The first course any student majoring in psychology should take is General Psychology. In this course, students learn the history of psychology, important figures in the field's development, theoretical perspectives and important terms used in the study of psychology.
Students must fulfill a research methods requirement by taking Quantitative Methods. In this course, students learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and interpret results. Important laboratory techniques and research methods are covered, and a mastery of American Psychological Association (APA) style is expected.
Students must also demonstrate mastery of key concepts in the sub-fields of psychology by taking one course from each of four sub-discipline core clusters: behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology and social psychology.
In each of these core areas, 4 or 5 possible courses are offered, allowing a student to choose the subject matter that interests her most. Specific course numbers and titles can be found in the annually updated course catalog.
Psychology students must also take 5 elective courses to fulfill requirements for the major. There are dozens of elective courses offered each year, so this requirement gives students the ability to specialize in a specific area of interest. Additional courses from any of the four core sub-disciplines can count toward fulfillment of this requirement.
Each student must also complete one 400-level psychology elective. All of these courses have the prerequisite of a 4-credit lab course plus one core sub-discipline course, so students should make sure to complete these requirements before enrolling in a 400-level course. The psychology department encourages students to enroll in a writing-intensive 400-level course to demonstrate depth of knowledge and ability to communicate ideas clearly.