Apr 19, 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, 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:

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
Or
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
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
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:

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

General Undergraduate Psychology Major:

Required Courses (24 credits), plus
Primary Electives (16 credits),
Secondary Electives (3 credits), and
Apprenticeship (3 credits)

Requirements for a psychology major consist of a broad preparation of 24 credits of specified coursework, plus a minimum of 19 credits of approved Psychology elective courses, and 3 credits of an apprenticeship, which allows for integration of coursework knowledge (theory) through application, for a total of 46 credits. At least 20 Psychology credits must be upper-division, 12 of which must be taken at USU.

A. Required Courses (24 credits)

B. Primary Elective Courses (16 credits)

Group 1. Select 3 credits from the following:

Group 2. Select 3 credits from the following:

Group 3. Select 4 credits from the following:

Group 4. Select 6 credits from the following:

PSY 3110 - Health Psychology 3
PSY 3120 - Abuse, Neglect, and the Psychological Dimensions of Intimate Violence (DSS) 3
PSY 3210 - Abnormal Psychology (DSS) 3
PSY 5200 - Introduction to Interviewing and Counseling (CI) 3
Drugs and Behavior course (number and approval pending) 3

C. Secondary Elective Courses (3 credits minimum)

Select at least 3 credits from the following. (A course from the Primary Electives list may count as fulfilling the Secondary Elective requirement if and only if it has not been counted as a Primary Elective requirement.)

D. Required Apprenticeship Course (3 credits)

PSY 4950 - Undergraduate Apprenticeship (CI) 3

Note:

A minor in another area is required. A minimum overall USU GPA of 2.75 is required for graduation, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Psychology. 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. (Students desiring licensure for teaching in secondary schools must also meet the requirements of the Secondary Education Program of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership.)

Students must meet the above minimum requirements in order to graduate with a major in psychology. These requirements include completing all of the required assessments and providing the supporting documentation (see Assessment of Learning Objectives ).

Meeting these minimum requirements alone is insufficient to prepare for competitive employment opportunities or to secure admission to graduate school. Students who are planning to secure optimal employment or graduate admissions need to first affiliate with a faculty mentor, as well as become involved in research or applied experiences with the faculty member, as soon as they know they will pursue a major in psychology. These students should enroll in one of PSY 5900 , PSY 5910 , or PSY 5930 as soon as they have identified a mentor and have met Utah State University’s admission requirements for the Department of Psychology Pre-psychology Major designation. They should pursue their own creative research opportunity experience with the faculty member and enroll in PSY 4910 during the second semester of their junior year and absolutely no later than the first semester of their senior year. They should plan to enroll in an additional section of PSY 5900 , PSY 5910 , or PSY 5930 during their senior year.