The number of required credit hours is the clearest difference between the two degrees. Although the BA in Psychology program has the international language requirement, the BS in Psychology does not. Instead, the BS in Psychology requires a core set of four classes (13 credit hours) of non-psychology classes and two additional psychology electives (6 credit hours). The BS in Psychology also requires two classes that the BA in Psychology does not:

• PSYC 4750 Advanced Statistics (3 hours)
• PSYC 4825 Senior Thesis (3 hours)

Additionally, the BS in Psychology has two additional learning objectives: detail the biological and genetic underpinnings of human behavior, and develop a research hypothesis based on the available literature in psychology and then collect, analyze and interpret data to address the question.

Students who successfully complete the BS in Psychology will have the foundation, research skills and data analysis expertise to succeed in a MA/PhD psychology graduate program (e.g. clinical psychology, experimental psychology, etc.).

Students who successfully complete the BA in Psychology degree may be able to apply psychological principles to become a more effective manager, supervisor or educator. In addition, some students may be able to pursue a variety of career and graduate opportunities within psychology, counseling and related fields (e.g. nursing).

Students graduating with either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology will need to pursue a graduate degree before they are able to obtain professional licensure. Students are encouraged to check entrance requirements for any post-graduate programs prior to finishing their bachelor’s degree at Webster in the event they need to take additional coursework.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Describe the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology.
• Implement the use of scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena and demonstrate the ability to to interpret, design and conduct basic psychological research using statistical analyses.
• Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice and apply those standards to build and enhance interpersonal relationships locally and globally.
• Demonstrate effective writing, exhibit effective presentation skills and interact effectively with others.
• Discuss occupational pursuits available in a variety of settings given their psychological knowledge, skills and values.
• * Detail the biological and genetic underpinnings of human behavior.
• * Develop a research hypothesis based on the available literature in psychology and then collect, analyze and interpret data to address the question.

* Bachelor of Science degree only

The 64 credit hours required for the Bachelor of Science in Psychology include the following:

Non-Psychology Supporting Core Requirements:

• WRIT 1010 The Craft of College Writing (3 hours)
• MATH 1430 College Algebra (3 hours)
• BIOL 1010 Human Biology (4 hours)
• BIOL 1040 Human Genetics (3 hours)

Psychology Core Requirements:

• PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 1800 Careers in Psychology (1 hour)
• PSYC 2750 Introduction to Measurement and Statistics (3 hours)
• PSYC 2825 Introduction to Research Methods (3 hours)
• PSYC 2975 Sophomore Assessment (0 hours)
• PSYC 3025 Psychology and Ethics (2 hours)
• PSYC 4750 Advanced Statistics* (3 hours)
• PSYC 4825 Senior Thesis* (3 hours)
• PSYC 4925 Senior Capstone: History, Philosophy, and Systems of Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 4950 Senior Assessment (0 hour)
• Psychology electives (15 hours)

*Bachelor of Science degree only

The roles of biological processes, structures and inherited tendencies in explaining human behavior.

• PSYC 3850 Sensation and Perception (3 hours)
• PSYC 4300 Health Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 4550 Drug and Chemical Dependency (3 hours)
• PSYC 4650 Biopsychology (3 hours)

Only the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology requires 3 international language requirement credit hours.

• A minimum of 3 credit hours in a non-native language (expertise demonstrated by coursework or testing) are required in addition to the requirements for the major. Courses used toward the international language requirement may also be used to fulfill general education requirements or a major/minor in a foreign language.
• Transfer students who have completed their 3 credit hours at an institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled the requirement, as are students who have scored a “3” or higher on an Advanced Placement exam in a non-native language.
• Students whose native language is not English and who are studying English will be considered to have achieved their foreign language requirement if they successfully pass an ESL test of their English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL). Students who are from bilingual families but have no evidence of academic study of the second language on a transcript will need to take one course.

The Psychology: General minor is appropriate for students who are pursuing a career that has a significant connection to psychology and who wish to deepen their understanding of human behavior by exploring relevant psychological theories and concepts.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Describe the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology.
• Implement the use of scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena and demonstrate the ability to interpret, design and conduct basic psychological research using statistical analyses.
• Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice and apply those standards to build and enhance interpersonal relationships locally and globally.
• Demonstrate effective writing, exhibit effective presentation skills and interact effectively with others.

Special Requirements

In addition to the general University requirements for a minor:

• The psychology: general minor cannot be earned by students currently majoring in psychology (BA, BA with an emphasis in mental health, BS) or psychological science (BS).
• Students who transfer any required course for the minor (e.g., PSYC 1100, PSYC 2300) must take an additional 3 credit hour PSYC elective per substitution at Webster University. A maximum of two such substitutions are permitted.

Curriculum

• PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)

Three courses from the following:

• PSYC 2300 Lifespan Development (3 hours)
• PSYC 2825 Introduction to Research Methods (3 hours)
• PSYC 3125 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 3325 Applied Learning Theory (3 hours)
• PSYC 3350 Cognitive Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 3600 Social Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 3775 Personality Theory (3 hours)
• PSYC 3900 Introduction to Counseling (3 hours)
• PSYC 4225 Introduction to the Helping Professions (3 hours)
• PSYC 4300 Health Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 4650 Biopsychology (3 hours)

Two courses with any PSYC prefix (6 hours)