Requirements for Psychology Majors

Requirements for Psychology Majors

The following three 3-credit and one 1-credit courses are required for all psychology majors: 

• PY101:  Introductory Psychology 
• PY200: Professional Development in Psychology (1 credit) 
• PY291:  Research Methods I (with Lab)
• PY292:  Research Methods II (with Lab) 

In addition, majors choose the specified number of courses from each of the following groups: 

Group I: Advanced Topics (choose two) 

• PY300:  Independent Study in Psychology I 
• PY353:  Contemporary Issues in Psychology 
• PY400:  Independent Study in Psychology II 
• PY404:  Ethics in Psychology 
• PY413:  Psychological Tests and Measurements 
• PY414:  Advanced Statistics with Computer Applications 
• PY415:  Psychological Systems and Theories 
• PY417:  Special Topics in Psychology and Catholic Studies 
• PY418:  Research Seminar in Psychology I 
• PY419:  Research Seminar in Psychology II 
• PY420:  Applied Special Topics in Psychology 
• PY435:  Field Experience in Psychology I
• PY436:  Field Experience in Psychology II
• PY490:  Special Topics in Psychology  

Group II: Learning and Cognition (choose one) 

• PY221:  Psychology of Learning 
• PY222:  Cognitive Psychology  

Group III: Behavioral Neuroscience (choose one) 

• PY331:  Biopsychology 
• PY332:  Human Neuropsychology
• PY333:  Sensation and Perception
• PY334: Sleep, Circadian Rhythm, and Behavior

Group IV: Developmental (choose one) 

• PY241:  Child Development 
• PY242:  Adolescent Development 
• PY243:  Adult Development 
• PY244:  Life Span Development
• PY245: Aging and Society  

Group V: Social and Personality (choose one) 

• PY201:  Social Psychology 
• PY203:  Psychology of Personality 
• PY351:  Interpersonal Behavior
• PY352:  Group Process 

Group VI: Clinical/Applied (choose one) 

• PY202:  Psychopathology 
• PY205:  Educational Psychology 
• PY261:  Introduction to Health Psychology 
• PY262:  Industrial/Organizational Psychology 
• PY323:  Introduction to Counseling 
• PY325:  Controlling Stress and Tension 
• PY326:  Substance Abuse: Diagnosis and Treatment
• PY421:  Forensic Psychology 

Group VII: Culture and Context (choose one) 

• PY253:  Multicultural Issues in Psychology 
• PY255:  Psychology of Religion
• PY256: Psychology of Gender
• PY257: Black Psychology 

Notes

1. In addition to the 11 3-credit and 1 1-credit courses mentioned above, students are required to choose four more courses from any of the groups to serve as psychology electives. Beginning with the class of 2023, students are required to choose three more (not four) PY courses from any of the groups to serve as psychology electives. 
2. ST110 or ST210 or ST265 is ideally taken prior to PY291, but it may be taken concurrently. This statistics requirement must be completed prior to taking PY292. These are the only math courses that fulfill the pre-/co-requisite for PY291. 
3. Psychology majors and interdisciplinary majors are strongly encouraged to take BL105; however, they may take BL121/BL126 (and in the case of BL/PY are required to take BL121/126). Taking either BL105 or BL121 serves as the prerequisite for Group III courses. 
4. All PY200-level courses (except PY291 and PY292) may be used by the non-psychology major as social science core courses, provided the PY101 prerequisite is met. 
5. Students must complete the diversity requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Requirement under Curriculum and Policies).