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Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Program Mission

The mission of the psychology program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to cultivate Franciscan servant leaders with an integrated knowledge of the science of psychology for community engagement.

Through vocational discernment, learner-centered teaching, and active-learning experiences, psychology graduates will be prepared for 21st century careers and entry into advanced degree programs.

Program Purpose

Courses in the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology firmly establish the scientific foundation of the discipline and provide students opportunities to develop and demonstrate competencies in scientific inquiry and critical thinking, ethical and social responsibility, communication and professional development. The foundational curriculum culminates with either a (1) practicum experience or (2) research project, depending on students’ vocational goals.

To develop an integrated knowledge of psychology, students select 24-credits from four content domains identified by the American Psychological Association: (1) Developmental Psychology, (2) Sociocultural Psychology, (3) Biological Psychology, and (4) Psychology of Learning and Cognition. Students demonstrate breadth of knowledge by selecting one course from each content domain (12 credits) and depth of knowledge by selecting four additional upper-division courses in any content domain (12 credits). See below for a list of courses that fulfill program requirements.

  1. PSYC Foundation: To attain foundational knowledge in the discipline, all psychology majors will take the following courses:

    PSYC 1310 Introduction to Psychology

    PSYC 2100 Vocations in Psychology

    MATH 2315 General Statistics

    PSYC 3305 Introduction to Scientific Research

    WRIT 4315 Writing for Science and Research

    PSYC 4330/4331 Senior Project I & II or

    PSYC 4930/4931 Senior Practicum I & II

    PSYC 4333 Senior Seminar

  2. PSYC Domain Knowledge: To achieve an integrated knowledge of the field, psychology majors will select one course from each of the following four domains of psychology:
    1. Developmental Psychology Domain

      PSYC 2330 Psychology Across the Life Span

      PSYC 3310 Child Psychology

      PSYC 3320 Adolescent Psychology

      PSYC 3325 Psychology of Aging

    2. Sociocultural Psychology Domain

      PSYC 2340 Social Psychology

      PSYC 3335 Personality

      PSYC 3340 Group Dynamics

      PSYC 3345 Death and Dying

    3. Biological Psychology Domain

      PSYC 3315 Abnormal Psychology

      PSYC 3330 Developmental Psychopathology

      PSYC 4315 Biological Psychology

      PSYC 4320 Health Psychology

    4. Learning & Cognition Domain

      PSYC 2350 Behavior Analysis

      PSYC 3350 Applied Behavior Analytic Interventions

      PSYC 4350 Single-Subject Research Designs

      PSYC 4360 Assessments of Behavior

  3. PSYC Electives: To gain a deeper knowledge in the discipline, Psychology majors will select four additional 3000 or 4000 level courses with the PSYC prefix.

Goals

The psychology bachelor’s degree program aims to:

  1. Educate students with an integrated knowledge of the science of psychology.
  2. Develop skills necessary for 21st-century careers and entry into graduate or professional training programs.
  3. Provide evidence-based educational experiences that promote integrated knowledge of the science of psychology, vocational discernment, community engagement and Franciscan core values.
  4. Provide educational experiences that meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Following American Psychology Association’s guidelines for quality undergraduate education, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology graduates will demonstrate competencies in:

  1. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge and application of psychological concepts and frameworks to complex behavioral problems (Knowledge Base in Psychology)
  2. Graduates will demonstrate skills related to scientific reasoning and problem-solving, including theory use and executing research methods (Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking)
  3. Graduates will demonstrate ethical and socially responsible behaviors in professional and personal settings in a landscape that involves increasing diversity and personal and professional values that can strengthen community relationships and contributions (Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World)
  4. Graduates will demonstrate competency in writing and in oral and interpersonal communication skills (Communication)
  5. Graduates will demonstrate application of psychology-specific content and skills, effective self-reflection, project-management skills, teamwork skills, and career preparation (Professional Development)

Students interested in applying to the BA in psychology program must be graduating or have graduated from high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.

For additional details on admission requirements, including test score and GPA requirements, visit the Freshman Admissions page.

Semester 1

ACSM 1110Academic Seminar

1
MATH 1315College Algebra

3
PSYC 1310Introductory to Psychology

3
WRIT 1310College Writing I

3
XXXX
Natural Sciences Elective

3
XXXX
Natural Sciences Elective Lab

1
Total Credit Hours:14

Semester 2

THEO 1310Intro to Theology

3
WRIT 1311College Writing II

3
XXXX
Communications Elective

3
XXXX
Natural Sciences Elective

3
XXXX
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Semester 3

MATH 2315General Statistics

3
PSYC 2100Vocations in Psychology

1
 
PHIL 2315Current Moral Problems

3
Or
PHIL 2320Ethical Issues in Healthcare

3
 
XXXX
PSYC Domain Knowledge: Developmental

3
XXXX
Natural Sciences Elective

3
XXXX
Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:16

Semester 4

XXXX
PSYC Domain Knowledge: Sociocultural

3
XXXX
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective

3
XXXX
Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Semester 5

PSYC 3305Introduction to Scientific Research

3
XXXX
PSYC Domain Knowledge: Learning and Cognition

3
XXXX
PSYC Elective 3000 or 4000 Level

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Semester 6

WRIT 4315Writing for Science and Research

3
XXXX
PSYC Domain Knowledge: Biological

3
XXXX
PSYC Elective 3000 or 4000 Level

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Semester 7

PSYC 4330Senior Project I

3
Or
PSYC 4930Senior Practicum in Psychology

3
 
XXXX
PSYC Elective 3000 or 4000 Level

3
XXXX
PSYC Elective 3000 or 4000 Level

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Semester 8

PSYC 4331Senior Project II

3
Or
PSYC 4931Senior Practicum in Psychology II

3
 
PSYC 4333Senior Seminar in Psychology

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
XXXX
Free Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:12

Total Credit Hours for Bachelor of Arts in Psychology = 120

General Education Requirement: Students completing a baccalaureate degree must complete 44 credit hours of general education coursework. See the academic catalog for information on general education requirements.

PSYC Domain Knowledge: To achieve an integrated knowledge of the field, psychology majors will select one course from each of the following four domains of psychology:

  1. Developmental Psychology Domain: PSYC 2330, PSYC 3310, PSCY 3320, PSYC 3325
  2. Sociocultural Psychology Domain: PSYC 2340, PSYC 3335, PSYC 3340, PSYC 3345
  3. Biological Psychology Domain: PSYC 3315, PSYC 3330, PSYC 4315, PSYC 4320
  4. Learning & Cognition Domain: PSYC 2350, PSYC 3350, PSYC 4350, PSYC 4360

Social/Behavioral Sciences Electives may be taken from ANTH, ECON, HIST, POLI, PSYC, SOCI, WRIT

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives may be taken from ART, ENGL, GRBO, MUSI, HIST, HUMN, PHIL, THEO

Free Electives may be selected from a variety of disciplines with departmental approval. Coursework to fulfill requirements for a minor may be used to meet this requirement.

  1. Completion of minimum semester hours and courses required for the specific degree program;
  2. Completion of General Education Core
  3. Completion of two courses using service-learning (SL)
  4. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better on all college work, including transfer courses
  5. Fulfillment of the residency requirement of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University for the baccalaureate degree (see Academic Policies section)
  6. Clearance of all indebtedness to the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, including the return of all materials borrowed from the University library