Dec 07, 2025  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  About K-State
  University Leadership
  Kansas Board of Regents
  University Department Heads & Administrators
  Campuses
  Statements and Disclosures
  Governance and Faculty
  Academic Calendars
  All-University Regulations
  Academic Policies and Procedures
  General Education: K-State Core
  General Education: K-State Core Elementary Education PK-6
  Tuition and Fees
  Student Financial Assistance
  Glossary and Abbreviations
  Course Description Key
  Courses
  Colleges and Departments
  Degrees and Certificates Offered
  Academic Degree Maps
  Accelerated Degree Programs
  Online Programs
  Archived KSU Catalogs
  K-State Research and Extension
  Research Facilities and Centers
  Academic Advising
  International Programs
  Services for Students
  Support Services
  Undergraduate Admission
  KSIS
  Auxiliary Services and Facilities
  K-State Athletics
  K-State Libraries
  Webmail
  My Portfolio
HELP
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology (BA)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Degrees and Certificates Offered

The Department of Psychological Sciences at Kansas State University provides educational and research opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. At the undergraduate level, the department provides introductory service courses for a large portion of the total undergraduate student population. Our undergraduate majors typically follow one of three tracks: some students plan ultimately to attend graduate school in psychology; other students desire an undergraduate program that will lead to a job specifically in a particular area (e.g., an entry level counseling or clinical position); while other students simply want to obtain a Bachelor’s degree and enter the workforce. In each case, the curriculum in the Psychology major is purposely flexible to accommodate these paths.

The mission of the Department of Psychological Sciences is to engage in the discovery of knowledge about behavior, the biological and psychological processes that affect that behavior, and to share that knowledge and the processes for obtaining it with our students and the scholarly community. The Department integrates graduate and undergraduate education, teaching, research, and service activities to further the overall mission of the university.

Although separate aspects of the Departmental mission are outlined below, one must recognize that these goals are intricately related and overlapping. It has always been the philosophy of the Department to integrate its activities to provide students with the best possible education and training.

Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours

KBOR Statewide Transfer (SWT) Courses: https://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/transfer-articulation.

English (Written Communication Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours

Communication (Oral Communication Outcomes): 3 Credit Hours

Math & Statistics (Quantitative Literacy Outcomes): 3 Credit Hours

Natural & Physical Sciences (Natural & Physical Sciences Outcomes): 4-5 Credit Hours

Choose 1 subject area which must include a lab.

Social & Behavioral Sciences (Social & Behavioral Sciences Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours

At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Arts & Humanities (Arts & Humanities Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours

At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Free Electives (Institutionally Designated Area): 6 Credit Hours

Includes ALL 100 and 200 level courses at K-State or in Transfer. 
Note: One course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement. However, students must complete a total of 34-36 credit hours of general education courses.

For a Full Listing of K-State 100/200 level courses you may search those courses individually via the University Course Catalog.

TOTAL CREDITS: 34-36

Program Requirements

Orientation: 1 Credit Hour

Outside Concentration: 9 Credit Hours

Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except Psychology, OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for PSYCH) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] Credit Hours

May be fulfilled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself.

  • Ethical Reasoning Overlay Credits: [3]
  • Global Perspectives Overlay Credits: [3]
  • US Multicultural Overlay Credits: [3]

Program

Statistics: 3 Credit Hours

Select one course STAT 225- STAT 799

Major courses: 9 Credit Hours

All required courses

Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience: 6 Credit Hours

Choose two courses of the following:

Social and Personality Psychology: 3 Credit Hours

Choose one course of the following:

Applied and Health Psychology: 3 Credit Hours

Choose one course from the following:

Psychology Electives: 12 Credit Hours

Choose twelve credits from PSYCH 120- PSYCH 799

BA Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Restricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours

3 credit hours in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

One course in Humanities Credits: 3

Any course or combination of courses in Fine Arts Credits: 3

BA Natural and Quantitative Restricted Electives: 6 Credit Hours

One course in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours total at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

Natural Science or Quantitative course Credits: 3

PSYCH 470   or PSYCH 480   may be used to satisfy the Natural Science requirement

Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science with MATH or STAT Credits: 3

BA Second Language Requirement: 3-16 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following:

Option 1: 3-14 Credit Hours

At least 3 credit hours of coursework culminating with level 4 or above (i.e., French 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a second language sequence.

Option 2: 16 Credit Hours

At least 16 credit hours of coursework in which student takes the first and second levels of two different languages, selected from any language offered within the department of Modern Languages, ASL, or from any other second language transferred in at an equivalent level.

Option 3: 3 Credit Hours

Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement by meeting the English Proficiency Admission Standards for K-State or by completing the appropriate level of exit courses with the English Language Program.

Free Electives: 12-25 Credit Hours

In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120.

Grand Total for Program of Study: 120

A&S Common degree requirements fulfilled by upper level PSYCH courses plus BA Restricted Electives. Note that PSYCH 470 or PSYCH 480 may be used to satisfy the Natural Science requirement

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Degrees and Certificates Offered