General information on other academic requirements can be found on the Academic Advising Handbook page. The Psychology section of the Academic Advising Handbook (pdf) and the Course Catalog (pdf) are available for download.

Major Requirements

Category I: Major Requirements

Category II: Required Breadth Elective Options

Category III: Electives

Professional Development Courses

Minor Requirements

Psychology Overview

Psychology is the empirical analysis of mind and behavior. The department members believe that reliable knowledge of psychological processes represents a necessary condition for meaningful action in the world. Virtually all disciplines benefit from attention to psychological variables.

Psychology is a versatile, inherently interdisciplinary, and multi-methodological enterprise. 

The Department's mission is to engender the kind of student who possesses a diverse and clear understanding of the major concepts, traditions, and findings within the field of modern psychology. Our goal is to mentor students to think critically and independently; who are well versed in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and regard both as potentially valuable and appropriate. Our classes incorporate discipline-specific writing, professional skills, and opportunities for creative as well as critical thinking about applied problems. 

Psychology Department Goals

Based on the Guidelines of the American Psychological Association for the Undergraduate Psychology Major: 1) knowledge in psychology, 2) scientific inquiry and critical thinking, 3) ethic and social responsibility, 4) communication, and 5) professional development, the goals of the Psychology Department are to:

• introduce students to the scientific approach and methods of critical analysis in the interpretation and evaluation of research and theory
• develop cultural humility in understanding, service and research with diverse populations
• present a selection of courses that typify the breadth of the discipline and the expertise of departmental faculty
• instill cooperative learning strategies that enable students to participate effectively in group projects and in circumstances surrounding employment
• polish student writing so that they communicate clearly, succinctly and with authority both in oral presentation and in essay form.
• mentor and guide students' career choices by providing opportunity and instruction in basic and applied psychology through civic and community engagement, as well as allied health and service professions.

Major Requirements

Three Course Categories

There are three general categories of courses together make up the psychology major. All must be completed with a "C" or better.

Category I Courses: Major Requirements are major requirements. You must complete all of these courses in order to graduate with a psychology major. Consequently, these courses are always offered annually (i.e., once a year) if not biannually (i.e., every semester). (18 credits required) - complete all of the following courses:

Category II Courses: Required Breadth Elective Options are major elective requirements. You must complete one 4-credit course from 4 of the 5 sub-disciplin areas in order to earn your psychology degree at Pacific University. However you may take more than one of these courses for credit toward the major. Course offereings vary from AD LIB (i.e., as needed) or biennial (i.e., every other year) to biannual (i.e., every semester). (16 credits required) - Complete at least one course from four of the five following groups: 

Category III Courses: Electives Courses are elective course options, emphases, and special topics courses that count towards the major. Students must earn an additional 16 credits, 8 of those credits must be upper division credits. Any course you do not take to fulfill Category II may be used for an elective, as can any of the other Psychology courses except those required in Category I and the Professional Development courses. NOTE: The following classes from programs outside of psychology can be electively used towards the major or minor (no more than 8 credits total):

Total: 50 credits required for the B.A. Psych. degree

Total: 58 credits required for the B.S. Psych. degree (2 additional Natural Science classes with lab)

Professional Development Courses

The following courses are recommended for any student interested in pursuing a graduate or professional degree. These courses DO NOT count towards upper division credits within the Major. However, they do fulfill uppder division credits toward CORE. These courses include"

Minor Requriements

The Psychology minor must complete the following courses with a grade of "C" or better:

Elective Courses (16 credits required)

Students intending to minor in Psychology should consult with a department member prior to choosing electives. At least 8 elective credits must be at the upper division level and no more than 8 elective credits outside of the Psychology department may be used toward a Psychology Minor. Interdisciplinary courses must be Psychology-approved courses. (16 elective credits required)

Psychology-approved interdisciplinary courses include:

Total: 24 credits for the Psych. Minor

Updated: 6/18