Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 General Catalog (Summer, Fall 2012) 
    
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Psychology Teaching - BA


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Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Department of Psychology

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 COMD 4920  and 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.

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 General Education Requirements  and the University Studies Depth Requirements  in the areas indicated:

 

Psychology Teaching Major:


Required Psychology Courses (27 credits), plus
Elective Psychology Courses (13 credits)

Requirements for a Teaching Major in Psychology broadly consist of 27 credits of specified psychology coursework and 13 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. Core Domain (13 credits)


Biological Basis of Behavior: Select 3 credits from the following:


Socioculture Influences: Select 3 credits from the following:


Persons and Society: Select 3 credits from the following:


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).

Minimum University Requirements


Total Credits

120

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA

Credits of C- or better

100

Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)

40

USU Credits (30 USU credits, 20 of which must be upper-division courses, 10 of which must be courses required for student’s major)

30 USU credits

Completion of approved major program of study

See college advisor

Credits in minor (if required)

12

Credits in American Institutions (ECN 1500 ;HIST 1700 , HIST 2700  or HIST 2710 ; HONR 1300 POLS 1100 ; or USU 1300 

3

General Education Requirements  and University Studies Depth Requirements 

 

 

 

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