Students pursuing their undergraduate degree in psychology will be exposed to a wide range of areas of study during their training. Many psychology programs fall under the umbrella of liberal arts or arts and sciences at most colleges and universities. This means that students must complete the minimal obligations for a liberal arts degree before graduating. What makes their degree a psychology degree is that by completing psychology electives they complete a major in this area.
Curricular Requirements for Most Bachelor’s of Psychology
At most schools there bachelor’s degree in psychology is comprised of a core curriculum as well as electives to make up a major (and minor if pursued). Students are generally required to complete the following requirements: Communication Arts, Humanities, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science, Language Arts, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Arts Courses and elective courses. The specific requirements vary from school to school. In order to complete the major in psychology students will be required to complete a set number of credits by completing courses in psychology. Many schools will outline a rigid set of criteria that must be fulfilled in order to complete the major or minor course of study. Some schools will require a set number of 100, 200, 300 and 400 and up level courses, as well as provide guidelines for how many courses in each area of psychology must be completed.
Curricular Requirements Specific to the Bachelor of Arts Psychology
Most psychology departments that offer a bachelor of arts in psychology will require the student complete the core curriculum, the major requirements as well as credits in a foreign language. This requirement can be completed by either taking foreign language courses or by completing courses that have been deemed “foreign language courses.” These might include a literature or history class that is relevant to a foreign culture.
Curricular Requirements Specific to the Bachelor of Science Psychology
Departments that offer a bachelor of science will require fulfillment of all of the required courses as well as additional math, science and lab courses. Many students who earn their bachelor of psychology in psychology will go on to pursue graduate training in this or a closely related field. In order to be properly prepared for this more rigorous level of study, students will need a more thorough understanding of how empirical science is conducted, analyzed and used.
Students who are pursuing their bachelor’s degree in psychology will be exposed to a wide range of topics during their training. They will have the opportunity to delve into traditional topics such as math, history and literature. However, they also will have opportunities to choose from interesting elective courses to complete their entire course of study. This will, of course, be rounded out by completion of several courses in the many exciting areas of psychology.