Psychology Major
Major Requirements
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S. Minimum Credits Required: 120
University Degree Requirements
For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.
- Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
- Complete the University General Education requirements.
- Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
- Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
- Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness | 2 | |
| Category D: Cultural Diversity | ||
| Category G: Global Perspectives | ||
| Category L: Digital Literacy | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Major Requirements | ||
| PSYC 111 | Introduction to Psychology (Cannot be used to satisfy general education category B.) | 3 |
| PSYC 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| PSYC 350 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| PSYC 351 | Research Methods II | 3 |
| PSYC | Electives | 6 |
| Psychology 400 Level Electives | ||
| Select two courses from each Group - A & B | ||
| Group A: | 6 | |
| Sensation & Perception | ||
| Memory And Knowledge | ||
| Attention & Thinking | ||
| Psychobiology | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
| Experimental Developmental Psychology | ||
| Group B: | 6 | |
| Organizational Psychology | ||
| Personality | ||
| Experimental Social Psychology | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| The Psychology Of Aging | ||
| Advanced Psychopathology | ||
| Child Psychopathology and Therapy | ||
| Additional PSYC 400 Level Electives | ||
| May include PSYC 493 (Undergraduate Research) or PSYC 496 (Field Experience) courses taken for a grade. | 3 | |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 324 | Writing in the Sciences (May satisfy general education category C) | 3 |
| or ENGL 325 | Writing in the Health Professions | |
| or ENGL 459 | Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | |
| MATH 103 | College Algebra (or higher) | 3 |
| or MATH 104 | Finite Mathematics | |
| Track Elective | ||
| Students earning a Bachelor of Science degree must select one of four tracks listed below in consultation with an adviser: 1) Natural Science track; 2) Social Sciences track; 3) Minor track; or 4) Accelerated (with approval) track. | 14-16 | |
| Total Credits | 51-53 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Track: Natural Science | ||
| 14 additional credits in math/science. Prefixes accepted include: BIOL, BIOC, BOT, CHEM, ENT, GEOL, MATH, MICR, PHYS, PLSC, STAT, OR ZOO. Courses selected for this track cannot count for general education. | 14 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Track: Social Science | ||
| 14 additional credits in social sciences (excluding PSYC prefix courses). Prefixes accepted include: ANTH, CJ, ECON, POLS, SOC or HDFS general education courses or courses that include an HDFS general education prerequisite. Courses selected for this track cannot count for general education. | 14 | |
| Other courses accepted include: | ||
| Human Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Introduction to Web Design | ||
COMM 271 | ||
| Rhetorical Traditions | ||
COMM 402 | ||
| Critical Approaches to Popular Culture | ||
COMM 436 | ||
| Issues in Communication | ||
COMM 480 | ||
| Managerial Economics | ||
| Foundations of Management | ||
| Foundations of Organizational Behavior | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Geography of North America | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Track: Minor Program of Study | ||
| A minor in an approved area of study. Student must official declare the minor with the Office of Registration and Records. | 16+ | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Track: Accelerated (Master of Public Health Coursework) | ||
| PH 700 | Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness | 3 |
| PH 704 | Public Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| PH 706 | Essentials of Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 720 | Environmental Health | 2 |
| PH 725 | Promoting Health through Policy, System and Environment | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
- 1
PSYC 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take PSYC 189.
Program Notes
- Students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the Modern Foreign Language proficiency (3-14 credits).
- Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
- When a student selects psychology as a second major, the student will not have to complete the track elective.
- Students interested in the accelerated track must make application to the Graduate School and submit the Accelerated Declaration form prior to enrollment in any 700 level classes.