Psychology Overview
For college-level requirements in undergraduate curricula leading to the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of science, see College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
An undergraduate major in psychology provides a liberal arts and science education, which also can serve as preparation for graduate study in psychology, law, or the health professions. The undergraduate major in psychology enables graduates to understand and apply the scientific principles, facts, and basic methods of psychology to their personal and professional activities. Students with a bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) in psychology may qualify for a variety of positions including those in social sciences, mental health, corrections, rehabilitation, developmental disability centers, and business (management, insurance, opinion polls). Professional work as a psychologist in academic, business, clinical, government, and school settings requires graduate degrees. Depending on professional goals, a minor in another discipline may be desirable.
Student Learning Outcomes
Following the recommendations of the American Psychological Association, the undergraduate curriculum in psychology is designed to allow each student to:
1. Develop a detailed knowledge of psychology
2. Develop an understanding of scientific inquiry and demonstrate critical thinking
3. Understand the role of ethics and diversity in human behavior
4. Be able to communicate effectively in the discourse of psychology
5. Develop skills supporting employment or graduate/professional education
Degree Requirements
COMMUNICATION PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT
According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 250.
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| or ENGL 250H | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors | |
The Department requires a C- or better in one of the following:
| PSYCH 302 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| ENGL 302 | Business Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 309 | Proposal and Report Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 314 | Technical Communication | 3 |
The major must include the following psychology courses each with a minimum grade of C- and an overall average of C or better:
| PSYCH 111 | Orientation to Psychology | 1 |
| or PSYCH 112 | Psychology Learning Community Seminar | |
| PSYCH 101 | Introduction to Psychology * | 3 |
| PSYCH 211 | Career Opportunities in Psychology | 1 |
| PSYCH 301 | Research Design and Methodology * | 3 |
| PSYCH 440 | Psychological Measurement I * | 3 |
The major also must include at least one course from four of the following six areas:
| Area A | ||
| PSYCH 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 335 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | 3 |
| Area B | ||
| PSYCH 280 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 380 | Social Cognition | 3 |
| Area C | ||
| PSYCH 310 | Brain and Behavior | 3 |
| PSYCH 315 | Drugs and Behavior | 3 |
| Area D | ||
| PSYCH 312 | Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PSYCH 313 | Learning and Memory | 3 |
| PSYCH 316 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 318 | Judgment and Decision Making | 3 |
| Area E | ||
| PSYCH 360 | Personality Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 460 | General Psychopathology | 3 |
| Area F | ||
| PSYCH 250 | Psychology of the Workplace | 3 |
| PSYCH 350 | Human Factors in Technology | 3 |
| Three additional 3-credit courses in psychology | 9 | |
Three additional 3-credit courses in psychology must be taken. Area courses may be used to meet this requirement, but variable credit courses (PSYCH 291, PSYCH 470, PSYCH 490, PSYCH 491, and PSYCH 492) may not.
In accordance with college requirements, a C or better average is required in the courses used to satisfy the major.
Departmental requirements for the B.A. and B.S. include the following supporting courses:
| 6 credits in Philosophy including | 6 | |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Philosophy (not 207) | 3 |
| Two of the following | ||
| BIOL 101 | Introductory Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | |
| or BIOL 212 | Principles of Biology II | |
| BIOL 155 | Human Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 255 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy | |
| or BIOL 256 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | |
| CHEM 160 | Chemistry in Modern Society | 3 |
| or CHEM 163 | College Chemistry | |
| PHYS 101 | Physics for the Nonscientist (or higher) | 3 |
| STAT 101 | Principles of Statistics * | 3-4 |
| or STAT 104 | Introduction to Statistics | |
| 3 credits in Mathematics from selected course list** | ||
| * | minimum grade of C- |
| ** | Popular choices include Math 104, Math 140, Math 150, Math 165, and Stat 301. See general education mathematics list for alternative options. Neither Math 105 nor Math 106 may be used to satisfy this requirement. |
Students pursuing a B.S. degree also must complete PSYCH 302 Research Methods in Psychology with a minimum grade of C- and a minimum of 10 additional credits from courses listed in the LAS Gen Ed Natural Sciences and Mathematical Disciplines Area as follows: six additional credits in natural sciences, one additional credit in a laboratory course, and three additional credits in mathematics. It should be noted that either Math 104 or Math 150 may be counted toward the B.S. degree requirement, but not both.
Students electing a B.A. degree also must complete an ISU approved minor, certificate or second major.
Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. diversity and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300/400 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement.
Four Year Plans
Psychology, B.A.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| PSYCH 1013 | 3 | Social Science Choice* | 3 |
| Required Natural Science* | 3 | Required Natural Science* | 3 |
| Required Math* | 3 | Arts & Humanities Choice* | 3 |
| Social Science Choice* | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| PSYCH 111 | 1 | LIB 160 | 1 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2502 | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| Psychology Choice* | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| Arts & Humanities Choice* | 3 | STAT 1013 | 4 |
| PHIL 201 | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Required Natural Science* | 3 | PSYCH 211 | 1 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PSYCH 3013 | 3 | PSYCH 302, ENGL 302, ENGL 309, or ENGL 3141 | 3 |
| Psychology Choice* | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Philosophy Choice* | 3 | World Language/Elective | 3-4 |
| World Language/Elective | 3-4 | Elective | 6 |
| Minor | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 15-16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PSYCH 4403 | 3 | Psychology Choice | 3 |
| Psychology Choice* | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Electives | 10 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| 1 | Meets English Proficiency Requirement: C- minimum. |
| 2 | The university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement requires a grade of C or better in ENGL 250. |
| 3 | Psych Requirement: C- minimum |
| * | Choose from list of selected courses available from an advisor. |
Psychology, B.S
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| PSYCH 111 | 1 | Social Sciences Choice* | 3 |
| PSYCH 1013 | 3 | Required Natural Science* | 3 |
| Required Math* | 3 | Arts & Humanities Choice* | 3 |
| Social Sciences Choice* | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Required Natural Science* | 3 | LIB 160 | 1 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2502 | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| Psychology Choice* | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| Arts & Humanities Choice* | 3 | STAT 1013 | 4 |
| PHIL 201 | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Required Natural Science* | 3 | PSYCH 211 | 1 |
| Required Natural Science Laboratory* | 1-2 | ||
| 16-17 | 14 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PSYCH 3013 | 3 | PSYCH 3021 | 3 |
| Psychology Choice* | 3 | Required Math* | 3 |
| World Language/Elective | 3-4 | Required Natural Science* | 3 |
| Philosophy Choice* | 3 | World Language/Elective | 3-4 |
| Electives | 3 | Electives* | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15-16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PSYCH 4403 | 3 | Psychology Choice* | 3 |
| Psychology Choice* | 3 | Electives | 13 |
| Electives | 8 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| 1 | Meets English Proficiency Requirement: C- minimum. |
| 2 | The university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement requires a grade of C or better in ENGL 250. |
| 3 | Psych Requirement: C- minimum |
| * | Choose from list of selected courses available from an advisor. |
Psychology Undergraduate Minor
The department offers a minor in psychology. The minor requires completing 18 credits in psychology, including PSYCH 101 Introduction to Psychology and PSYCH 301 Research Design and Methodology, each with a minimum grade of C-. At least 9 of the 18 credits must be in 300 level courses (or above), but no more than three credits total may be from PSYCH 291 Introductory Research Experience, PSYCH 490 Independent Study, PSYCH 491 Research Practicum, and PSYCH 492 Fieldwork Practicum. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. In addition to an overall C average or better in courses used to satisfy the minor, a C- or better is required in each course. Contact the psychology advising office for more information.
Graduate Study
The department offers work for the degree of doctor of philosophy in psychology. A master of science may be earned as part of that degree.
The department offers a doctoral specialization in counseling psychology (APA accredited) and doctoral areas of concentration in cognitive psychology and social psychology.
A basic goal of graduate study in the Department of Psychology is to provide all students with a broad base of knowledge in psychological science, as well as exposure to the content and methodological skills necessary for effective performance in teaching, research and professional practice. Accordingly, graduates have an extensive knowledge of psychological principles and the conceptual and quantitative skills to conduct psychological research and to communicate the results to the scientific community, students in the classroom, and the general public. Graduates in counseling psychology are skilled in delivering services to diverse clientele in a variety of settings.
The department also participates in the interdepartmental programs in human computer interaction (http://www.vrac.iastate.edu/hci/), neuroscience (http://www.neuroscience.iastate.edu/) and in the interdepartmental minor in gerontology (http://www.gerontology.iastate.edu/programs/).
A formal class and a supervised practicum in the teaching of psychology is recommended for all doctoral students whose future plans may include teaching at the college level. A 12-month internship in a training site or agency approved by the faculty is required of all doctoral students in counseling psychology.