Psychology Program Requirements for 2024-2025

B.S. in Psychology

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the major. All courses designated as psychology (PSYC), including courses cross-listed with psychology, that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Requirements

Knowledge Base in Psychology – 18 credits

  • PSYC 100C – P3 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • Choose ONE:
    • PSYC 227C – P3 Child and Adolescent Development (3)*
    • PSYC 231C – P3 Development Across the Lifespan (3)*
  • PSYC 235C – P3 Social Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 280 – Foundations Behavioral Neuroscience (3)
  • PSYC 281 – Learning (3)
  • PSYC 282 – Cognitive Processes (3)

Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking – 15 credits

  • PSYC 200 – Research Methods and Writing in Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 201 – Basic Statistics (3)
  • PSYC 204 – Advanced Statistics (3)
  • Choose TWO:
    • PSYC 327 – Developmental Laboratory (3)**
    • PSYC 335 – Social Psychology Laboratory (3)**
    • PSYC 361 – Psychophysiology Laboratory (3)
    • PSYC 362 – Topics Laboratory (3)***
    • PSYC 381 – Learning Laboratory (3)**
    • PSYC 382 – Cognitive Processes Laboratory (3)**

Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World – 6 credits

  • PSYC 211 – P3 Introduction to Psychopathology (3)
  • Choose ONE:
    • PSYC 265 – P3 Human Sexuality (3)
    • PSYC 267 – Psychology of Diversity (3)
    • PSYC 350 – Developmental Differences: Autism, ADHD, IDD (3)

Professional Development – 3 credits

  • PSYC 130 – Psychology in Health and Wellness (1)
  • PSYC 195 – Professional Development I (1)
  • PSYC 295 – Professional Development II (1)

Note: Students starting in psychology with 60 credits or more should take two PSYC 130 courses with different topics and PSYC 295.

Oral and Written Communication (Seminar and Capstones) – 9 credits

  • PSYC 407 – Seminar in Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 411 – Capstone: Advanced Psychopathology (3)
  • PSYC 436 – Capstone: Advanced Personality (3)

Electives – 6 credits

  • Six elective hours in psychology (6)***

Total: 57 credits

*Only one cumulative human development course may be applied to the psychology major. Thus, either PSYC 227C – P3 Childhood and Adolescent Development or PSYC 231C – P3 Development Across the Lifespan (but not both) may be used to fulfill psychology major requirements. **Lab prerequisites are PSYC 200 and 201 with grades of "C" or better as well as the corresponding Knowledge Base course. ***May be taken more than once with different topics. ****Although 100 level courses in psychology may be used to fulfill this requirement, no courses from the foundational areas of Core 2020 may apply. These courses include Learning Community, Research-Based Writing, and Data Analysis courses. In addition, PSYC 3990, does not count toward the major, minor or concentration.

Note: At least half of the required PSYC credits for the psychology major must be taken at SJF. A student must also earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all psychology courses taken in residence for the major.

B.A. in Psychology

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the major. All courses designated as psychology (PSYC), including courses cross-listed with psychology, that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major. A minor in another discipline is required of all students following B.A. programs.

Requirements

Knowledge Base in Psychology – 15 credits

  • PSYC 100C – P3 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • Choose FOUR:
    • PSYC 227C - P3 Child and Adolescent Development (3) -OR- PSYC 231C - P3 Development Across the Lifespan (3)*
    • PSYC 235C – P3 Social Psychology (3)
    • PSYC 280 – Foundations Behavioral Neuroscience (3)
    • PSYC 281 – Learning (3)
    • PSYC 282 – Cognitive Processes (3)

Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking – 9 credits

  • PSYC 200 – Research Methods and Writing in Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 201 – Basic Statistics (3)
  • Choose ONE:
    • PSYC 327 – Developmental Laboratory (3)**
    • PSYC 335 – Social Psychology Laboratory (3)**
    • PSYC 361 – Psychophysiology Laboratory (3)
    • PSYC 362 – Topics Laboratory (3)***
    • PSYC 381 – Learning Laboratory (3)**
    • PSYC 382 – Cognitive Processes Laboratory (3)**

Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World – 6 credits

  • PSYC 211 – P3 Introduction to Psychopathology (3)
  • Choose ONE:
    • PSYC 350 – Developmental Differences: Autism, ADHD, IDD (3)
    • PSYC 267 – Psychology of Diversity (3)
    • PSYC 265 – P3 Human Sexuality (3)

Professional Development – 3 credits

  • PSYC 195 – Professional Development I (1)
  • PSYC 295 – Professional Development II (1)
  • PSYC 130 – Psychology in Health and Wellness (1)

Note: Students starting in psychology with 60 credits or more should take two PSYC 130 courses with different topics and PSYC 295.

Oral and Written Communication (Capstone) – 3 credits

  • Choose ONE Capstone:
    • PSYC 411 - Capstone: Advanced Psychopathology (3)
    • PSYC 436 - Capstone: Advanced Personality (3)

Electives – 3 credits

  • Three elective hours in psychology (3)***

Total: 39 credits

*Only one cumulative human development course may be applied to the psychology major. Thus, either PSYC 227C – P3 Childhood and Adolescent Development or PSYC 231C – P3 Development Across the Lifespan (but not both) may be used to fulfill psychology major requirements. **Lab prerequisites are PSYC 200 and 201 with grades of C or better, as well as the corresponding Knowledge Base course. ***Although a 100 level course in psychology may be used to fulfill this requirement, no courses from the foundational areas of Fisher Core may apply. These courses include Learning Community, Research-Based Writing, and Data Analysis courses. In addition, PSYC 3990, does not count toward the major, minor or concentration.

Note: At least half of the required PSYC credits for the psychology major must be taken at SJF. A student must also earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all psychology courses taken in residence for the major.

Honors in Psychology

The psychology department offers an honors program for students majoring in psychology who are capable of, and want to undertake, challenges above and beyond the regular major program. Successful completion of the major's honors program provides preparation for graduate study in psychology. This program is separate from the University's Honors Program. Eligible students may complete both programs. The honors program in psychology is a three semester sequence of credit and non-credit bearing work. Please see department chair or faculty for more information.

Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling Fast-Track Program

This fast-track program allows undergraduate students to capitalize on schedule flexibility, transfer credit, and the desire for clear pathways to a career. Freshmen who initially bring in 12 hours of transfer credit are able to complete their undergraduate education in 3.5 years, applying one semester of graduate coursework to the 120 credits of undergraduate credit needed for graduation. The student would graduate from their undergraduate program in psychology (B.A. or B.S.) and continue into and through the mental health counseling graduate-level program. Students without initial transfer credits but who are able and/or willing to take additional credits in semester or over summers can also complete this pathway. Finally, transfer students who could complete the required Fisher Core and psychology major requirements could also complete the proposed program. The program does not alter the requirements for coursework of either the undergraduate psychology or the master's-level mental health counseling programs. Instead, it allows the first semester of the mental health counseling coursework to be taken prior to graduation from the undergraduate program. It also allows the 12 credit hours taken in that semester to count towards the 120 credits needed for the undergraduate degree. Students in this fast-track program may apply for admission to the mental health counseling program beginning in the spring of their junior year. In order to gain admission to the mental health counseling program, a student must have 12 or fewer hours to complete toward the baccalaureate degree and meet the full criteria for admission to the mental health counseling program including a grade point average of 3.25 or better, personal statement, references, and successful interview. The fast track program allows students to apply for admission to the mental health counseling program one year earlier than non fast-track students. This proposed program does not guarantee entry into the mental health counseling program. See the Psychology Department for suggested program pathways.

Inclusive Childhood Education Major with a Liberal Arts Major/Concentration in Psychology

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive childhood education must declare either a second major or a concentration in a liberal arts field. Either choice results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Inclusive childhood education majors who wish to pursue a dual major with psychology take all of the major requirements as listed above (B.A. or B.S. degree requirements) in addition to meeting all of the inclusive childhood education requirements (49-52 credits: see Inclusive Childhood Education for details). If an inclusive childhood education major wishes to complete a concentration in psychology, the Psychology Department in conjunction with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses which will meet the New York state requirement for a liberal arts concentration in this field. Students must earn grades of "C" or above in all content area courses.

  • PSYC 100C – P3 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • Choose ONE:
    • PSYC 227C – P3 Child and Adolescent Psychology (3)
    • PSYC 231C – P3 Development Across the Lifespan (3)*
  • Twenty-four hours of psychology electives (24)**

Total: 30 credits

*Only one cumulative human development course may be applied to the psychology concentration. Thus, either PSYC 227C – P3 Childhood and Adolescent Development or PSYC 231C – P3 Development Across the Lifespan (but not both) may be used to fulfill psychology concentration requirements.

**Although a 100 level course in psychology may be used to fulfill this requirement, no courses from the foundational areas of Fisher Core may apply. These courses include Learning Community, Research-Based Writing, and Data Analysis courses. In addition, PSYC 3990, does not count toward the major, minor, or concentration.

Minor in Psychology

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

Requirements

  • PSYC 100C – P3 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • Fifteen elective hours in psychology (15)*

Total: 18 credits

*Only one cumulative human development course — either PSYC 227C – P3 Childhood and Adolescent Development or PSYC 231C – P3 Development Across the Lifespan (but not both) — may be applied to the psychology minor. Although 100-level courses in psychology may be used to fulfill this requirement, no courses from the foundational areas of Core 2020 may apply. These courses include Learning Community, Research-Based Writing, and Data Analysis courses. In addition, PSYC 3990, does not count toward the major, minor or concentration.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.