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Psychology (B.A.)

The psychology degree consists of a core of required courses plus completion of coursework chosen by students to reflect their interests, career aspirations, or graduate study ambitions.

Students take courses that emphasize effective scientific reasoning (construction of knowledge), critical thinking (analysis of knowledge), communication (transmission of knowledge), and transfer (application of knowledge).

Students earning an undergraduate degree in psychology will gain the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level professional responsibilities in a variety of community, business, government, and educational settings. Examples include public relations, athletic training, college student services, human resources, public health services, family and child services, crisis counseling centers, substance abuse treatment, and community corrections.

The psychology degree also prepares students for graduate study in psychology, counseling, and related fields. Marymount offers graduate programs in counseling and forensic and legal psychology.

Upon successful completion of the psychology program, students will be able to

  • demonstrate critical evaluation of a psychological topic through effective writing;
  • apply psychological research methodologies and statistical techniques to a research question;
  • apply specialized psychological knowledge in a professional setting; and
  • demonstrate effective presentation skills within the discipline.

A minor in psychology is also available.  A minor in forensic psychology is open to psychology majors only. Please see the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences minors section for details.

Internship Prerequisites: When other requirements are successfully completed in the senior year, the student closes the program with an internship (PSY 400). Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, a grade of C- or better in all courses required in the major, senior academic standing (90 completed credits), a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount, and completion of the required prerequisite courses (PSY 200 or CCS 399).

Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C- is required for all courses in the major.

Degree Requirements - Psychology

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

See the Liberal Arts Core for details. 

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.

PSY 101General Psychology *

3

PSY 105General Psychology Laboratory

1

PSY 110Human Growth and Development *

3

 

PSY 200Careers in Psychology

1

OR

CCS 399Career Strategies and Success

1

 

PSY 201Statistics for the Social Sciences

3

PSY 220Social Psychology

3

PSY 230Psychological Disorders

3

PSY 250Biological Bases of Behavior

3

PSY 260Learning and Cognition

3

PSY 302Research Design for Psychology

3

Three (3) 300/400 level psychology electives, one of which must be PSY 311 or PSY 363

9

 

PSY 400Internship

3 or 6

OR

PSY 405General Psychology Laboratory Instructor Practicum

3

 

PSY 497Senior Seminar

3

Sample Degree Plan - Psychology

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.

Year One - Fall

EN 101Composition I *

3

PSY 101General Psychology *

3

PSY 105General Psychology Laboratory

1

HI History (HI) core course *

3

Social Science (SS) core course (sociology) *

3

One (1) elective

3

EN 101: WR core course

PSY 101: SS core course

TRS 100: TRS core course

Year One - Spring

EN 102Composition II *

3

PSY 110Human Growth and Development *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

MA Mathematics (MT) core course *

3-4

One (1) elective

3

EN 102: WR core course

Year Two - Fall

PSY 201Statistics for the Social Sciences

3

PSY 220Social Psychology

3

PSY 260Learning and Cognition

3

Philosophy (PH) core course *

One (1) elective

3

 

Year Two - Spring

PSY 200Careers in Psychology

1

OR

CCS 399Career Strategies and Success

1

 

PSY 230Psychological Disorders

3

PSY 250Biological Bases of Behavior

3

Natural Science (NS) core course with lab *

4

One (1) elective

3

 

Year Three - Fall

PSY 302Research Design for Psychology

3

One (1) 300/400-level psychology course

Depth in Faith and Reason core course *

3

EN Literature (LT) core course *

3

One (1) elective

3

One (1) psychology elective must be PSY 311 or PSY 363.

Year Three - Spring

PSY 311Early Childhood Development *

3

OR

PSY 363Primate Psychology *

 

One (1) 300/400-level psychology course

Depth in Humanities core course

3

Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course *

One (1) elective

3

One (1) psychology elective must be PSY 311 or PSY 363.

Year Four - Fall

PSY 400Internship

3 or 6

OR

PSY 405General Psychology Laboratory Instructor Practicum

3

 

PSY 260Learning and Cognition

3

One (1) 300/400-level psychology course

Three (3) electives

9

One (1) psychology elective must be PSY 311 or PSY 363.

Year Four - Spring

PSY 497Senior Seminar

3

Four (4) electives, one (1) 300/400 level psychology course recommended

One (1) psychology elective must be PSY 311 or PSY 363.

Counseling Scholars Program

For students who are interested in the field of counseling and possess a strong academic profile, Marymount's Counseling Scholars Program offers an opportunity to guarantee a place in the university's counseling (M.A.) program. While other undergraduates will need to apply to the graduate program, qualifying psychology majors who are counseling scholars are exempt from this process. The Counseling Scholars Program is open to a select group of incoming first-year and transfer students who are chosen by the Counseling Admissions Committee and meet stringent continuation requirements.

To be accepted into the program, first-year and transfer students must have

  • a high school grade point average of 3.0 or above;
  • declared psychology as their major; and
  • completed the essay portion of the Counseling Scholars Program application addressing their interest and commitment to the field of counseling (500-word minimum).

To be accepted into the program, current students must have

  • a college GPA of 3.2 or above in their psychology courses and declared psychology as their major; and
  • completed the essay portion of the Counseling Scholars Program application addressing their interest and commitment to the field of counseling (500-word minimum).

To continue in the program, students must

  • maintain an overall GPA of 3.2 in their psychology courses;
  • complete designated psychology courses (PSY 230, PSY 330, PSY 333) with a B or better;
  • complete a counseling-oriented research project and internship; and
  • attend at least two School of Counseling events.

The Counseling Scholars Program application has a strict deadline and must be completed by:

  • March 1 (for incoming first-year and transfer students)
  • End of the first semester of the applicant’s junior year (for current students)

For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Forensic and Legal Psychology Scholars Program

Program Requirements

In addition to their major program requirements, psychology majors must complete (21 credits):
CJ 209The Criminal Justice System

3

CJ 305Criminology *

3

CJ 311Correctional Institutions

3

LA 302Criminal Litigation

3

PSY 326Forensic Psychology

3

PSY 332Psychology of Addictions

3

One (1) course from the following:
SOC 131Principles of Sociology in Global Perspective *

3

SOC 200Law and Society in Global Perspective *

3

SOC 141The Global Village *

3

By January 16th of the year in which the student intends to graduate with their bachelor's degree in psychology or criminal justice, the following materials need to be submitted to the forensic and legal psychology scholars program coordinator:

  • FLP MA Admissions Approval form
  • Research and Internship form (including the research project)
  • Events and Class form
  • Official undergraduate transcript
  • Strong, positive letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the student’s major
  • Graduate Studies Application form

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.