Department of Psychology

Requirements of the Major

Effective Spring '07, the Psychology major at Indiana State University requires 40 credit hours.** 

Psychology 101 is pre-requisite for all courses within the Department except PSY 100 (Psychology of Human Sexuality and Sexual Responsibility).  Please note that at least 18 credit hours of Psychology courses must be completed at Indiana State University.

The requirements for the Major are outlined below.  You may also download a Major Requirements Checklist to assist you in planning your course schedule. 

Required Courses (13 credit hours)

• PSY 101 (Introductory Psychology; 3 credits)
• PSY 150 (Introduction to Careers in Psychology; 1 credit)
• PSY 201 (Introduction to Research Methods; 3 credits)
• PSY 375 (Statistics in Psychology; 3 credits)
• PSY 376 (Advanced Research Methods; 3 credits)

Psychology Core Courses (Majors must complete 5 of the following courses; 15 credit hours)

• PSY 266 (Developmental Psychology; 3 credits)
• PSY 270 (Psychological Orientation to Social Psychology; 3 credits)
• PSY 310 (Learning; 3 credits)
• PSY 342 (Perception; 3 credits)
• PSY 344 (Cognitive Psychology; 3 credits)
• PSY 356 (Physiological Psychology; 3 credits)
• PSY 362 (Psychology of Personality; 3 credits)
• PSY 368 (Introduction to Abnormal Psychology; 3 credits)

Electives (9 credit hours)

• In consultation with their academic advisors, students select 3 courses offered in the Department to serve as electives
• PSY 384 (Survey of Psychological Applications; 3 credits) may be selected for students who plan to enroll in PSY 484 for their Culminating Experience (see below for more information)

Students can select their elective courses from any offered in the Department.  Frequently offered courses that can serve as electives include:

PSY 100 (Psychology of Human Sexuality and Sexual Responsibility; 3 credits)

PSY 240 (Psychology of Health Behavior; 3 credits)

PSY 306 (Psychology and the Legal System; 3 credits)

PSY 338 (Psychology of Women; 3 credits)

PSY 350 (Environmental Psychology; 3 credits)

PSY 414 (Motivation and Behavior; 3 credits)

PSY 466 (Human Ontogeny; 3 credits)

PSY 475 (Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Models of Addiction; 3 credits)

PSY 485 (Psychology and Society)

PSY 490 (Seminar in Psychology; 3 credits)

Please note: PSY 485 fulfills the General Education Capstone requirement.  It also will serve as an elective for students majoring or minoring in psychology.  In order to enroll in PSY 485, students must be Psychology majors or minors and have completed 78 credit hours.  If in doubt regarding your eligibility for PSY 485, please speak with your academic advsior.

Culminating Experience in Psychology (3 credit hours)

Complete 1 of the following courses in your junior or senior year:

• PSY 484 (Field Work in Psychology; 3 credits)  NOTE: Completion of PSY 384 with a "B" and completion of the Field Placement Application are required for enrollment (click here for more information) 
• PSY 486 (Research in Psychology; 3 credits)  NOTE: Completion of PSY 375 and instructor approval are required for enrollment (click here for more information) 
• PSY 499 (Honors Thesis/ Research in Psychology; 3 credits)  NOTE: PSY 375, Senior standing, and Departmental invitation are required for enrollment

**Students declaring the Psychology major prior to the Spring, 2007 semester are required to complete 37 credit hours and are not required to complete PSY 150 and PSY 376 as major requirements.