Chair and Professor: A. Gillaspy (PhD), 450-3193
Professor: E. Bihm (PhD), R. Bramlett (PhD), W. Lammers (PhD), J. Murphy (PhD), P. Nail (PhD), B. Smith (PhD)
Associate Professor: 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 Professor: D. Anderson (PhD), H. Martens (PhD), M. Sestir (PhD)
Instructor: V. Charlton (MRC), S. Riedmueller (MS)
[1] Purposes
The primary purpose of the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts programs in psychology is to prepare undergraduates: (1) to think scientifically about behavior and (2) for advanced studies in psychology and other professional areas where an understanding of the principles of behavior is required.
[2] Honors in Psychology
[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]
The Honors in Psychology program allows majors to complete an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor in the department. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and a major grade average of 3.00, have completed a minimum of 72 hours of total coursework, and have completed a minimum of 12 hours of psychology coursework. Applicants will notify the Chair of the Honors Committee in the Department of Psychology and Counseling about their intent to participate by submitting a description of their research plan. To graduate with honors a student must complete and defend the project before graduation and give an oral presentation of both an initial proposal and a subsequent defense of his/her project to the department’s Honors Committee.
[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.
UD = Upper Division
D = Diversity
I = Critical Inquiry
Z = Capstone Experience
BA/BS, Major in Psychology (36 hours)
Category I: Psychology Core (15 hours)
PSYC 2330 Psychological Statistics
PSYC 3332 Research Methods (2330 prerequisite) [ UD UCA Core: I ]
PSYC 3340 Research Methods Lab (3332 prerequisite ) [ UD UCA Core: Z ]
PSYC 4340 History and Systems of Psychology (last semester) [ UD UCA Core: I, D ]
Category II: Choose 6 hours
PSYC 3325 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 3345 Evolutionary Psychology
PSYC 3351 Psychology of Learning
PSYC 4310 Comparative Psychology
PSYC 4325 Physiological Psychology
Category III: Choose 6 hours
PSYC 3333 Multicultural Psychology
PSYC 3360 Social Psychology
PSYC 4300 Theories of Personality
PSYC 4320 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 4352 Adult Development and Aging
PSYC 4360 Mental Health Professions (PSYC 4320 and psychology major prerequisites, or consent of instructor)
Category IV: Choose 9 hours
PSYC 3306 Positive Psychology [ UD UCA Core: R ]
PSYC 3331 Psychology of Business and Industry
PSYC 3350 Psychology of Women [ UD UCA Core: D ]
PSYC 3370 Sports Psychology
PSYC 4305 Judgment & Decision-Making [ UD UCA Core: I, C ]
PSYC 4V80 Independent Readings in Psychology
PSYC 4V82 Independent Research in Psychology
PSYC 4351 Applied Behavior Analysis (3351 prerequisite)
PSYC 4377 Study Abroad in Psychology [UD UCA Core: D]
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 (3 hours of prerequisites that may also count towards the lower-division core and 18 hours of course work from the PSYC, NUTR, BIOL, and EXSS departments).
Required Prerequisite
PSYC 1300 General Psychology [ACTS: PSYC1103]
Note: Psychology majors must take one additional 3-credit psychology course to substitute for the PSYC 1300 prerequisite because PSYC 1300 must be used for the psychology major.
Note: This prerequisite may count as the social science course for the critical inquiry component of the UCA Core lower-division requirement in addition to a minor requirement.
Other Required Courses
PSYC 3370 Sport Psychology
One of the following courses below. Courses must not be required for the major field of study. The remaining class can be taken as an elective.
EXSS 4395 Sport in American Society
SOC 3330 Sociology of Sports
Elective Courses
Choose 12 hours from the following electives. Courses must not be required for major field of study; Psychology majors cannot take more than two PSYC courses.
BIOL 2405 Human Anatomy and Physiology
EXSS 2340 Motor Development and Learning
EXSS 3331 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
NUTR 4315 Sports Nutrition
PSYC 2370 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3305 Health Psychology
PSYC 3351 Psychology of Learning
PSYC 3360 Social Psychology
PSYC 4300 Personality Psychology
PSYC 4351 Applied Behavior Analysis
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 [ACTS: PSYC1103] (3 credits)
BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I (4 credits)
Note: Psychology majors must take one additional 3-credit psychology course to substitute for the PSYC 1300 prerequisite because PSYC 1300 must be used for the psychology major.
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.
[3.2.4] Minor in Health Psychology (21 hours)
The minor in Health Psychology requires 21 hours as detailed here:
Required Courses
PSYC 3305 Health Psychology
H ED 4300 Community Health Problems
Note: Prerequisites may fulfill UCA Core lower-division requirements in addition to minor requirements.
Elective courses
Choose 15 hours form the following. No more than two courses may come from the same department.
H ED 2320 Mental Health
H ED 4343 Health Strategies for Multicultural Populations
H ED 4395: Contemporary Health Concerns: Women
H ED 4396 Contemporary Health Concerns: Men
EXSS 3350 Obesity Prevention and Management
NUTR 1300 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
NUTR 4395 Nutrition Contemporary Issues (Prerequisite: NUTR 1300)
NUTR 4315 Sports Nutrition
PSYC 3306 Positive Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1300)
PSYC 3360 Social Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1300)
PSYC 3370 Sport Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1300)
PSYC 4320 Abnormal Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 1300)
PSYC 4351 Behavior Modification (Prerequisite: PSYC 1300)
Students who complete the BA/BS in Psychology can minor in Health Psychology, 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 Mental Health Counseling and School Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Psychology (School Psychology and Counseling Psychology). See the Graduate Bulletin for details.
[4] Courses in Psychology (PSYC)
Follow this link to PSYC course descriptions: course link.