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2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Psychology (B.S.)

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Program: B.S.
Department of Psychology  
College of Science

Neff Hall 388 ~ 260-481-6403

Courses in psychology provide an understanding of human behavior and mental processes from a scientific perspective. The Psychology B.S. prepares students for careers that involve knowledge of behavior along with skills in data analysis and research. It is well-suited for students who are also interested in the natural sciences, computer science, and other social sciences, and who wish to pursue graduate programs in psychology and related fields or medical school. There are many opportunities for students to become involved in research in our extensive laboratory facilities and in field experiences in the community.

For details on pursuing a secondary education second degree (BSEd) to teach Psychology in middle school/high school, click on the links to the Secondary Education - Second Degree  Program and the School of Education page in this catalog.  Note:  The BSEd as a second degree in these programs cannot be earned without completion of the bachelor’s degree in the content area from the College of Science.  See Program Requirements below for a link to the Secondary Education - Second Degree 4-Year Plan.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the degree, students will:

  • know the major theoretical approaches, findings, and historical trends in psychology
  • be able to understand the major research methods in psychology, including design, data analysis, and interpretation
  • be able to think critically and use the scientific approach to understand behavior
  • be able to understand the values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science (e.g., value of empirical evidence, tolerance for ambiguity, ethics in research, teaching, and practice)
  • be able to apply concepts, information, and skills learned in psychology courses to their lives and work
  • be able to effectively locate and evaluate sources of information
  • to be able to express themselves effectively in the discourse of the discipline
  • be able to to understand people from a diverse range of backgrounds and varying demographic characteristics such as age, race, disability, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity, religion, and cognitive abilities
  • be able to make decisions about future employment or graduate education

Program Delivery:

  • This program is available on-campus.

Declaring this Major:

  • Declare this major within the Department of Psychology.

General Requirements:

Program Requirements:

Psychology (B.S.) 4-Year Plan :

  • A grade of C- or higher in all department courses required for the major and an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher for all courses taken in the major.
  • Either PSY 37700 or PSY 47700 can count in the major, but not both.
  • No credits can share between General Education requirements and Distribution requirements.
  • Up to six credits can share between General Education requirements and Human Diversity & International Relations requirements.
  • No credits can share between the PSY major requirements and Human Diversity & International Relations requirements.

Psychology (B.S.) with Secondary Education 4-Year Plan :

To earn the B.S. with a major in psychology, you must fulfill the following requirements in addition to the General Requirements noted above:

General Education Requirements: Credits 33

  • Click on the General Education Requirements link above for details.
  • A grade of C- or higher is required for each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements.

English Writing and Speaking: Credits 6

Both courses require a grade of C- or better

Human Diversity and International Relations: Credits 6

Choose six credits from the following list of courses:

Note: Courses meeting requirements for the Human Diversity & International Relations area may not double-count in other areas of the major.

Major Courses Required: Credits 21

Additional Course Requirements: Credits 9

Choose three courses from the following: 

Psychology Elective Courses 2000+ Level: Credits 6

In the case of courses which can be repeated for credit (e.g., PSY 39200; PSY 49600), more than one section of the same course number must have substantially different content, as approved by the department chair, if both are to be used toward meeting this requirement.  At least three credits must be taken at Purdue Fort Wayne.

Applied/Methodological Psychology Courses: Credits 6

Choose two courses from the following list:

Note:

  • Either PSY 37700 or PSY 47700 can count in the major, but not both.
  • Courses meeting requirements for the Applied/Methodological Psychology area may not double-count in other areas of the major.

Capstone Requirement: Credits 3

Choose one of the following:

The capstone course is a culminating experience in the senior year in which the student develops a major project (literature review, research proposal, empirical study, or service learning project) that demonstrates characteristics of critical thinking, including the ability to identify a problem, evaluate evidence, and use information to analyze existing conclusions, draw new conclusions, or contribute to real-world applications or understanding of larger issues.

Note: Either PSY 37700 or PSY 47700 can count in the major, but not both.

Prerequisites:
1.  Senior standing (90 credits) or completion of 33 credits in psychology
2.  Successful completion of PSY 20300 with a grade of C- or better

Supporting Courses: Credits 21-27

Required Course:

This course can also apply in General Education.

Science/Math/Computer Science/Social Science Courses:

Courses may not be used to fulfill another requirement within this major.

Select six of the following courses in Human/Animal Biology, Chemistry, Math/Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, or Sociocultural Forces.

At least two courses must be in BIOL, CHM, CS, MA or STAT.

Lab Requirement

Select one of the following courses:

Supplemental Requirements:

  • Completion of the FOCUS career guidance tool and a Career Development Center session to review the results (during PSY 14000)
  • Completion of a Career Development Center session to review resume or curriculum vitae (during junior year)
  • Completion of a Career Development Center session focused on cover letter review, personal statement review, or mock interview (during senior year)
  • Successful completion of the Exit Exam in Psychology

General Electives:

  • Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120

Total Credits: 120

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean. 

Additional Course Use:

Courses listed below may also be considered in meeting specific degree requirements.

MA 15300 required;  MA 15400 accepted

PSY 20100 required; ECON 27000, POL 39500, PPOL 30000, SOC 35100, STAT 24000, STAT 30100, STAT 51100 accepted

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