Major in Psychology

Students who graduate with a major in psychology will be able to produce a research paper written in accordance with American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines.  They will be trained in those research and statistical skills frequently employed in the field of psychology.  They will be able to complete an independent research project, and write a synthesis of the psychological literature in an area of psychological interest. 

A total of 11 Psychology courses (44 credits) must be completed for a major.  At least 5 of the 11 must be upper division (300 or 400 level) courses.  Students majoring in psychology must successfully complete a minimum of twenty-four credits in psychology at St. Thomas. 

CORE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

PSYC  111  General Psychology (4 credits)
PSYC  212  Research Methods in Psychology (4 credits)
PSYC  422  History and Systems (4 credits) (to be taken during the senior year)

PLUS TWO LAB COURSES FROM:  (Prerequisite PSYC 212)

PSYC  321  Current Research  Issues in Social Psychology (4 credits)
PSYC  322  Sensation and Perception (4 credits)
PSYC  323  Learning and Memory (4 credits)
PSYC  401  Physiological Psychology (4 credits)
PSYC  415  Research Issues in Cognition (4 credits)

PLUS FOUR CREDITS OF THE FOLLOWING:

PSYC  200  Psychology of Infancy and Childhood (4 credits)
PSYC  202  Lifespan Development (4 credits) 
                  (Students who receive credit for 202 may not receive credit for 200 or 204)
PSYC  203  Psychology of Adolescence (4 credits) 
PSYC  204  The Psychology of Adulthood and Aging (4 credits)

PLUS FOUR CREDITS OF THE FOLLOWING:

PSYC  121  Social Psychology (4 credits)
PSYC  301  Psychopathology (4 credits)
PSYC  302  Personality Theories (4 credits)

PLUS FOUR CREDITS OF THE FOLLOWING:

PSYC  206  The Brain and Human Behavior (4 credits)
PSYC  315  Cognition  (4 credits)
PSYC  400  Seminar in Cognitive and Language Development (4 credits)

PLUS TWELVE ELECTIVE CREDITS IN PSYCHOLOGY 

ALLIED REQUIREMENTS:

MATH   101  Finite Mathematics (4 credits)
  or       108-109 Calculus w/Review I/Calculus w/Review II
  or       111  Calculus for Business and Social Science
  or       113  Calculus I
    (students should take highest level for which eligible)

BIOL     101  General Biology
  or       105  Human Biology
  or       106 Women, Medicine and Biology

IDTH      220  Statistics I

Students should take the following courses in the following order:

    MATH  101 (or MATH 108-109, 111 or 113)
    IDTH    220
    PSYC  212

Note:  These courses should be taken early in the college career, since they are prerequisities  for some required courses in psychology.  A student should consult early with her/his department advisor to have her/his plan approved.