PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

A Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology requires 120 semester hours with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0, and a minimum major grade point average of 2.0.

The Olivet College psychology major requires successful completion of the following courses in addition to specific portfolio objectives. Contact the department for detailed information about the portfolio requirements.

NOTE: Course numbers followed by an asterisk (*) have prerequisites. Check the course description for details.This information is a general overview. It should not be viewed as the final authority on degree requirements. Speak with your portfolio mentor or career advisor to plan a specific program of study.

  1. General Requirements
    • Interdisciplinary Courses
      • IDS 499: Portfolio Seminar (8)
      • BUS 490: Senior Experience (3)
      • Service Learning Project (3)[courses vary by semester]

    • General Education
      • IDS 151 and 152: Self and Community (6)
      • IDS 111 and 112: Writing and Rhetoric (6)
      • Arts Exploration (3)
        (Select from: ART 101, ENG 201, MUS 120 or THR 106; additional courses by semester) Complete before senior year. Literature, music and visual arts majors must take non-major course to fulfill requirement.
      • Creative Experience
        (Select from: ART 105, 107, 200 level or above studio art course, ENG 145, 245, 345, MUS 110, 112, 141, 142, 243, THR 111; additional courses by semester) Complete before senior year.
      • IDS 211 and 212: Civilization Studies (6)
      • Science Experience (3)
        (Select from: BIO 111, 112, CEM 151, PHA 201, SCI 102, 103, 105, 107)
      • IDS 251: Nature, Technology and Humanity (3)
      • Living in a Diverse World (3)

    • Math Proficiency
      Complete math proficiency by:
      1. Scoring 70 percent or higher on the mathematics proficiency exam.
      2. Achieving a grade of C- or higher in a mathematics (MTH) or computer science (CS) course numbered 120 or higher.
      3. Achieving a grade of C- or higher in BIO 406, PHA 241 or 252. Other courses by Department of Math and Computer Science chair approval.

  2. Major Courses (36 semester hours)
    • Complete the following (18 s.h.)
      • PSY 201: General Psychology (4)
      • PSY 260* Introduction to Personality (3)
      • PSY 315* Abnormal Psychology (3)
      • PSY 360* Psychology Lab (2)
      • PSY 390* Research Methods (3)
      • PSY 490* Senior Seminar in Psychology (3)

    • Complete 3 sh from the following
      • PSY 304* Motivation and Emotion (3)
      • PSY 305* Cognition and Perception (3)
      • PSY 306* Learning and Behavior (3)

    • Complete 3 sh from the following
      • PSY 312* Child and Adolescent Psychology (3)
      • PSY 313* Adult Psychology and Aging (3)

    • Complete 3 sh from the following
      • PSY 410* Counseling of Adults (3)
      • PSY 411* Counseling of Youth (3)

    • Complete 9 sh from the following
      • BIO 406* Biostatistics (3)
      • COM 302* Interpersonal Communication (3)
      • MTH 232* Statistics (4)
      • PSY 200-level or higher
      • SA 200-level or higher up to 3 semester hours
      • Department approved Learning Community

  3. Electives to reach 120 semester hours
    See portfolio mentor or career advisor.

PLEASE NOTE:

Psychology students, especially those anticipating graduate studies, are strongly encouraged to take a statistics course. PSY 390 (Research Methods) should be taken in the junior or senior year—after taking at least six semester hours of psychology courses.

The Lab/Science General Education requirement is waived for psychology majors who matriculated at Olivet College prior to the fall of 1995.

Only six semester hours of PSY 403 (Psychology Practicum) may be applied to the major.

PSY 490 (Senior Seminar) must be taken in the fall semester of the senior year.

PSY 418 (Independent Study: Readings) and PSY 419 (Independent Study: Research) require instructor permission and approval of the project by the Academic Performance Committee.