Description of Major
Psychology uses scientific methods to attempt to understand, describe, predict and control behavior. The study of human behavior and animal behavior are two broad categories of specialization. Within each category further areas of specialized study are possible and can be matched to career aspirations. The undergraduate program in Psychology at FSU offers students a broad background in many areas of Psychology and is flexible enough to allow the advanced student to specialize in an area of his/her greatest interest. The student may participate in a variety of formal programs which offer educational opportunities in Psychology such as the Honors Program, the Work-Study program, the Psychology summer program offered at the London Study Center, and the Psi Chi Organization. Students are strongly encouraged to work in the department’s human and animal research laboratories and to participate in the department’s research on school and clinical problems in applied settings. These research opportunities allow students to get to know faculty and help prepare them for graduate school.
Prerequisite Coursework
Prerequisite Coursework: 0 beyond other requirements.
Students must complete the following prerequisites required for admission to the upper division major. The following, which should be taken as part of CoreFSU/general education, are required as preparatory courses for the major, and must be completed with a minimum grade of C-. All may also apply toward CoreFSU and/or major requirements.
- * BSC X0XX (3) one course in any level biology (or BSC X20X or ZOO X010)
- PSY X012 (3) General Psychology
- * STA X0XX (3) Statistics. STA 2122 (3) preferred.
* Students are encouraged to ask a Psychology advisor about selecting courses to meet these prerequisites.
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of https://www.floridashines.org/.
Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include:
The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.
Admission Requirements to the Upper-Division Major
Due to the limitations in the number of faculty and physical resources, admission to the undergraduate program at the Panama City campus will be based on the following admission requirements:
- completion of a statistics course (STA 2122 preferred),
- completion of General Psychology,
- completion of a biology course (contact the Psychology Advising Office for which courses are accepted),
- completion of at least 52 academic credits or an A.A. Degree.
Prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C- or higher in each course.
Admission Requirements
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (36 hours; not including General Psychology, Biology, or Statistics)
Grades below C minus will not be accepted for major or minor credit.
Students who have more than four grades below C minus (D+, D, D minus, or F) in psychology courses or its prerequisite courses, at Florida State or elsewhere, will not be permitted to continue toward a degree with a major in Psychology. If a student receives a fifth grade below C minus, he or she will be required to change majors.
Students must complete the following requirements:
Applied Statistics STA2122 (3) or approved equivalent (If a lower-level statistics course is taken as an admission requirement into the major, STA2122 will need to be taken by term 5 as a graduation requirement for the major.)
Group 1. Research Methods (4 hours)
PSY 3213C (4) Research Methods in Psychology with Lab (pre-req or co-req: STA 2122 or STA 2171, or equivalent)
Group 2. Neuroscience (3 hours)
PSB 2000 (3) Brain and Behavior
Group 3. Social, Cognitive, Developmental, Clinical (9-10 hours)
One course from THREE of the Four areas listed below:
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY:
SOP 3004 (3) Social Psychology
SOP4722 (3) Prejudice and Stereotyping
PPE 3003 (3) Psychology of Personality
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY:
EXP 4640 (3) Psychology of Language
EXP 4404 (3) Human Memory and Learning
EXP 3604C (4) Cognitive Psychology with Lab [pre-req: PSY 3213C]
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY:
DEP 3103 (3) Child Psychology
DEP 4404 (3) Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY:
CLP3305 (3) Clinical and Counseling Psych.
CLP4143 (3) Abnormal Psychology
CLP4134 (3) Abnormal Child Psych
CLP4110 (3) Eating Disorders
CLP4392 (3) Psych of Criminal Behavior
Group 4. Lecture/Laboratory Combinations (0-4 hours)
A lecture/lab combination course from the following list.
EXP 3202C (4) Sensation and Perception with Lab (pre-req: PSY 3213C)
EXP 3422C (4) Conditioning and Learning with Lab (pre-req: PSY 3213C)
EXP 3604C (4) Cognitive Psychology with Lab (pre-req: PSY 3213C)
**NOTE: Although PSB3004C has a lab component, it DOES NOT satisfy the group 4 lab requirement.
(If EXP3604C is used to meet Group 3 requirements, it may also be used to meet the Group 4 requirement. Note, “double counting” courses will not reduce the number of hours required in the major; the student will simply increase the number of Group 6 (Psychology Electives) hours required to bring the total hours in psychology to 36.)
Group 5. Careers in Psychology (1 hour)
PSY 2023 (1) Careers in Psychology (graded S/U)
Group 6. Psychology Electives (15-18 hours)
Students must take enough additional psychology elective courses to bring the total psychology hours to 36 (not including General Psychology). Though students are encouraged to take Directed Individual Study, Research Topics, and Honors Thesis hours, there are limitations on how many of these may apply toward meeting this requirement for the major.
In addition, courses with a WST prefix will not count toward this major, even if listed on the psychology “course look up.”
For students who have not taken any 4000-level psychology courses at Florida State University to fulfill Psychology requirements, at least three (3) hours of psychology electives must be taken at the 4000-level at Florida State University. This cannot include PSY 4910-15, PSY 4920, PSY4944, or PSY 4039.
Students should consult with their advisor in selecting elective courses to ensure that they meet departmental guidelines and their own academic goals.
Minor Coursework: (12-18 hours; as stated by the minor area). Work used to meet General Education requirements and language requirements may not be used for the minor.
Computer Skills Competency: (0 hours beyond major requirements)
PSY3213c Research Methods in Psychology meets this requirement
Oral Communication Competency: (0-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with an approved college-level course.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 36
Minor Coursework 12-18
Foreign Language 0-12 (depending on placement)
Computer Skills 0 beyond major requirements
Oral Competency 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*NOTE: Students are encouraged to take the prerequisite courses listed above as part of their General Education requirements.
Remarks
- A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
- Half of the major course semester hours (18 hrs. of Psychology) must be completed in residence at this University.
- The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
- Students who plan to earn a B. A. degree must complete nine additional hours in the fields of history and/or humanities in addition to the foreign language requirement (through the intermediate -2200 or equivalent-level).
Remarks:
- A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
- Half of the major course semester hours (18 hrs. of Psychology) must be completed in residence at this University.
- The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
- Students who plan to earn a B. A. degree must complete nine additional hours in the fields of history and/or humanities in addition to the foreign language requirement (through the intermediate -2200 or equivalent-level).
