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
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.
Foundations of Research - 9 hours
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:
Developmental/Social/Cultural Foundations
Choose from:
| PSYC 3332 | Developmental Psychology: Infancy Through Adolescence | 3 |
| PSYC 3333 | Psychology of Adulthood: Maturity and Old Age | 3 |
| PSYC 3338 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| PSYC 4326 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 4328 | Psychological Issues in the Mexican-American Community | 3 |
Theoretical/Methodological Foundations
Choose from:
Applications
Choose from:
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:
May include laboratories taken in fulfillment of section 090 of the core.
Social and Behavioral Science Course - 3 hours
Choose from:
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.