Chair and Associate Professor: A. Gillaspy (PhD), 450-3193
Professors: E. Bihm (PhD), R. Bramlett (PhD), W. Lammers (PhD), J. Murphy (PhD), P. Nail (PhD), B. Smith (PhD)
Associate Professors: B. Bolter (PhD), K. Boniecki (PhD), J. Brinegar (PhD), S. Charlton (PhD), K. Rowell (PhD), M. Scoles (PhD), J. Simon (PhD), K. Sobel (PhD), F. Varghese (PhD), D. Xie (PhD)
Assistant Professors: D. Anderson (PhD), H. Martens (PhD)
Instructor: V. Charlton (MRC)

[1] Purposes

The purposes of undergraduate offerings in psychology are (1) to provide an introduction to the science of understanding and predicting human behavior; (2) to provide psychology majors the foundation for advanced study in psychology and related areas; and (3) to provide prospective teachers and students majoring in other fields with psychological principles applicable to their disciplines.

[2] The Undergraduate Scholars Program in Psychology

Upon completion of 72 hours (with 12 hours in psychology), a psychology major with a grade point average of at least 3.0 is eligible to participate in the undergraduate scholars program with consent of the department. The program is coordinated by department faculty who serve on the Undergraduate Scholars Committee. See department chair or advisor for details.

[3] Curricula

[3.1] Baccalaureate Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Science degree in psychology requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements through major courses, including PSYC 3332: Research Methods (I), PSYC 3340: Research Methods Lab (Z), PSYC 4340: History & Systems (I, D) and a Responsible Living course to include PSYC 3305: Health Psychology (R), PSYC 3306: Positive Psychology (R) or a (R) designated course from the minor (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; and (3) 36 hours in the department as indicated below. A minor (or second major) is required and must be worked out with the student’s advisor in the other department.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements through major courses, including PSYC 3332: Research Methods (I), PSYC 3340: Research Methods Lab (Z), PSYC 4340: History & Systems (I, D) and a Responsible Living course to include PSYC 3305: Health Psychology (R), PSYC 3306: Positive Psychology (R) or a (R) designated course from the minor (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; and (3) 36 hours in the department as indicated below. A minor (or second major) is required and must be worked out with the student’s advisor in the other department.

BA/BS, Major in Psychology (36 hours)

Category I: Psychology Core (15 hours)

PSYC 1300 General Psychology
PSYC 2330 Psychological Statistics
PSYC 3332 Research Methods (2330 prerequisite) [ UCA Core: I ]
PSYC 3340 Research Methods Lab (3332 prerequisite ) [ UCA Core: Z ]
PSYC 4340 History and Systems of Psychology (last semester) [ UCA Core: I, D ]

Category II: Choose 6 hours

PSYC 3330 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 3310 Psychophysiology
PSYC 3325 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 3351 Psychology of Learning
PSYC 4325 Physiological Psychology
PSYC 3345 Evolutionary Psychology

Category III: Choose 6 hours

PSYC 2370 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3333 Multicultural Psychology
PSYC 3360 Social Psychology
PSYC 4300 Theories of Personality
PSYC 4320 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 4352 Adult Psychology

Category IV: Choose 9 hours

PSYC 3305 Health Psychology [ UCA Core: R ]
PSYC 3306 Positive Psychology [ UCA Core: R ]
PSYC 3331 Psychology of Business and Industry
PSYC 3350 Psychology of Women [ UCA Core: D ]
PSYC 3370 Sports Psychology
PSYC 4305 Judgment & Decision-Making [ UCA Core: I, C ]
PSYC 4180 Independent Readings in Psychology
PSYC 4280 Independent Readings in Psychology
PSYC 4182 Independent Research in Psychology
PSYC 4282 Independent Research in Psychology
PSYC 4351 Behavior Modification (3351 prerequisite)
PSYC 4353 Practicum in Behavior Modification (4351 prerequisite)
PSYC 4380 Independent Readings
PSYC 4382 Independent Research
PSYC 4390 Tests and Measurements (2330 prerequisite)

Courses not used to complete category II or III requirements may be used in category IV.

[3.2] Minors

[3.2.1] Minor in Psychology (21 hours)

Twenty-one hours including General Psychology, one course from each of categories II and III, and 12 additional hours selected in consultation with departmental advisor.

[3.2.2] Minor in Sports Psychology (21 hours)

The minor in Sports Psychology requires 21 hours as detailed here:

Required Prerequisite

PSYC 1300 General Psychology

Note: This prerequisite may fulfill a UCA Core lower-division requirement in addition to a minor requirement.

Other Required Courses

PSYC 3370 Sport Psychology
KPED 4395 Sport in American Society

Elective Courses

Choose 12 hours from the following. Students may take no more than two courses in any one subject area (KPED / NUTR / PSYC).

NUTR 4315 Sports Nutrition
KPED 2340 Motor Development and Learning
KPED 3331 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
PSYC 2370 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3305 Health Psychology
PSYC 3350 Social Psychology
PSYC 3351 Psychology of Learning
PSYC 4300 Personality Psychology
PSYC 4351 Behavior Modification

Students who complete a BA/BS degree in Psychology can minor in Sports Psychology, but PSYC courses used for the major will not also count for the minor.

[3.2.3] Minor in Cognitive Neuroscience (22 hours)

The minor in Cognitive Neuroscience requires 22 hours as detailed here:

Required Prerequisites

PSYC 1300 General Psychology (3 credits)
BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I (4 credits)

Note: Prerequisites may fulfill UCA Core lower-division requirements in addition to minor requirements.

Elective Courses

Choose 15 hours from the following. Students must take courses from three different departments.

BIOL 3310 Neuroethology: The Neural Basis of Natural Behaviors
BIOL 3370 Introduction to Neuroscience
BIOL 4425 Experimental Neurobiology
CSD 2306 Neuroscience for Communication
CSD 3311 Fundamentals of Speech and Hearing Science
CSD 3321 Language Acquisition and Literacy
CSD 4311 Introduction to Audiology
CSD 4330 Neurogenic Communication Disorders
PHIL 3341 Theories of Knowledge
PHIL 3375 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 4330 Philosophy of Language
PSYC 3325 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 3330 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 4325 Physiological Psychology

Students who complete a BA/BS degree in Psychology can minor in Cognitive Neuroscience, but PSYC courses used for the major will not also count for the minor.

[3.3] Graduate Degrees

The Department of Psychology and Counseling offers master’s degrees in Community Counseling, Counseling Psychology, and School Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in School Psychology and School Psychology, Counseling Psychology Emphasis. See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

[4] Courses in Psychology (PSYC)

Follow this link to PSYC course descriptions: course link.