At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
The Psychology minor is designed to provide undergraduate students with a broad overview of topics and domains within psychology, knowledge and skills related to research methods in psychology, and deeper knowledge of research, theory, and application in one or two specific content domains. Students completing this minor will find a flexible selection of coursework in psychology. The content domains from which students may select courses include biological, clinical, cognitive, developmental, industrial-organizational, and social psychology. Students may choose courses that emphasize theory or application of psychological principles. A number of these courses examine the application of psychological research to societal issues.
The required research methods course, Basic Research Methods in Psychology (PSYCH 301W) , carries a statistics prerequisite that can be met by either Elementary Statistics in Psychology (PSYCH 200) or Elementary Statistics (STAT 200) . Elementary Statistics (STAT 200) does not count toward the minimum 18 credits required for the minor. Students minoring in Psychology at University Park are encouraged to consult the Psychology Advising Center early in the process of planning their minor.
The Psychology minor may be appropriate for students pursuing graduate training or professional careers in fields such as health, business, education, and human services, as well as in 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 want to better understand people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
- You want to learn about how the brain works, how it malfunctions, and how it recovers.
- You are interested in child development, mental health, personality, social interactions, organizations, and neuroscience.
- You want a career as a psychologist, counselor, social worker, or other human services professional.
- You want a broad understanding of human behavior to help you pursue a career in any of many fields.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| 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 11 credits (at least 6 credits at the 400 level) in PSYCH | 11 | |
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
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Abington
Michael Bernstein
Associate Professor of Psychology
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7479
mjb70@psu.edu
Altoona
Brad Pinter
Associate Professor of Psychology, Department Chair
Smith Building C128A
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5507
tbp1@psu.edu
Beaver
Kevin Bennett
Assistant Teaching Professor of Psychology
100 University Drive
Monaca, PA 15061
724-773-3904
klb48@psu.edu
Berks
Erin Johnson
Program Coordinator, Assistant Professor
Franco 153
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6143
BKPsychology@psu.edu
Brandywine
Joshua Marquit
Assistant Teaching Professor of Psychology
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1409
jdm53@psu.edu
Greater Allegheny
Advising Office
Academic Affairs
101 Frable Building
4000 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132
412-675-9140
GA-Academics@lists.psu.edu
Harrisburg
Cobi Michael, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building, W311
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6036
cmk292@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Robin Yaure
Teaching Professor in HDFS
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu
Schuylkill
Cory Scherer
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Psychology
200 University Drive
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6066
crs15@psu.edu
Scranton
Renae McNair
Assistant Teaching Professor
Dawson 203
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2715
trw115@psu.edu
Shenango
Billie Jean Horvath
Academic Adviser
147 Shenango Avenue
201 D Sharon Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2860
bjr153@psu.edu
World Campus
Undergraduate Academic Advising
100 Innovation Blvd
Suite 225
University Park, PA 16803
814-863-3283
advising@worldcampus.psu.edu
York
Mark A. Casteel
Professor of Psychology
210 Grumbacher Building (GISTC)
York, PA 17403
717-771-4028
mac13@psu.edu
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
125 Moore Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-1811
ugpsychupwc@psu.edu
Abington
DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7479
mjb70@psu.edu
https://www.abington.psu.edu/academics/majors-at-abington/pss-degree
Altoona
DIVISION OF EDUCATION, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Smither Building C128A
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5507
tbp1@psu.edu
https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/psychology
Beaver
100 University Drive
Monaca,PA 15061
724-773-3904
klb48@psu.edu
Berks
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Franco Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6143
BKPsychology@psu.edu
Brandywine
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1409
jdm53@psu.edu
https://www.brandywine.psu.edu/academics/minors/psychology
Greater Allegheny
101 Frable Building
4000 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132
412-675-9140
GA-Academics@lists.psu.edu
https://greaterallegheny.psu.edu/academics/psychology/minors
Harrisburg
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Olmsted Building, W311
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6034
rka12@psu.edu
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-education/psychology-minor
Mont Alto
PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu
https://montalto.psu.edu/academics/bachelors/minors
Schuylkill
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
200 University Drive
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
570-385-6066
crs15@psu.edu
https://schuylkill.psu.edu/academics/bacc-degrees/psychology
Scranton
Dawson 203
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2715
trw115@psu.edu
Shenango
DIVISION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
147 Shenango Avenue
201 Sharon Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2860
bjr153@psu.edu
https://shenango.psu.edu/academics/aac
World Campus
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
125 Moore Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-1811
ugpsychupwc@psu.edu
https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-psychology-minor
York
210 Grumbacher Building (GISTC)
York, PA 17403
717-771-4028
mac13@psu.edu