Psychology (BA)

Students may pursue the Psychology B.A. degree or the Psychology B.A. degree with a concentration in Counseling Psychology. All majors are required to complete some laboratory coursework in which they conduct psychological science research. Practica are required for counseling students and are available at nearby human service agencies and treatment centers. The psychology programs provide students with a working knowledge of the methods and findings of modern psychology. Students majoring in psychology are prepared to work in a wide variety of settings, including human services (counseling and social work), public affairs, business, sales, criminal justice, and (following graduate study) psychotherapy, teaching and research. The psychology program provides a strong foundation for graduate study in psychology and related disciplines.

The psychology program sponsors a Psychology Club and a local chapter of the national honor society in psychology, Psi Chi. Through active membership in these organizations, students are encouraged to become involved in community service and to attend and present their research at regional and national conferences.

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.

All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

1. Critically analyze the historical trends in psychology. (Specialized Knowledge)
2. Compare basic research methodology in psychology, including research design, data analysis and interpretation. (Applied Learning)
3. Communicate clearly in written and oral presentations in standard American Psychological Association format. (APA) (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
4. Apply statistical concepts to decision making and problem solving in areas of psychological application. (Quantitative Fluency)
5. Think critically to solve problems in psychological areas of analysis using academic sources of information. (Intellectual Skills)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.

Institutional Degree Requirements

The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

• 120 semester hours minimum.
• Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
• 40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
• 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
• A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
• No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
• Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
• Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
• Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
• The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
• See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Essential Learning Requirements

(31 semester hours)

See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.

Must receive a grade of “C” or better and must be completed by the time the student has 60 semester hours.

One course must include a lab.

Other Lower Division Requirements

Essential Learning Capstone must be taken after completion of the Essential Learning English and Mathematics requirements, and when a student has earned between 45 and 75 hours.

Foundation Courses

(6 semester hours. Must earn a grade of “C” or higher in each course.)

Program Specific Degree Requirements

(53 semester hours, must maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in coursework in this area. To continue in the program and eventually graduate as a psychology major a student must earn, with no more than three attempts, at least a grade of “C” in each course.)