Why Major in Psychology?

The Psychology program is a discipline gives you a framework for understanding human behavior and the world around you. You will learn about the biological bases of behavior, the nature of personality, how people think, how emotions are expressed, how and why people behave differently in groups and about the differences between normal and abnormal behavior.

Requirements for the Psychology Degree

Requirements for Psychology Majors

Psychology majors must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the Department at Westfield State University.

Required Courses - 12 Credits

• PSYC 0101 - Introduction to Psychology
• PSYC 0219 - Research Methods in Psychology I
• orCOMM 0320  Foundations of Communications ResearchorCRJU 0231 Research Methods in Criminal JusticeorSOCW 0204 Introduction to Research Methods in Social Work 
• PSYC 0308 - Statistics for Psychologists
• PSYC 0319 - Research Methods in Psychology II

Content Courses - 18 Credits

Select the number of courses indicated below from each of the 4 categories.

Basic Processes - choose 2

 

• PSYC 0215 - Adaptation and Animal Behavior
• PSYC 0306 - Learning
• PSYC 0341 - Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC 0312 - Physiological Psychology
• PSYC 0359 - Sensation and Perception

Individual and Social Systems - choose 1

 

• PSYC 0201 - Theories of Personality
• PSYC 0304 - Social Psychology
• PSYC 0336 - Psychology of the Family

Development - choose 1

 

• PSYC 0202 - Child Development
• PSYC 0203 - Adolescent Development
• PSYC 0208 - Adult Development and Aging

Applied - choose 2

 

• PSYC 0206 - Educational Psychology
• PSYC 0200 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• PSYC 0303 - Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 0305 - Forensic Psychology
• PSYC 0311 - Health Psychology
• PSYC 0317 - Applied Behavior Analysis
• PSYC 0318 - Psychology of Interpersonal Relations and Communications
• PSYC 0320 - Psychometrics: Psychological Tests and Measurements
• PSYC 0322 - Theories of Counseling

Capstone Experience - 3 Credits

Pre-requisites:  All capstone experiences (CE) require the student to be a senior Psychology major.  Some CE's may have additional pre-requisites.  Choose one of the following options:

• PSYC 0333 - Practicum in Psychology
• PSYC 0351 - Emotion
• PSYC 0364 - Drugs and Behavior
• PSYC 0367 - Capstone Experience: Advanced Developmental Science
• PSYC 0369 - Capstone Experience: Psychology of Film
• PSYC 0371 - Capstone Experience: Developmental Disabilities
• PSYC 0372 - Capstone Experience: Behaviorism in Contemporary Society
• PSYC 0374 - Capstone Experience: Health of Vulnerable Populations
• PSYC 0376 - Capstone Experience: Psychology of Depression
• PSYC 0378 - Capstone Experience: Ethics in Psychology
• PSYC 0380 - Capstone Experience: Positive Psychology
• PSYC 0382 - Capstone Experience: Psychological Assessment and Program Evaluation
• PSYC 0384 - Capstone Experience: Psychology of Crime Lab
• PSYC 0386 - Capstone Experience: ABA Research Design and Ethics
• PSYC 0396 - Capstone Experience: Independent Study
• Honors Thesis in Psychology (as part of the University Honors program) Other CE offerings may be available in any given semester.  Please see your academic advisor for details.  Note: If recieving 6 credits for PSYC 0333, 0396, 0397 or Honors Thesis, 3 credits may apply to the capstone requirement and 3 may apply to Psychology major electives. 

Electives in Psychology - 6 credits

2, 200 or 300-level psychology courses with advisement.

Department Assessment Post-Test

• PSYC 0395 - Department Internal Evaluation: Post-Test

Total 39 Psychology credits

 

CORE Lab Science - 4 Credits

 

• BIOL 0104 - Human Biology or
• BIOL 0106 - Biology Today or
• BIOL 0237 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• Department approved substitution Credits: 4 or

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core .