Psychology Major (Bachelor of Science)

The Psychology major is designed to provide a broad, yet thorough, understanding of the discipline of Psychology.

All Psychology majors begin by taking a broad introduction to the field of psychology. Majors also learn the fundamentals of research methods and statistics as relevant to all subdisciplines of psychology. Students then choose courses from two broad divisions within psychology, which are designed to provide both breadth and depth to students’ knowledge of the entire field. Finally, students follow their own interests to choose electives for completing the major.

This page reflects the requirements of the major effective Fall 2013. Previous versions of Psychology Major requirements are presented in the older course catalogues, and can be accessed here​.

Requirements of the Psychology Major (Bachelor of Science)

The major consists of at least 37 credits, including:

1. Required Courses: Take all of the following:
   
   PSY 110: Introduction to Psychology
   PSY 200: Research Methods in Psychology
   PSY 300: Statistics for Psychologists
   
   
2. Core Content: Choose at least one course from each of the following four domains:
   
   Developmental and Social Domain:
   PSY 260: Introduction to Developmental Psychology
   PSY 320: Social Psychology
   
   
   Individual Variation Domain:
   PSY 301: Personality Psychology
   PSY 351: Abnormal Psychology
   
   
   Biopsychological Domain:
   PSY 325: Physiological Psychology
   PSY 330: Perception
   
   
   Cognition and Learning Domain:
   PSY 331: Cognitive Psychology
   PSY 375: Learning
   
   
3. Take twelve additional elective Psychology credits, which may include couses listed above, not already used. [No more than 6 credits of 200-level courses will count toward these electives.]
   
   
4. Choose at least one of the following Capstone Experiences:
   
   PSY 400: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
   PSY 490: Seminar: Topics in Psychology
   

To be approved for graduation with a major in psychology, you need a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.25 in all courses taken in psychology, whether or not you declare academic bankruptcy. Transfer students must meet this requirement by having at least 2.25 cumulative GPA in the total major and at least a 2.25 cumulative GPA in psychology courses taken at UWSP.

Suggested Course Sequence for the Psychology Major

Year One

Fall Semester (Total 15 credits)
General Education / Electives . . . 15 cr

Spring Semester (Total 15 credits)
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC 110) . . . 3 cr
General Education / Electives . . . 12 cr

Year Two

Fall Semester (Total 15 credits)
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC 200) . . . 3 cr
General Education / Electives . . . 12 cr

Spring Semester (Total 15 credits)
STATISTICS FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS (PSYC 300) . . .  4 cr
ELECTIVE COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY (Any 200-Level Psychology Course) . . . 3 cr
General Education / Electives (or Courses for a Minor or a Second Major) . . . 8 cr

Year Three

Fall Semester (Total 15 credits)
CORE CONTENT PSYCHOLOGY COURSE (PSYC 260 or 320; PSYC 301 OR 351) . . . 3 cr
CORE CONTENT PSYCHOLOGY COURSE (PSYC 325 or 330; PSYC 331 OR 375) . . . 3 cr
General Education / Electives (or Courses for a Minor or a Second Major) . . . 9 cr

Spring Semester (Total 15 credits)
CORE CONTENT PSYCHOLOGY COURSE (PSYC 260 or 320; PSYC 301 OR 351) . . . 3 cr
CORE CONTENT PSYCHOLOGY COURSE (PSYC 325 or 330; PSYC 331 OR 375) . . . 3 cr
ELECTIVE COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY (Any Psychology Course) . . . 3 cr
General Education / Electives (or Courses for a Minor or a Second Major) . . . 6 cr

Year Four

Fall Semester (Total 15 credits)
ELECTIVE COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY (Any Psychology Courses) . . . 6 cr
General Education / Electives (or Courses for a Minor or a Second Major) . . . 9 cr

Spring Semester (Total 15 credits)
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC 400 or 490) . . . 3 cr
General Education / Electives (or Courses for a Minor or a Second Major) . . . 12 cr

Notes:

• There are many other possible sequences to complete the Psychology major.
• 37 credits are required for the Psychology major. Interested students may take more courses in Psychology than required for the major.
• The above outline assumes the first Psychology class is taken in the student’s first year. It is possible to complete the major beginning in the student’s second or third year by taking more Psychology classes than the number indicated above.
• Psychology majors can fulfill GE requirements and the courses needed for another major or minor by taking more than 15 credits each semester or classes in summer, interim, and winterim.
• For students interested in completing the Human Services Internship, we recommend that students begin taking classes earlier than listed here, particularly taking PSYC 351 (Abnormal Psychology) and PSYC 401 (Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy) in the junior year.