Oct 15, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Psychology (B.S.)


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 this degree, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  • Know the major theoretical approaches, findings, and historical trends in psychology
  • Understand the major research methods in psychology, including design, data analysis, and interpretation
  • Think critically and use the scientific approach to understand behavior
  • 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)
  • Apply concepts, information, and skills learned in psychology courses to their lives and work
  • Effectively locate and evaluate sources of information
  • Express themselves effectively in the discourse of the discipline
  • 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
  • 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:

College Scorecard


The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs.  The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings.  Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program.  That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=4227&fos_credential=3

Program Requirements:


Psychology (B.S.) 4-Year Plan  

  • A grade of C- or higher required in all courses beginning with the prefix PSY.
  • A grade of D- or higher required in all psychology supporting courses with a prefix other than PSY.
  • No credits can share between the Human Diversity & International Relations requirements and Science/Math/Computer Science/Social Science Courses.
  • Only one of the following can count for PSY Area: PSY 23500, PSY 26700, or PSY 36900.  The others may be used in PSY Electives 2000+.
  • Only one of the following can count for PSY Area: PSY 24000 or PSY 35700.  The other may be used in PSY Electives 2000+.
  • For courses that may be repeated for credit (e.g., PSY 49600), 3 credits may count in the major and additional credits may count toward the overall degree credit total.
  • PSY 39200 with substantially different content may count more than once in the major, as approved by the department chair. Only one PSY 46700-UTA course or one PSY 39200-individual UTA course can count in the major toward PSY Electives 2000+. Additional UTA courses may count toward the overall degree credit total.
  • Students who have transfer credit for a Research Methods course without a lab component may receive credit for the lab requirement upon successful completion of one of the following: PSY 43100, PSY 44100, PSY 44600, PSY 44900, or PSY 49600.
  • PSY capstone courses not used to satisfy the PSY capstone requirement may be used to satisfy the PSY electives requirement.  This also applies to new PSY courses approved and added to the curriculum as PSY capstone courses in future catalogs.
  • New PSY courses approved and added to the curriculum in future catalogs may satisfy the PSY Elective requirements.

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

Psychology (B.S.) Articulation with Northwest State Community College, Requirements & 2-Yr 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.

Psychology B.S. Supporting Courses


English Writing and Speaking: Credits 6


Both courses require a grade of C- or better

College Algebra: Credits 3


Science/Math/Computer Science/Social Science Courses: Credits 18-24


Choose six courses from the Human/Animal Biology, Chemistry, Math/Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, or Sociocultural Forces list below.  

  • At least two courses (6 cr) must be in BIOL, CHM, CS, MA or STAT.
  • At least one course must have a lab.  See lab list below for courses that contain a lab or are a stand-alone lab course.
  • The following courses may not double-count toward the Psychology Applied/Methodological Courses requirement:  MA 16500, MA 22900, STAT 34000

 

Human Diversity and International Relations: Credits 6


Choose six credits from the Human Diversity & International Relations list below.

Psychology Major Course Requirements:


Psychology Area Courses: Credits 9


Choose three courses from the list below.

Only one of the following courses may count in this requirement:  PSY 23500, PSY 26700, or PSY 36900.
Only one of the following courses may count in this requirement:  PSY 24000 or PSY 35700

Psychology Elective Courses 2000+ Level: Credits 6


In the case of courses which can be repeated for credit (e.g., PSY 39200), 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.

Psychology Capstone: Credits 3


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.  In the event that a unique project may warrant, the Honors Thesis in Psychology (PSY 49900) may be an alternate choice.  Contact an advisor or the department to determine feasibility. 

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

Choose one of the following: 

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.

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