Psychology - BA
The St. Kate's psychology major provides an outstanding foundation upon which to pursue graduate work or a career in a range of professional fields and professional studies. Many psychology students enter graduate programs in the mental health fields of counseling or clinical psychology, in school psychology or in experimental areas of the field. Others pursue professional degrees in law, medicine, industrial relations, physical therapy, occupational therapy or public health.
Psychology serves as a sound liberal arts major because the discipline broadly spans the humanities and social and natural sciences. St. Kate's graduates have found positions immediately after graduation in schools working with students with special needs and as caseworkers in residential treatment centers, group homes and shelters. Others work in the legal system as victim advocates, as medical or social science researchers, as human resource professionals, as child life advocates in a hospital pediatric unit, and in various non-profit organizations. Our curriculum includes a sophomore-level seminar that focuses on helping students explore their future career options.
For upper-division psychology majors who have demonstrated excellence in their course work, paid positions are available as teaching assistants. These unique opportunities allow students to gain professional skills, and to practice teaching while sharing their knowledge and skill with others.
Psychology majors will take courses in psychology, biology and philosophy, and are encouraged to participate in a broad, liberal arts curriculum. Many students pursue internships, which are available at a wide variety of social service and health agencies. Internship sites include the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center, the Wilder Foundation, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis Children's Medical Center, First Call for Help, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, Tubman and Fraser.
Students may choose to double major in psychology and other fields, such as education, art, communication studies, nursing, or social work.
See also: Applied Science in Psychology, Pre-Physical Therapy
This major is offered in the College for Women.
Curriculum
The psychology major consists of 40 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Psychology Courses | ||
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| or PSYC 1001 | General Psychology with Lab | |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 2850 | Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World | 2 |
| PSYC 3000 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 4220W | History and Systems | 4 |
| PSYC 4850 | Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology | 2 |
| Select at least two 3000- or 4000-level psychology courses offering laboratory research: | 8 | |
| Health Psychology with Lab | ||
| Socialization Processes with Lab | ||
| Learning Principles and Applications with Lab | ||
| Memory and Cognition with Lab | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology with Lab | ||
| Experimental Social Psychology with Lab | ||
| Biopsychology with Lab | ||
| Psychology of Eating with Lab | ||
| Topics | ||
| Select at least one of the following (if both taken, one may count as a PSYC Elective): | 4 | |
| Understanding Psychological Disorders | ||
| Personality Theories | ||
| Select at least two elective 4-credit courses from the remaining department offerings, which may include internships, research and independent study. Elective courses may include, but are not limited to: | 8 | |
| Lifespan Developmental Psychology | ||
| Basic Counseling Skills | ||
| Psychology of Grief Loss and Trauma | ||
| Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Gender | ||
| Philosophy of Psychology | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| Select two semesters of general biology with laboratory | 8 | |
Science Major Track: | ||
| Foundations of Biology: Diversity and Evolution with Lab and Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology with Lab | ||
Nonscience Major Track: | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Biology of Women with Lab and Environmental Biology with Lab | ||
Another approved laboratory biology sequence 2 | ||
| Select two philosophy courses selected in consultation with advisor. Recommended courses include: | 8 | |
| Ethics | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Psychology | ||
or PSYC 3820 | Philosophy of Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- 1
Or equivalent statistics course
- 2
e.g., psychology and nursing double majors may substitute BIOL 2610 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab and BIOL 2620 Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab.
Psychology majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors in PSYC 4220W History and Systems. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and any other writing-intensive course in another department).
This major is offered in the College for Adults.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Psychology Courses | ||
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 2850 | Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World | 2 |
| PSYC 3000 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 4220W | History and Systems | 4 |
| PSYC 4850 | Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology | 2 |
| Select 20 additional PSYC credits (eight of which must be at the 3000- or 4000 level) | 20 | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| One biology class with lab | 4 | |
| One communication class | 4 | |
| Two philosophy courses 2 | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- 1
Or equivalent statistics course
- 2
Excluding PHIL 2150 Logic
Psychology majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors in PSYC 4220W History and Systems. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and any other writing-intensive course in another department).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Term | ||
| BIOL 1710 | Foundations of Biology: Diversity and Evolution with Lab | 4 |
| or BIOL 1120 | Biology of Women with Lab | |
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| or PSYC 1001 | General Psychology with Lab | |
| Spring Term | ||
| BIOL 1720 | Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology with Lab | 4 |
| or BIOL 1110 | Environmental Biology with Lab | |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Fall Term | ||
| PSYC 2850 | Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World | 2 |
| PSYC 3000 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Select one PHIL elective (can be lower division), except PHIL 2150 | 4 | |
| Spring Term | ||
| PSYC 3010 | Understanding Psychological Disorders | 4 |
| or PSYC 3020 | Personality Theories | |
| Select one PSYC elective (can be lower division) | 4 | |
| Fall Term | ||
| Select one from: | 4 | |
| Health Psychology with Lab | ||
| Socialization Processes with Lab | ||
| Learning Principles and Applications with Lab | ||
| Memory and Cognition with Lab | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology with Lab | ||
| Experimental Social Psychology with Lab | ||
| Biopsychology with Lab | ||
| Psychology of Eating with Lab | ||
| Topics | ||
| Select one 3000- or 4000- level PSYC elective | 4 | |
| Spring Term | ||
| Select one from: | 4 | |
| Health Psychology with Lab | ||
| Socialization Processes with Lab | ||
| Learning Principles and Applications with Lab | ||
| Memory and Cognition with Lab | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology with Lab | ||
| Experimental Social Psychology with Lab | ||
| Biopsychology with Lab | ||
| Psychology of Eating with Lab | ||
| Topics | ||
| Select one PHIL elective, except PHIL 2150 | 4 | |
| Fall Term | ||
| PSYC 4220W | History and Systems | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| PSYC 4850 | Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology | 2 |
| Total Credits | 56 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Term | ||
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 2850 | Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World | 2 |
| Spring Term | ||
| Select one biology lab course | 4 | |
| Select two PHIL electives, except PHIL 2150 | 8 | |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Summer Term | ||
| Select one COMM elective | 4 | |
| Fall Term | ||
| PSYC 3000 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 4220W | History and Systems | 4 |
| Select two PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level | 8 | |
| Spring Term | ||
| PSYC 4850 | Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology | 2 |
| Select three PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 56 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Term | ||
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 2850 | Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World | 2 |
| Summer Term | ||
| Select one COMM elective | 4 | |
| Fall Term | ||
| Select one BIOL lab course | 4 | |
| Select one PHIL elective, except PHIL 2150 | 4 | |
| Select one PSYC elective | 4 | |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| PSYC 3000 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Select one PHIL elective, except PHIL 2150 | 4 | |
| Select two PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level | 8 | |
| Fall Term | ||
| PSYC 4220W | History and Systems | 4 |
| PSYC 4850 | Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology | 2 |
| Select two PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 56 | |