Psychology | Academic Advising Handbook
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.
Category I: Major Requirements
Category II: Required Breadth Elective Options
Professional Development Courses
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:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PSY 150 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
PSY 300 and PSY 301 OR PSY 348, PSY 349 and either PSY 350 or SOC 301 |
Behavioral Research and Statistics OR Behavioral Research Methods w/ Lab, and either Behavioral Statistics or Social Statistics |
8 OR 10 |
PSY490 OR PSY 499 |
Senior Capstone OR Advanced Senior Research |
4 |
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:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group D | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Course | PSY 252 OR PSY 352 |
PSY 202 OR PSY 211 OR PSY 309 |
PSY 316 OR PSY 314 OR PSY 416 |
PSY 240 OR PSY 281 |
PSY 358 OR PSY 308 OR PSY 310 |
Title | BIOPSY I: Behavioral Neuroscience with Lab OR Sensation and Perception with Lab |
Health Psychology OR Abnormal Psychology OR Personality Psychology |
Psychology of Studying OR Memory and Mind OR Cognitive Science |
Child Development OR Lifespan Development |
Psychology of Ethnic Diversity in the US OR Social Psychology OR Community Psychology |
Credits | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
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):
Course | Title |
---|---|
BIOL 312 | Genetics and Evolution |
PHIL 310 | Philosophy of Science |
PHIL 314 | Philosophy of Mind |
SOC/GSS 201 or 316 | Gender and Sexuality |
SOCWK 325 | Counseling and Interviewing Techniques |
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"
Course | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
PSY 351 | Directed Research | |
PSY 448 | Mentoring in Psychology | |
PSY 449 | Directed Research and Community Outreach | |
PSY 475 | Internship Experience | |
PSY 499 | Senior Capstone | (4 credits of 490 or 499 are required, more than 4 are considered professional development and do not count towards the major) |
Minor Requriements
The Psychology minor must complete the following courses with a grade of "C" or better:
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PSY 150 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
PSY 350 OR SOC 301 |
Behavioral Statistics OR Social Statistics |
4 |
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:
Course | Title |
---|---|
EXIP 365 | Perceptual Motor Learning (For the Minor Only) |
BIOL 312 | Genetics and Evolution |
PHIL 310 | Philosophy of Science |
PHIL 314 | Philosophy of Mind |
SOC/GSS 316 | Gender & Sexuality |
SOCWK 325 | Counseling and Interviewing Techniques |
Total: 24 credits for the Psych. Minor
Updated: 6/18