Psychology (B.A., B.S.)

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Student Learning Outcomes

34-38 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

Students in this major must also complete requirements for a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences .

Departmental Requirements (25-26 hours)

PSYC 101 - General Psychology (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]
Choose one of these combinations (6 cr.):
PSYC 275 - Understanding Social Science Research
PSYC 371 - Statistics in Psychological Research (C)
Or
PSYC 375 - Research Methods in Psych
PSYC 376 - Research Methods II
Foundations (Choose four courses from the following, one course must be with lab) 13-14 cr hrs:
PSYC 241 - Introduction to Social Psychology
PSYC 301 - Sensation and Perception (C) ¹
PSYC 301L - Sensation & Perception Laboratory (C)
PSYC 302 - Principles of Learning and Memory
PSYC 321 - Human Development: Lifespan (C) ²
PSYC 406 - Cognitive Psychology (C) ¹
PSYC 406L - Cognitive Psychology Lab (C)
PSYC 411 - Physiological Psychology (C)
PSYC 416 - Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 448 - Motivation and Emotion
PSYC 461 - Theories of Personality (C)
¹ Must select at least one course including a lab. If a second lab course is completed, that lab will count toward elective credit.

²PSYC 321 may count as either a foundation or diversity but not both.
Diversity: Choose one (3 cr.):
PSYC 321 Human Development: Lifespan (C) 3cr ²
PSYC 366 - Understanding the Sexes
PSYC 423 - Research in Aging
PSYC 443 - Social Psychology of Prejudice
PSYC 446 - Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
PSYC 456 - Introduction to Disaster Psychology
PSYC 460 - Psychological Perspectives on Diversity

PSYC Electives for non-specialization (9 hours)

Any non-required USD psychology course (with a PSYC prefix) will count as a PSYC elective, except for the following. PSYC 359 does not count toward the Psychology Major.

B.A. and B.S. Distribution Requirements:

The following PSYC courses count toward the B.A. and B.S. distribution requirements:

Natural Sciences ONLY

These courses may be used only to satisfy distribution requirements in natural sciences:

Social Sciences ONLY

These courses may be used only to satisfy distribution requirements in social sciences:

Either Natural Sciences or Social Sciences:

These courses may be used to satisfy either natural sciences or social sciences distribution requirements, but the same course cannot be counted as both natural sciences and social sciences:

Note:

Depending upon the content of Special Topics and individual study courses, they may be designated as either natural sciences or social sciences.

Area of Specialization within the Psychology Major:

Disaster Response Specialization (37-38 credit hours)

Departmental Requirements (22-23 hours)

PSYC 101 - General Psychology (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]
Choose one of these combinations (6 cr.):
PSYC 275 - Understanding Social Science Research
PSYC 371 - Statistics in Psychological Research (C)
OR
PSYC 375 - Research Methods in Psych
PSYC 376 - Research Methods II
Foundations (Choose four courses from the following, one course must be with lab) 13-14 cr hrs:
PSYC 241 - Introduction to Social Psychology
PSYC 301 - Sensation and Perception (C) ¹
PSYC 301L - Sensation & Perception Laboratory (C)
PSYC 302 - Principles of Learning and Memory
PSYC 321 - Human Development: Lifespan (C)
PSYC 406 - Cognitive Psychology (C) ¹
PSYC 406L - Cognitive Psychology Lab (C)
PSYC 411 - Physiological Psychology (C)
PSYC 416 - Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 448 - Motivation and Emotion
PSYC 461 - Theories of Personality (C)
¹ Must select at least one course including a lab

Disaster Response Specialization (15 hours)

Specialization Requirements (12 hours)

PSYC 255 - Introduction to Disaster Response
PSYC 256 - Psychological First Aid
PSYC 258 - Children and Trauma
PSYC 456 - Introduction to Disaster Psychology [meets departmental diversity requirement]

Electives (3 hours)

Select from the following list:
PSYC 241 - Introduction to Social Psychology ^*
PSYC 359 - Practicum in Disaster Response
PSYC 439 - Psychology of Safety
PSYC 451 - Psychology of Abnormal Behavior (C)
PSYC 457 - Directed Readings in Disaster
PSYC 458 - Directed Research in Disaster
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]
*if not used above as a foundation course

Mental Health Specialization (36 credit hours)

The Mental Health Specialization will better prepare undergraduate students for advanced study to become a clinical mental health professional, including degrees in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Social Work, and School Psychology.

Departmental Requirements (15 hours)

Specialization Requirements (21 hours)

Double Major (Psychology and Sociology)

Note: Students double-majoring in Psychology and Sociology may use PSYC 241/SOC 241 Social Psychology in both majors and may use either statistics course, SOC 309 Social Science Statistics or PSYC 371 Statistics in Psychological Research, and either methods course, SOC 410 Methods of Social Research or PSYC 373 Research Methods in Experimental Psychology (NOT PSYC 275), to fulfill requirements for both majors.

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

Related Programs:

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization