Psychology (B.A.)
The psychology degree consists of a core of required courses plus completion of coursework chosen by students to reflect their interests, career aspirations, or graduate study ambitions.
Students take courses that emphasize effective scientific reasoning (construction of knowledge), critical thinking (analysis of knowledge), communication (transmission of knowledge), and transfer (application of knowledge).
Students earning an undergraduate degree in psychology will gain the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level professional responsibilities in a variety of community, business, government, and educational settings. Examples include public relations, athletic training, college student services, human resources, public health services, family and child services, crisis counseling centers, substance abuse treatment, and community corrections.
The psychology degree also prepares students for graduate study in psychology, counseling, and related fields. Marymount offers graduate programs in counseling and forensic and legal psychology.
Upon successful completion of the psychology program, students will be able to
- demonstrate critical evaluation of a psychological topic through effective writing;
- apply psychological research methodologies and statistical techniques to a research question;
- apply specialized psychological knowledge in a professional setting; and
- demonstrate effective presentation skills within the discipline.
A minor in psychology is also available. A minor in forensic psychology is open to psychology majors only. Please see the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences minors section for details.
Internship Prerequisites: When other requirements are successfully completed in the senior year, the student closes the program with an internship (PSY 400). Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, a grade of C- or better in all courses required in the major, senior academic standing (90 completed credits), a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount, and completion of the required prerequisite courses (PSY 200 or CCS 399).
Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major.
Degree Requirements — Psychology
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Psychology majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: All majors must take PSY 497 Senior Seminar and a 300-level PSY WI course. Majors must take an additional WI course from the Liberal Arts Core or as a university elective.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
| PSY 101 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 105 | General Psychology Laboratory | 1 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 200 | Careers in Psychology | 1 |
| OR | |
| CCS 399 | Career Strategies and Success | 1 |
| | | |
| PSY 201 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 260 | Learning and Cognition * | 3 |
| PSY 302 | Research Design for Psychology * | 3 |
| | Three (3) 300/400-level psychology electives, one must be a Writing-Intensive (WI) course | |
| | | |
| PSY 400 | Internship * | 3 or 6 |
| OR | |
| PSY 405 | General Psychology Laboratory Instructor Practicum * | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 497 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
Sample Degree Plan — Psychology
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| PSY 101 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 105 | General Psychology Laboratory | 1 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (economics, politics, or sociology) * | 3 |
| CNCT 100 | Connections * | 3 |
Year One — Spring
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| PSY 201 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab (biology recommended) * | 4 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| PSY 200 | Careers in Psychology | 1 |
| OR | |
| CCS 399 | Career Strategies and Success | 1 |
| | | |
| PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 260 | Learning and Cognition * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
| PSY 302 | Research Design for Psychology * | 3 |
| | One (1) 300/400-level WI psychology course | |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Three — Spring
| | One (1) 300/400-level psychology course | |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Two (2) electives | 6 |
Year Four — Fall
| PSY 400 | Internship * | 3 or 6 |
| OR | |
| PSY 405 | General Psychology Laboratory Instructor Practicum * | 3 |
| | |
| | One (1) 300/400-level psychology course | |
| | Two (2) or three (3) electives | |
PSY 497: DSINQ core course
Students should take a WI course as an elective if needed.
Year Four — Spring
| PSY 497 | Senior Seminar * | 3 |
| | Four (4) electives | |
Counseling Scholars Program
For students who are interested in the field of counseling and possess a strong academic profile, Marymount's Counseling Scholars Program offers an opportunity to guarantee a place in the university's counseling (M.A.) program. While other undergraduates will need to apply to the graduate program, qualifying psychology majors who are counseling scholars are exempt from this process. The Counseling Scholars Program is open to a select group of incoming first-year and transfer students who are chosen by the Counseling Admissions Committee and meet stringent continuation requirements.
To be accepted into the program, first-year and transfer students must have
- a high school grade point average of 3.0 or above;
- declared psychology as their major; and
- completed the essay portion of the Counseling Scholars Program application addressing their interest and commitment to the field of counseling (500-word minimum).
To be accepted into the program, current students must have
- a college GPA of 3.2 or above in their psychology courses and declared psychology as their major; and
- completed the essay portion of the Counseling Scholars Program application addressing their interest and commitment to the field of counseling (500-word minimum).
To continue in the program, students must
- maintain an overall GPA of 3.2 in their psychology courses;
- complete designated psychology courses (PSY 230, PSY 330, PSY 333) with a B or better;
- complete a counseling-oriented research project and internship; and
- attend at least two School of Counseling events.
The Counseling Scholars Program application has a strict deadline and must be completed by:
- March 1 (for incoming first-year and transfer students)
- End of the first semester of the applicant’s junior year (for current students)
For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions.
Forensic and Legal Psychology Scholars Program
Program Requirements
In addition to their major program requirements, psychology majors must complete (21 credits):
One (1) course from the following:
| SOC 131 | Principles of Sociology in Global Perspective * | 3 |
| SOC 200 | Law and Society in Global Perspective * | 3 |
| SOC 203 | The Global Village * | 3 |
By January 16th of the year in which the student intends to graduate with their bachelor's degree in psychology or criminal justice, the following materials need to be submitted to the forensic and legal psychology scholars program coordinator:
- FLP MA Admissions Approval form
- Research and Internship form (including the research project)
- Events and Class form
- Official undergraduate transcript
- Strong, positive letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the student’s major
- Graduate Studies Application form
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.