Are you interested in what makes people tick? For example, why do people help when you're standing by a country road, but don't when you're stranded on the interstate? Why do some people eat when they're depressed and others lose their appetites? What do humans and other animals have in common? What is the relationship between your early childhood experiences and your later adult life? Is your behavior determined more by your genes or your experience? If these kinds of questions are of interest to you, psychology may be the major for you.
Psychologists study many issues relevant to the human condition. While some focus on how to help people with problems, others work to better select and train employees. While some psychologists are interested in how the brain determines behavior, others study how behavior changes as we age. Psychologists can be found in human service agencies, schools, industry, advertising, hospitals, and research laboratories. Furthermore, a background in psychology can give you a good foundation for careers in business, law, medicine, or religion.
The Psychology Department is a friendly department with dedicated teachers and advisers. It offers two majors and one minor to fit students' varying career interests. The department's faculty will help you prepare for your future career with individual attention, research opportunities, and supervised internships. While you might fall through the cracks at a larger school, you won't at Clarion. This is a great place to learn about psychology and yourself!
PSYCHOLOGY, B.A. – 50 credits
Required: PSY 211, 230, 251/252 (each with the grade of C or higher), 260, 354, 355, and either 456 or 470, plus at least 15 credits in psychology electives chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor. Three elective courses at the 400-level only (only three credits of PSY 499 or COOP 468 may be used) in addition to PSY 456 or 470, are required. In addition to the 38 credits in psychology, students are required to select 12 credits from at least two of the following areas: courses from General Education Liberal Knowledge, Section II. A, B, and C, excluding CMST 101, 102 and THE 103, 104, 120, 121, 161, 262, 350, 351, 362, 364, and 367. In addition to the above, students are required to pass the final examination in either their 250 or 252 language course.
PSYCHOLOGY, B.S. – 47 credits
Required: PSY 211, 230, 251/252 (each with the grade of C or higher), and PSY 260. In addition, one from among PSY 352, 452, 453, or 458, at least one from among PSY 321, 331, 464, 467, 471, or 475, at least two from among PSY, 354, 355, 362, 454, or 455, and one of PSY 456 or 470 are required. Additional courses to total 47 credits in psychology are required to complete the major. At least four courses at the 400 level (only three credits of PSY 499 or COOP 468 may be used), chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor, must be included within the major, as well as one course (in addition to PSY 230, 251, and 252) with a laboratory experience. Students also must complete one college-level mathematics course (MATH 111 or higher) in addition to the general education mathematics requirement or place into MATH 171 or above.
PSYCHOLOGY, MINOR – 18-20 credits
Available to all undergraduate students.
Required: PSY 211 and five other psychology courses (at least nine credits of which must be at the 300- or 400-level). A 2.0 QPA is required in the minor.
