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The Psychology Major

Scheduling Guidelines

  • Your anticipated graduation may be delayed if you are not able to start the major by the fall of your Junior year.
  • Statistics (PSY 4000) and Research Methods (PSY 4050) should be taken soon after declaring the major. They are prerequisites for other required psychology courses and for many upper level electives (PSY 5100 and above).
  • If you cannot get into a section of Statistics or Research Methods, you can still move forward by enrolling in psychology electives (PSY 3005 and below) that only have General Psychology as a prerequisite.
  • Either Research Methods (PSY 4050) or Statistics (PSY 4000) can be taken in the same semester as Physiological Psychology (PSY 4200) or as Cognitive Psychology (PSY 4500) as long as the other prerequisite (i.e., Research Methods or Statistics) has already been completed.
  • Physiological Psychology (PSY 4200) should be completed before the senior year.
  • The Seminar in Professional Development (PSY 4150) is only offered in the spring semester and should be taken during the Junior year.
  • During the Senior Year, majors take either Foundations of Modern Psychology (PSY 4100) or Contemporary Issues in Psychology (PSY 4125).
  • Special Topics Seminars (PSY 3005) a not offered every semester. Three separate 1-credit Special Topics Seminars (PSY 3005) courses must be completed for them to be bundled together to count as one 3-credit liberal arts elective. Because they are graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, these courses cannot be used as a psychology elective.

The major in psychology at Villanova is very rigorous and time consuming. Considerable demands are made upon the students' time to complete lab projects, reading assignments, computer assignments, writing assignments, etc. Students should expect to devote at least an additional 2-3 hours per course credit per week to their studies in psychology.

This works out to 6-9 hours (not including class time) per week per course. Freshman and sophomores who contemplate majoring in psychology may begin the major early by taking PSY 1000, plus any elective courses for which PSY 1000 is the only prerequisite. Because of course prerequisites, students should expect that completion of the major will require four semesters after the formal declaration of the major.

Major Requirements

A major in psychology requires 11 courses (31 credits):

  • PSY 1000 - General Psychology
    •  
  • PSY 4000 - Intro Statistics
  • PSY 4050 - Research Methods in Psy
  • PSY 4100 - Foundations of Modern Psych
    or
    PSY 4125 - Contemporary Issues in Psych
  • PSY 4150 - Sem Professional Development
  • PSY 4200 - Physiological Psychology
  • PSY 4500 - Cognitive Psychology
  • Four psychology elective courses (12 credits)

Courses graded Satisfactory/Unsatistactory (S/U) cannot be used as psychology electives to satisfy the major; S/U courses can only be used as liberal arts general electives.

Both PSY 4050 - Research Methods in Psy and PSY 4500 - Cognitive Psychology count as Writing Intensive courses for the liberal arts curriculum. PSY 4050 - Research Methods in Psy also fills the liberal arts Core Research Requirement.

Either PSY 4100 - Foundations of Modern Psych or PSY 4125 - Contemporary Issues in Psych is taken during the senior year.

Recommended for Majors

  • PSY 5900 - Undergraduate Research is highly recommended for students wishing to pursue graduate work in psychology.
  • PSY 2993 - Psychology Internship is recommended for students who wish to gain real-world experience working in psychology. Internships usually involve a one-year commitment (fall and spring semesters) during the senior year.