Psychology - B.A. Requirements

Psychology Program (B.A.)

Students in the Psychology program must complete a total of 180 credit hours: a 60 quarter hour liberal arts general education core, a 50 quarter hour Psychology core, a 30 quarter hour specialization in either Developmental Psychology Concentration, Organizational/Community Psychology Concentration or General Psychology Concentration and 40 quarter hours of electives.

General Education Requirements 60 QH

The Psychology Department requires a minimum of 60 quarter hours or the equivalent in general education coursework for the completion of the B.A. degree. This will include demonstration of competency in all ten core areas below and include the specific courses or equivalents in the seven Fields of Knowledge Areas. The Psychology program accepts as equivalent to general education coursework at NLU appropriate courses transferred from other accredited institutions, appropriate CLEP and DANTES examination credit, AP credit (with scores of 3, 4 or 5) and appropriate credit by proficiency. To determine which equivalent credits or exams are appropriate, contact your Psychology Department advisor or the Assessment Center.

Fields of Knowledge

1. Communications

LAE101	English Composition I	5
LAE102	English Composition II	5

2. Humanities

	Philosophy elective	5
	Humanities elective	5

3. Fine Arts

Fine Arts course(s)

5

4. Quantitative Reasoning

LAM110	College Mathematics	5
LAM106	Basic Statistics OR
LAM216	Statistical Methods	5

5. Physical and Life Sciences

LAN110	General Biology	5
	Physical science	5
	One lab science is required

6. Social Sciences

	Introductory Social Science course	5
	One U.S. History course	5

7. Behavioral Science

LAP100

General Psychology

5

 

Integrated Competencies

The following skills, knowledge and abilities are integrated throughout the student's academic experience in the university. Students may demonstrate attainment of these competencies through successful completion of one course for each of the following competencies. Students should consult their psychology advisors for other ways to demonstrate attainment of the integrated competencies.

Information and Technology Literacy

LAP499	Psychology Seminar
INT310	Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
LAP402	Experimental Psychology
	Any psychology or social science course delivered online.

 

Analytical Skills

LAM106	Basic Statistics
LAM216	Statistical Methods
LAH120	Logic and Effective Thinking
LAP305	Memory and Cognition
LAP401	Psychology of Learning
LAP402	Experimental Psychology
LAP499	Psychology Seminar

 

Ethics, Values and Respect for Human Diversity

LAH305	Philosophy of Values and Ethics
LAP315	Lifespan Development
LAP350	Culture and Self
LAP420	Social Psychology
LAS300	Contemporary World Cultures

 

Required Core Courses in Psychology 50 QH

LAP315	Lifespan Development	5
LAP305	Memory and Cognition OR
LAP401	Psychology of Learning	5
LAP306	Theories of Personality	5
LAP307	Abnormal Psychology	5
INT310	Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences OR
LAP402	Experimental Psychology	5
LAP350	Culture and Self	5
LAP420	Social Psychology	5
LAP425	Mental Health	5
LAP450	Human Sexuality	5
LAP499	Psychology Seminar OR
LAP403	History and Systems of Psychology	5

In addition to fulfilling the required core courses in psychology, each psychology major must choose a 30 QH concentration in psychology. Students may choose a Developmental Psychology Concentration, Organizational/Community Psychology Concentration or a General Psychology Concentration.

Developmental Psychology Concentration

Required courses 30 QH

LAP200	Psychology of Development in the Infant/Toddler Years	5
LAP201	Psychology of Early Childhood	5
LAP202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence	5
LAP300	Adult Development and Learning Assessment	5
LAP303	Introduction to Psycholinguistics	5
LAP320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child—Part I	2
LAP321	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child—Part II	3
LAP325	Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications	5
LAP411	Psychology of Exceptional Children and Adolescents	5
LAP441	Psychology of Artistic Expression	5
LAP442	Interpersonal Development	5
LAP490	Independent Study in Psychology (approval of advisor)**	2–5
LAP495	Special Topics in Psychology (approval of advisor)**	2–5

 

Organizational/Community Psychology Concentration

Required courses 30 QH

LAP200	Psychology of Development in the Infant/Toddler Years	5
INT310	Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences*	3–5
LAP310	Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology	5
LAP320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child—Part I	2
LAP321	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child—Part II	3
LAP340	Effective Interpersonal Relationships	3–5
LAP342	Interpersonal Helping Skills	3–5
LAP348	Cross-Cultural Communication	5
LAP352	Children and Families Under Stress	5
LAP402	Experimental Psychology*	5
LAP408	Introductions to Community Psychology	5
LAP442	Interpersonal Development	5
LAP443	Managing Interpersonal Communication in Organizations	5
LAP451	Industrial Psychology	5
LAP490	Independent Study in Psychology (approval of advisor)**	2–5
LAP495	Special Topics in Psychology (approval of advisor)**	2–5

 

General Psychology Concentration

Required courses 30 QH

LAP200	Psychology of Development in the Infant/Toddler Years	5
LAP201	Psychology of Early Childhood	5
LAP202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence	5
LAP300	Adult Development and Learning Assessment	5
LAP303	Introduction to Psycholinguistics	5
LAP305	Memory and Cognition*	5
LAP320	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child—Part I	2
LAP321	Psychological Assessment of the Young Child—Part II	3
LAP325	Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications	5
LAP310	Introductions to Industrial/Organizational Psychology	5
LAP340	Effective Interpersonal Relationships	3–5
LAP342	Interpersonal Helping Skills	3–5
LAP348	Cross-Cultural Communications	5
LAP352	Children and Families Under Stress	5
LAP401	Psychology of Learning*	5
LAP403	History and Systems of Psychology	5
LAP408	Introduction to Community Psychology	5
LAP411	Psychology of Exceptional Children and Adolescents	5
LAP441	Psychology of Artistic Expression	5
LAP443	Managing Interpersonal Communication in Organizations	5
LAP451	Industrial Psychology	5
LAP490	Independent Study in Psychology (approval of advisor)**	2–5
LAP495	Special Topics in Psychology (approval of advisor)**	2–5
LAP499	Psychology Seminar*	5

* This course can only be used if it has not been used to satisfy the core requirement.

** Only two of the free electives may be independent study or special topic courses.

Liberal Arts electives to complete a minimum of 180 quarter hours required for the B.A. degree. Additional psychology courses or courses from other appropriate disciplines may be taken as electives to satisfy this requirement. Students should have electives approved by their advisor.

English competency must be documented by passing the English Competency examination or by passing English Composition I (LAE101) and English Composition II (LAE102) at National-Louis University with a grade of C or better.