Psychology

What Is Psychology ?

Psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of animals and humans. Psychology majors develop strong research and analytical skills while exploring all phases of human life. They study behavior of individuals and groups, both the well-adjusted and the dysfunctional. Students of psychology are interested in conducting research to discover patterns of human behavior, as well as in applying psychological principles and techniques to solving social and individual problems.

Success Factors

Psychology is a very broad discipline involving research and application in every aspect of living beings (human and animal). Skills that make for excellence in some aspect of psychology include: developing and carrying out empirical research (both applied and theoretical), interpreting results, communicating to others, listening, engaging, involving, showing an interest in others, observing and many more.

Career Possibilities

A BA in psychology can be a pre-professional degree, leading to graduate study in psychology, followed by a career as a psychologist. The master's degree is generally the minimum professional degree for licensing or certification of psychologists who work in education, business, hospitals, clinics, prisons and private practice.

In addition, the Psychology Department also offers several areas of concentration that lead to other professional futures. The psychology-criminal justice program uses courses from the Department of Criminal Justice to prepare students for professional careers in the criminal justice system at the bachelor's degree level. The strong critical thinking skills, along with the abilities to research, write and understand human behavior, developed in a general psychology major are highly valued in a wide range of positions in industry, business, law and social services.

Career possibilities (some of which will require completion of graduate programs) include:

• Caseworker
• Clinical, research or school psychologist
• College or university professor
• Counselor
• Mental health worker
• Research psychologist
• Criminologist

Major Details

Majoring in psychology demands that students acquire the ability to research a subject by gathering evidence and analyzing data using statistical methods. Students might employ these skills to research and analyze various subjects in a number of professional and academic settings.

During their first year in the program, freshmen complete the Introduction to Psychology sequence in order to acquire a general understanding of the discipline. These courses provide a historical overview of the study of psychology and its experimental methods, as well as a general understanding of clinical and social psychology.

All psychology majors must complete four courses in statistics and research methods, typically taken during the second year. Specifically, students must complete Intro to Statistical Methods (274), Intermediate Psychological Statistics (275), Research Methods in Psychology Lecture (280) and Laboratory (281). These courses give students the ability to perform research. After obtaining the ability to gather evidence and analyze results, students move into advanced psychology courses and apply their skills in various topics.

During the third and fourth years in the program, students take upper-level courses in various topics of psychology.  As students' interests develop, they choose advanced courses on various topics. Students intending to enter a graduate program in psychology will work closely with members of the faculty to conduct guided research in their area of interest. Students planning to pursue careers in other areas should complete coursework in topics related to their intended focus and further develop their analytical research skills.

For questions regarding the major requirements and options, please contact the undergraduate advisor in 4130J Edwards, 556-5579.

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Africana Studies
• Asian Studies
• Biology
• Communication
• History
• Neuroscience
• Organizational Leadership
• Political Science

Minor Details

The minor in Psychology requires a total of 30 credit hours. Students must complete the sequence of Introduction to Psychology, 15PSYC101-102-103, for 9 credits. In addition, students must complete 21 credits of coursework in Psychology at the 200 level or above.

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Psychology Major Requirements

College Requirements Checklist

This is a suggested plan to complete the program in four years. Students will take required courses at different times depending upon their choice of options and the combination of the major with a minor or other program.

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
First Year
*English Composition	ENGL101 & 15ENGL102	6
*Elementary Probability & Statistics (recommended)	15STAT147-148-149 (QR)	9
*Foreign Language	see checklist	9-15
*Introduction to Psychology	15PSYC101-102-103 (SS)	9
*Humanities (HU)	see offerings	3
*Natural Sciences (NS)	see offerings	3
Courses in minor or other program	see options	0-6
Total for first year		45
-	-	-
Second Year
*Intermediate Composition	15ENGL289	3
Introduction to Statistical Methods	15PSYC274	3
Intermediate Psychological Statistics	15PSYC275	3
Research Methods in Psychology (Lecture)	15PSYC280	3
Research Methods in Psychology (Laboratory)	15PSYC281	3
Psychology course in Natural Science	see major checklist	3
Psychology course in Social Science	see major checklist	3
*Historical Perspectives (HP)	see offerings	9
*Natural Sciences (NS)	see offerings	6
*Foreign Language (if necessary)	see checklist	0-9
Courses in minor or other program	see options	0-9
Total for second year		45
-	-	-
Third & Fourth Years
Psychology courses in Natural Science	see major checklist	6
Psychology courses in Social Science	see major checklist	6
Psychology course in Interpersonal Skills	see major checklist	3
Psychology course in Social Issues	see major checklist	3
Courses in Psychology (including three 300 or 500 level courses if not already completed)	see major checklist	15
Psychology Capstone	see major checklist	3
*Literature (LT)	see offerings	3
*Humanities, Literature or Fine Arts (HU, LT or FA)	see offerings	3
*Social & Ethical Issues (if not already taken, SE)	see offerings	3
*Diversity & Culture (if not already taken, DC)	see offerings	3
Courses in minor or other program, or free electives	see options	42
Total for third & fourth years		90
	Minimum total overall: 180

*Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

Special Opportunities

Students in UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, tri-state location offers exciting opportunitites for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Variations from General Major
The Psychology/criminal justice track is a variation of the general major. This option is interdisciplinary in content, combining psychology with criminal justice outside McMicken College. Depending upon one's career goals, this track may provide better preparation for the competitive job market or for graduate school admission.

Honors Program
Qualified majors are automatically invited to participate in an honors program culminating in independent research. The department supports fieldwork and internships, as well as opportunities in research and teaching assisting. Students can also become involved in Psi Chi, the National Psychology Honor Society.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply to the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received the associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear, off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in priority registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Graduation Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in psychology is required in order to be certified to graduate as a psychology major.

In addition to meeting the university's General Education requirements, the requirements listed in the McMicken College Core Requirements are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, the fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).