Psychology

Arts and Sciences Degree/A.A.

The psychology curriculum prepares students to transfer as psychology majors to the baccalaureate program at West Virginia University, and can be adapted to the needs of those planning to transfer to other institutions. In addition, courses in psychology are part of the liberal arts education. They convey principles and methods that are necessary for a better understanding of behavior and personality. Courses in psychology are often of interest and value to students in other social and life sciences, such as sociology, social work, political science, education, nursing, or medicine.

Career Opportunities: A bachelor’s degree in psychology qualifies a person to assist professionals in community mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, and correctional programs; to work as research or administrative assistants; and to take jobs as trainees in government or business. Persons with a master’s degree in psychology can administer tests as psychological assistants, and, under supervision, can conduct research, perform psychological evaluations, or counsel clients. Psychologists with a doctoral degree qualify for a wide range of teaching, research, clinical, and counseling positions in universities, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, and government.

Requirements for Graduation

In order to earn an Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology, a student must complete a minimum of 62 credit-hours of required and elective course work.

Recommended Two-Year Sequence

FIRST YEAR

First Semester

 

Hrs.

ENGL

101

Composition and Rhetoric

3

Foreign Language 101 or 203*

3

PSYC

101

Introduction to Psychology

3

GEC Electives

 

6

WVUe

191**

First-Year Seminar

(1)

Total

 

 

15

 

Second Semester

 

Hrs.

ENGL

102

Composition and Rhetoric

3

Foreign Language 102 or 204*

3

PSYC

241

Introduction to Human Development

3

MATH

126

College Algebra

3

PSYC

201

Psychology as a Profession

1

GEC Elective

 

3

Total

 

 

16

 

SECOND YEAR

First Semester

 

Hrs.

Foreign Language 203 (if needed)*

3

STAT

211

Elementary Statistical Inference

3

Laboratory Science

 

4

GEC Electives

 

6

Total

 

 

16

 

Second Semester

 

Hrs.

Foreign Language 204 (if needed)*

3

PSYC

202

Research Methods in Psychology or

 

PSYC

251

Introduction to Social Psychology

3

GEC Elective

 

3

Electives

 

(PSYC 281 suggested)

6

Total

 

 

15

Total Hours: 62

*Students who present more than two or more units of high school credit in a foreign language may satisfy this requirement by taking courses 203 and 204 (see Second Year above). Six hours of elective credit may be used to replace 101 and 102. Students who do not have adequate high school credit must take four semesters of study in one language.

 

**Required of first-time, first-semester students; not required for graduation.