Psychology, B.S. (Capital)

Program Description

The Psychology major emphasizes the scientific study of human behavior in areas such as cognition, development, learning, physiology, personality, and social processes. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in psychological theory and research and to develop the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to be good consumers of scientific information.

The Psychology program exposes students to a number of areas of psychology but allows flexibility in the specific courses that are taken in each sub-area. Students are also required to obtain applied experience by completing an internship or by assisting faculty with their research. Elective credits can be used for additional internship or research experience. A flexible supporting course list encourages students to consider concurrent majors, minors, and certificates that complement their psychology degree, elevate their skills, and enhance career marketability.

The Psychology program prepares students for careers in local, state, and federal government and for entry-level psychological services positions in human service, applied behavior, human resources, and related fields. The Psychology program also provides a strong background for graduate education at both the master's and the doctoral level in counseling, social work, and many areas of psychology.

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...

• You are people-oriented and naturally curious about human behavior and mental processes.
• You want a better understanding people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
• You are considering a career as a psychologist, counselor, social worker, or other human services professional.
• You desire a broad understanding of human behavior and mental processes, as well as valuable interpersonal and analytical skills that will help you in a variety of career paths, such as business, law, and medicine.

Entrance to Major

Entry to the Psychology major requires a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average and an average of C (2.00) or better in any courses already taken in the major.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a minimum of 122 credits is required:

6 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GN courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.

Requirements for the Major

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.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ENGL 202A	Effective Writing: Writing in the Social Sciences	3
PSYCH 100	Introductory Psychology	3
PSYCH 301W	Basic Research Methods in Psychology	4
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
BIOL 141	Introduction to Human Physiology
BIOL 161	Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Lecture
BISC 4	Human Body: Form and Function
At least 15 credits of the following courses must be at the 400 level:
Select 4 credits from the following:		4
Category 1 (Statistics)
PSYCH 200	Elementary Statistics in Psychology
or STAT 200	Elementary Statistics
Select 6 credits from two different developmental categories (3 credits each category):		6
Category 2a (Lifespan)
PSYCH 212	Introduction to Developmental Psychology
Category 2b (Adult)
PSYCH 416/HDFS 445	Development Throughout Adulthood
Category 2c (Child)
PSYCH 410	Child Development
Category 2d (Adolescence)
PSYCH 412	Adolescence
Select 6 credits from two different individual difference categories (3 credits each category):		6
Category 3a (Social Psychology)
PSYCH 221	Introduction to Social Psychology
or PSYCH 420	Advanced Social Psychology
Category 3b (Personality Psychology)
PSYCH 238	Introduction to Personality Psychology
or PSYCH 438	Personality Theory
Category 3c (Personal Adjustment)
PSYCH 243	Introduction to Well-being and Positive Psychology
or PSYCH 471	Psychology of Adjustment and Social Relationships
Category 3d (Health Psychology)
PSYCH 441	Health Psychology
Select 6 credits from two different clinical categories (3 credits each category):		6
Category 4a (Physical Disabilities)
PSYCH 370	Psychology of the Differently-Abled
Category 4b (Childhood Disorders)
PSYCH 476	Child Psychopathology
Category 4c (Abnormal Psychology)
PSYCH 270	Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
or PSYCH 470	Abnormal Psychology
Category 4d (Behavior Modification)
PSYCH 473	Behavior Modification
Category 4e (Developmental Disabilities)
PSYCH 443	Treatment and Education in Developmental Disabilities
Select 6 credits from two different experimental categories (3 credits in each category):		6
Category 5a (Physiological Psychology)
PSYCH 260/BBH 203	Neurological Bases of Human Behavior
or PSYCH 462	Physiological Psychology
Category 5b (Cognitive Psychology)
PSYCH 256	Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
or PSYCH 452	Learning and Memory
or PSYCH 456	Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Category 5c (Learning Theory)
PSYCH 261	Introduction to Psychology of Learning
or PSYCH 461	Advanced Conditioning and Learning
Select 3 credits from applications in psychology:		3
Category 6 (Applied Experience)
PSYCH 395	Internship
or PSYCH 494	Research Projects
or PSYCH 495	Internship
Select 12 credits of any PSYCH courses not used above, with the exception that only one course selected from any Category 1 through 5 will count for the major		12
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Complete 18 credits from department approved list		18

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 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

• Content Knowledge: Content Knowledge: Demonstrates familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. Understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
  • 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.
• Research Skills: Understand basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
  • 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.
• Thinking Skills: Respect and utilize critical and creative 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 and evaluation of information to distinguish scientific from nonscientific claims related to psychology OR Demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of information in the scientific literature to distinguish the scientific literature from other sources.
• Communication Skills: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in a research project, or capstone clinical or research experience.
  • 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.
• Diversity and Ethical Considerations: Be able to tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science.
  • 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.
• Career-related Skills: Knowledge of different career areas that are appropriate for psychology majors.
  • 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.

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

Harrisburg

Cobi Michael, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building, W311
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6036
cmk292@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2025-26 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Psychology, B.S. at Harrisburg 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.

*

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.

Advising Notes

• GWS, GQ, GA, GH, GS, GN and GHW are codes used to identify General Education requirements.
• US, IL, and US;IL are codes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. All students are required to take one IL and one US course before graduation. A course designated as US;IL may be used as a US or an IL, not both.
• W suffix signifies the course satisfies the University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

Program Notes

• Students must complete a 3-credit course in "United States Cultures (US)" and a 3-credit course in "International Cultures (IL)."

• At least 15 credits from supporting list courses must be at the 400 level.

Psychology, B.S. (3-Year Fast-Track) at Harrisburg 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.

*

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.

Advising Notes

• GWS, GQ, GA, GH, GS, GN and GHW are codes used to identify General Education requirements.
• US, IL, and US;IL are codes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. All students are required to take one IL and one US course before graduation. A course designated as US;IL may be used as a US or an IL, not both.
• W suffix signifies the course satisfies the University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

Program Notes

• Students must complete a 3-credit course in "United States Cultures (US)" and a 3-credit course in "International Cultures (IL)."

• At least 15 credits from supporting list courses must be at the 400 level.

Psychology, B.S. (3-Year Fast-Track with Dual Enrollment) at Harrisburg 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.

*

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.

Advising Notes

• GWS, GQ, GA, GH, GS, GN and GHW are codes used to identify General Education requirements.
• US, IL, and US;IL are codes used to designate courses that satisfy University United States/International Cultures requirements. All students are required to take one IL and one US course before graduation. A course designated as US;IL may be used as a US or an IL, not both.
• W suffix signifies the course satisfies the University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

Program Notes

• Students must complete a 3-credit course in "United States Cultures (US)" and a 3-credit course in "International Cultures (IL)."

• At least 15 credits from supporting list courses must be at the 400 level.

Career Paths

The American Psychological Association's Center for Workforce Studies reported in 2013, that 94% of people holding bachelor's degrees in psychology are employed. According to projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most bachelor's-level Psychology graduates will move toward positions in human services, where an increase of 13 percent in job growth is expected in some areas. Other employment fields for psychology graduates, including entry-level management, human resources, and sales, anticipate growth between 5 and 7 percent.

Careers

Penn State Harrisburg's B.S. in Psychology degree provides students with a variety of skills that are exceptionally valued in the mental health and social services fields, basic and applied research, applied behavior, human resources, social work, medicine, business, law, and careers in local, state, and federal government.

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

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

The Psychology program also provides a strong background for graduate education, including Penn State's Master of Arts programs in Applied Behavior Analysis or Applied Clinical Psychology. The Master of Arts degree in Applied Clinical Psychology includes optional preparation for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• American Psychological Association
• Association for Psychological Science
• Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology

Contact

Harrisburg

SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Olmsted Building, W311
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6358
kje114@psu.edu

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-education/psychology-bs