Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology B.A./B.S.


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Our undergraduate major in psychology provides students with a broad liberal arts education and an understanding of how psychologists study behavior and what psychologists have learned about behavior. The knowledge and skills students obtain are useful in a wide variety of employment settings and careers. Additional course work and experiences are available for students preparing for advanced study at the graduate level and for students interested in careers in social services. The minimum requirements for completing a major in psychology are small enough that some students are able to complete the requirements of a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences or a second degree in another college in four years.

Psychology is both an academic discipline and a profession. To become a professional psychologist, a one must receive advanced training. Our undergraduate program in psychology does not train people to become professional psychologists; however, we do offer students the opportunity to earn academic credit for participating in research and in supervised field experiences in social service agencies, industry, and government settings. Thus, students can gain experience working with professional psychologists. 

Bachelor’s degree requirements

Entrance requirements


To become a psychology major, a student must:

A. Present evidence of having earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 (on a 4 point scale) based on a minimum of 15 credit hours earned at K-State and sophomore standing (a minimum of at least 30 total credit hours, including transfer hours);

or

B. Present evidence of 60 or more transfer credit hours from another accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.50.

To graduate from K-State with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree in psychology, a student must fulfill the university, college, and departmental requirements, and have cumulative GPAs of at least 2.5 in both (a) all psychology courses undertaken at K-State and (b) all course work undertaken at K-State.

Psychology majors may enroll in any classes offered by the Department of Psychological Sciences for which they have the prerequisites.

Pre-psychology majors requirements


Students interested in majoring in psychology who have not yet satisfied one of the two standards described above will be designated as pre-psychology majors. Pre-psychology majors can enroll in any course offered by the Department of Psychological Sciences except the following:

Requirements for the major


In addition to the general requirements for a BA or BS degree in the College of Arts and Sciences the undergraduate major in psychology consists of the following set of required courses:

Choose one from the following:


Psychology Electives (12 credit hours)


Note


The Department of Psychological Sciences offers a 1-hour Freshman Seminar (PSYCH 100). This course is not required; however, it is highly recommended for freshman students coming directly from high school.

Undergraduate Concentration in Clinical Psychology


We also offer an Undergraduate Concentration in Clinical Psychology. This concentration is available for students with good academic records who are interested in careers in social services. Students in this concentration take a set of courses and can arrange to receive academic credit for satisfactory performance in a social service setting under the supervision of professional psychologists and other mental health professionals.

The undergraduate concentration in clinical psychology provides students with background knowledge and limited training in the skills most likely to be needed for employment at the Bachelor degree level in an applied setting. Furthermore, the student is expected to take additional courses in relevant areas from other departments in the university.

The  requirements for the undergraduate concentration in clinical psychology reflect the goals stated above. All students in the concentration must satisfy the requirements for the psychology major. In addition, the following courses must also be completed:

  • Four other courses relevant to the mental health field from psychology, sociology, anthropology, social work, education, and human ecology.

Note


All of these courses can be applied either as general electives or as psychology electives.

The Laboratory in Clinical Concepts (PSYCH 586) should be taken after completion of Basic Concepts in Clinical Psychology (PSYCH 585). Following successful completion of the laboratory course and with the approval of the psychological technician supervisory committee, students can gain supervised experience in an applied setting. Arrangements for the field experience will be worked out individually with each student regarding the location of the agency and the total number of academic credit hours to be earned (PSYCH 587 Field Placement).

Total credit hours required for graduation: (120)


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