The major | Course descriptions | Degree requirements

The following degree requirements were taken from the 1999-2000 La Sierra University Bulletin. These requirements change from year to year, so you should check the bulletin under which you plan to graduate for authoritative information.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Psychology Core Curriculum

46 to 47.5 units as follows:

• PSYC 104 - General Psychology (4)
• PSYC 234 - Developmental Psychology (4)
• PSYC 252 - Quantitative Psychology (4)
• PSYC 304 - Social Psychology (4)
• PSYC 314 - Psychology of Gender (4) OR PSYC 315 - Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSYC 319 - Career Colloquium (.5)
• PSYC 344 - Personality (4)
• PSYC 349 - Research Methods (5)
• PSYC 401A - Senior Research Project (4) OR PSYC 401B – Senior Internship (4)
• PSYC 451 - Physiological Psychology (4)
• PSYC 478 - History and Systems of Psychology (4)
• PSYC 488 - Seminar in Psychology [variable content] (4)
• PSYC 219 / 419 - Psychology Colloquium (.5 unit for each year in residence; minimum of .5, maximum of 2 units)

Breadth Requirement

3 courses from the following list:

Note: Individual graduate programs require specific classes. Please consult program-specific entrance requirements.

• PSYC 356 - Principles of Psychological Testing and Measurement (4)
• PSYC 364 - Introduction to Health Psychology (4)
• PSYC 374 - Cognition and Memory (4)
• PSYC 414 - Interviewing and Counseling (4)
• PSYC 435 - Learning and Behavior (4)
• PSYC 464 - The Exceptional Child (4)
• PSYC 474 - Industrial and Personnel Psychology (4)
• PSYC 475 - Abnormal Psychology (4)
• PSYC 486 - Thanatology: Death and Dying (4)

Depth Requirement

8 units from the following (may take two 4-unit classes or one 4-unit and two 2-unit classes):

• PSYC 355 - Psychology of Groups (2)
• PSYC 452 - Behavioral Neurobiology (4)
• PSYC 454 - Psychotherapy (4)
• PSYC 456 - Sensation and Perception (4)
• PSYC 482 - Topics in Psychology (2)
  • 482A – Prejudice
  • 482B – Physician-Patient Communication
  • 482C – Critical Thinking: Theory and Application
  • 482D – Eating Disorders
  • 482E – Psychopathology: Myth or Reality?
  • 482F – Adolescence
• PSYC 484 – Advanced Topics in Psychology (4)
  • 484A – Intergroup Relations
  • 484B – Experimental Design
  • 484C – Perceptual and Cognitive Development

Cognate Requirements

• MATH 251 - Introduction to Statistics (4)
• CPTG 104 - Introduction to Information Systems (4)
• ANTH 104 (4) OR SOCI 104 (4)
• BIOL 101, 101L, 102, 102L, 103, 103L OR BIOL 131/131L, 132/132L

SUGGESTED ELECTIVES, PSYCHOLOGY DEPTH, AND PSYCHOLOGY BREADTH COURSES

As part of a B.A. in Psychology, you will be taking three Psychology Breadth courses (for a total of 12 units) and two or three Psychology Depth courses (for a total of 8 units). You also have a number of general electives available. For these courses, you may select courses that best lead you toward your career goals; this sheet summarizes several suggested sets of courses that will best prepare you for particular goals.

Applied Business Psychology: Consider these courses if you are interested in a career in business, or industrial/organizational psychology.
Psychology Courses: PSYC 356 (Principles of Psychological Testing and Measurement), 414 (Interviewing and Counseling), 474 (Industrial and Personnel Psychology), 484A (Intergroup Relations).
Elective Courses: ECON 254 (Principles of Macroeconomics), MGMT 304 (Management and Organizational Behavior), MKTG 305 (Marketing Principles).
Other Suggestions: MGMT 356 (Human Resource Management), MGMT 436 (Health Care Management), MKTG 365 (Marketing Research), MKTG 358 (Marketing Management), MKTG 426 (Sales Management).

Clinical/Personality Psychology: Consider these courses if you are planning on graduate school in clinical or counseling psychology.
Psychology Courses: PSYC 356 (Principles of Psychological Testing and Measurement), 374 (Cognition and Memory), 414 (Interviewing and Counseling), 435 (Learning and Behavior), 454 (Psychotherapy), 475 (Abnormal Psychology).
Elective Courses: SOWK 324 (Children's Services).

Developmental Psychology: Consider these courses if you are planning on graduate school in clinical or counseling psychology and plan to work with children, graduate school in developmental psychology, or any career in which you will work with children.
Psychology Courses: PSYC 464 (The Exceptional Child), 484C (Perceptual and Cognitive Development).
Elective Courses: SOWK 324 (Children's Services), ENGL 415 or 416 (Literature for Children or Young Adult Literature), CFSC 405 (Children and Stress).

General/Experimental Psychology: Consider taking PSYC 484B (Experimental Design) and the Honors program if you are interesting in an academic graduate school in any psychology specialty. Other useful courses include PSYC 374 (Cognition and Memory), PSYC 456 (Sensation and Perception), PSYC 435 (Learning and Behavior), PSYC 482C (Critical Thinking), and PSYC 488D (Psychology of Music).

Health Psychology: Consider these courses if you are interested in focusing on health psychology, or any health-related professional program (such as M.D. or Masters in Public Health programs).
Psychology Courses: PSYC 364 (Introduction to Health Psychology), 452 (Behavioral Neurobiology), 482B (Physician-Patient Communication), 456 (Sensation and Perception), 374 (Cognition and Memory), 435 (Learning and Behavior), 486 (Thanatology - Death and Dying).
Elective Courses: BIOL 427 (Human Ecology).

Psychology and Law: Consider these courses if you are planning a career in law.
Psychology Courses: PSYC 374 (Cognition and Memory), 414 (Interviewing and Counseling), 435 (Learning and Behavior), 475 (Abnormal Psychology), 454 (Psychotherapy), 456 (Sensation and Perception), 355 (Psychology of Groups), 482C (Critical Thinking: Theory and Application), 488B (Psychology and Law), 488E (Political Psychology).
Elective Courses: PLSC 225 (Introduction to Law), PLSC 274 (The Construction of American Political Life), PLSC 316 (Comparative Government), HIST 430P (Laws, Rights, and Revolutions), HIST 430G (United States Constitution to 1880), HIST 430H (United States Constitution from 1880), COMM 328 (Persuasion), PHIL 208 (Logic), BUAD 378 (Legal, Ethical, and Social Environment of Business), BUAD 385 (Business Law).

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: Psychology/Psychobiology

Required

• 75 units (50 upper division), including
  • BIOL 101, 101L, 102, 102L, 103, 103L, 201 or 202, 301/301L, 302, 303, and 302L or 303L
  • 1 unit may be applied to the psychology/psychobiology major from each biochemistry course elected from CHEM 491, 492; 2 units may be added from CHEM 493
  • PSYC 104, 234, 252, 304, 349, 349L, 401, 451, 452
  • .5 unit for each year in residence from 219/319/419
• Remaining units selected from:
  • BIOL 434, 446, 466
  • HLED 225
  • PSYC 314, 315, 344, 364, 374, 414, 435, 456, 475, 478, 482, 484, 486, 488

Required cognates

• CHEM 111, 111L, 112, 112L, 113, 113L, 371, 372, 372L, 373, 373L
• MATH 251
• CPTG 104

MINOR

Psychology

28 units (l6 upper division), including PSYC 104, 234, 344