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 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 laboratory instructors, scientific writing tutors or statistics tutors. 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

Required Psychology Courses
PSYC 1001General Psychology with Lab4
PSYC 1090Statistical Methods in Psychology 14
PSYC 2850Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World2
PSYC 3000Research Methods in Psychology4
PSYC 4220WHistory and Systems4
PSYC 4850Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology2
Select at least two 3000-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
Select at least one of the following: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 limiited to:8
Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Psychology of Grief Loss and Trauma
Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology
Psychology of Gender
Philosophy of Psychology
Educational Psychology
Total Credits40
Required Supporting Courses
Select two semesters of general biology with laboratory8
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
Philosophy of Psychology
Total Credits16
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 WomanCORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and any other writing-intensive course in another department).

This major is offered in the College for Adults.

Curriculum

Required Psychology Courses
PSYC 1000General Psychology4
PSYC 1090Statistical Methods in Psychology 14
PSYC 2850Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World2
PSYC 3000Research Methods in Psychology4
PSYC 4220WHistory and Systems4
PSYC 4850Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology2
Select 20 additional PSYC credits (eight of which must be at the 3000- or 4000 level)20
Total Credits40
Required Supporting Courses
One biology class with lab4
One communication class4
Two philosophy courses 28
Total Credits16
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 WomanCORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and any other writing-intensive course in another department).

Fall Term
BIOL 1710Foundations of Biology: Diversity and Evolution with Lab4
or BIOL 1120 Biology of Women with Lab
PSYC 1001General Psychology with Lab4
Spring Term
Select one from:4
Environmental Biology with Lab
Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology with Lab
PSYC 1090Statistical Methods in Psychology4
Fall Term
PSYC 2850Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World2
PSYC 3000Research Methods in Psychology4
Select one PHIL elective (can be lower division), except PHIL 21504
Spring Term
PSYC 3010Understanding Psychological Disorders4
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
Select one 3000- or 4000- level PSYC elective4
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
Select one PHIL elective, except PHIL 21504
Fall Term
PSYC 4220WHistory and Systems4
Spring Term
PSYC 4850Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology2
Total Credits56
Fall Term
PSYC 1001General Psychology with Lab4
PSYC 2850Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World2
Spring Term
Select one biology lab course4
Select two PHIL electives, except PHIL 21508
PSYC 1090Statistical Methods in Psychology4
Summer Term
Select one COMM elective4
Fall Term
PSYC 3000Research Methods in Psychology4
PSYC 4220WHistory and Systems4
Select two PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level8
Spring Term
PSYC 4850Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology2
Select three PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level12
Total Credits56
Spring Term
PSYC 1001General Psychology with Lab4
PSYC 2850Seminar I: Psychology Engages the World2
Summer Term
Select one COMM elective4
Fall Term
Select one BIOL lab course4
Select one PHIL elective, except PHIL 21504
Select one PSYC elective4
PSYC 1090Statistical Methods in Psychology4
Spring Term
PSYC 3000Research Methods in Psychology4
Select one PHIL elective, except PHIL 21504
Select two PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level8
Fall Term
PSYC 4220WHistory and Systems4
PSYC 4850Seminar II: Current Issues in Psychology2
Select two PSYC electives, at least one at the 3000-level8
Total Credits56