Psychology, Bachelor of Science

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology degree opens the door to one of the most challenging and rewarding professional fields today. BS Psychology students learn the necessary skills to assist people in improving their mental health; they also gain knowledge and abilities that are valued in many other fields, such as business and politics. At the bachelor’s level, psychology graduates are sought in fields like mental health casework statistics, probation and corrections, public relations, health education, social work, human resources, recreational therapy, education, and physician assisting among others.

Core Curriculum - 42 hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.

The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.

080 Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 hours

PSYC 2301General Psychology

3

Major Requirements - 50 hours

Required Courses - 21 hours

Foundation of Psychology - 12 hours

6 hours must be advanced. Students are advised to select courses that will fulfil the prerequisites of the Psychology Prescribed Elective courses.

PSYC 2314Developmental Psychology: Lifespan

3

PSYC 2319Social Psychology

3

PSYC 3353Physiological Psychology

3

PSYC 4313Abnormal Psychology

3

PSYC 4319Cognitive Psychology

3

Foundations of Research - 9 hours

PSYC 2302Basic Statistics for Psychologists

3

Or

MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods

3

PSYC 3325Research Methods in Psychology

3

PSYC 3343Tests and Measurements in Psychology

3

Prescribed Electives - 18 hours

Choose at least one course from each category (Cognitive/Biological Foundations, Developmental/Social/Cultural Foundations, Theoretical/Methodological Foundations, and Applications).

Cognitive/Biological Foundations

Choose from:

PSYC 3373Sensation and Perception

3

PSYC 3383Animal Behavior

3

PSYC 4320Memory

3

PSYC 4330Human Motivation

3

PSYC 4356Health Psychology

3

Developmental/Social/Cultural Foundations

Choose from:

PSYC 3332Developmental Psychology: Infancy Through Adolescence

3

PSYC 3333Psychology of Adulthood: Maturity and Old Age

3

PSYC 3338Psychology of Gender

3

PSYC 4326Cross-Cultural Psychology

3

PSYC 4328Psychological Issues in the Mexican-American Community

3

Theoretical/Methodological Foundations

Choose from:

PSYC 4303Advanced Statistics for Psychology

3

PSYC 4318Theories of Learning

3

PSYC 4333Theories of Personality

3

PSYC 4363History of Modern Psychology

3

Applications

Choose from:

PSYC 3305Applied Behavior Analysis and Modification

3

PSYC 3340Stress Management

3

PSYC 4314Psychopathology of Childhood

3

PSYC 4342Psychology and Law

3

PSYC 4343Human Factors

3

PSYC 4360Clinical and Counseling Psychology

3

Support Courses - 11 hours

Science Courses - 8 hours

Students must complete 8 hours of Life and Physical Sciences from: Biology (BIOL), Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL) or Chemistry (CHEM) and may be completed from any combination of the course options below.

Choose from:

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4

BIOL 1407General Biology II

4

BIOL 2401Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIOL 2402Anatomy and Physiology II

4

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I

3

And

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Lab

1

CHEM 1312General Chemistry II

3

And

CHEM 1112General Chemistry II Lab

1

May include laboratories taken in fulfillment of section 090 of the core.

Social and Behavioral Science Course - 3 hours

Choose from:

ANTH 1324Human Evolution

3

ANTH 2302Introduction to Archeology

3

ANTH 2351Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

3

ECON 1301Introduction to Economics

3

ECON 2301Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ENGL 2315Humans and Language

3

HDOS 2301Introduction to the Human Dimensions of Organizations

3

PHIL 1362Race, Sexuality, and Class

3

SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology

3

Free Electives - 28 hours

Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.

Psychology majors are encouraged to take at least 9 hours of upper-division coursework in disciplines outside of Psychology that support it. Majors who are interested in gaining experience in applied settings are encouraged to explore options for Internship hours, those who plan to attend graduate school are encouraged to take at least 6 hours of upper-division Psychology courses and majors who intend to pursue a research-focused graduate degree are encouraged to gain research experience, including Independent Study or Honors Thesis electives.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

 

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.

 

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.