Mar 29, 2024  
2010-2011 General Catalog 
    
2010-2011 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Psychology Teaching, BA


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Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement


Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

  1. Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
    Or
  2. Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (COMD 4920 ) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (COMD 4780 ), and by passing an exit interview.
    Or
  3. Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent).
    Or
  4. Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

  1. Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students.
    Or
  2. TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

Psychology Teaching Major:


Required Psychology Courses (27 credits), plus
Elective Psychology Courses (16 credits)

Requirements for a Teaching Major in Psychology broadly consist of 27 credits of specified psychology coursework and 16 credits of elective psychology coursework, for a total of 43 credits in psychology. Only 16 of these 43 psychology credits may be taken in lower-division courses. The remaining 27 credits must be received in 3000- or 4000-level psychology courses. At least 12 of the upper-division credits must have been earned in courses completed at USU. A minor in another field of study is also required. Prospective teachers must complete 35 credits of the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) in the Secondary Education Program of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership. Required GPA for psychology courses is 3.0. Students must receive a grade of C- or better in all psychology courses (USU and transfer) in order to have them counted toward major requirements.

B. Elective Courses (16 credits)


C. Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP)


(35 credits)

Admission to Secondary Education must be completed approximately one semester before the following courses may be taken.

Level 1 (15-week courses) (11 credits)


Students at Level 1 must complete the following courses:

Level 2 (15-week courses) (12 credits)


Students at Level 2 must complete the following courses:

Level 3 (includes 13 weeks of student teaching and 2 weeks of Student Teaching Seminar) (12 credits)


Note:


1 Students must complete a methods course and a clinical experience course for each of their teaching subjects. Students should check with the department  offering their other teaching subject for methods and clinical experience course numbers in that subject. Students electing Psychology at Level 1 should register for SCED 3500  (methods course) and SCED 3300  (clinical course). Students electing Psychology at Level 2 should register for SCED 3500  (methods course) and SCED 4300  (clinical course).

Skill Tracks for Undergraduate Majors in Psychology


The following skill tracks can be completed as part of a student’s major in Psychology. A skill track represents a cluster of courses that help provide more comprehensive knowledge and practical skill in particular areas. After admission as a major in Psychology, students may apply for admission to a skill track. Completing a skill track requires careful planning, so that skill track courses and all other required and elective courses for the major are fulfilled. Enrollment in a skill track is entirely optional for majors.

Behavior Analysis Skill Track

The following cluster of courses will provide psychology majors with a basic foundation in experimental and applied behavior analysis: PSY 1400 , PSY 1410 , PSY 3400 , PSY 4910 , PSY 5720 ; SPED 5010 , SPED 5050 ; BIOL 3010 ; and PHIL 4320  or PHIL 4900 .

Interpersonal Relationships Skill Track

The following cluster of courses will assist psychology majors in systematically developing a broad range of interpersonal relationship skills, such as listening, assertiveness, negotiation, conflict resolution, and anger management: PSY 1210 , PSY 3210 , PSY 3510 , PSY 4210 , PSY 4510 , PSY 5200 ; MGT 3710 .

Graduate School Preparation Track

The major in Psychology has been designed so that students take classes that will help them compete in applying for graduate school. Students completing the graduate school track need to become actively involved with faculty research, form an association with Psi Chi, and enroll in independent research and readings courses. It is recommended that students take at least one upper-division course in statistics from Psychology, FCHD, or Sociology.

Students who pursue the skills tracks in Psychology are encouraged to become involved with the faculty in independent research or applied experiences. Involvement in these experiences is associated with greater chances of successful graduate school admission and/or competitive post-baccalaureate employment, especially for students who pursue this involvement early in their undergraduate careers.

The faculty who teach courses satisfying the skills track requirements are committed to working closely with students to hone their experiences and accomplishments in research methodology and applied fields of psychology.

These faculty have a solid track record in mentoring students. Their students have achieved remarkable success in procuring funding to support student-initiated research projects via Utah State University’s competitive University Research Cooperative Opportunity (URCO) mechanism and the national honor society of psychology (Psi Chi).

Their students have been first authors or co-authors on numerous scholarly presentations at regional, national, and international conferences in psychology (e.g., Association of Behavior Analysis, American Psychological Association, European Conference of Developmental Psychology, International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Society for Research in Adolescence, and Society for Research in Human Development). Their students have competed successfully each year for awards that recognize their achievements. Together  with the faculty, the students have published in premier research journals in psychology (e.g., Developmental Psychology, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Clinical Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology, and Sex Roles) and books in psychology.

The Department of Psychology and Utah State University actively support students’ efforts by awarding matching funding to support the attendance of conferences at which they can present their accepted conference presentations.

Psychology Courses Fulfilling University Studies Requirements


The following Psychology courses may be used to fulfill University Studies requirements, in the areas indicated:

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