Psychology, B.S. (Behrend)

Program Code: PSHBS_BS

Program Description

Not all options are available at every campus. Contact the campus you are interested in attending to determine which options are offered.

The Psychology program at Penn State Behrend provides students a strong foundation in the application of psychological knowledge, skills and techniques for the solution and prevention of individual and social problems. A spectrum of courses (bio-behavioral, clinical, cognitive-experimental, developmental, educational, human factors, industrial/organizational, personality, and social) is united by a strong focus on the scientific method. All students are afforded the opportunity to participate in internships and research assistantships throughout their training. Bachelor-level graduates in psychology are equipped for various positions in human service agencies, businesses, industries, and laboratories. Those not joining the workforce following graduation most often continue their training, working towards a master's or doctoral degree in psychology; others go on to other disciplines, e.g., medical or law school. Courses within this degree can also be used to develop a specialty in areas such as criminal justice, sociology or international studies.

The Bachelor of Science degree offers three multidisciplinary options. The Science option is intended for students with a strong interest in science and requires more coursework in the biological, physical, social, and mathematical sciences than does the Bachelor of Arts program. The Psychology in the Workplace option is designed for students who wish to combine their interests in business and psychology. The Human Factors and Design option combines perspectives within the fields of psychology and engineering in order to design products that maximize human functioning.

The Bachelor of Science degree helps to prepare students for future careers in clinical, developmental, educational, human factors, industrial organization, and other related health fields.

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of thought, behavior, and experience. Many people associate psychology with psychological therapy and the practice of clinical psychology. There are also many other important areas of scientific psychology, such as cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational, and social psychology. What these subfields of psychology have in common is the use of the scientific method to understand human behavior and apply that understanding to the development of theory and practice. Psychologists are increasingly making use of neuroscience methods and theories to understand psychological phenomena. As a profession, psychology is related to fields such as health, education, marketing, human resources, social work, and more. The principles of psychology are relevant to almost all areas of human endeavor, and the career paths of psychology students reflect this wealth of possibilities.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • Human behavior fascinates you.
  • You wonder how personality influences behavior, how brain function relates to behaviors, how memory works, or how people make decisions.
  • You’re fascinated by how people interact with machines and technology, workplace dynamics, leadership, and motivation.
  • You want to know more about child/adolescent development, parenting, and learning.
  • You are interested in human diversity in all its forms, including personality, gender, and culture.
  • You’d like to help people who have psychological disorders.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

  1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
  2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 15
Requirements for the Major 64

4 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes 4 credits of General Education GQ courses.

Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned.

Requirements for the Major

Each student must earn a grade of C or better for prescribed and additional courses in the major and for each 300- and 400-level course in the major field.

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
PSYCH 100Introductory Psychology Keystone/General Education Course3
PSYCH 301WBasic Research Methods in Psychology4
PSYCH 406WAdvanced Research Projects in Psychology4
PSYCH 489Professional Development in Psychology1
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
PSYCH 200Elementary Statistics in Psychology Keystone/General Education Course4
or STAT 200 Elementary Statistics Keystone/General Education Course
Select 3 credits in each of the following five content categories:15
1. Biological Bases of Behavior
Introduction to Psychology of Perception Keystone/General Education Course
Neurological Bases of Human Behavior
Introduction to Psychology of Learning Keystone/General Education Course
Evolutionary Psychology
Psychology of Human Emotion
History and Systems of Psychology
Health Psychology
Comparative Psychology
Advanced Conditioning and Learning
Physiological Psychology
Behavior Genetics
Psychology of Fear and Stress
Clinical Neuropsychology
2. Social/Developmental
Introduction to Developmental Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Social Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Adolescence
Cognitive Development
Social and Personality Development (may be counted in either Social/Developmental or Clinical/Personality, but not both)
Topics in Developmental Psychology
Development Throughout Adulthood
Advanced Social Psychology
Self and Social Judgment
Social Psychology of Interpersonal/Intergroup Relationships
Applied Social Psychology
3. Cognitive/Learning
Introduction to Psychology of Perception Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Psychology of Learning Keystone/General Education Course
Animal Minds
Cognitive Development
Language and Thought
Language Acquisition
History and Systems of Psychology
Learning and Memory
Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Advanced Conditioning and Learning
4. Clinical/Applied
Learning and Instruction Keystone/General Education Course
Human Development and Family Studies Interventions
Family Development
Introduction to Personality Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Well-being and Positive Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to the Psychology of Human Factors Engineering Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
Introduction to Industrial-Organizational Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Psychology of the Differently-Abled
Principles of Measurement
Program Evaluation
Social and Personality Development (may be counted in either Social/Developmental or Clinical/Personality, but not both)
Psychology and a Sustainable World
Personality Theory
Treatment and Education in Developmental Disabilities
Engineering Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Learning and Memory
Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Psychology of Adjustment and Social Relationships
Behavior Modification
Psychological Intervention in Childhood
Child Psychopathology
Mental Health Practicum with Children
Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Selection and Assessment in Organizations
Work Attitudes and Motivation
Leadership in Work Settings
5. Diversity
Introduction to Psychologies of Religion Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to the Psychology of Gender Keystone/General Education Course
Cross-Cultural Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Human Sexuality
Multicultural Psychology in America
The Psychology of Gender
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 3 credits of quantification courses from the departmental list - Quantification3
Select 3 credits of a structured practicum, internship or an approved research experience (PSYCH 294, PSYCH 296, PSYCH 494, PSYCH 495, or PSYCH 496 may be applied to this requirement)3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 9 credits of 400-level psychology courses from any combination of categories in consultation with adviser (except PSYCH 494, PSYCH 495, PSYCH 496)9
Requirements for the Option
Select an option18

Requirements for the Option

Option courses may not double count with major requirements

Human Factors and Design Option (18 credits)
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
PSYCH 244Introduction to the Psychology of Human Factors Engineering Keystone/General Education Course3
PSYCH 444Engineering Psychology3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
PSYCH 253Introduction to Psychology of Perception Keystone/General Education Course3
or PSYCH 256 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Keystone/General Education Course
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 9 credits in psychology, engineering and business-related courses from the departmental list - Human Factors and Design Option and in consultation with adviser9
Psychology in the Workplace Option (18 credits)
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
PSYCH 281Introduction to Industrial-Organizational Psychology Keystone/General Education Course3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 15 credits in business-related courses from the departmental list - Psychology in the Workplace Option and in consultation with adviser. 6 credits may be selected from PSYCH 484 and PSYCH 48515
Science Option (18 credits)
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select one of the following: 13
Introduction to Psychology of Perception Keystone/General Education Course
Neurological Bases of Human Behavior Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to Psychology of Learning Keystone/General Education Course
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 15 credits in science-related courses from the departmental list - Science Option and in consultation with adviser 115
1

Six credits of PSYCH courses listed in the Additional Courses category for the Science Option that the student does not apply under Additional Courses for the Science Option may be taken as Supporting Courses counting toward the Science Option. However, these credits may not count in both the Science Option and towards the Additional Courses or Supporting Courses and Related Areas Common Requirements for the Major. 

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Program Learning Objectives

  • Career-Related Skills:
    • Demonstrate knowledge of professional options and required training for careers in the major subfields of psychology.
    • Demonstrate the ability to identify personally-relevant career options to implement their psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.
  • Communication Skills:
    • Communicate effectively (in writing and/or orally) the results of a project or internship.
    • Demonstrate the ability to effectively extract central points and summarize psychological research literature and to write in the format of psychological research.
  • Content Knowledge:
    • Demonstrate knowledge of major psychological concepts, theories, and empirical findings.
    • Demonstrate the ability to apply psychological concepts and theories to research and real life situations.
  • Diversity and Ethical Considerations:
    • Show evidence of knowledge and appreciation for cultural diversity and relativity in human experience and for the complexity of human behavior and interactions.
    • Demonstrate knowledge, and the application of, basic principles of scientific and professional ethics.
    • Demonstrate sensitivity to ethical concerns and professionalism (including cultural considerations) in settings where applications of psychology and/or psychological research occur.
  • Research Skills:
    • Differentiate among the research methods used in psychology and apply the designs in evaluation or development of a research study.
    • Demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret quantitative psychological data using statistics, graphs, and data tables.
    • Use technology for studying concepts and conducting research.
  • Thinking Skills:
    • Use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
    • Demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of information in the scientific literature to distinguish the scientific literature from other sources.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Erie

Shariffah Sheik Dawood, Ph.D.
Chair, Psychology Department
107 Turnbull
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6790
srs42@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2023-24 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contains suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

Psychology, B.S. at Erie Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year Seminar1General Education3
ENGL 15 or 30H3General Education*3
PSYCH 1003General Education3
General Education3General Education3
General Education3General Education3
General Education1.5 
 14.5 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Biology Bases of Behavior Selection*3Diversity Selection3
Clinical\Applied Selection3PSYCH 200 or STAT 2004
General Education3Psychology in the Workplace or Human Factors and Design or Science Selection**3
CAS 100†‡3General Education1.5
General Education3ENGL 202A or 202C†‡3
 15 14.5
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PSYCH 301W*4PSYCH 406W*4
400-Level Psychology Selection3General Education3
Psychology in the Workplace Selection or Human Factors and Design Selection or Science Selection **3Cognitive/learning selection**3
General Education3Elective3
400- Level Psychology Selection3Elective3
 PSYCH 489*1
 16 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
400-Level Psychology Selection3PSYCH 494*3
Psychology in the Workplace Selection or Science Selection or Human Factor and Design Selection3Psychology in the Workplace Selection or Science Selection or Human Factor and Design Selection**3
Psychology in the Workplace Selection or Science Selection or Human Factor and Design Selection**3Psychology in the Workplace Selection or Science Selection or Human Factor and Design Selection**3
Elective3General Education3
General Education3Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits 122
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Additional Notes

*Choose from the following categories of courses:

Biological Bases of Behavior (choose from PSYCH 253, 260, 261, 269, 425, 439, 441, 461, 462, 464, 475, 478)

Social/Developmental (choose from PSYCH 212, 221, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 420, 421, 423, 424)

Cognitive/Learning (choose from PSYCH 253, 256, 261, 268, 413, 426, 427, 439, 452, 453, 456, 461)

Clinical/Applied (choose from EDPSY 14, HDFS 311, 315, PSYCH 238, 244, 270, 281, 370, 404, 408, 414, 419, 438, 443, 470, 471, 481, 482, 484, 485)

Diversity (choose from PSYCH 230, 231, 232, 422, 432, 479)

**Choose from the following three tracks:

Psychology in the Workplace Option: Students must take PSYCH 281 and 15 credits of Business-related courses. 6 credits may be selected from PSYCH 282, 484 or 485.

Science Option: Students must take PSYCH 253, 260A or 261 and 15 credits of science-related courses.  6 credits may be selected from PSYCH 253, 260A or 261 if not used to fulfill the first requirement.

Human Factors/Design Option: Students must take PSYCH 244, 444 and PSYCH 253 or 256.  In addition, students must take 9 credits of Psychology, Engineering and Business-related courses.

Academic Advising Notes:  The course series listed above is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum.  The number of electives required varies per student.  Please be sure to consult with an adviser about your intended plan.

Career Paths

The B.S. in Psychology takes a quantitative approach and offers three options for specialization: General Science for students interested in health-related careers or neuroscience, Psychology in the Workplace for human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing careers, and Human Factors and Design, which applies psychological concepts to the design and safety of products and services. All psychology students design and conduct a capstone research project and may participate in outreach and mentoring through Penn State Behrend’s Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation, its Prevention of Aggression Resource Center, and its Early Learning Center.

Careers

Penn State Behrend’s B.S. in Psychology degree provides you with a strong skill set that is particularly valued in the mental health and social services fields, education, social work, medicine, business, law, and basic and applied research. Recent graduates are working as research associates, industrial organizational psychologists, human resource managers, data analysts, counselors, caseworkers, therapeutic support staff, developmental psychologists, elementary and special education teachers, school counselors, and clinical psychologists.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Psychology graduates have earned master’s and doctoral degrees in fields such as psychology, business, human factors, law, education, medicine, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Some of the schools they have attended include Penn State, Washington University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Pittsburgh, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Additionally, Penn State Behrend offers a Master of Arts degree in Applied Clinical Psychology that includes optional preparation for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

Contact

Erie

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu

https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences