2024-2025 Catalog

Psychology, BA, BS

Degree Requirements - 126 credits

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree with this major

Psychology Major Requirements: 11 courses, 44 credits

Core Requirements (4 courses, 16 credits)

PSYCH-114General Psychology

4

PSYCH-H114Honors General Psychology

4

PSYCH-215Behavioral Statistics

4

PSYCH-H215Honors Behavioral Statistics

4

PSYCH-240Professional Development in the Science And Practice of Psychology

4

Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.

Choose one of the following:

PSYCH-216Research Methods and Design

4

SOC-214Research Methods in Sociology

4

Area Requirements (3 courses, 12 credits)

Choose one course from Social or Cultural Bases:

CJN-336Social Identity and Intergroup Relations

4

PSYCH-226Theories of Personality

4

PSYCH-H226Honors Theories of Personality

4

PSYCH-241Social Psychology

4

PSYCH-243Organizational Psychology

4

PSYCH-341Sociocultural Perspectives on Behavior and Experience

4

Choose one course from Neurological and Biological Bases:

PSYCH-312Cognitive Neuroscience

4

PSYCH-313Physiological Psychology

4

PSYCH-325Health Psychology

4

PSYCH-H325Honors Health Psychology

4

Choose one course from Developmental Bases:

PSYCH-233Child Development

4

PSYCH-H233Honors Child Development

4

PSYCH-249Introduction to Lifespan Development

4

PSYCH-333Adult Development and Aging

4

PSYCH-334Adolescent Development

4

Electives (2 courses, 8 credits)

Choose two of the following:

EDUC-202Educational Psychology

4

PSYCH-219Psychology of Trauma

4

PSYCH-222Human Sexuality

4

PSYCH-H222Honors Human Sexuality

4

PSYCH-247Asian Perspectives on Health and Work

4

PSYCH-314Learning and Reinforcement

4

PSYCH-317Psychology of Addictions

4

PSYCH-321Introduction to Counseling Skills

4

PSYCH-H321Honors Introduction to Counseling Skills

4

PSYCH-326Adult Psychopathology

4

PSYCH-336Developmental Psychopathology

4

PSYCH-H336Honors Developmental Psychopathology

4

Note: Psychology Area Requirement courses not used to fulfill the Area Requirement may be completed as electives.

Experiential Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)

Choose one of the following:

PSYCH-346Service Learning-Community Psychology

4

PSYCH-350Psychology Internship

4

Note: Students who intend to complete PSYCH-350 must secure their own internship position prior to the start of the semester.

Senior Capstone Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)

The capstone requirement should be completed during the senior year by taking one of the following courses:

PSYCH-428Senior Seminar in Psychology

4

PSYCH-H428Honors Senior Seminar in Psychology

4

Notes:

  • PSYCH-H428 is by invitation only

  • Advanced Placement Credit-Students who scored a 4 or 5 in A.P. Psychology may count these towards the PSYCH-114 requirement

Residency Requirement Policy: In the College of Arts and Sciences, a two-course (8 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for completion of a minor and a four-course (16 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for the completion of a major.

About the Psychology Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page

Psychology Major Learning Goals and Objectives

Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.

Learning Goals Learning Objectives
Students will... Students will be able to...
Increase knowledge base in psychology - Describe key concepts, principles and overarching themes in psychology
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of psychology's major content domains (social or cultural bases, neurological and biological bases, developmental bases)
- Describe how the mind and body interact to influence psychological and physical health
- Articulate how psychological principles can be used to explain social issues, address pressing societal needs, and inform public policy
Increase skill in scientific inquiry and critical thinking - Read and summarize complex ideas accurately, including future directions, from psychological sources and research
- Describe the characteristics and relative value of different information sources (e.g., primary vs. secondary, peer reviewed vs. nonreviewed, empirical vs. non-empirical)
- Locate relevant scholarship (e.g., databases, credible journals) to address psychological questions
- Interpret, design and conduct basic psychological research
- Apply knowledge of research skills necessary to be an informed consumer of research or critic regarding unsupported claims about behavior
- Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving
- Recognize the systemic influences of sociocultural, theoretical, and personal biases on the research enterprise and evaluate the effectiveness with which researchers address those influences in psychological research
Increase knowledge and understanding of ethical and social responsibility in a diverse world - Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice
- Identify dimensions of cultural identity
- Recognize potential for discrimination and prejudice in self and others and consider psychology-based strategies for diminishing discriminatory practices
- Exhibit sensitivity to issues of power, privilege and discrimination and solidify DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusivity and inclusivity perspectives)
Refine communication skills - Employ APA writing style and demonstrate effective scientific, persuasive, descriptive, and argumentative writing
- Exhibit effective scientific, persuasive, descriptive and argumentative presentation skills
- Tailor length and development of ideas in formats that fit the purpose
- Interact sensitively and respectfully with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives
Develop professional knowledge and skills - Describe career options available to psychology majors and understand steps needed to pursue a range of careers
- Evaluate personal strengths and characteristics of potential work settings or graduate school programs to optimize career direction and satisfaction
- Engage in ongoing reflective practice
- Demonstrate self-efficacy and self-regulation in professional settings (i.e., internship or community psychology service)
- Pursue and respond appropriately to feedback from educators, mentors, supervisors, and experts to improve performance
- Actively develop alternative strategies, including conflict management, to contend with potential problems
- Plan, implement, and manage projects

About the Psychology Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page

Honors

Honors in the Major is a highly selective opportunity to complete a signature original project or thesis with the close personalized mentorship of a departmental faculty member beginning in the junior year.  Students have the opportunity to complete a junior level interdisciplinary course addressing real-world problems. In the senior year, students present research or creative works completed in their discipline at the Honors in the Major Symposium. There is special recognition at Commencement and on the Suffolk transcript.

About the Psychology Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's in Mental Health Counseling Degree

Degree Requirements

  1. Students admitted to this dual degree program must meet all the requirements of the undergraduate Psychology degree program.

  2. Students must also meet all requirements for the Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

  3. The two graduate courses taken during the senior year will count toward BOTH the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Credit hours will be awarded based on the graduate course description.

  4. Before enrolling in a particular graduate course during the senior year, a student must obtain permission from the MHC graduate program director.

  5. Students are subject to the usual standards for academic standing, i.e., undergraduate standards for undergraduate courses and graduate standards for graduate courses.

Upon successful completion of all of the degree requirements, a student will receive a dual Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. The exact degree (BA/BS and Master’s) will be awarded based on the specific undergraduate program the student completes. A student may permanently exit the dual degree program and opt to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree if all the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree have been met. In this case, the graduate courses taken in the senior year will be counted as 4-credit courses applied toward the undergraduate degree requirements.

 

All students are required to enroll in the year-long practicum course in the first semester of their matriculating into the program.

About the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's in Mental Health Counseling Degree

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this accelerated bachelor's/master's degree.

View the Program Page