The psychology major introduces students to the psychological perspective on human behavior, cognition and emotions and lays a foundation for advanced study in the field. The major can be tailored to supplement a strong liberal arts education, to provide a pre-professional degree or as preparation for graduate study in clinical, educational, or experimental psychology.

The psychology major provides hands-on experience in clinical psychology and research through two practicum courses. The Psychological Practicum allows students to work in an applied psychological setting, offering "real-world" experience to the student and a valuable service the community. The Psychological Research Practicum offers experience conducting and writing about empirical research projects. Students work closely with Link Care, a local Christian organization that provides psychological services to missionaries and clergy people. An additional opportunity for this practicum is a summer research trip to the Ukraine, where students conduct research in an orphanage using psychological methodology.

Many careers in psychology require advanced study; the bachelor of arts in psychology at FPU offers a solid foundation for graduate work. Careers open to students with degrees in psychology range from the professional psychologist (in private, government, business, or educational employment) to those for which training in psychology can be of great assistance: Christian service, church ministries, social work, law, education, business and probation/corrections, etc.

GENERAL EDUCATION OR OTHER PREREQUISITES

• PSY-120 Introduction to Psychology (3)

REQUIRED COURSES (10 COURSES, 32-36 UNITS)

• PSY-300 Statistics (3)

Select four of the following:

• *PSY-320 Experimental Psychology (4)
• *PSY-340 Psychological Assessment (4)
• *PSY-350 Child Development (3)
• PSY-355 Adolescent Development (3)
• *PSY-375 Physiological Psychology (4)
• *PSY-380 Psychology of Learning (3)
• *PSY-395 Social Psychology (3)
• *PSY-400 Psychology of Personality (3)
• *PSY-410 Abnormal Psychology (4)
• PSY-420 Child Disability/Psychopathology (4)
• PSY-440 Counseling (4)
• *PSY-450 History and Systems of Psychology (4)
• PSY-460 Psychology of Religion (3)

Select five additional courses (including any of the above) chosen in consultation with the program director to meet future vocational or educational goals. (Students planning graduate study in psychology are encouraged to take all nine of the courses with an asterisk in the list above, although this may depend on their preferred course of study.)