the two courses.
Natural Science Requirement: second course in the same Natural Science category (SBIO, CHEM, or SPHY).
Second Year
First Semester
| SPSY 201B | Gen Psychology | 3 |
| Social or Behavioral Science Requirement | 3 |
| Natural Sciences Requirement | 3 |
| Foreign Language Sequence I | 3 |
| PSYC 445B | Developmental Psyc | 3 |
Foreign Language Requirement I (e.g., SSPN, FREN)
Natural Science Requirement III: must be from the opposite category from the two courses in the same science area
Second Semester
| PSYC 274B | Elem Statistics | 3 |
| Foreign Language Sequence II | 3 |
ENGL
| English Literature Requirement | 3 |
| PSYC 468B | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 |
Prerequisite for PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics - Two mathematics electives (minimum grade of C in one course) and SPSY 201B (C or better).
Prerequisite for PSYC 360B: Psychological Testing - Completion of PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics, with a minimum grade of C.
Prerequisite for PSYC 468B: SPSY 201B: General Psychology, with a minimum grade of C.
Foreign Language Requirement II: must be in the same language as Foreign Language I
Third Year
First Semester
| PSYC 277B | Advanced Statistics | 3 |
| Fine Arts Requirement | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 |
| CMPS 290B | Microcomputer Application in Business | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Second Semester
Prerequisite for PSYC 360B - PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics, with a minimum grade of C.
Prerequisite for PSYC 303B - PSYC 445B: Developmental Psychology, with a minimum grade of C.
Fourth Year
Second Semester
| PSYC 488B | History and Systems | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
First Semester
| PSYC 412B | Experimental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 377B | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| Humanities Requirement | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | 3 |
Prerequisite: PSYC 277B: Advanced Statistics, with a minimum grade of
C.
Minor in Psychology
A minor in psychology requires at least 21 credit hours of psychology courses, including SPSY 201B: General Psychology, PSYC 274B: Elementary Statistics, and PSYC 445B: Developmental Psychology. The remaining 12 credit hours must be chosen in consultation with a psychology department advisor and approved by the department chair. Students must complete a minimum of 9 out of the 12 elective credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
Course list for the Minor in PSYC
In addition to the required courses, students must complete 12 credit hours of psychology electives. At least 9 of these credit hours must be at the 300- or 400-level.
Prerequisite for
PSYC 274B:
Completion of two mathematics elective courses, with a minimum grade of C in at least one course.