Psychology (BA)
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| General Education | 50-54 | |
| Major Requirements | 38 | |
| Psychology Core Basic | ||
| A. Complete the following: | ||
| PSY 120 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Res Design and Analysis I | 3 |
| PSY 280 | Professions & Careers in Psychology | 2 |
| PSY 310 | Biological Psychology I | 3 |
| PSY 320 | Res Design-Analysis II-W | 3 |
| Psychology Experimental/Learning | ||
| A. Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Cognition | ||
| Psychology of Learning (see footnote table below) 1 | ||
or PSY 317 | Applied Behavior Analysis I | |
| Perception | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis and Visualization | ||
| Comparative Evolutionary Psy | ||
| Psychology Personality/Social And Abnormal | ||
| A. Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Psychology Developmental | ||
| A. Complete the following: | ||
| PSY 350 | Child and Adolescent Dev | 3 |
| or PSY 456 | Adult Development and Aging- | |
| Psychology Capstone | ||
| A. Complete the following: | ||
| PSY 412 | History-Systems Psy - W | 3 |
| or PSY 414 | Introduction to Clin Psych | |
| Psychology Elective | ||
| Select six hours of PSY electives, excluding PSY 250 | 6 | |
| Minor Requirements | 18-24 | |
| A minor is required for this degree program | 0 | |
| A MINIMUM OF 120 HOURS IS REQUIRED FOR A DEGREE | 120 | |
Footnote
All undergraduates must complete two designated writing credit (W) courses, at least one of which must be in the student's major or minor.
Notes:
The remaining six hours of electives needed for a major may be taken from any courses not taken previously (excluding PSY 250).
Students who are preparing for graduate study are encouraged to take all courses listed in the undergraduate core and any additional courses recommended by their faculty advisor. Student research is encouraged by the faculty and students may obtain course credit for individual student research projects in PSY 494. Students pursuing a degree in Psychology also must have a minor in another discipline.
Undergraduate Studies
The objective of psychology, as a science, is to understand, explain, and predict the behavior of organisms. The Department of Psychology has developed and organized its course offerings to meet three major goals:
- To provide a strong foundation for those students who plan to enter a graduate school of psychology after completing their undergraduate degree requirements.
- To assist those students who are planning careers in psychology or in related fields by providing a flexible curriculum that can be designed to meet the career goals of individual students.
- To meet the needs of those students who are taking psychology courses as part of their liberal arts education.
Requirements for a Minor in Psychology
A minimum of 21 semester hours in Psychology, including PSY 120 or PSY 121, PSY 220 and 15 semester hours of electives (twelve of those must be in courses numbered 300 or above).
Additional Information
Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program in Psychology (ABM)
See Graduate School Bulletin for rules for all Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Programs https://www.southalabama.edu/ bulletin/current/colleges-schools/graduate-school/index.html.
Program Description
The USA accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM) in Psychology provides exceptional undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree at an accelerated pace in Psychology. While still an undergraduate, ABM students may count up to 12 credit hours of graduate course work towards their graduate degree. ABM students typically complete the master’s degree within one academic year after completing the undergraduate degree.
Psychology majors are encouraged to apply for the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (ABM) Program in Psychology. This program is designed to allow the student to complete the Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and the Master’s degree in Psychology (Behavior and Brain Sciences program only) in five years.
Admission Procedures
Admission will be a competitive process. The minimum standards are:
- Have completed at least 90 credit hours
- Have completed at least 30 credit hours at USA
- Must have at least a 3.3 GPA (Cumulative and Psychology)
- Requires 2 letters of recommendation
- Must have a verifiable score on either the ACT, SAT, or GRE
Admission will be based on characteristics of the applicant and research match to the Psychology faculty. Applicants must transmit a personal statement and have two referees submit a letter of recommendation to the graduate program coordinator.
Once admitted into the ABM program, students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and remain in good standing to progress into the graduate program.
Completion of the ABM program requires students complete at least 150 approved unique credit hours. To qualify for a baccalaureate degree, a student must complete at least 120 approved semester hours. To qualify for a master’s degree a student must complete a minimum of 30 approved semester hours. Generally, undergraduate students are not approved to take more than 12 credit hours of graduate coursework.
Program Procedures
ABM students may begin taking graduate courses after completing at least 90 hours of undergraduate credit.
Typically, during their senior undergraduate year, students will take 7 graduate credits per semester for 2 semesters (14 hours) while they are also taking undergraduate courses. Of these 14 graduate hours, 6 hours can count toward both degrees (Bachelor’s and Master’s) if the courses are completed with grades of at least B. Courses with a grade of C can count toward the undergraduate degree but not the graduate degree. Courses with a grade below C cannot count toward the undergraduate or graduate degree.
Upon completing the undergraduate degree, students will apply to the Psychology (Behavioral and Brain Sciences) Master's program. ABM students who are in good standing will be accepted into the Psychology Master’s program.
Completion of the Master of Science (Behavioral and Brain Sciences) requires successful completion of all requirements, including at least 36 graduate credit hours. Graduate credit taken while an undergraduate that is completed with at least the grade of B will be transferred into the Master’s program upon acceptance and will apply toward the 36 hours required for the Master of Science degree.
A student who withdraws or is dismissed from the ABM program may not count graduate coursework towards both degrees. Graduate courses for which an undergraduate student did not earn an “A” or “B” grade, may not be counted towards the graduate degree.
An ABM student must be a full-time student and must complete all degree requirements for the master’s within three semesters of the semester in which they were admitted to the Graduate School. An exception for a fourth semester may be granted where an additional semester is required for final revisions to and submission of a defended thesis. Exceptions to the ABM policy are at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School.
Graduation Plan
(120 Total Hours)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CAS 100 | First Yr Exp - | 2 |
| EH 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MA 110 | Finite Mathematics (or higher, Area III, A) 1 | 3 |
| Natural Science with Lab | Area III, B | 4 |
| PSY 120 | Introduction to Psychology 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EH 102 | English Composition II (or Honors) | 3 |
| History | US or Western Civilization: Area IV, A 1 | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Elective | Area IV, B 1,2 | 3 |
| Fine Arts Elective | Area II, C 1 | 3 |
| CA 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Foreign Language I | Area V, A 1 | 3 |
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| English Literature | Area II, B 1 | 3 |
| PSY 280 | Professions & Careers in Psychology | 2 |
| ST 210 | Stat Reason and Application 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foreign Language II | Area V, A 1 | 3 |
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | Area II, E 1 | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Res Design and Analysis I | 3 |
| Natural Science with Lab | Area III, B 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 350 or PSY 456 |
Child and Adolescent Dev (Pick 1) or Adult Development and Aging- |
3 |
| PSY 320 | Res Design-Analysis II-W | 3 |
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Elective | Choose a course | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Elective | Area IV, B 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 412 or PSY 414 |
History-Systems Psy - W or Introduction to Clin Psych |
3 |
| Select one of the following (Pick 2): | 3 | |
| Cognition | ||
| Psychology of Learning 3 or Applied Behavior Analysis I |
||
| Perception | ||
| Comparative Evolutionary Psy | ||
| Select one of the following (Pick 2): | 3 | |
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 310 | Biological Psychology I | 3 |
| Select one of the following (Pick 2): | 3 | |
| Cognition | ||
| Psychology of Learning 3 or Applied Behavior Analysis I |
||
| Perception | ||
| Comparative Evolutionary Psy | ||
| Select one of the following (Pick 2): | 3 | |
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Minor Course | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Psychology Elective | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Psychology Elective | Choose a course from your minor | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 119 | |