Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 University Catalog 
    
2017-2018 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychological Sciences, BS


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About the Program

The Psychological Sciences Major provides a broad foundation in psychology, but also provides maximum flexibility in psychology course selection. Students learn about applied and basic aspects of psychology as well as have a chance to take advance courses that give an authentic experience in diverse areas of psychology. This major leaves plenty of space for additional courses in other areas of interest or even allows a minor or double major. This program is often chosen by students interested in careers as therapists or in other human services areas, or by students who plan careers that require only a Bachelor’s degree.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Major Requirements (36 credits)


A cumulative GPA of 2.3 is required for all PSY courses used to meet major (Areas A-C) requirements

B) Select two courses from each of the following groups (12 credits)


C) Select five additional 3-credit PSY courses numbered 30000-59900 - 15 credits**


PSY 31400  & PSY 35000  may NOT be used to fulfill requirement.  Only one of the following 3-credit courses may be used: PSY 31900, PSY 39000, PSY 39100, PSY 49200, or PSY 49800.  (PSY courses in this section may also fulfill some Selective Requirements)

**Courses numbered 30000 or higher from locations other than Purdue-WL cannot be used to fulfill requirement C unless the outside course has been officially designated as equivalent to an approved Purdue-WL PSY course numbered 30000 or higher; other courses will be reviewed for approval on an ad hoc basis.

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (31-72 credits)


Cultural/International Diversity Selective 0 -16 credits

The Cultural/International Diversity requirement may be met by completing ONE of the four options listed below.

The Cultural/International Diversity Selective requirement may be waived for international students. See academic advisor for guidelines and approval.

Option 1.  Proficiency through level IV in any one foreign language.  Select from American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.

  • 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 20100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 20200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00

Option 2.  Proficiency through level III in any one foreign language AND a course from Cultural/International Diversity Selective list.

  • 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 20100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • select a course from Cultural/International Diversity Selective list

Option 3.  Two courses in any one foreign language AND an approved study abroad experience of at least 6 weeks in duration, which

a) Must take place outside the United States

b) Have significant immersion in the local culture and language independent of any U.S.-based program in which the student may be participating.

  • 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • Study Abroad Experience

Option 4.  An approved semester length (Fall/Spring) study abroad experience

a) Must take place outside the United States

b) Have significant immersion in the local culture and language independent of any U.S.-based program in which the student may be participating.

  • Study Abroad Experience

Select from list for each


  • Economics/Finance Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management & Leadership Selective (IF PSY 27200  is selected for PSYS Major Area B, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Natural Sciences, Math, & Information Technology Selective (NSM&IT) - select from Group 1 list (IF course chosen is also on University Science Core list, one Science Core requirement will be fulfilled) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 4.00*
  • Natural Sciences, Math, & Information Technology Selective (NSM&IT) - select from list (IF course chosen is also on University Science Core list, one Science Core requirement will be fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 5.00*
  • Natural Sciences, Math, & Information Technology Selective (NSM&IT) - select from list. Must have lab component unless one of the other NSM&IT courses selected has lab component (IF course chosen is also on University Science Technology & Society Core list, then Science Technology & Society Core requirement will be fulfilled) - Credit Hours: 1.00 - 5.00*

*NSM&IT Selectives must total 9 or more credits.

  • Social Ethics Selective (IF PSY 46400  is chosen for PSYS Major Area C, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Humanities Core (IF a foreign language is chosen for Cultural/International Diversity Selective, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 4.00
  • Information Literacy Core (IF ENGL 10600  or 10800  is chosen for Written Communication core, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 1.00 - 4.00
  • Oral Communication Core (Recommend  COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication ) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning Core  MA 15300  OR higher from University list except MA 15555  and MA 19000 (IF course chosen for NSM&IT selective is also on University Quantitative Reasoning Core list, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 5.00
  • Science Core (IF course chosen for NSM&IT Selective Group 1 is also on Unviersity Science Core list, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 5.00
  • Science Core (IF course chosen for NSM&IT Selective Group 2 is also on University Science Core list, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 5.00
  • Science, Technology & Society Core (IF course chosen for NSM&IT Selective is also on University Science Technology & Society Core list, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 1.00 - 3.00
  • Written Communication Core (Recommend  ENGL 10600 - First-Year Composition  or  ENGL 10800 - Accelerated First-Year Composition ) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00

Notes


Courses that fulfill Psychological Sciences Core requirements may also be used to fulfill Selective requirements, if applicable.

Courses that fulfill major requirements (Areas A-C) may also be used to fulfill Selective requirements, if applicable.

Electives (12-53 credits)


University Core Requirements


  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.

Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.

Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


15 Credits


Spring 1st Year


  • PSY Area B2 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Written Com. Core (ENGL 10600  recom.) - Credit Hours: 4.00
  • Cultural/International Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 **
  • Sci/Math/InfoTech Selective + Sci. Core - Credit Hours: 3.00 ***
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 2.00

15 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • PSY Area B1 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PSY Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Sci/ Math/InfoTech Selective + STS Core - Credit Hours: 3.00 ***
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • PSY Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Social Ethics Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 ****
  • Economics/Finance Selective - Credit Hours: 3.0
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • PSY Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PSY Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • PSY Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management & Leadership Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 ****
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Notes


At least 32 credits of coursework required at 30000 level or higher.

*Typical credits shown, but will vary with specific course selections. At least 32 of these credits must be courses taken at Purdue and numbered 30000 or higher.

**Depending on language placement and Option selected, requirement might require fewer than 4 semesters to complete, potentially creating opportunities for additional electives to be taken.

***Assumes Selective and Core requirement will be fulfilled with one appropriately selected course. Requirements can be separated, if student prefers.

****Includes course option that can cover two or more requirements concurrently.

STS = Science, Technology & Society

Foreign Language Courses


Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program.  For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

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